Always Been You (3 page)

“Why are you being so stubborn?” whined Amy.

“Why are you being so annoyingly persistent?” I grinned.

“About what?” asked Matt, his blue eyes sparkling with curiosity, as we joined him at one of the black lab tables by the window.

“I’m trying to find out what Jenna and Jacob were talking about,” said Amy, letting out a frustrated breath. “They were being secretive about something, but she won’t tell me why.”

“Speaking of Jacob, have you seen what he’s wearing today?” said Katie Andrews. Her long, auburn hair that was normally straight and to her shoulders was now cut short, about chin length, and layered so it framed her face. “I just saw him coming out of the north gym, and I have to admit I was tempted to run a finger down the front of his shirt, just so I could feel how hard his chest is. It should even be considered illegal with the way he fills out his jeans.”

“If you think what he’s wearing now is hot, you should’ve seen what he wore this morning before he changed,” said Amy.

“Ooh, I would love to have seen that,” sighed Katie, her emerald eyes glistening in a dream-like state. “Jacob in a basketball jersey is definitely hot, especially with those new sexy muscles of his.”

“Jenna saw Jacob’s new muscles up close,” Amy grinned.

“Did you touch them?” Katie asked me.

“Are you sure you’re dating Alex?” I said.

“I’m starting to wonder about that too.”

We all turned around. Alex Martinez, our resident class clown, had appeared in the room and was giving his girlfriend a baleful look.

“Can we please stop talking about my cousin’s attributes?” grumbled Matt.

“Why?” said Amy. “Jealous?”

“More like getting disturbed about it,” said Matt.

“Now, back to what we were talking about before we got distracted.” Amy, who was mimicking the same look Alex had, aimed it to her boyfriend. “Jen, what did Jacob tell you that you can’t say to anyone?”

“All he said was if you want to know, you’re going to have to ask him,” I said.

“He said that to you?”

“He did.”

Later when I met up with Jacob to go for lunch, it eerily felt like when he first had transferred in. Some of the girls looked like they were going to faint from the sight of his new physique as we walked out of one of our classes and headed down the hall. Jacob was so uncomfortable with their appreciative murmurs and gazes that he finally got fed up at being gawked at, went straight to his locker, grabbed his coat, and covered up his arms before heading down to the cafeteria with me.

 
Chapter 2

Bowling and a Bet!

A
ll week long, no one had any clue about Jacob’s recent breakup. I was surprised that even Matt didn’t suspect a thing either. Some did wonder why Jacob wasn’t with Amber and had assumed it was because most of her classes were in the South building. But then on Friday afternoon while I was discussing plans for later in the evening with Amy and Katie, our attention was caught by Nikki yelling our names, and I wasn’t prepared for what I heard from her. It even caused me to drop my lunch bag to the floor.

Supposedly, Amber was telling everyone the reason she and Jacob broke up was because he cheats on his girlfriends, sucks at kissing, and was really bad in bed.

“I also heard she was the one who dumped Jacob and that she has found a much hotter guy,” said Nikki.

“I’m not sure about the new guy, but everything else she’s been saying has to be all lies,” I said.

“That’s what you two were talking about yesterday, wasn’t it?” Amy said with accusation aimed at me.

“Yes, and I’m sorry, but I promised I’d keep it a secret,” I said.

“Did he tell you why he broke up with her?” Nikki asked me, tucking a long blonde strand behind her ear.

“Just only that they were no longer going out,” I replied. “I guess he must’ve thought it wouldn’t be this quick for his breakup to get around school, and for people to start pestering him about it.”

“Uh, Jen, this is Jacob we’re talking about,” said Katie. “There are no secrets about him.”

“Actually there are,” I said. “People only know the things he doesn’t mind sharing.”

“Does he tell you any of the ones he doesn’t share?” said Nikki.

“Some, but not everything since I don’t like to pry it out of him,” I said. Amy raised an eyebrow. “And I know what you’re thinking, Ames, so don’t you dare.”

“And why not?” she complained. “Matt and I have always said you two would be perfect with each other. Look at the other guys you’ve dated and how wrong they turned out to be.”

I thought back to Ethan and sighed. “I know, but it still doesn’t mean you guys can still try something. Like I told you both before, I’m very happy that Jacob and I are friends again.”

Identical expressions of scepticism flitted across all their faces. But instead of continuing with their assault of questions at me, Nikki linked my arm with hers, and we headed down the hall.

Once we entered into the cafeteria, what Katie had said to us was true. Anything that had to do with Jacob was always a part of everyone’s conversations. And since Jacob’s breakup was considered big news at the moment, it was all anyone was talking about.

Everyone had different speculations on what they thought really happened between Jacob and Amber. They were arguing so loudly, I had a hard time trying to listen in to the babbling voices of my friends. Therefore, instead of tormenting myself any longer, I finally got fed up with the useless chatter, picked up my squashed ham and cheese sandwich, and threw it in the trash. I then went back upstairs to what I thought would be deserted to seek some peace and quiet, and I was startled to see Jacob sitting against my locker.

“So I guess you’ve heard?” he sighed, as I plopped myself down next to him. “I should’ve figured this would happen. Look who I was going out with.”

“Despite the fact that she shouldn’t be saying all these nasty things about you, I am amazed at how well you are taking everything,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“Doesn’t any of her rumours bother you?”

“Actually, I only care what you think.”

“Why should it matter what I think, Jacob?”

“Because I don’t want you to think less of me,” he said. “You don’t believe anything that’s going around about me, do you, Jenna?”

“Of course not. You’re not that kind of guy. At least one good thing came out of all of this.”

“And what’s that?”

“You don’t have to put up with her anymore,” I grinned. “At least you aren’t sinking as low as Amber. From what I just heard in the lunchroom, some think she’s just in denial and is only trying to get back at you by already seeing someone new. I’m sure you’re much hotter than her new college guy anyway, with those sexy mus—”

I quickly slapped a hand across my mouth, hoping Jacob didn’t hear what had accidentally slipped out. But as I slowly peered to my left, my eyes widened with horror once I saw Jacob’s grin. His lips were so widely spread apart I swore his face was going to split in two.

“I knew you didn’t think my muscles were flabby,” he grinned.

I punched him in the shoulder and was about to retort when we were abruptly interrupted by a huge commotion. Hannah Miller, Joyce Vinders, Monique Frost, and Alicia Wu—the group of girls who had decided to dub themselves Jacob’s Groupies since they basically worshipped the ground Jacob walked on—were charging in our direction. They were wailing his name so loudly that when I turned back, Jacob was already halfway down the hall.

“I’ll talk to you later, Jenna,” he called over his shoulder.

I knew why he wanted to leave. Every time those girls saw Jacob, they never missed the opportunity to run their hands along his chest, use their fingers to move them seductively up his arms, or even wrap both arms around his waist. But instead of making Jacob like them, their forward manner had frightened him to the point where he avoided them, whenever he could.

Hearing the final bell ringing through the halls two hours later, I then quickly packed up my things from my locker and went to meet the rest of the gang. When I got nearer to the school parking lot, I was surprised to see Devon Johnson, a black-haired, brown-eyed guy, standing beside Jacob, staring intently at Nikki.

Out of everyone Jacob had befriended when he first had transferred in, Devon was the only one we liked. Besides being somewhat shy, he has never been rude or arrogant to any of my friends, and would always greet us whenever we saw him in the hall.

“Since we are short a player for the guys’ team, I hope you guys don’t mind that I asked Devon to join us,” said Jacob.

“I’m sure none of the guys do since they need all the help they can get,” I said.

“Very funny, Jen,” said Matt.

“So who’s going with who?” asked Katie.

“I’ll take Jenna with me and we’ll meet you guys there,” said Jacob.

Before I could object, Jacob quickly grabbed onto my sleeve and started yanking me towards his black Nissan 350z
.

“You could’ve just asked you know,” I said wryly, as we hopped into the sports car.

“Nah, this is more fun,” he chuckled. “Besides, we didn’t finish our talk today.”

“It’s not my fault your fan club is so obsessed with you,” I teased.

“So what exactly happened between you and Ethan?” asked Jacob, blatantly ignoring my amused grin. “I thought you guys were getting along.”

“We were, but it started getting awkward for me,” I said. “At the beginning he seemed like a decent guy, but I quickly found out he wasn’t what I thought he was. I guess he only acted sweet just so I would go out with him. Once we started dating, I then realised we had nothing in common. We even ended up fighting over things that were so petty. Seriously, who do you know picks fights over something small, like how big a meatball should be? But then there is this one occurring thing that we’re always fighting over, and it’s finally gotten to the point where I can’t take it anymore.”

“Does that one thing have anything to do with me?” asked Jacob.

“He’s still jealous about my relationship with you,” I sighed. “He just can’t accept the idea that we’re good friends. You don’t know how many arguments I’ve had with him. It’s even gotten to the point where he’s now trying to control who I should and shouldn’t talk to.”

“He must love you if he’s this insistent. What if he doesn’t let go?”

“Would I go back with him?” I shuddered. “I don’t think so. There are too many other things we don’t agree on. He really doesn’t want to end it, but I can’t pretend to like him just for the sake of going out with someone. I’m just glad he doesn’t go to the same school. I don’t know what I would do if I saw him everyday. Too bad it’s different with Amber, huh?”

“I really don’t care about that anymore,” said Jacob. “Now that it’s over, in a way I’m glad she’s found someone else and that everyone knows I’m no longer with her. I never really was in love with her anyway. The only thing I do regret is how she treated everyone, especially you.”

“Me?” I said, taken back.

“Remember that day at Devon’s when I was talking to you? That’s when I knew I had enough.”

I still could vividly remember that day.

We had been at Devon’s celebrating his seventeenth birthday when Amber had accused me of trying to steal her boyfriend, yelling that all his attention had to be on her. When I had told her that I hoped she wasn’t using him, she then had tried to hit me, except Jacob had intervened and grabbed her arm. They then had an argument right in front of everyone when he had started defending me. The last thing I remember was Jacob telling her that he swore if he ever heard her bad mouthing me again, he would end it right there. I thought he would have when she started screaming even louder at him. But rather than breaking up with her, he had given me an apologetic look and had followed Amber out the door.

“Thanks for sticking up for me,” Jacob went on. “I really am sorry she tried to hit you.”

“That shocked me too, but you shouldn’t feel sorry,” I said. “You even tried to stop her.”

“Still, she shouldn’t have even tried. I don’t know why I always pick the wrong ones.”

“Then maybe I should check out the next one you go out with and give you my approval first,” I joked, as we pulled into one of the stalls in the bowling alley’s parking lot.

“You know, that might not be a bad idea,” he replied thoughtfully.

“This is me joking, Jacob.”

“And this is me not.”

“Jacob, I really don’t think it would be right if I did that for you,” I said. “Maybe it’s better if you asked someone else. What about Matt? I’m sure someone like your cousin would know your tastes.”

“He does, but he jokes around a bit too much. Please, Jenna? It’d mean a lot to me.”

“Why me?”

“You’re the only one who I actually trust with something like this,” he explained. “And I’m sure you also know my tastes better than anyone, even Matt.”

“I’m glad you trust me, Jacob, but I really can’t help you out with this one.”

“It’s worth a try,” he sighed. “Anyway, let’s go in so we can get this game going.”

A half-hour later as I waited for my turn to bowl, Jacob’s strange request was still running through my head. Sure I was his friend, but he shouldn’t be letting me choose the next girl for him. How would he know if I wasn’t trying to make his life difficult by picking someone he really despised?

“Hey, Jenna, you’re up,” said Alex.

“All you need to do is get these last three strikes and you’ll win it for us girls,” said Katie.

“Thanks for not giving me any pressure,” I said with sarcasm laced in my voice.

“No problem,” she grinned.

As I waited for the yellow ball I was using to appear in the shoot, I had to admit it had been sheer luck that I had gotten so many strikes. I was amazed I had gotten a spare on the first frame, and I became even more surprised that my score had continued in a strike-spare-strike pattern after that. Now with the girls’ side only down by ten points, how could I not feel the pressure of letting them down when the only way I could get those ten measly points is for me to get the last three strikes?