So we appeared at the same dinerâ where we met to discuss our first project which is now crossed out. Jake gets down and I follow suit. He looks at the place with a thoughtful expression on.
"We came here the last time" I remind him and he nods.
"I need to fix some things here" he replies with sadness evident in his tone. There was something about this place that he wasn't telling me but I shrug. There is no need for him to tell me since we are not even friends.
He goes straight for the front door and I follow.
"Jake!" Someone yells quite enthused to see him at the counter. He was talking to a waiter I think.
"Jeff!" Jake replies and hugs the guy who was wearing a chef hat and was clad in white.
"Its been so long! Where did you go?" Jeff asks
"I didn't go anywhere Jeff. I just stopped working here for a reason"
Jake worked here? As a what? Chef? Waiter? Bartender? Or what?
"I missed you buddy! We all thought you would never come back. After Madison's birthday you just vanished into thin air" Jeff narrates and Jake gives him a soft smile.
What does Madison have to do with Jake too? Okay I'm confused.
"Yes I know but I came to greet all of you again."
"Our boss told us you were the son of his wealthy friend"
Jake nods
"But why were you working for our boss if your father was his friend?"
"Its a long story Jeff. I'll tell you later. Right now, you need to get back to your shift"
"Yeah. My shift will soon end and your replacement will be here" Jeff tells him.
"Is he a good guy?" Jake asks
"Yes he is! He is just like you"
"Okay. But I have something for you" Jake says and digs into his pocket bringing out a cheque.
"This is for you buddy" he says handing it to him.
"But this is too much!" Jeff retorts
"No! Its not! And its all yours"
Jeff looks like he is about to cry.
"Thanks bro" he says and hugs him.
Jake pats his back slowly. Then they break apart with smiles on their faces.
"I would never forget this" Jeff says sniffing a bit.
"Loosen up Jeff!" Jake taunts and he chuckles. I was seeing the sweet part of Jake. I don't know what Jeff meant to him but what just happened here is so sweet and I feel like crying too.
"Who is she? Your girlfriend?" Jeff asks with a huge taunting smile and my stomach churns as he was referring to me.
"No she is ummm...my project partner" Jake replies with a small smile.
"Hello! I'm Nicole" I say to Jeff even though I was hurt Jake called me a 'project partner' but all the same, that was the right term.
"Nice to meet you Nicole! I'm Jeffrey but you can call me Jeff"
I smile in response.
"Jeff, is boss around?" Jake asks
"You still call him boss?"
"Well he was my boss"
"He went out to get some stuff but he will be back by seven"
"Okay thanks and please prepare some two hot beefburgers for Nicole and I as we sit here to discuss some things"
"Sure bro. It will be ready in a sec" Jeff says with a wink and dashes into the kitchen. Jake walks over to a table near the window and sits down looking outside. There were a few people here eating.
"You used to work here?" I ask out of curiosity and he glowers at me. It takes him long enough to respond.
"Yes." He stated simply with sadness written all over his face.
"So what were you? A waiter? A chef? What?" I ask even though I know he is going to bite my head off for asking again. He gives me a death glare before speaking.
"I was a chef here before I met my father" he stated again this time without looking at me. Maybe I can get him to tell me more! But why was I asking all these questions if we were enemies. I just felt curious.
"And what does Madison have to do with you working here?" I ask but then I remembered what he said earlier today to Alec.
"Oh yeah right! You have changed? You fucking got my former boss' daughter pregnant!"
Madison was his boss' daughter. Oh it makes sense now. That's why he attacked Alec in that manner this morning.
"She is my former boss' daughter" Jake confirms and I nod with a small smile.
"Jeff said you disappeared on her birthday! Why? And what were you doing there?" I continue to ask. I wanted all the answers.
"That was the day I had my encounter with my dad. At Madison's birthday party on Wednesday night. My boss chose me out of all the chefs to bake a cake for his daughter and I agreed so that's why I was there and that's also the reason why I disappeared and never set foot here. Because of my dad" he rattles and I'm pleased. He has finally said a whole paragraph.
"Here you go Jakey!" A waitress says laying our cooked beef burgers in front of us and I smile when I sense the sweet aroma emanating from it.
"Oh hey my waitress friend" Jake replies with a huge grin.
"Where did you go cowboy? We have all missed you" she says. She was a woman maybe who I would presume to be around her twenties. She has neck length brown hair. She was a bit fat and a little bit short but I think she is very friendly.
"Yeah I know! Jeff told me! Thanks for bringing our food"
"You are welcome" she sang.
"Can you get us two bottles of 7up please?" Jake asks politely
"Sure Jakey" she says and dashes out of our sight.
"Eat up" Jake tells me and grabs his own burger. I take a bite and it tastes good.
"Its good. Your friend really knows how to cook" I compliment and Jake smiles wryly
"Jeff is a good cook" he states and takes another bite.
"So did you go to work at another place when you left this place?" I ask him and take another bite.
"No." He replies
"Enough with my work life! Let's just talk about the project! We have only a few hours until tomorrow and Mr Cartwright made it clear to us that No. Shoddy. Work"
"Right" I reply putting my index finger up getting my notebook ready.
"Okay so the first question is, where would you like to travel to?" I ask him and he is in deep thoughts.
I am praying he will say Paris.
"I don't know! Maybe Australia" he says with a shrug and I am disappointed. I was hoping he would say Paris but he ended up saying Australia.
"What about you?" He quickly says shoving the last piece of his burger into his mouth.
"I uh....I have always dreamt to go to Paris. To see the Eiffel tower"
He snorts a bit.
"Why do you want to go to Australia?"
"I don't know! I just wanna go there and have a feel of the place. I already have a feel of England and Washington."
"Okay so are we writing about the two places or only one?" I ask him.
The waitress comes and lays our drinks in front of us.
"Thanks" he tells her and she smiles after Jake gives her a few bills. Then she walked off after flashing me a small but pleasant smile.
"He said we should write about one place you and I would love to travel to" Jake replies.
"Well we have Paris and Australia! Which one are we going to write about?"
Jake huffs thinking aloud. He then snatches my notebook and tears a small sheet.
"Pen please" he asks and I hand it to him confused.
He writes on two small pieces of paper and folds them neatly.
"Pick one! The one you will pick will be the place we are writing about" he says showing me the two folded papers in his hand.
I pick one and open it. Australia was written on it! No! Jake is chuckling inwardly.
"Can I see the other paper?"
"No!"
"But why?" I ask confused
"It has Paris on it obviously" Jake says
"I have a feeling you aren't telling me the truth" I protest.
"It's true" he insists
"Then let me see it" I snap.
"No!"
"Jake!"
"I said no!"
I growl and forcefully try to open his hand and he laughs at me
"Nikki! What the fuck?" He says between laughs
"You cheat!" I scream at him and he laughs louder.
"Okay okay I'll admit I cheated. I wrote only Australia on the two papers"
"I knew it. My instincts never fail me" I spit proudly.
"Now its your turn to choose" I spit and write Paris on one paper and Australia on the other. Then I fold them and tell him to choose
He studies the paper in my hands and finally picks one whiles holding his breath. I slurp on my 7up drink as he opens it.
"Paris fuck!" He blurts and I snigger.
"I won!"
"You cheated! Show me the other twin"
I show it to him and he is surprised to see Australia written on it.
"See! I did not cheat"
"You cast a spell on me!"
"I didn't" I reply laughing hard at him.
"Why don't you like Paris?" I ask him. After laughing with him, all the grudges I held against him about Helen is gone but it still hurts a bit and I know he has loosened up too. He slurps on his drink before answering me.
"People make a big deal out of it! Its annoying"
"You don't like Paris because people talk about it too much?" I ask in uttermost disbelief.
He studies my expression and chuckles slightly.
"Yes that's the reason"
"But Paris is beautiful! Australia is beautiful too but I love Paris"
"Oh please, gimme a break! This is what I was talking about! You are behaving like my sister"
I laugh.
"You would understand when we research on it"
"And who said we are writing the essay about Paris?" Jake asks and I furrow my eyebrows
"Hellooo! You chose the paper that said Paris!" I taunt him and he clicks his tongue in annoyance
"I still want Australia" Jake retorts.
I sigh and look outside. Its already dark and its raining outside. I look around us and the place is filled. I didn't even notice when the people came in but the place is full.
"I can see people come here in the night often" I compliment
"Yeah. I remember this is supposed to be my shift" he says with a small smile.
"Its raining and its getting late! We need to start our essay and its on Paris! Period!"I state firmly and Jake groans.
" why are you so difficult?"he asks me with a smirk
"I'm not"
"You are"
My phone rings and its Aaron. I look at Jake who was watching my every move.
"Hey love" I state into the phone when I pick up.
"Where are you? I came to pick you up at home. I wanted us to go somewhere together but you are not around and Trina is extremely angry at you for not picking her up! Your parents are also worried"
"Tell them not to worry! I'm having an appointment with my...uh....project partner. We need to write an essay and submit it early tomorrow morning. And tell Trina what I did is payback for her teasing me with my blouse."
I wanted to tell her that Mason might be in love with her but I will tell her on Halloween.
Aaron chuckles.
"Okay. I'll pick you up another time! And good luck with your project"
"Thanks Aaron"
I hang up.
"My family is just worried about me" I tell Jake who was glaring at me.
"I guess Aaron is part of the family now" he says simply covering the jealousy and hurt in his voice with a fake beam. This guy is really mysterious.
"I think so cause my parents already accepted him I guess" I say remembering the day he came to our house and the way they teased him about him being bony.
Jake is silent playing with his fingers.
"That is good to know. I'm happy for the two of you" he finally spoke up but his voice breaks a bit.
"Yeah, Aaron is a sweet person" I reply even though I still like Jake but that is the truth and we have to accept it. All Jake has done is to hurt me.
"Jake! What a lovely surprise!" Someone blurts and a man walks to our table. He looked a bit old but he was still strong and very amiable
"Boss!" Jake replies shaking hands with him and then hugs him. This is Madison's father. Jake's boss and Jake's daddy's friend.
"How are you my boy?" He asks in his deep voice.
"I'm fine boss"
"I have really missed you! Most of the clients kept asking about you! I'm glad you finally paid us a visit."
"Yes! I wanted to make things right"
Madison's dad laughs in amusement.
"I came here to beg on my brother's behalf, Alec I mean." Jake says and the old man frowns instantly. They both take a seat and he sighs. I feel odd so I just research on Paris for the essay.
"Oh my boy! I don't know what to say! I'm afraid this is going to tear me and your father apart."
"No! Its not! Its gonna unite us! Think about it! Madison and Alec will be together"
"I know but she is too young to have a child! She may suffer a few complications! And the stigma! The stigma is also there to humiliate us"
"Madison will be alright! She will deliver her baby girl and live happily with my brother! He is willing to accept every responsibility"
The old man nods.
"And I'm sorry he had to get Madison pregnant at this age"
"Its alright my boy! We all make mistakes"the old man says with a chuckle.
"Who is she?"my boss asks referring to me but I don't let Jake answer for me.
" I am Nicole!"I say politely and I shake hands with him.
"Nice to meet you Nicole"
I flash him a smile and go back to typing on my phone draining all the information I need to get about Paris from the internet whiles Jake chatted with his boss. I even wrote something down like a draft before we actually write the real essay and I think it's going well. I really loved writing essays. It was a part of me.
Soon his boss left and I yawned tiredly. My eyelids wanted to close but I forced them open most of the time.