Chapter 24- Jynxed

Paige's POV

"Don't worry, just be yourself my parents will love you." He says, putting the car in park. We're at his house now, and the car ride here wasn't long or boring. Jake and I had plenty to talk about. Now that I am here though, I'm scared shitless. I step out of the car before Jake can open the door for me, I don't want to seem helpless. "Seriously calm down. You've already meet Jayla and I we're the worst two." He says clsing the door for me. My mind wonders about his older brother, but I don't ask, maybe he just wont be here. 

"I'm fine." I say taking in a deep breath. I give him a small smile, and look back up at the house. Holy shit. I thought we had a nice house. This is like a small version of the white house! Back in a private part of the woods, with a huge fence and a gate to get in. A huge porch, with two swinging benches. In the yard, circular gardens and one of them has a marble fountain. "I feel like I'm meeting the president." I whisper as he leads me up the couple stairs.  He chuckles, reaching now for the handle to the front door. Then he stops, and he looks towards the garage area. I can physically see his body untense, and he roles his shoulders. He moves in close a minute kissing my cheek. I look at him with confusion, and then he winks and swings the door open. 

"What the hell took you two so long?" Jayla is the first thing I see looking inside. She road with us up here, and she got out of the car so fast you'd have thought it was on fire. She is already changed, into a light pink skirt with a rippled  black top. "You weren't doing to dir-"

"No." Jake interupts, sending her a look. "Remember mouth shut." he reminds her, and she roles her eyes, opening the door wider and gesturing inside. I step in taking in my surroundings. Yeah, this has to be a replica of the white house. Although I've never seen the white house... I imagine it looks like this. Beautiful entrance, with a grand stair case to the left and a little sit in room that might be the living room to your right. "Welcome to Lincoln Manor Paige." He sighs, putting his hands in his front pockets. I'm sure my mouth is touching the ground, but wow this is just the entrance to his house! 

"You're giving me a tour right?" I ask, without even looking at him. Now moving on the art on the walls, and the one marble statue by the stair case. I'm tempted to ask how much  this place cost to built, but I'm pretty sure that's not something I should ask. 

"If you want one." Jake answers. "We'll stop by the kitchen.. let my mom know we're here." He says. I nod, looking towards him finally. We talked about no holding hands in the car, so that is already figured out. I gesture for him to lead the way, and he waves to Jayla who goes the oposite way then us. I follow Jake as he tells me what rooms are what, and I look in awe. Still wondering about the price of all of this, but more importantly how long it all took to build! He stops in a arched entrance, and I can already smell the food. I take deep breath, his mother is in here! "Hi Mom!" Jake greets. 

"Ah Jake!" I her her voice, and I can't help but smile. She sounds like one of those stay at home moms who are the best people in the world. "It's nice to see you baby, how was grandma's?" 

"It was good." He replies, and my smile grows. She called him baby and he didn't say anything. "We picked up a straggler." he replies.

"Oh..?" She sounds confused. "Oh!" She says, and I hear noises come from the kitchen. I take another deep breath, and step around Jake. Her eyes goes from Jake to me and then back to Jake and back to me. They stop on me. Oh shit. "Why you're beautiful." she says wiping her hands on her apron. 

"Thank you." I say, glancing at Jake. Gosh what should I say? "The food smiles amazing." I say, taking a quick sniff. It really does smell great. 

"Well thank you!" She smiles walking towards us. Her eyes taking me in, I think she is trying to see if I'm aprovable. It's making me nervous. What if she hates me? "Gosh you're very pretty." She says whiping her eyes at Jake, and back at me. What was that? 

"Alright, well I'm going finish giving Paige a tour... just call for us when you're ready." Jake says, roling his eyes. 

"It was nice to meet you Mrs. Lincoln." I say giving her a quick nod and wave. 

"You too, darling." She smiles at me, and then Jake gestures for me to follow him.  Then I get shown the dining room,  and living room. Then a library and a study, which aparently aren't the same things. After that we head upstairs, and he points out bedrooms and more odd and end rooms. 

"That's Jayla's room.." He points, and then look at the other side of the hall. "That's my brothers, but he wont be here tonight." I'm guessing he is happy about his brother not being here. "It's nice knowing he can't steal you away the first time you're at me house." He says, wraping an arm around my waste. I let out a slight laugh. 

"He wouldn't have been able to anyways."  I whisper, "Now.. where is your room?" I ask, trying to cheer him up. He looks down at me, and I catch his eyes looking towards a door further down the hall. I walk out of his arms towards his room. He follows behind me slowly. I grab the door opening it. I stand looking inside, wow. "You're room is cleaner then mine." I frown. The room is  white carpeted, with a royal blue and wood wall panelling. Dark oak wood furniture, and a brown leather couch facing a flat screen T.V with what looks like an Xbox under it on the coffee table thing. An apple desktop computer on the desk, and a home phone line in his room as well. 

"Can we play?" I ask, walking toward the couch and T.V. "I'm horrible, but I love playing!"

"You serious? You want to play a video game?" He asks, I and stand with my hands on my hips looking at his games. I pull out Call of Duty World at War, it's one of the older games, but for some reason it's my favorite.  "Okay.." He sighs, I hand him over the game, and plop on the couch. We play for a while on Nazi Zombies, of course he has to revive me couple times, but he doesn't seem to mind. Then we go to multi player, and try killing each other.  After I kill him a couple of times in a row I know something is up, and I peek over at him. He is watching me, not even holding his controler.

"Aw! None of those count!" I pout.

"When you're really consentrating, you stick out your tongue did you know that?" he asks, smiling. He's been watching me a while, I turn looking back at the screen.  Damn, I just thought I was getting better! "It's cute." He  chuckles. 

"I thought I was getting good, you jerk!" I say, trying to not laugh. He just smiles more, shaking his head. "What?" I ask, getting up and turning off the game and putting away the controlers. 

"You." He says, and I turn giving him an un-understanding look. "You like video games, you're smart, and you're funny, and talented." He says, leaning forwards on the couch still. 

"Ah," I stutter unsure how to respond.  

"You have no idea, how attractive you are and how you just fit in with the guys, and you're like one of those girls who chooses to not be popular even though you could be."  He stands now, and is walking towards me. 

"I don't like being the center of attention." I say, "It's why I don't like the part of Megera." 

"You're so good at it though!" He says. I smirk at him.

"You're not so bad yourself Hades." I smirk at him, and he shakes his head. "Seriously though, you're good at it." I say walking away from him, and looking at some of the pictures hanging on the walls. Purposelly moving away from him. I don't want to get to close to him, I want to keep my hair and clothes nice and un ruffled.  The phone on his desk rings, and it makes me jump.  He answers it. 

"We'll be right down." Jake says and hangs up the phone. "Super is ready." He says, I let out breath. Time to sit down with his family, and eat a meal. I hope I'm not one of those anoyying eaters. I've never been told I am, but who knows! Why am I worried about how I eat? I should be worried about what the hell we're all going to talk about. Mostly Jake and the tutoring sessions I'm sure, and I semi hope.

Following Jake back downstairs, and to the dining room, we both get seated. He is as nervous as I am, and that worries me.   I smile at Jayla who is directly across from me at the table, and I see Mr. Lincoln will be at my end of the table, and Mrs. Lincoln at the other end.  There is another open plate, but tonight it is going to be empty, I assume their brother would be sitting there, but he isn't here. Then everyone is sitting down, and the meal begins. things start off quiet and peaceful, then once we all have food on our plates, the questions begins. 

"So, Paige do you tutor other students  as well?" Mr. Lincoln asks, and I'm relieved it is along the lines of tutoring. I was hoping there wouldn't be personal questions, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. 

"No, actually." I say, looking from Mr. Lincoln to his wife. "Mr. Parker and the principle offered tutoring him to me, because I have to the highest history grade." I inform them, then look down at my plate. Jeepers I hope that didn't sound wrong, I'm not trying to rub in that I have a better grade or anything! 

"Good, only the best will do for my son." Mrs. Lincoln says, and I catch the look in her eyes. She isn't just talking abou tutoring. She means way more, and from the looks of it I'm not coming up to parr. Well shit! I mean to them we aren't even together, but we are secretly. 

"You're doing a great job so far." Mr. Lincoln speaks next, and I'm surprised he said that. Jake is alwasy talking about how he is the more difficult one to work with, so far he is the nicest.  I also pick up on the look he sends his wife, and I just look at my plate of food. I don't think this dinner was just about tutoring.  I glance at Jake, and he rubbing his eyes seeing everything as well I assume. "Do you have any plans after high school?" I look back up to Mr. Lincoln. Personal questions, great. 

"Actually I do." I say, not wanting to lie. "I'm unsure exactly what college, but I would like to become a teacher, major in American History actually." I smile, thinking about being a teacher when I'm older. 

"So you like kids then?" Mrs. Lincoln asks, and Jake busts into a coughing fit. "Have some water dear." is all his mother says to him. 

"I.. ah yes, I do like children." I reply, unsure by where she is going with this now. "I hope I'll have some of my own, once I'm out of college and have a nice career started." I add, trying to get the personal questions to stop. 

"Good for you dear." Mrs. Lincoln smiles at me. A real happy smile. She likes my response. I glance at Jake again, and he is looking across the table at Jayla. I look from each of the family members trying to figure out what exactly is going on.  I only confuse myself more, and I give up going back to my food. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln carry out a normal conversation on how their days went, and they talk about plans for tomorrow. 

Once we've all eaten and desert is served it seems, everyone is calmed down. We all talk about different things now, like weather, and the rest of our plans for break. All the awkwardness is gone, and Mrs. Lincoln seems to like me. Jayla brings up the musical, and that starts a long conversation about Jake not telling them about his part. A bunch of congradulations, and plans to come and watch are thrown out on the table. I just smile and go with it, not wanting to upset them. I wonder what they think is going on. Do they think Jake and I are a couple? They must think something around that line, otherwise they wouldn't have asked some of those questions right? Weird thing is though Jake hasn't really talked to me since dinner started. Yeah we've both been in the same conversation, but he hasn't spoken directly to me, let alone even looked at me. Something is wrong or up. 

I try catching his attention a couple of times while, helping with cleaning up but he seems dead set on not communicating with me. So it must be something I said or did. I think back on everything I said and did, I can't think of anything that was to out of line, and his parents seem hay with me... so I wonder what's bugging him. I go over and help help him with the dishes, while his parents are in the room talking for a moment, and I try to talk to with him. 

"What's going on?" I ask, handing him a plate. He takes the plate, looking at me for a moment. Then he slips the plate into the dishwasher. "Jake seriously." I say, unsure if I should be mad or worried. The door bell rings, and we both look in the direction of the front door. 

"I'll get it." He says loud enough for his parents to hear. I watch him with disbelief as he leaves me in the kitchen. What in the hell? Should I follow him or just stay here. I assume stay here since he didn't ask me to come with or speak to me even. So he is mad .. and he is mad at me. I lean against the counter, rubbing my forehead with the back of my hand. I pull my phone out of the pocket in my dress checking to see if I have any messages, which I don't, and I set it on the counter.  I look at the dishes next to me, and I start loading the rest of them. 

"You don't have to do that, Paige." Mrs. Lincoln comes in. 

"Oh I don't mind. I'd feel bad if I did nothing." I respond, smilling shyly at her. She gives me a warm smile, and she helps out with the rest of the dishes. "If you don't mind me asking.." I break the silence, and she looks at me from the sink. "Did I say something.. or do something that upset Jake?" I ask.  Maybe she will know. 

"No, gosh no dear. It's not you he is upset with, it's his father and I." She laughs quietly. I blink a couple times, now more confused then ever.  "He likes you you know." She stops what she is doing, and turns to face me. I hold the plate in my hands still, focusing on her words. "You're the only girl he has ever really introduced us to. I think he cares for you actually, which is very unlike him." 

"I don't.. understand." I say honestly to her. 

"You two aren't together or anything are you?" She asks. 

"I"m just his tutor." I reply, loading the plate into the washer. It's a lie, and I don't want her to be able to figure that out. 

"You mean a lot more to him ten just a tutor, my dear." She says, "Paige I need you to do something for me." She sighs after a moment of silence. 

"Of course." I say lookingover at her again. 

"Please keep doing what ever you're doing." She turns off the sink, and turns to me again. "Since he has been here with break, I've noticed he seems more... open and happier even. I'm guessing it has something to do with you." she gives me a questioning smile. 

"I'll keep tutoring him." I say, and she just keeps smiling. I think she likes me now. I think about what she said, she said he seems more open and happier. That's alost the way I see it as well. He seems to be more like his old self from middle school. Before he had to worry about his reputation, and being top jock at school. If it is me who is changing him then yeah I wont stop, I want to keep helping him get better. We finish with the dishes, and go back to the dinning room with Mr. Lincoln and Jayla.  I smile at Jayla at Jayla who is on her phone... phone. Shoot my phone is in the kitchen.  "I'll be right back!" I say, and head back into the kitchen. I run slowly over to the counter where I left it, and I get there just in time. Robbie is calling. I answer it, and I hear a bunch of noise. Music and yelling. "Robbie?" I ask into the speaker. There isn't a reply. "Hello?" I ask again. Then the line goes dead. He hung up. What the hell? Wondering if I should call him back, I head back towards the dinning room.  I hear a bunch of commotion in the room, everyone saying hello and surprised to see you. I wonder who is here? Then my phone starts buzzing in my hand again. 

"Robbie?" I ask, seeing the caller I.D. It's quieter this time, as if he went outside or something. 

"When are you coming back?" I hear him on the other end, and I hold the phone away from my ear. He is yelling into the phone. 

"Soon. I think." I reply, unsure why it's his business. "We just finished eating... where are you?" I ask. Looking around the kitchen. 

"I dunno for sure. One of Pat's friends places." He replies, and there is a loud popping sound. "That was fucking awesome!" I hear Robbie laugh, and I pull the phone away seeing if it will show me a location. It doesn't.  "Hey.. I just wanted to let you know that we wont be at the house when you get back... I gotta go!" Then he hangs up again. I didn't even say bye. I look at my phone still a little confused. What was Pat thinking bringing Robbie too one of his friends parties!? I should get home.  I head back to the dinning room, seeing another body in the room. A boy, older then Jake it looks. Maybe it's there brother. I great Jake's elbow, and tell him I need to get home. 

"Okay." He replies, seeming a little to happy to get me home. "Let's go." He says, walking towards the entrance. I follow, unsure if I should say goodbye. I should I know that, but Jake seems to be in a rush. 

"Leaving already?" Mrs. Lincoln asks, and Jake stops, as do I.  

"I've got to get her home." Jake turns to his mother. He now holds out his hand to me, and I don't know if I should take it. Wont that send the wrong signals? I take his hand anyways, not wanting to start anything. 

"Not going to introduce me, Jake?" the other boy in the room speaks. I hear a smaller familiarity in his voice. It peeks my interest. 

"At least say goodbye." Mrs. Lincoln scolds him, and Jake tenses up.  I give his hand a quick squeeze and let go of it.  I really should say goodbye, I don't want to seem rude. 

"Bye Paige!" Jayla hugs me, and I smile hugging her back. I wave to his parents, and stop finally on the new guy. My stomach comes up to my throat, and I feel semi faint. Unsure if I'm really seeing who I think I'm seeing.  It's Jason. Patrick's friend from college. My first kiss. 

"So you're Jake's new girl friend." He says to me, holding out his hand. He doesn't recognize me, that's great. 

"Ah.. not his girlfriend." I reply taking his hand. 

"Oh right tutor." He says, and I see a spark in his eyes. He gives my hand a slight squeeze, and a smile that says he does know who I am. "My bad." He adds. 

"Alright I really should be getting her home now." Jake is there next to me out of the blue, and he seems protective.  

"We still haven't introduced each other." Jason send Jake a look with a smirk. "I'm Jason... Jake's older brother." 

"Paige.. Easton." I say, and his smile towards me shines brighter. I just confirmed his thoughts, I am the little fourteen year old girl who kissed him at a college party.  "It was nice to meet you." I say playing it off as if I don't remember him. 

"Same to you." He says, dropping my hand. Then Jake and I leave, I can feel anger radiating off of Jake and I want to just reach down and grab his hand or kiss him on the cheek. He didn't want me to meet his brother because he knows he tends to steal girls from him, but I think this time it's different. If Jake really does care for me, and have the feelings he says he does then he really probably doesn't want me around Jason. Hell I don't want to be around Jason! He was my first kiss, how awkward and is that? What are the odds as well. Gosh, I should tell Jake, but how will he take it? I'm sure he wont be happy, but he can't hold it against me or anything Jake and I had only been in middle school together, and we never talked ever. It wasn't even that year when we had that project together is was the year after that! The first little bit of the car ride is quiet. We're both unsre what to say.

"Are you mad at me?" I finally ask. 

"My parents want us together." He replies, eyes not leaving the road. I look at him, trying to figure out his thoughts. 

"And?" I ask. 

"They like you... a lot. That's why they asked you personal questions." He continues. 

"Jake." I say, and he glances at me. "What's going on?" 

"What do you mean?" He asks, and we pull up to my street already. I look out the windw=ow unsure if I should keep questioning him. 

"You know what. You've been giving me the cold shoulder all night." I sigh as he puts the car in park at my house. All the light are off, and no vehicles are here. "Goodnight Jake." I say getting out of the car. 

"Paige." He gets out too. I stop in my yard, turning and facing him. What else can I say? "I'm sorry, I just... my parents were... and then my brother..." He doesn't know where to begin.

"You're parents were questioning... Your mother asked me if we were together." I sigh scratching my eyebrow. "I told her no, but she is probably still questioning it."

"Yeah, my father talked to me about, pursueing you." He smiles, and so do I. "My mom likes you a lot too."

"Jake, what's going on with us." I ask, "You're parents are wondering, my parents are wondering. Hell I'm wondering exactly whats going on here!" I say. 

"Paige, I want you." He says reaching for me. 

"Yeah, you want me. But do you want to be with me?" I ask, questioning him again. 

"Of course I do." he says.

"Then can't we just tell everyone?" I ask, looking up at him. "Secrecy isn't working out Jake. It's obvious something is going on. You became all protective over me when Jason introduced himself, and you were acting funny all night. You're parents know something is up." 

"I don't want you around Jason. Ever." He warns, and I just nod not wanting to get into that at the moment. 

"I wont be around him, Jake." I say. " I shouldn't be around your family again anyways, since I'm just a tutor." I cross my arms. 

"You're not just a tutor." He sighs, laying his forehead to mine. 

"Then why is that what we're telling people... I think I want to tell people. I'm not good at lying and keeping secrets anyways. People will catch on."

"No." He whispers, and I let out a breath. What is he so worried about happening? "Paige, things will change the moment we do that. For both of us, I don't want to ruin this." 

"You don't want to ruin your reputation? Is that what you mean?" I ask, "I want the truth." I say stepping away from him. 

"No." he says. "I'm just not.. sure it's a good idea yet. Give this more time." He says. I nod. He wants more time, to figure out what ever this is then okay. So do I.

"Alright." I say, "Goodnight." I turn and go towards my house. 

"Paige." He says, "Please don't be mad."

"When you figure out everything Jake, let me know." I reply, "Now goodnight, and see you at drama." I close the door, and lean against it. I think I just broke up with him. If we were ever really together. I shake my head, I'm getting a head ache from all of this. I just need to sleep. Going to my room I slide out of my dress, and into my pj's and under my blanket.