4 Jake

Sometimes I hate to admit that I'm not too fond of Cooper. I only get to spend limited time with Sharlow, and now my so-called friend needed me right now. Great fucking timing!!! My phone showed that I missed Cooper's message. I opened it.

Cooper: Man! Cm fast, need to go somewhere urgent!

Jake: On the way. Shar is with me. I need to get her home!

He replied within seconds.

Cooper: Speed up bro, drop your gf and help me from here!

Gf?

Seriously...?

"Did someone say they need to be somewhere urgent?" Sharlow said.

When I turned back, I saw her, folded her arms around her chest.

"Yeah... climb over, girl," I said to her, motioning to my bike. And replied to Cooper.

Jake: Told you many times. She's my best friend. Not #gf!!!!

I put my cell phone in my pocket then started the bike. I pick up speed, and I know she's a little jumpy over that because currently, her hand is tightly hugged me, and her chest is pressed over my back. I bite back my smile. I don't know how she makes me smile at such simple things. When her street reached, I slowed and stopped at the alley. She climbed off and handed me the helmet and said her usual 'Thank you.'

"So what are you going to say to Alex?" I thought about that. That asshole may be going to complain to her fucking dad about going without him.

"Don't worry, I will take care of that," she said while patting my shoulder.

"Okay... Bye. Take care. Text me when you reach home. Okay! And please don't fucking forget !!" I practically yelled. It is the only thing that she forgets. Never let me know when she reached. Well, sometimes, she does. Sometimes doesn't.

"Don't shout. I will text you. Now please go. Cooper is waiting for you." She pushed my bike playfully.

"Okay." I turned my bike and gone to pick up Cooper.

* * * * *

After picking up Cooper and I reached home. Mom came home by then. But she was busy in the kitchen and was talking to Grandma. I checked my phone. And as usual, no text from Sharlow. I know her. She says one thing and does another thing.

"Where did you go before? You said you would be home by three.." mom said while serving the noodles.

"uh... It's just... Cooper called me in the middle... His bike got punctured, and... We went by the mechanic and..... I dropped him at his home...That's why I got late.." I was busy stuffing the noodles into my mouth.

It's become 5:30 when Sharlow texted me. I called her right after it.

"Is this the time you reach home?" I was mad.

"Uh... Sorry... Dad was home. You know how he will react if I called you." She cooed.

Not in fucking mood.

"And what about now?"

"He's gone out, that's why." She said.

"Did you eat something?" I asked. Although I know that she didn't, the mere possibility that she did made me question it.

"I am eating now." She said.

"Good," I smiled.

"Okay, I am cutting the call dad would come back any second," She said and killed the call.

It's become a routine nowadays. After whatever her dad did. But I am okay with it. She was trying to take me away from trouble. Whatever she does, it will be good for me.

"Do you want anything?" mom asked me.

"No, Mom. I am done for today. Going to take a nap," I cleaned my hands and gone my bedroom.

It was Sharlow in my mind. It always. She's the first thought in the morning and the last thought before I sleep. I don't know how did she become a special person in my life. I closed my eyes and thought about her.

Suddenly my phone rang!

Uhh!!!!

What now?

I took the call without even checking the caller ID.

"This must be an emergency!" I growled into the phone.

"Wow... Tiger! Relax," Luke said

"What do you want?"

"Nothing. Just calling... You know... Friends and all" Friends my foot! "What do you want, Lucus!!!" I asked again.

"Just a favor, dude..." He said. Like I thought.

"Figures! NOW SAY WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT AND CUT THE PHONE! I NEED TO SLEEP!!!" I shouted.

"JAKEY STOP SHOUTING AT THIS TIME," my mom said in the same tune as mine.

"Okay," God!!! "What favor you want, Luke?" I asked the monkey, who was laughing on the other line.

"Okay, okay, okay," he said, catching his. What's so funny here? "Uhh... I need Issy's number."

What?

"Who Issy?" I asked in confusion.

"Isabelle! Red hair, smokey green eyes, great racks, and long legs?" he said, pointing out her features.

"Dude... Have some respect for girls!" I said, raking a hand over my face. "Why are you calling her, Issy, and why do you need her number?"

"Uhh... Let me say 'none of your business!' " he said

"Luke, are you two something?" I asked him. Shit! If it is, there will be a problem.

"FUCK NO!! Got into a bet." I waited for him to complete the sentence.

But he didn't say another word.

"How did you figure out I have her number?" I asked him.

"Saw you two making out at Micheal's party last year. And how you are avoiding her since. Dude, she came to every one of our plays and our practices. What's wrong with you? Leaving just like that?" he asked in confusion.

"Yeah, we were. But after that, she was so clingy! Saying that she wants more. God knows how I escaped from there. Great racks or not, I am not into stage five clingers." I said. Isabelle was one of the cheerleaders of River High! She was all over me when I came to the party. I tried to take her hands off me but in vain. After two, beers I let her, and within seconds, she was in my lap and kissing me.

Don't get me wrong. I am an eighteen-year-old guy and with red blood pumping in his veins. What will I do a girl keeps coming at me? I'll let her. Sooner than or later!

Besides, Sharlow wasn't there. So I thought it was harmless. I have never done anything like that when she's with me. Yeah. She saw many girls hanging over me. But never saw in a compromising position.

Nope.

After the long section of make-out, Isabelle started to unbutton my shirt. That's when I stopped her, which led her to say that I was lusting after her and now she was letting me touch her.

And what do you think?

Mission abort.

From the next day, she made herself qualify as a future groupie/stalker. She followed me to my concerts and showed up at my practices. So I changed our practice times, which is why I see her rarely.

"Dude? Are you there? Luke asked

"Yeah yeah," I said absent-mindedly.

"Then give the number, dude!! or do you have any problem with that" he asked

"No! I get it. She gets this much of bitchy and an upcoming groupie leader. But still, she's a girl, dude! I can't give her number to you, and I'm telling you that girl is trouble." I warned him.

"Can you give her number or not?" he asked again but in a different tone. What's wrong with him!

"No, bro! If you want her number to ask her or her friends. Not her old flings!" I said.

"Okay, bye!" with that, he killed the call.

"What the ..." I couldn't even complete the sentence.

Why he's going after Isabelle? Bet or not. Still, she isn't that much trouble-worthy! God, please don't let that guy fall into trouble. I am already hanging on the edge about all these concerts, practice, and school work. On the off chance that Isabelle Morgan came into this, everything would turn into a wreck!

Gwaaaaad!!! I fall to the bed on my stomach. I wish the sleep that left me one hour ago come back.