Chapter 40- Break

Paige's POV

This morning is definately a new expirience for me. Now that the news has all spread that Jake and I are together, everyone is acting strnagely. I'm getting stared at, with dagger eyes  and eyes of girls who are in awe of me ... taming Jake Lincoln. I ignore it. No one even comes up and talks to me, but I catch thirteen different girls just in my dorm staring at me. They all look away as if nothing is wrong, and they start whispering to another girl. I grab a pop tart for the road, and decide to just get to pratice. I park my car, check my reflection in my mirror. Yes, I do want to look nice today. My hair turned out very nice, and I decided to wear my one and only romper I have. It's black with white flying bird outlines as pok-a-dots. Grabbing my things I head inside and go in the back. I set my bag down in the usual spot, and I go over to the costume rack grabbing my dress. There are other people here, already changed and ready to begin. Again stares and whispers.

Once I half my hair up into the ponytail, I leave the locker room.  Priority list at the moment, get dress zipped, talk to Jake. Hopefully I'll be able to kill two birds with stone and just have Jake zip my dress. It's not like he hasn't ever done it before.  I head back to the auditorium looking for him, but he isn't anywhere for me to see. I peek out on to the stage The only people out there are Mrs. Oliver and Robbie. I move away from the the curtain when Robbie sees me, I don't want to talk to him right now. In fact he is the last person I want to talk to right now. 

"Paige wait!" I hear him behind me, and I stop. There is no use trying to get away, he'll follow me. "Hey... we should really talk." He says stopping next to me. 

"About?" I ask facing him, I'm mad at him yes, but I don't need to be mean to him. Actually looking at him now, I notice a couple slight changes. I haven't really talked our been with him for almost a week, and his hair has grown and he has obviously been working out. 

"The whole Carm-" 

"No." I say flatly.  "We don't need to talk about it. I'm working on forgetting about it." I sigh, wishing I never would've found out about them in the first  place. I'm happy that Wyatt knows the truth and all, but for me all it's done is cause trouble! 

"Oh... well that's great!" He says, with a smile. "It wont happen again and Carmen is really sorry too." 

"Yeah... she stopped by last night." I inform him, even though we didn't talk about this at all. She questioned me about Jake and acted like nothing was wrong. With is what I decided I'm going to try doing. "No worries... I'll get over it eventually."  I finish the conversation, ready to stop talking about it. 

"Well that's great! Maybe after school we can hang out or something?" he asks, I look away now unsure what to say exactly. It's not that I don't want to.. I do actually want to. I miss hanging out with him, and all the fun we had. But I still can't look at him the same. Yes, I'm trying to forget about the whole sex thing, but that doesn't mean everything will go right back to the way it was.  "Maybe....?" he asks again. I look around trying to see if an answer pops into my head. When I see Jake come in all dressed in his Hades costume, I get my answer. 

"I don't think today will work." I tell him flatly.  "Maybe... late this week." I shrug my shoulders, and walk away. I walk past Jake back out the door, knowing he will follow me. I stop at the end of the hall where we will have the most privacy. I know he is there, before he actually touches me. It still sends a shiver up my back as he zips my dress.  "We need to have a talk." I say, right away. 

"We sure do." He agrees, wrapping his arms around me and laying his head on my shoulder. 

"We're probably being watched..." I sigh. 

"Oh I know we are." He whispers. I turn my neck to look at him. He smirks at me. "I don't mind the rumors... I'll live."

"Oh will you know?" I laugh, "It means no more other girls and no more one nighters."

"I don't need any of that now that I have you!" He informs me, it makes me blush. "We have practice to get to though... so finish this later?" He asks, letting go of me.  I nod, turning around, and I spot the two girls who are peeking out of the girls locker room at us. I shake my head, and Jake grabs my hand. It makes me smile, and I see the other girls run back into the locker room in rush whispering.  God today is going to be great!

We sit next to each other in the auditorium as Mrs. Oliver goes over everything she wants us to fix for the performance tomorrow night, Wednesday night, and this weekend. Jake doesn't let go of my hand, and I get lots and lots of glares, one from Robbie even. Once Mrs. Oliver finishes talking to us and tell us to get back stage and get ready for the run through, she grabs my hand stopping me. Jake continues, letting go of my hand. 

"So..." She says quietly, and I don't understand. What is that supposed to mean? 

"Yes?" I ask, looking at my costume. Maybe there is something wrong with it. I look at the back of it, but I still don't see anything. My hair is done they way I've always done it... and I'm wearing the right shoes. I don't have of the make-up on, but she hasn't said anythnig about that any other time. 

"Did you and Robbie break up?" She asks, and I step away from her. This is about Jake. I don't know what to reply, I mean I know I just don't know how to say it.

"Robbie and I... we were never together." I inform her, and she looks appalled. "Just friends." I add. Did Robbie and I really seem to be a couple? I mean we never like kisse except for now with the play, and he never liked hugged like a couple or held hands. We went out together a lot but friends do that, and we never said that we were together ever. 

"You and Mr. Lincoln ar-"

"We're together." I say not really wanting to sit here and go over all of this. 

"Mmhhmm." She looks a me for a second, and then looks back at the stage. "Don't let that interfer with my performance." She says, and waves me away. It wont affect the performance. I know it wont. I've acted out my part perfectly fine while I've been mad at both Robbie and Jake, I can act it out now. I go back stage, and find Jake while the gospel goddesses are singing the beggining. I tell him about the conversation, and he just roles his eyes. 

"No cold feet?" He asks. 

"That's a wedding term." I reply back, ".. and no. No cold feet." I add. He smiles at me, and then he has to go on.  

"So it's true." Robbie sighs, walking over. Jake goes on before him. "You and him are a couple now..?" He asks. 

"Giving it a shot, yes." I reply. He shakes his head, and for some reason I starting smiling happy that it pisses him off.  "Well, I guess we both do things the other doesn't aprove of." then with that I walk away. The run through goes by greatly, both Robbie and I are able to put everything behind us and perform our parts, and everything goes by smoothly.

Until the very end where we have to kiss. Jake never sees the kiss because he is like 'dead' or what ever, so it wasn't that. But it was just the way Robbie kissed me. It was needy and lust filled. This wasn't just a kiss for him, this was him trying to tell me something. Which I know what as well, but I'm not listening. After the kiss I looked at him, trying to figure out exactly what was going on. His eyes ached for me, and he held me closer then he usually did. I didn't say anything, but I wasn't happy. This whole Jake and I being together thing is throwing him through a ringer, and we haven't even been together a full day! 

Once we're all out of our costumes and back in the seats, Mrs. Oliver compliments us all on how we fixed the things she asked. She is very proud of the musical it's like her baby. I'm happy she takes such joy in putting these things together, I love doing them too. "Oh and Mr. Schroeder and Ms. Easton very beautiful, you two were lovely together there at the end." She adds at the end, giving me a stern look. Robbie who is leaning against the stage next to her, looks up at me too. I look down at my hands in my lap uncomfortable. She said that on purpose. "Also Paige.. I need a worth with you before you go." Then the bell rings signalling it's time for first period. 

What does she want to talk to me about? More about Jake and I? She can't force us to break up can she? Gosh what if she blackmails me!? She wouldn't. What if she begs me or something? I mean I want to make her happy, but what if that costs my happiness? Then it's not worth it right? 

"Here I have a letter for you, it's from Juilliard. I forgot about it earlier." She hands me an evelope, I stuff into my school things and head to class. I wonder why they'd send me a letter. What could it be about? I already came and visited the college, what else is there? 

I take my seat in french class and forget about it. I haven't really thought about going there much anyways, so I'm not to worried. I try to go through the day normally, but word has definately gotten out. I'm very popular today, and people I've never talked to before are now talking to me every chance they get. Mostly asking about Jake and how we got together, if we are together, but still they're talking to me. Jake seems to make stops at his locker moe often now, actually getting his books for class, but I think it's also so he can see me. We never really say anything to each other, but we say a lot.  We've already got the whole understanding each other part doww. We're both uncomfortable with all the extra attention, and would prefer privacy. Although this morning at practice he was holding my hand...I wonder what that was? Was it because of Robbie? Hmmm I'll have to ask. 

I'm sitting in eighth period, doing nothing... I already finishe the work he gave us to do. Everyone else is either working on it still or doing other homework, which I don't have anything else to do. Mr. Parker is intently reading something on his computer, so I decide it would be best to not bother him. I sit looking out the window, I guess I just got lucky too, because it's Jake gym period. I watch him and his friends, that also happen to be in the class, mess around as the teacher takes role. It makes me smile as they act like a bunch of little boys tackling each other racing around. I almost jump out of my seat when the intercom goes off and everyone is told to report to the auditorium. I'm out of my seat and out of the room before anyone else is. 

I take a seat in the back, not wanting to have a bunch of people to swarm sitting around me. I even keep my head down so people don't realize it's me. One person notices me though and slides into the seat next to me. I peek over, surprised to see Jason. Why is he sitting by me, why not Mr. Parker?

"You lied to me." He whispers, not sounding mad, butnot sounding happy.  I look at him again, trying to figure out what he means. He smirks at me, and for some reason his smirk gives me an idea of what he means. Jake... he is talking about Jake and I. 

"I... didn't lie. I tried..." I look away scratching my eyebrow. 

"I told you the Lincoln charm is to much for any girl, although I thought that you.. maybe you wouldn't fall for it." He sighs leaning back. " So much for that college girlfriend." he chuckles.  "So... how long did he say it would last? I'm guessing two weeks tops before he gets sick of you and moves on." He keeps looking ahead, I stare at him wondering if he is serious. I know he is, but I can't tell if he really means it, like if he knows Jake well enough that that well seriously happen. 

"Ummm.." I say unsure how to reply. 

"Unless you already slept together... then you got about a week." He says, and I can feel my cheeks heat, then I feel all the color leave my face. Holy shit what if what he is saying is true?! 

"Well we haven't. I'm not that easy." I sit up straight, and my voice comes out stronger then I thought it would. "It's none of your business anyways... why do you care if I crack or not?" I ask turning in my seat a little facing him. 

"I'm looking out for you that's all... I like you, I would hate to see my little brother hurt you." something about what he said sends shivers through me. Jake tells me that Jason is alwasy trying to steal his 'girl', and that he'll stop at nothing to make Jake miserable. All of this gets my brain thinking, is this just Jason trying to stir up trouble between Jake and I? "I don't like you like that... I mean, like I feel like I should be looking out for you since I'm your brothers friend. I know how Jake can be sometimes...which is a real dick... and I would hate to see a strong girl like you become heart broken because of him." He looks me in the eyes the whole time he says his little speech. It's touching kind of. If he is really serious. I can never tell. Him and Jake both are good at acting, I'm learning. But which one is acting right now? Jake took me on that lovely date though, to a private beach. He hasn't been pushy at all. Hell, we've barely kissed since we made it 'official', we have slept together... a couple times... but does that really matter?

"He wont break my heart." I say but my voice is unsure now, and he catches it. 

"Has he taken you to the beach yet? That's always the first place he brings his more serious flings." He is digging for information. I keep my face blank, even though my brain is working a mile a minute. He knows about Jake taking me to the beach.... Jake always take the more serious FLINGS to the beach. 

"Beach?" I ask, and I sound sturdy and confused. Believable. 

"Good afternoon everyone!" Mr. Wilson stands on the stage with the curtain closed behind him. I look ahead, and try to fucos on the assembly, but at the moment I can barely breath. Everything that's happened so far, could all be just one big fling of Jake's! I barely hear Mr. Wilson as he says, that the school will be closing after tomorrow so the building can get some updates, for next year. It's almost the end of the year.  Highschoolers and even some teachers start cheering, but I'm not in a very preppy mood. I clap my hands twice, but I'm to distracted.

"What about the musical?" Robbie's voice stands out. Now, my interest is peeked. 

"As for the musical... it's still on. The auditurium and the entrance is not part of the update, and you're still going to have practices." Mr. Wilson answers. "Now, actually Mrs. Oliver wants the musical cast to come up... and the rest of you can stay here." I get up from my seat, and kick Jason lightly in the shin so he can let me out.  Everyone has already started chatting, and it's very very loud. 

"Ouch...  testy now are we?" He smirks at me and he stands up. I just role my eyes, I didn't kick him hard enough to hurt a baby even. It wasn't even a kick! I whisper whimp as I scooch past past him, and I hear his quiet chuckle for a second before everyone elses voices drown him out. I go up, making it there with Robbie and a couple other people. Jake isn't up here though. I scan the crowd from him, he should be easy to spot. Walking towards the stage his long blonde hair  and all. I don't see him  though. I frown a second and focus on Mrs. Oliver. 

"I have a friend here!" She cheers, and I see it's a girl I meet at my Juiliard college visit. "Everyone say hello to Lena."  Everyone says hi, and she greets us all back. What is she doing her? She is in college why would she miss school?  

"I know one of these faces!" she smiles pointing at me, singling me out. "Come here! I want a hug!" She says holding out her arms and walking towards me. I go, smiling. She is the girl who gave me tours and I went to some of her classes with her.  

"What are you doing here?" I ask, giving her a quick hug. 

"Mrs. Oliver wanted me to come down and co-direct the musical with her."  she beams,  "I hope you don't mind if I stay with you..?" she adds in whisper. 

"That's fine." I smile.

"Alright now... has anyone seen Jake? I want to have a run through with Lena here." Mrs. Oliver says, and all eyes turn to me. My cheeks heat, and I shake my head. I haven't seen him either since he was outside. I didn't seen anyone from his class actually, I wonder if they even came inside.  "Oh well I guess... we'll have reader for him."

"I'm right here!" He burst through the curtain, and leans over catching his breath. What has he been doing? "Sorry..." He apologizes. 

"So nice of you to join us Mr. Lincoln." Mrs. Oliver role her eyes at him. "Please meet Lena, she will be co-directing the musical with me for the rest of the time period." She gestures to Lena next to me. He stands up straight clearing his throat. 

"Jake Lincoln." He greets her like a gentileman. I watch as they shake hands, I see his nice little smile. His eyes are bright right now, and he is in a good mood. I wonder what he was doing? Another girl. I shake my head. No need to believe into what Jason said. Looking at Lena though, I get a weird vib. I don't like the way she is looking at him. I wave that away too, no need to start drama where there isn't any.  

"Now everyone go get ready." Mrs. Oliver shoo's us all away. I don't get the chance to talk to Jake, before he is gone already. I sigh, grabbing my dress and going to the locker room. Changing and shoving my hair into another ponytail, I leave the locker room last. My dumb zipper needs zipped! Of course of all the people to be in the hall it's Jason. 

"I really hate you."  I tell him as he walks over towards me. He just smirks, at me and when he gets close enough he pushes against my shoulder turning me. He zips up the dress, and then turns me around again.  "Thanks..."

"No problem... Have I told you how good you look in this dress?" he asks. 

"You shouldn't." I scold, and he shrugs his shoulders. "I gotta go." I sigh, turning towarsd the auditorium doors. 

"Have you thought about my offer?" he asks, walking next to me. I close my eyes. Jake and I talked about it a little, but we never decided. I shrug my shoulers.  "Oh come on!" He opens the door for me, and I shake my head. "what do you have to get Jake's permission?" he stops me. 

"Now isn't the time." I tell him.

"Oh come on, Paige!" He says, "Don't start this. Don't get in to deep." He warns. I shake my head at him again, and I push past his arm.  "I warned you."  He yells after me. 

"Jason, what are you trying to tell me?" I stop, trying to get him to just get to the point. "Because from what I know you're worse then he is. Your reputation is bigger then his." I put my hand on my hips. I'm actually getting pissed off. What else is he trying to say? I mean, he informed me about Jake and how he always brings his flings to the beach. 

"I'm trying to keep you out of trouble. Jake is trouble." 

"And you aren't?... Are you telling me I should be with you?" I snap. 

"No." He breaths. Walking down the isle toward me, he stops wrapping his arms around me in a hug ."I'm telling you that you need to be with someone who deserves you. Jake.. doesn't derserve someone as good as you." His voice is barely audible. 

"It's my choice." I reply. 

"I just wants what is best for you." He lets me go. "You should get going.." He sighs, I nod turning away. Holy shit that was pretty deep  for it being a conversation with Jason. We actually just fought I believe. Moving through the curtain happy they haven't started yet, I see Jake. He is leaning against the wall, looking at me. He doesn't look happy. He must've saw some of what just happened.  Did he hear some of it too? I didn't say anything bad about Jake, infact I some what stud up for him. 

"Jake.." I begin. 

"We'll talk about it later." He shrugs himself off the wall.  I shake my head, this is great. Only our first day technically together and we're already fighting. 

Running through the musical took forever. Jake was a brick wall throughout the whole thing, and couldn't help but notice Lena watching him a little to closely. As my solo approaches I give up trying to talk to Jake, I'm going to have to wait until tonight. I sing my solo and dance my routine,  after that is finished I run off ending the scene. Then once my least favorite scene comes, I'm over it already. I've given up, and I just want today to be over with. There is school tomorrow and I'll be able to sleep the damn day away. 

Once Herecules AKA Robbie saves me from dying, and the day is saved it's time for our kiss again. I don't know what to expect, the last one was good apparently, but there was a message. I wonder what's going to happen now. I stand in his arms like I'm supposed to as he talks to parents, about wanting to stay human to be with me. Then he gets his blessing, and then he turns me. Then we kiss.  It was okay. Nothing out of the blue this time. Although when we pull apart, his eyes are shinning and he is looking directly at me. I almost want to cover up with a blanket or something, it's as if he is seeing me naked. It's really odd. Then the curtain is closed and we have to run off stage and get ready for role call. 

Waiting in line for my turn to go out, I keep peeking a couple people behind me at Jake. He hasn't said a word to me since we started, and he hasn't even looked my way. He is really mad at me. I let out a huff, and look forward. I go out doing my bow and smiling with a wave. Then I take my place, and wait for us all to do the group bow. Once all of that is completed, we get to go change. I, of course can't get the damn zipper. I really hate this dumb dress. I walk off stage looking for anyone who I'd feel comfortable with helping me. Robbie is the only one still in here. 

"I can get it." He smiles at me, and I give him a small little thank you like smile. Placing a hand on my shoulder, and then unzipping the dress with the other. His hands linger for a couple seconds.  "Hey... are you and Jake okay?" he asks, actually sounding a bit concerned. 

"Why do you ask?" I question. 

"Well... you two didn't talk to each other once... throughout the whole thing." He says, I bite the inside of my cheek, so it was obvious. Of course it was. 

"No... we're fine." I tell him, and thank him for my dress then I head to the locker room. I come out dressed in my day clothes and sit in the auditorium, so we can go over notes. I talk with Lena for a while as we wait for everyone to come back, but when Jake comes in I excuse myself. I walk over to him hoping he will at least talk to me.  "Hey..." I say quietly. Should I apologize? What for though? I never said I wouldn't talk to Jason... besides I stuf up for Jake, I said I wanted to be with Jake. him not saying anything isn't helping either. He is looking at me, looking down at me, since he is so much taller. But right now I feel like he is five stories taller then me. He isn't giving me any weird or mean looks, but it looks like he is thinking hard. It makes my breath catch in my throat.

"I'm sorry." he finally says.

"What are you sorry for?" I ask, not sure what he means or where he is going with this. Is he sorry that he is been ignoring me? Is he sorry he's been leading me on... or something like that!? I don't know!

"You told Jason off... you told him you wanted me... and here I am ignoring you and being a douche." he sighs, scratching the back of his neck. I shouldn't smile, but I do. I wrap my arms around him squeezing him tightly. "You're not mad?" He asks. 

"No!" I reply, and then Mrs. Oliver whistles, and Jake and I take a seat. We listen to her notes, which isn't many since we've been running through this now for almost a week, then Lena has a couple comments. She brings up The last scene with Robbie and I, and how believable we made it look. Ithink about the way he was looking at me, and it sends shivers down my spine. My arms have goosebumps even. It was tottally weird.  Once we get dismissed, I give Jake a quick kiss on the cheek explaining that I have to give Lena a tour and show her around. We decide that tomorrow night, we'll do something together, since tomorrow is tuesday. Then Wednesday night I'll be having dinner with his family. With there being no school I'm going to have a lot of free time. What should I do with Lena tomorrow?