“You’ll have the rest of the weekend to study. I might even come join you so I can pass these classes. Just come tonight, and then you can keep me on task for the rest of the weekend.”
For some reason, going to a party seemed like a good idea. The one time in my life that it actually did.
I held up my hands. “Yeah, I’ll go. It might be nice not to get distracted by my neighbor every five minutes.”
Serena glanced behind me in the direction of the ball fields. “Trouble in paradise for the baseball/softball couple?”
“It’s just the whole prom thing. He’s been acting off the past few days, and I’m not equipped to handle the up-and-down emotions. He’s turning back into Jerkface Jake, and I could use a little diversion tonight.”
“Perfect! I’ll text you the address. Starts at seven, but get there closer to eight.” Serena waved goodbye and headed for her little Beetle car. She tore off through the parking lot, nearly hitting a parked car near the exit.
I chuckled and headed inside, dropping my bag in the locker room. Hopefully, I wouldn’t regret my decision to go to the party.
I’d chosen a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt blouse. I knew the girls were going to give me guff about not dressing up, but if I was going to be uncomfortable somewhere, the least I could do was be comfy with my clothes. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, just trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. I’d had everything mapped out for the past few years, but having someone to share things with was better than doing it on my own. Trying to meet my mother’s expectations even when she wasn’t around wasn’t the healthiest thing for me.
I found a parking spot somewhat close to the party and made my way to the front door. A note on it said to walk in, so I did, trying to orient myself in the large home. I walked through several of the rooms, searching the faces for one of my friends. I couldn’t find any of them and moved out to the backyard.
The view was surprising as the house was built up and able to look out over the small valley. The landscaping was remarkable, with a mini-golf course down toward the fence. It was only about four holes but still impressive.
I rubbed my hands over my upper arms, feeling the chill from the night air. I’d forgotten a jacket once again and turned to head back inside. What was before me caused me to stop in my tracks.
There were several chairs sitting on a little porch to the side of the house, and a bunch of couples were sitting in them. The guy in the second chair over looked familiar, and when the girl sitting on his lap moved to the side, I saw Jake’s face, a wide grin covering it.
I took a few steps in their direction, hoping my eyes were just playing tricks on me, when the girl leaned in and kissed him.
A fire erupted in my stomach, and hot tears dripped down my cheeks. He hadn’t changed.
I stormed off, pushing through the crowd of people in the main living room and kitchen to the front door. Pulling it closed as hard as I could, I sprinted to my car, not wanting to see anyone else.
Where did you go? I just saw you run through the house. The text was from Serena, and I could barely read it through the tears in my eyes.
Just saw Jake kissing some brunette girl on the deck. I’m going to head home.
I slammed the key into the ignition and took off, pushing the accelerator harder than I’d done in a while. Sure, my car was older and not the best-looking thing in comparison to the other cars students drove, but it had some guts still.
I made the drive in minutes and collapsed on my bed, sobbing, grateful for two days ahead when I didn’t have to talk to anyone or do anything. I’d never expected to feel such immense pain. And now I wasn’t sure how I would get through another betrayal by Jake White.
Chapter 29
Jake
“You’re an idiot!” I heard from behind me. I turned to see Serena, one of Penny’s friends with her hands on her hips and looking like she was ready to murder me.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, taking a sip from the Diet Coke in my cup. I raised my eyebrows, waiting for her response.
Serena shoved me in the shoulder and looked like she was trying to keep herself in check. “Why were you kissing some girl outside who wasn’t Penny?”
“What do you mean? I didn’t kiss anyone. I just got here a few minutes ago. I came with Dax, Nate, and Colt.” I motioned in the direction of the kitchen where my two friends were getting a drink. This hadn’t been my first choice of places to be, but Dax had insisted we come tonight, saying it would help put things in perspective, whatever that meant. Sure, I’d been a bear the past week, and the only reason I’d agreed to come was to take my mind off the situation with Penny with the loudness of the party, instead of the thoughts overwhelming me in the silence of my room.
Nate walked to my one side, trying to figure out what was going on.
Not the person I wanted to talk to at the moment either. We’d had it out before practice after he’d asked Penny to prom, and I still hadn’t said more than a couple of words to him. I’d gone over and over it all in my mind, wondering if I should just cave and go with her to prom, but I didn’t want to have a panic attack in front of the whole student body.
An array of emotions played across her face. “You weren’t outside on a chair, making out with a brunette girl?”
Now I was getting annoyed. “No. I wouldn’t do that. I’m still with Penny. At least, I hope I am.”
“You better think fast, then, Jake. Because she was here and took off because she thought she saw you.”
My breath caught, and my mind spun with all the scenarios Penny was probably picturing. I’d worked so hard to regain her trust, and although I hadn’t been an awesome boyfriend or even friend the past week, I didn’t want her to hate me for the rest of my life. Or worse, think that I’d just been gaming her the whole time.
“Did you look out there?” I asked pointing to the back deck.
Serena nodded. “You bet I did. But there was only a weird band couple making out, and there’s no way Penny would mistake you for that guy.”
“Do you have a car here?” I hoped Serena had a way to get me home. We’d come in Dax’s car, and I knew I wasn’t going to convince them to leave the party just after we’d arrived.
She nodded. “I can drive you if you want.”
“Thank you. Yes, I need to talk to Penny right now.” As much as I didn’t want to, I turned to Nate. “Tell Dax I’ve got a ride.”
Serena was a surprisingly decent driver, although she preferred speed as we maneuvered through several intersections with ease, making it back to my street in a matter of minutes. She pulled over in front of Penny’s house and put the car in park.
“Good luck, Jake. You’re going to need it.”
“Thanks.” I opened the door and stepped out, when she spoke again.
“Fix it. Penny isn’t going to survive another heartbreak from you.”
Her words caused me to hesitate, and I leaned back down to see her face. “What do you mean ‘another heartbreak’?”
“She’s liked you since you were kids, or so Kate tells it. You broke her heart the first time you stopped hanging out with her, and I don’t think she’ll make it through another one. You’re the question mark on her notebook.”
I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, and I took a step back. “Uh, thanks.” I shut the door and watched as the little compact car moved away. I’d nearly forgotten about the I heart ? on her notebook. That was for me?
I turned and ran to her front door, knocking several times and pressing the doorbell over and over again. I’d stop from time to time to listen for any footsteps but just heard a TV coming from the front room.
After at least five minutes, the door swung open fast, causing me to jump back in surprise.
“What do you want, Jake?” Derrick glared at me, and for the first time, Penny’s younger brother looked my size.
“I need to talk to Penny. Now. Is she in there?” I steppe
d up on tiptoe, hoping I’d catch a glimpse of her walking through the room or something.
Derrick shook his head and started closing the door. “I doubt she wants to talk to you right now. She came in sobbing and went straight to her room. Might be a good idea to just leave her alone. You don’t want to hurt her worse, do you?”
I shook my head, feeling overwhelming helplessness.
Derrick shut the door with a firm click, and I stepped back, running a hand through my hair. That usually helped me put things in place, but I still had no idea how I was going to get her to listen to me.
Walking around the house to the side, I picked up a few pebbles and tossed them up to Penny’s window. There was a dim light on in the room, but even after several minutes, there was no movement I could see.
Sitting in the driveway, I pulled out my phone, opening a text to Penny.
Serena told me what you thought you saw. I got to the party after you left. It wasn’t me.
I pressed send, hoping to see a response soon. After another minute, I kept writing.
I wouldn’t do that to you, Penny. Please believe me. You mean more to me than anyone ever has. Please call me or text me.
Again I paused, trying to collect my thoughts.
I know I’ve been a jerk this past week, and I’m sorry.
I sat on the driveway looking up at her window for at least thirty minutes, hoping I’d catch some glimpse of her and be able to signal that I was there.
“Jake, I think it’s time to head home,” a deep voice called out from the porch at the front. Mr. Davis.
I hung my head and shook it. “She has to know it wasn’t me, sir.”
Mr. Davis walked over and sat next to me. “Why don’t you explain it to me, son?” He put his arm around me, resting his hand on my shoulder.
Emotions ran high, and I wiped my nose with the back of my hand. It took only a few minutes, but I told him everything Serena had told me and how I’d come back here as soon as I’d heard.
He nodded a few times, looking like he was chewing on something as he studied the ground in front of us. “Well, Jake, just know that things will work out. But that’s not to say you should just wait for her to call you. You’re going to have to prove, in some way, that it wasn’t you at the party. You know how Penelope gets with things. Once something is in her mind, it’s hard to pry her from that opinion.” He paused and looked over at me, studying my face. “You’re worth it, and she’s so much happier when she’s with you.”
“You don’t think we’re too young to be dating?” My parents’ words had popped up in my head, suddenly making me doubt everything I’d been worried about over the past half hour.
Mr. Davis chuckled. “Not a bit. I met my wife in high school, and we started dating a few weeks later. We went through a lot in those first few years and then again once we got married. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, even knowing how things would turn out between us. She gave me two of the greatest gifts ever, and I’m grateful for that.”
“You didn’t regret it when she left?” I winced, wishing I could’ve softened the blow a little bit.
A sad smile took over, and he said, “Nope. Well, maybe the first few days, but there are things I never could’ve given her, and if she felt she needed those things above her family, I wasn’t going to stand in her way. As long as I have those kids under my roof to love, I will forever be grateful for that.”
We sat in silence for several moments as I tossed around the ideas he’d given me. It was a completely different outlook to the one my father had offered up the week before. As if sensing my hesitation, he spoke again.
“You two have been through more in the past five years than most adults, and even though you had a falling out for a while, I think you’re both stronger for it. You know how much you need the other one. Just keep moving forward, Jake. She’ll come around.”
“Thank you, sir.” My voice came out gruff, but I felt the words resonate with me. Penny was the person in life I couldn’t lose. It had just taken way longer than it should have for me to realize that.
He patted my back. “Get some sleep. You’re going to need it to come up with a plan to win her back.”
I waved good night and headed to my house, glancing up at the window in the hopes that I’d at least see her silhouette.
More determined than before, I had to come up with a plan to convince her how much I really did care.
Chapter 30
Penny
I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a train, every muscle sore from an awkward night of sleep. I’d had so many dreams about what had happened the night before, and I wanted to just forget about it and move on, go back to the goals I’d set at the beginning of the year.
Checking my phone, I realized I had a shift at the diner I’d forgotten about, meaning I had to hurry or I’d be late.
After throwing on my uniform, I ran out the door, trying to pull my hair into a ponytail. I turned the key in the ignition and heard the one sound I didn’t want to hear when I was in a hurry. The click-click of the engine as it wouldn’t start. I tried it again, using every trick I could think of to get it working.
A tap came at the window, and I jumped, hitting my elbow on the console next to me. The awful feeling of hitting a nerve rippled through my forearm, and I bit my tongue to keep from shouting out.
“What do you want?” I asked Jake after rolling down the window a crack.
“I’m heading to the diner. I can take you if you want.”
Shaking my head, I said, “I’d rather eat dirt.” I sounded just like when we’d started talking more, and part of me was sorry our relationship had turned back to this.
“Penny, it wasn’t me at the party last night. I promise. You can ask Dax and Colt. You have to believe me. Did you get my texts last night? I tried to explain—”
“I deleted them, and I don’t have to believe anything,” I said, leaning forward to try the ignition again. It made the same sound, and I dropped my head to the steering wheel. Why couldn’t it just work when I needed it to?
“What if I don’t talk the entire way to the diner? Will you let me give you a ride?”
I lifted my head but avoided looking at him. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I opened the door. “Not a peep,” I said, pointing a finger at him.
The drive over was awkward, but at that point, I was too hurt to care about it. I’d deleted his number sometime during the night, and the text messages that had come in went into the trash as well. Reading them would have brought more tears, and I’d spilled more in one night than I had in a long time. My wounds felt raw already without his excuses, like they’d been clawed out by a vicious animal.
Once he parked the Jeep, I jumped out, running in to make it only a minute or two late. Jake was right behind me, grabbing an apron from the rack just after I had.
“You have to understand I wouldn’t do that to you, Penny. I know you asked for time to think it over, and I’ve been a jerk. I’m so sorry—”
“That’s enough!” I raised my hands, trying to catch my breath before I spoke again. “Just leave me alone for now, please. I need to get to work.” I didn’t even acknowledge Lou, walking out onto the dining floor, trying to regain some semblance of calm.
Seeing Claudia, I walked over to her. “Where do you need me?”
“Thank goodness you made it. I was beginning to think this would be the shift that killed me in the end.” She directed me to my assigned booths, and I got to work, making sure to focus on the customer’s words, even if my mind drifted every few seconds to the boy carrying a gray bin and a washcloth.
Each time I saw him, the image of him kissing a girl popped up, squashing any emotion I felt for him. I was just another dumb girl who’d fallen for his charms.
As much as I wanted to believe he was telling the truth, I needed to move on. To make it through my junior year and then get some kind of scholarship. Anything to get me away from this town and Jake White.
&
nbsp; Chapter 31
Jake
I’d never felt more miserable than I did over the next few days. I wracked my brain, trying to think of some way to prove to Penny that it wasn’t me at the party kissing some other girl. I hadn’t kissed anyone but her in months, and I wasn’t planning on kissing anyone else. Ever. None of the other girls I’d kissed had made me feel the way she did.
“Who rained on your parade?” Dax asked, slamming me in the shoulder with his own.
We were in the locker room, getting ready for an away game, and I wasn’t in the mood for anything but sleep. It was going to be a long night if something didn’t change.
“I still don’t know how to tell Penny I wasn’t the one making out with another girl at that party last weekend. She thought she saw me. Do I have any doppelgangers that go to this school?” It sounded weird to think about it like that, more conceited than actually helpful, but I didn’t know another way to phrase it.
“Not that I know of,” Dax said, pulling off his t-shirt and throwing it onto the growing pile of clothes in his locker. He turned to Ben and asked, “Is there a guy who looks like White at the school?”
Ben shook his head, shrugging. “None that I know of. But maybe in the sophomore or freshman class? I don’t know many of them since most of my classes consist of juniors and seniors.”
Colt spoke up. “I might know of someone. Let me check, and I’ll let you know.” The tone of his voice gave me an odd sense of hope, even if it was only a sliver. If the kid looked like me, I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to convince Penny he was the one at the party except by dragging him over to her at some point and explaining the whole thing. But I’d just have to wait and see if Colt was even able to locate someone semi-close to my appearance.
We won the away game, and I even made a few great plays despite my brain not being completely focused with every pitch.
The Perfect Play: A Boy Next Door Young Adult Romance (Rosemont High Baseball Book 1) Page 13