“That’s great news,” he enthused. Chad looked at Francine, very happy for her. “Why don’t we have a drink to celebrate?”
“Why not?” Francine smiled at Chad, and went into the kitchen for some drinks for the both of them. After retrieving some cans from the fridge, Francine quickly brought the drinks out on a tray, and Chad and Francine poured themselves some into tall glasses. After doing this, Chad held his glass up in the air, poised to salute Francine.
“Here’s to you, Franci. Drama school’ll never be the same again.”
“Thanks,” she said, smiling at Chad, both taking sips of their drinks. Chad and Francine sank back into the plush sofa, and made themselves cozy. After a short silence, and several more gulps of their drinks, Francine put down her glass, and watched Chad.
“So, how’s it going with Amy?”
Chad had his one arm behind his neck, and held his drink with the other. He was very tranquil, at long last, and it showed.
“Well, couldn’t be better,” Chad said cockily, taking another sip of his drink.
“Really, what happened this time?” Francine asked.
“Seems like old Jake doesn’t look as good in Amy’s eyes anymore,” Chad said. “Prince Charming’s not so charming now.”
Francine looked at him with a sarcastic expression.
“Oh gee, wonder why?” Francine replied, remembering how they planted the letter in Jake’s jacket.
“Wanna know what happened?” Chad said. Francine bent over towards the table, and took a small sip of her drink, before putting it down again. She settled back into the sofa, and looked at Chad, eyes wide with curiosity.
“I’m all ears,” Francine purred.
“Well, I walked in on Jake arguing with Amy at school.”
“And let me guess — you became her new Prince Charming that day,” Francine said, with a knowing smile.
“Exactly,” Chad said happily, remembering the gush of delight that came over him when Amy preferred him over Jake that day. “Looks like Amy and Jake’ve called it a day. And now all the fun begins, for us,” Chad said, with a roguish smile.
Francine had never seen Chad so self-confident, and was pleased he was acting this way. Chad did not remotely resemble the same insecure person he was a few months ago, and this pricked Francine’s interest. Chad as a strong person was much more interesting than Chad as a weak one. Now, armed with this attitude, Chad could have it all, and more. Chad, though, was also very interested in how Francine was doing with Jake, as what mattered to her also mattered to him.
“By the way, how’s it all going with you and the Jakester,” he said.
Francine took another sip of her drink, and paused thoughtfully. Her green eyes were filled with enough determination to move mountains.
“Chad, it won’t be too long before Jake’s mine,” Francine schemed.
“I feel the same about Amy — I hope she starts to feel the same about me,” Chad said, dreamily.
Francine nodded her head to Chad. There was no more time for insecurity and doubts, but only time for action on their part.
“Amy’ll begin to like you, Chad, I can feel it. It’s gonna happen. Trust me, we’ve come this far — but now we’ve gotta go all the way,” Francine said, looking at Chad, who returned her confidence with a wide smile.
Chapter Seventeen
“I’ve got something special planned for you Jake — something that’ll take your mind right off Amy,” Francine said, with a wide smile.
Although winter was coming in little over a month’s time, one could not tell by how the weather was lately. It seemed closer to spring than autumn, and today was no exception. Today was a beautiful day, with not a cloud to be seen in the sky. The sky’s cool blue hue, and the blazing sun complimented each other perfectly, radiating warmth, but without the summer time’s sometimes excessive humidity.
Francine was standing on Jake’s doorstep, holding a large bag. She set it down for a moment, as she wanted to check her face and makeup. Francine removed a small mirror and lipstick from the bag, and touched up her face a little. She wanted to look her best for Jake, as she believed her appearance was one of the things that would help her win him over.
Francine knew Jake would be home today, as she had taken the precaution of asking him at school if he would be. This was one day when she wanted to be prepared, and, unlike her other visit to Jake awhile back, Francine wanted him all to herself, and not have his parents interrupt them. After finishing her touch-up, Francine took a deep breath, and, throwing back her free-flowing, shiny black hair, knocked on his front door.
When Jake finally opened the door, Francine noticed he did not look his usual, handsome self, and was a little disappointed. She saw that Jake’s eyes seemed heavy, his face grim, and his back slouched. This definitely was not the Jake that Francine wanted all this time, and she sighed after looking at him. Francine was sorry to see him this way, and wanted to remedy his unhappiness.
“Hi Jake,” she said in a lively manner.
“Hi,” he replied in a slow, monotonous voice. Jake looked at Francine, his head slightly bowed. Francine noticed his quietness, and the fact he had not asked her to come in.
“Can I come in?”
“Okay,” Jake replied, nodding disinterestedly. Francine eagerly entered his lounge room, and Jake shut the door. Taking into consideration his attitude so far, Francine felt maybe this was not the best day to go about pursuing Jake. After putting this thought to one side, though, Francine remembered some things about Jake’s personality.
Jake was an unpredictable guy, more of the brooding, still-waters-run-deep temperament, than the active type. While Jake could be sullen one minute, he could also be happy the next; come to think of it, this was something they had in common. Francine was banking on Jake’s volatility, and knew she could turn his mood around.
Jake and Francine stayed for a little while in his lounge room, and were both silent. Jake said that being inside was not his style today, and quickly led Francine onto his large backyard, which was fully covered, with its great barbeque area, outdoor kitchen, swimming pool and changing rooms. Apart from seeing Jake himself, Francine loved coming over to his house as it gave her such a good vibe.
While Francine’s family home was not disagreeable, it did not have the amenities that Jake’s had. Jake himself, his house, and his life, were a dream come true for Francine — this was the type of life she wanted to live if she could, and with the right person, being Jake.
Jake was unintentionally ignoring Francine, and slumped into a deck chair, thinking about Amy, not giving Francine much attention. Francine seated herself in a nearby Adirondack chair, and watched him carefully. As Jake was still downbeat, and not responding to her overt staring, Francine took her cue to cheer him up.
“Jake, I’ve been thinking of you lately,” she purred, awaiting Jake’s response. Jake slowly turned his head, and looked at her blankly, with a dour expression. “I feel bad you’ve been so down lately. Anything I can do to help you?” she offered.
Jake shook his head.
“Thanks Franci, but I’m okay,” he replied, at least managing a smile. That’s what she liked to see, Francine thought, Jake’s beautiful smile; the smile which had melted her heart so many times. It looked as if she was already making some progress with Jake, and she was pleased. Without warning, the phone inside Jake’s lounge room began to ring, and he leisurely arose from his chair to answer it.
“I forgot to bring out the cordless, again,” Jake said, shrugging his shoulders. “One day I’ll forget my brain,” he said.
“Don’t think so,” Francine said, with enthusiasm in her eyes. “Anyway, I won’t let you,” Francine said seductively, to which Jake smiled. He quickly opened the veranda door, and went inside to answer the call. After the phone call proved to be a wrong number, Jake moved outside to the pool area.
“Franci, it was just a wrong number…”
Francine, though, to Jake’s confus
ion, was nowhere to be seen. Jake looked around, and could not see her anywhere.
“Franci, where are you?” Jake asked. He proceeded to the side of the house to look for Francine, but could not see her there. Jake thought maybe Francine was pulling a joke on him, and went over to the other side of the house, but, she was not there either. He also looked inside his house in case she was there, but, there was no sign of her in there, either. Jake was bemused by Francine’s disappearing act, and threw his hands up in the air.
“Oh god, she left me. Yep, I’ve done it again — I must be doing something wrong,” Jake said, again sinking into his deck chair. “First Amy, now Franci.” Amy’s rejection of him for Chad immediately came to mind, and Jake thought Francine was also playing games with him. To his bewilderment, Jake heard some noises over at the changing rooms, and looked over there in uncertainty. He was about to check it when the door there suddenly swung open.
“Here I am,” Francine purred, emerging from the pool’s adjoining changing quarters. Francine looked spectacular, and Jake shook his head in awe of her. Francine was wearing a dark green two-piece bathing suit and matching silky dressing gown, which only highlighted her ravishing green eyes. The gown was transparent, and its slim belt only emphasized Francine’s body. Jake was still looking at her in shock, and Francine loved the attention which he feasted upon her. “Oh by the way, you’re doing absolutely nothing wrong,” she said sexily.
Jake smiled, and looked at her, shaking his head.
“Franci, what’re you doing?” Jake said.
“Isn’t it obvious?” she said, smiling with total abandon.
Jake laughed slightly, thrown for a loop by Francine’s actions. Francine was definitely not the queen of understatement.
“Yeah, but…”
“But what? Well Jake, ’cause it’s such a great day, and you’re in such a bad mood, I think a spin in the pool’ll help you,” Francine said, head held high. Jake looked vacantly at Francine, and shook his head in disagreement at her suggestion — this was the last thing that could help him over Amy’s rejection. Francine noticed Jake’s indecision, and nodded at him. “Trust me, it’ll help you.”
“I’m not in a bad mood,” Jake said to Francine, who watched him with a disbelieving face. “Nah Franci, don’t want to do this today,” he said, face still solemn. “I wouldn’t be good company — you deserve better. Anyway, thanks for thinking of me, but today’s not the right day.”
Francine squeezed her lips together; she was not about to let Jake put her off, and knew she had to be persistent; thoughts of Amy were not going to intrude on her time with Jake. Francine looked at Jake, eyes alight with fire.
“Oh come on, stop being so sorry for yourself. It doesn’t suit you at all.”
Jake looked at Francine, and nodded his head at her.
“I know, you’re right,” Jake said. He was never down in the dumps, but this thing with Amy had really gotten to him.
“Yes Jake, you do know I’m right – and I have the perfect solution for you, if you want to listen to me,” Francine said brightly.
“What do you mean?”
“Jake, you could work off your aggression swimming some laps of the pool. I can tell what you’re worrying about’s nothing important,” Francine said slyly, referring to Amy. Jake looked at her, puzzled by what she said.
“Thanks again Franci, but no. If we can just talk together, it’d be enough for me.”
Francine was determined she would get her way with Jake, but sensed she would have to try something else to get him to do what she wanted.
“Jake?”
“Yeah Franci?”
“I didn’t know you were such a moper. Don’t make me believe you’ve turned into a cat, scared of the water,” she said seductively.
Jake reacted to this comment with a half-smile, and looked at Francine as if his sporting ability was in question. Francine knew one of the ways to make Jake sit up and take notice was if he was being challenged to do something, and told he could not do it. She felt her approach was beginning to work, as Jake was smiling more like he usually did.
“You don’t want me to tell the guys on the basketball team that Jake, athletic star, is afraid of the water, would you,” Francine said, shaking her head.
“No, don’t you dare,” Jake said, his face lightening up even more. “I’ve got a reputation to keep – I’m not gonna let you spoil it for me.”
“Okay, if it’s like that, get changed, and come race me in the water,” Francine offered enticingly. “You won’t be sorry.”
Jake looked at her, his smile broadening.
“Know something Franci?”
“What?”
“You’re on,” Jake said, pointing at her. He eagerly sped into the dressing rooms to change, and Francine placed her sunglasses atop her head, as the glare from the sun had lessened. Francine wanted to relax in the pool, and looked around for something on which to do this. She spotted a large pool float which was tied to the side of the pool, and hummed in satisfaction. Francine took off her silky gown, leaving it poolside, and quickly mounted the float. After untying it from the poolside, Francine was up and away.
Jake did not take long to change into his swimwear, and was out of the change rooms in record time. As he came out, Francine watched Jake — she thought he was so handsome, and never looked better. Francine had seen Jake shirtless several times before, but had never seen him in swimwear. His body was well-developed from all his sporting activities over the years, and it showed.
Jake was wearing boardshorts, which, unfortunately, were not as revealing as she had wanted. Francine knew, though, that Jake was not a person to flaunt himself, and felt what he wore was in character for him. Jake looked at Francine with his friendly, open face, and she wanted time to just stop, and freeze for her and Jake. She wanted things to be like this forever.
“Ah, what ya doing there, sleeping on the job?” Jake said.
“More like suffering in luxury,” Francine said quietly, smiling at him.
“You didn’t think all you’d do today was lie around the pool,” Jake said.
“What do you mean?” Francine asked, flaring her eyes.
“Forgotten already? Come on, get ready for our race,” Jake said, climbing into the pool via the stairs.
“Oh that’s right, I almost forgot,” she said cheekily, to which Jake smirked. Francine dismounted the pool float, and eased herself into the water. She moved the float, and her sunglasses, back to the side of the pool, and tied it so it would not interfere with their activities. Francine finally joined Jake, who was patiently waiting for her, at the pool’s edge.
“So, what’re the rules?” Jake asked.
“Okay, six laps of the pool — let’s see who’s faster,” Francine said.
“You’re on,” Jake said.
“Let’s count together backwards 5,4,3,2,1...” Francine and Jake began swimming, ‘competing’ with each other for first place. Jake’s swimming pool was not the biggest around, however, six laps was still quite a distance to swim. While Francine could not admit to being the best swimmer alive, she enjoyed swimming from time to time. It definitely beat kicking balls around, and rolling in the mud for her.
The main attraction for Francine in all of this, though, was Jake. She would even learn how to play basketball to win him, as he meant that much to her. By this time, their frenzied activity had finally reached a climax, as they both reached the finish line together. Jake and Francine looked at each other deeply, searching for meaning in each other’s eyes.
The pool water was flowing quickly around them, and hitting their bodies hard. They both breathed heavily after their brisk swim, but Francine more so than Jake. She was not totally fit, unlike Jake, but, had somehow survived this well. Francine gazed at him and smiled, and Jake returned this. Jake shook his head as in disbelief, and said,
“What’s this, a tie?”
“No, it’s not a tie, I won,” Francine replied, nodding he
r head.
Jake looked up at the sky, squashing his lips together in thought.
“Mmn, I remember touching the side of the pool before you did,” Jake said.
Francine’s eyes flared in excitement upon hearing this.
“Oh, so you didn’t see how I touched it first, as the water was everywhere,” Francine said. “You probably didn’t see that.”
Jake shook his head, and grinned.
“You’re a cheat,” Jake proclaimed, widening his eyes. “I let you win, because only like that could you win.”
Francine’s eyes sparkled with mock anger.
“Who, me, a cheat? You’re accusing me of being a cheat?” Francine asked, gathering her dark hair away from her face, and making a defiant gesture with her mouth.
“Yeah, you,” Jake said, pulling a face at Francine.
Francine watched him for a moment, and nodded her head.
“Well yeah, okay, I may be a cheat, but not in everything I do,” Francine said quietly, thinking about her feelings for Jake, and that these were anything but false. With this admission, Jake and Francine looked at each other sensually, and smiled.
They felt a large current of electricity pass through their bodies, and, bit by bit, they moved closer together. Their faces were only millimeters apart, and Francine closed her eyes, wanting to capture the moment. Francine had waited a long time for Jake to kiss her, and felt it was going to happen, at long last. The water had now stopped splashing around them, and was perfectly still. For Francine, it was the perfect moment to show Jake exactly how she felt about him.
Jake and Francine were about to kiss when he quickly pulled away from her, and frowned. His mind was suddenly filled with thoughts of Amy, and how he had kissed her after the fancy dress gala. Jake did not believe kissing Francine was going to help him get over Amy in any way, and was not a substitute for Amy. Francine opened her eyes, and looked at him with disappointment. Jake bowed his head, aware he had upset Francine by not kissing her, but not being able to go against himself. He said unhurriedly, in a low voice,
The Great High School Love Game Page 20