Always Been You

by Tracy Luu

  “Then I guess it was a good thing I wasn’t there,” I grinned. “Speaking of girlfriends, how’s Yvonne been?”

  “I’m not sure. We broke up last week.”

  “Oh, Ri, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s no big deal,” he shrugged. “We barely saw each other. To tell you the truth, she’s not the right girl for me anyway since I…well…I like someone else.”

  “So who’s the new girl?”

  “I’m not sure I should tell you.”

  “Come on, Ri. You always tell me who it is.”

  “Well, from what I can tell you, I think she’s very special. We get along so well that we’re a perfect match for each other. The more time I spend with her, the more I want to be with her. Plus she’s amazingly hot, but she doesn’t even think she is.”

  “So why don’t you tell her? She sounds perfect for you.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do right now.”

  A strange feeling crept up the back of my neck.

  “I’m still in love with you, Jenna,” he went on. “I know we’ve tried in the past, and it didn’t turn out, but I’ve been wondering if that was the right decision. I was hoping that maybe we could try again.”

  “Um…” I bit my lip nervously.

  “Oh, I see,” he sighed. “You like someone else, don’t you?”

  “I’m sorry, but…”

  “It’s fine, Jenna. I guess I just thought that, you know, you and Jacob were only just friends. But I guess I’ve noticed for some time that things have changed this year with you both. Jacob seems happier around you, and you seem happier when you’re around him. I know it takes a certain person to win that special place in your heart. And after witnessing his New Year’s kiss, Jacob has found his way there. At least one good thing came out of all of this.”

  “What?” I asked him.

  “Even if we did only go out for a short time, at least I’m able to tell everyone I dated the girl that Jacob Bennett dreams about,” he said cheekily. “But seriously, I really did have fun when we were together, and still do. I just hope what I said doesn’t ruin our friendship.”

  “You’ll never have anything to worry about that,” I said. “I’m just glad to see you’re okay with everything. Most guys usually don’t take rejection so easily.”

  “Like I said, it’s because I don’t want to ruin the friendship we have. You really are very special to me, Jenna.”

  “And me to you,” I grinned, returning his hug.

  “Now let’s get this thing untangled so we get some food,” he said. “That smell of hamburger meat cooking on the barbecue is making me hungry.”

  Eventually getting the net set up after the wind blew it out of our hands a few times, we then clambered to our feet and headed over to the gigantic canvas marquee. The tables looked like they were heaving with food. From numerous platters of sandwiches, overflowing bowls of potato salad and fruit salad, a huge array of cold drinks, and massive plates of burgers and hot dogs, it took all my willpower not to overeat. Once I filled my plate with a different variety of things, I then joined Riley, and we found a place to sit that overlooked the sailboats by the pier.

  The food had tasted as good as it smelt, leaving the both of us pleasantly full. But then just as Riley and I were about to lean back onto the grass and relax from the meal, Jacob appeared and grabbed my hand.

  “Jacob, I’m tired,” I said.

  “Please, Jenna?” he grinned. “It’ll be f—OW! Who the hell?”

  Riley and I both looked around Jacob. Hannah Miller was standing right behind him.

  “I was coming to see you if you wanted to go for a walk with me and couldn’t resist pinching your butt,” she giggled. “Now that I know it feels great, how about it?”

  “Sorry, but Jenna’s already agreed to play volleyball with me, right, Jenna?” said Jacob.

  Riley gave a strangled laugh. “And you said you two weren’t attached to the hip,” he whispered to me.

  “Shut it,” I scowled, elbowing Riley in the ribs.

  “Then can I at least join your team?” asked Hannah. She tossed back her long hair, a habit that I found increasingly irritating, and gave me a smile that was almost a smirk.

  “Actually both teams are already full,” said Jacob. “Riley, you’re coming too, aren’t you?”

  “Well, Jenna, let’s not keep Jacob waiting,” said Riley with a smug grin.

  “You’re a good man, Peters,” said Jacob.

  Before I could open my mouth, or for Hannah to pinch Jacob again, Jacob and Riley grabbed both of my hands, hauled me off the grass, and pulled me away.

  “I should tell you that if you’re gonna keep treating the girls like this, instead of pinching one of them is bound to come back and bite you in the ass,” I said to Jacob.

  “That’s because they all would love to bite my ass,” he said.

  “Bennett, I really don’t need to see that,” spluttered Riley, as Jacob flexed his bum.

  A half-hour later, and the game finally over, I felt even more exhausted than before. I had a stitch in my side, my legs felt like jelly, and my arms were starting to ache. I was so tired that when they asked if I wanted to play again, I quickly declined. Riley also left right after I did and went to join some other friends who were getting ready to play football on the field. Jacob tried to convince him to stay, but I knew Riley only said no to him because we were playing with those friends of Jacob’s none of us like.

  Doing a good imitation of a three-toed sloth as I slowly dragged my legs, I finally reached Amy, immediately let out a loud moan as my legs buckled from underneath me, and lay spread-eagle and motionless down on the grass.

  “What’s the matter with you?” she asked me.

  “I…never knew…Jacob was a…slave driver,” I managed to puff out.

  With her arms crossed tightly over her chest, Amy then turned to her boyfriend, who had just joined us, and stared disapprovingly at him munching on a hamburger.

  “Don’t you ever stop?” she complained.

  “Nohwheyoucoowikethif,” was Matt’s muffled reply.

  “But I’m bored,” she said. “I’ve been sitting here on my ass, waiting for you to finish eating, and now you’ve gone and grabbed more food. What am I supposed to do, while you stuff your face?”

  “Go fly a kite and let me eat in peace,” he said, before taking another huge bite.

  “That’s not a bad idea.”

  “Um, Ames, I think Matt was actually telling you to get lost,” I said.

  “I know he was, but I don’t want to watch him make a pig of himself,” she said. “Now let’s go before my ass numbs up.”

  “Can’t I just stay here?” I pleaded, as she got up and grabbed my arm.

  “Jen, kite flying doesn’t require any work.”

  “It does when you need to get the kite in air.”

  “You won’t have to worry about that.”

  “What? Are you going to help me then?”

  “Not when there’s someone perfect who can do it for you,” she grinned.

  Seeing Jacob walking towards us, Amy then grabbed his arm along the way and almost made him stumble backwards as she pulled us both towards the open field.

  Amongst the cloudy sky was a huge assortment of different kites flying in the air. There were the traditional diamond kites, a few boxed kites, some kites made of multi-coloured streamers, kites that looked like parachutes, and kites that resembled hand glider wings. There was even one of those stunt kites doing acrobatics against the wind.

  Adam Baker, my tall, lean, and flamboyant blonde friend, was handling the one doing circles in the air. Since his dad owns a shop that made their own kites, Adam had offered to bring some of them for us to use at the picnic.

  In all the years I have known Adam, I never knew how good he was at flying a kite. That was until he had invited me and Jacob to watch him perform at a local kite competition this past summer. It had been quite remarkable watching him do stunts
to some music. Adam had done some manoeuvres that ranged from loops, turns, flips, and dives. At one point, he even had the kite floating on its back.

  “Hey, Adam,” we all grinned.

  “Hey you three,” he grinned back at us. “Jenna, don’t tell me you’re actually going to try another attempt at flying one of these things?”

  “Hey, I wasn’t that bad the first time,” I said.

  “Oh, yes, you were,” laughed Jacob. “I even have the bruise where the kite crashed into me just to prove how bad you suck at it.”

  “Then let’s see if Jenna has improved,” said Amy.

  Amy blatantly ignored my huff and went over to where all the extra kites were kept. Grabbing two from the box, she then kept the one that resembled a monarch butterfly when Jacob suddenly took the multi-coloured boxed kite that she was handing to me and ran off with it.

  “I guess he didn’t want to get another bruise,” chuckled Adam.

  “I’ve seen Jacob’s bruise and I have to agree it’s better to let Jacob get it in the air for you, Jen,” said Amy. “Hey, Matt’s finally done, so I’ll see you guys later.”

  “You know, playing rugby really is doing Jacob some good, don’t you think?” Adam whispered to me, as I watched Amy leave. “Too bad he only likes girls.”

  I followed his gaze, and before I could stop myself, my mouth dropped opened when I saw what Adam meant. The cool spring breeze was forcing Jacob’s shirt to ripple across his muscular chest. But even though I sort of made a fool of myself as Adam started to laugh at me, my reaction wasn’t as bad as the rest of the girls. Some had let go of the kites they were holding and had fainted to the ground. The ones who managed to stay standing up had stopped what they were doing just to stare at Jacob running around the field.

  “What’s so funny?” panted Jacob, pushing the kite into my hands.

  “You gave all the girls a great view of your body,” smirked Adam.

  Then as if they were commenting to themselves, although we weren’t sure who, a light voice came from behind and said, “A dead sexy body, that’s what it is.” Adam and I looked at each other and howled with laughter.

  “Now that everyone agrees on Jacob’s sexy body, do you guys wanna see the new tricks I’ve learnt for the next competition?” Adam laughed, causing Jacob to blush even more.

  “Sure,” I grinned.

  Unfortunately, we never got to see Adam perform his new stunts. As soon as he began to rotate his kite in a 360 degree circle, at that same moment, someone screamed our names.

  Just beyond our peripheral vision were Matt and Amy. Both of them were lying on the hilly part of the field. Apparently, they had gotten their kite’s string tangled around their legs.

  Quickly pulling in the kites Adam and I were flying, the three of us then headed over to help. Although once we got nearer and saw Matt’s hand on top of Amy’s left boob, Adam, Jacob, and I met each other’s gazes, and we all started to smirk.

  “You know cuz, you really should learn how to handle a simple kite,” said Jacob.

  “Maybe Matt’s trying to find new ways to fondle Amy,” I teased.

  “If he is, then this new method sure has its advantages,” grinned Adam.

  “I am not fondling Amy,” scowled Matt, as the string fell from their legs. “If you really need to know, I have other ways of doing it. Right, Jiggles?”

  Adam, Jacob, and I then had to repress a chuckle as Amy’s cheeks turned pink. Her ears were as red like how mine got whenever I was discomfited.

  “Matt, can I have a word with alone?” she said with irritation.

  “Now?” croaked Matt, looking horror-struck.

  “Yes, now.” Her eyes narrowing dangerously, Amy then quickly got up from the grass and stormed off, heading west. Matt trailed after her, his face white, looking like he was about to puke.

  “It’s difficult to believe those two really love each other,” said Jacob.

  “I think their arguing is some sort of foreplay,” I said.

  “I seriously didn’t need to hear that about someone I’m related to,” mumbled Jacob.

  “And I think I better get back,” chuckled Adam. “Someone else looks like they’re having trouble with their kite, and we don’t want another incident.”

  “See you, Adam,” we both said.

  “So, Jenna, feel like going for a walk with me?” asked Jacob.

  “As long as we go in the opposite direction of those two,” I said, pointing to the path where Amy and Matt had went.

  Heading east, we strolled slowly through this patch of trees along one of the paths when we came upon a large pond surrounded by thickets of small trees and shrubs. Amongst the tall bulrushes growing around the edge was a flock of geese getting ready to go for a swim.

  Since I was still feeling worn out from the volleyball game, I ducked under the feather-veined leaves of the closest weeping willow, sat down on the soft grass, and leaned back against the moss-covered trunk. Jacob joined me, and a comfortable silence settled between us as we watched some boats sailing on the sparkling water of the ocean.

  When we were interrupted by a hysterical giggle, we then quickly tore our gazes away from the lake, peered to our left, and saw Jacob’s Groupies walking along the bridge that stretched across the left side of the pond.

  “Did you see the wind blowing Jacob’s shirt today?” asked Joyce Vinders.

  “I know!” replied Monique Frost, happily. “And those muscles! Wow! I’d sure like to see him naked so I could run my fingers down his chest.”

  “I guess they don’t realise we’re here,” I whispered.

  “Obviously,” Jacob said with annoyance. I placed a finger to my lips.

  “I still can’t believe Jacob chose Jenna over me,” said Hannah. “What was he thinking?”

  “Maybe she drugged him or something, right, Joyce?” suggested Alicia Wu.

  “Actually I heard he got her pregnant,” said the brunette. “That’s why he always sticks around her.”

  “Why that annoying sk—”

  “No, Jacob.” I hastily got up, yanked him back down with me, and clamped a hand over his mouth, just as the girls walked off the bridge.

  “I wouldn’t mind getting into bed with him,” Monique said with a sigh.

  “But we know he really likes you, and that he didn’t mean to fling you into Mr. MacKenzie,” Joyce added hastily, as Hannah gave the back of Monique’s blonde head a daggering glare.

  “He did not fling me into Mr. MacKenzie,” snapped Hannah. “I was the one who accidentally let go of him, remember? My hand slipped?”

  “Of course it did,” said Monique. “Hey, where did Jacob disappear to anyway?”

  “The last time I saw him, he was walking in that direction,” said Alicia, pointing west.

  “C’mon, girls,” said Hannah. “Let’s go find Jacob. He’s wasted enough time with someone who isn’t really that important, or even hot like me.”

  I waited until I couldn’t hear the sound of their voices before letting go of my hold. Once I did, Jacob quickly started to fume.

  “That bitch!” he growled. “What did you ever do to them?”

  “Nothing,” I sighed. “I already figured this might happen.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “Because they’re jealous of the relationship I have with you. It also doesn’t help that you’ve been spending most of the day with me.”

  “Why should it matter who I choose to spend the day with?”

  “To them it’d look like we’re dating.”

  “Then why didn’t you let me set them straight?”

  “Even if you tried, they’re girls, and they gossip. Anything you say will only make them spread more things around.”

  “But they’re spreading lies!”

  “Jacob, it’s okay,” I said calmly.

  “It’s not okay, Jenna,” he seethed. “They’re saying all these crappy things about you and I don’t like it one bit!”

  I w
asn’t sure on what else to say to lighten the mood. Jacob was so angry. So instead, I silently waited until he was calm and began picking the grass around us, tearing each blade into tiny shreds.

  My bum felt numb by the time Jacob had finally stopped muttering four-lettered cuss words that ranged from the mundane to the incredibly foul ones. I wasn’t sure how long we had been sitting here, but it must be getting late. The sun had already sunk halfway behind the mountains.

  With the sky quickly darkening, I decided to head back to the picnic and hoped Jacob would do the same. He was so lost in his thoughts, I didn’t think he would. Although after I brushed the flecks of grass from my lap and got up, I was happy to hear the sound of Jacob’s footsteps following behind me as I started to walk away.

  Everyone had gathered into loose-knit groups with friends wandering from one to the next when the picnic came into view. The only one not joining the festivities was Matt, who was getting ready to attack the barbecue.

  “Hey, need help in cleaning up this mess?” I asked him.

  “I’ll be fine, but where did you two disappear to?”

  “We decided to go for a walk and check out the rest of the park, right, Jacob?” I said. Jacob’s response was a low growl.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Matt whispered to me.

  “We overheard Hannah’s gang talking about us,” I whispered back.

  “No wonder they looked pissed,” he muttered. “They were asking around for Jacob, but when they saw you gone too, they stormed off. Was it bad?”

  “Bad enough to piss him off,” I sighed.

  “See if you can cheer him up, okay? You’re the only one who can do it these days.”

  I nodded, turned to Jacob, and grabbed his hand.

  With the look Jacob had on his face, it didn’t take us very long to reach the beach. The anger emitting off of him had students scrambling to avoid crossing his path.

  Finally finding the perfect spot, I tightened my grip around Jacob’s hand and lead him onto the sand. Jacob then mechanically followed my actions as I took a seat and leaned back against this large piece of driftwood.

  “You’re still thinking about what Hannah and her group said about me, aren’t you?” I sighed.