Post by Evilevergreen on Oct 24, 2006 18:57:53 GMT -5
FF.Net: www.fanfiction.net/s/2612335/1/
Summary: “We all harbor dark secrets,” was what he once told her, but little did she know that those same secrets would lead them to a world full of magic, lies, betrayal, and worst of all. . . love. Follow Jake, Spud, and Trixie through a tale that will test the bonds of their friendship, and the strength of a vow made long ago.
Trixie was having the most wonderful dream. Spud had never left. He wasn't a prince, fighting for a group of people, in another dimension, she had never heard of. Jake wasn't a dragon, but a normal boy with normal responsibilities. Her friends were human just like her. She was content in this made up world that had no chance of being real, but she didn't care because Spud had her in his arms, holding her tightly in the rain as he told her he loved her and their son. But this world of dreams, she knew couldn't last as she was reminded as soon as she heard her name being called by Jake, tearing her from Spud once again.
“Trix,” Jake called as he shook her gently. “Trix, get up.” Trixie groaned in protest, her knees moving towards her chest as she felt cold. She then removed Jake's hand before she searched blindly for the blanket. She just wanted to go back to sleep with hopes of Spud waiting for her in them. “It's useless,” Jake told her as he straighten himself up and crossed his arms over his chest. “I'm washing it,” he informed her.
Trixie's eyes opened, wondering what kind of teenage boy cleaned his room willingly. She then turned towards him before she scoffed and rolled her eyes. Wasn't rejecting her and making her feel like a fool last night bad enough, did he also have to disturb the only time in the day she was able to see Spud as well?
Jake only shook his head as she rose out of bed. “Your clothes are on the dresser. Along with a bath towel and a wash cloth,” he told her. “I'll make sure my dad knows you're here.” Trixie didn't even acknowledge that she heard him as she picked up her clothes and walked out of his bedroom door. She headed towards the bathroom were she prepared for a shower, wondering why her skin felt so sticky before she stepped under the water.
Meanwhile, Jake stripped the rest of the bedding off his bed so that he could wash them with the blanket he had pulled off earlier.
After stuffing the bedding into the washing machine he headed downstairs. Haley yawning got his attention as she fell into step behind him. “So did you sleep well?” she asked with a huge grin.
“Shut up,” he said plainly without even looking at her. “Up for some breakfast?” he asked as Haley followed him into the kitchen, she nodded as they stepped inside, where they found their father fixing himself a cup of coffee. “Morning, dad,” both Jake and Haley greeted him.
Jake then stood next to him, leaning on the counter. “I need to talk to you.”
Johnathan smiled as his eldest child. “Morning to you too, my little cougar. What can I do you for?”
Jake fringed interest on the tiles that made up the counter. “I know I should have checked with you first, but you were out like a like yesterday,” he tried to explain.
Johnathan looked at his nervous looking son. “What is it, son?”
“You see, Trixie, she uh, had some issues come up at home, so I told her she could spend the night here.” Jake finally looked into his father's eyes. “Dad, she was kicked out.”
Johnathan sighed before he turned back to his coffee. “Sounds like Richard came home.” Jake confirmed his suspicion about Trixie's father. “So how is she doing?” he asked.
“She's more pissed at me than him.” Johnathan looked to him curiously. Jake shook his head. “Don't ask.”
“Hey!” Haley suddenly yelled from the table. “I'm wasting away over here. Where's my breakfast?”
Jake pushed himself off the counter. “You want something, dad?” he asked as he went to find what he needed to cook their meal.
“I'll have a little something,” Johnathan told him as he took his coffee to the table and sat down.
“Waffles?” Jake asked as he reached for the waffle iron.
“No. Pancakes please,” Haley replied. “Would you like some help?” she offered, but was up out of her chair to assist him before he could response.
Before long the three were sitting around the table, just about to start their meal, when Trixie entered into the kitchen. “Morning, Haley. Papa Dog,” she greeted the two before making her way over to the cupboard to fetch a glass. She then went over to the fridge where she poured herself a glass of milk.
Jake merely watched her before he spoke. “You should eat something,” he suggested.
Trixie lowered the glass from her lips. “I will, later,” they were the first words she had said to him that day.
“It'll be cold later,” he reasoned.
“I'll nuke it,” she countered.
“Trix,” he began, his forehead creased. “You know what the doctor said,” he warned her, causing Johnathan to slightly look up from his newspaper, his fork pausing just outside of his mouth.
“I know,” she placed her hand on her stomach. “I just don't feel well,” she informed him as morning sicken had taken her.
Jake pushed his chair out and stood up before making his way over to her. He took one of her arms in his hand. The other went up to her forehead as he felt her skin. She was a bit too warm for his liking. “Probably because that bastard had you out in the rain.”
“Jacob, language,” Johnathan, who only called him by his first name when he was serious, spoke.
Trixie closed her eyes. “Please, don't say things like that about my dad.”
“How can you still take his side, Trixie?” Jake asked her. “After what he did?” he whispered, the mark on her face darker than it had been the night before.
Trixie angrily whispered back. “I told you, that was my fault. Besides, it's not like he does it all the time.”
Jake scoffed. “Of course not, just whenever he's home.”
“I can take care of myself, Jake,” she told him.
“Then why the hell are you here?” Jake didn't even realize what he had said, until he saw that blank expression on her face. The face she had learned to adopt to cover up the hurt her father had caused her, but now it was he who was the reason for her hurt.
“You're right,” she agreed. She then placed her glass on the counter and then for the second time that day she removed Jake's hold on her. She then stepped around him and walked out the kitchen.
“You're a jerk.” Haley looked at her brother in disbelief.
“Yeah, I know,” he didn't even try to fight her on that before he made his way out the kitchen and up the stairs where Trixie was.
He found her in his room, holding herself as she looked at the busy people before his window. “Give me a few days,” she began with her back to him when she heard him come into the room. “Just long enough to find somewhere to go.”
Jake looked at her curiously. “What are you talking about?”
She held herself tighter. “Please, don't play dumb. You've made it very clear. . . you don't want me here.”
“That's not true,” he slowly made his way over to her. “I just want what is best for you. I always have,” he admitted. “I know things are very stressful now, but with everything going on, we can't avoid that.” Jake then leaned on the other side of the window. “I know you can take care of yourself and I didn't mean to imply otherwise. It's just. . . I'm scared, alright?” Trixie finally looked at him. “There are just so many things that have gone wrong in my life,” he didn't need to elaborate for her to understand. “I just don't want you- us to be one of them,” he said honestly.
“Since the fifth grade, I have kept my mouth shut and I have kept your secret. . . even from, Spud,” he told her. “But to be frank, I'm glad he kicked you out.” Trixie looked at him in surprise. “I'm glad I no longer have to hear those lame excuses about your bruises, like the ones I used to hear whenever he came home. I'm glad I no longer have to watch as everyone else believed you, when I knew the truth.”
Tears brimmed in Trixie's eyes as she lowered her head so that Jake wouldn't see them. “So you weren't asking me to leave downstairs?” she asked.
“No, of course not,” Jake made clear. “I spoke without thinking.” He stepped closer to her and lifted her downward face. “We are friends for life and friends for real. The three of us made that promise to each other and come hell or high water it will remain,” he vowed.
Trixie nodded her head in understanding before she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you, Jake.” Jake said nothing as he merely returned her hug.
OoOoO
It had been a month since Trixie had began living with Jake and his family. It had been awkward at first, but all together not a terrible experience. Their most difficult task had come a week later, when Jake insisted that they go back to Trixie's former home to pick up her things. She had been buying a new outfit everyday, because she had nothing to wear. Trixie fought him on it, she didn't want to face her father again, and thought it would be best if they just waited until he left town again. Jake understood why she didn't want to go, and he respected that, so he went about it himself.
Things did not go smoothly, between Mr. Carter and Jake as Jake packed not only several suitcases with Trixie's belongings, but also took her car keys that were hanging on the wall next to the front door. Jake told him to have everything transferred under Trixie's name and that they would take care of the car notes. Mr. Carter didn't like how the boy who had gotten his daughter pregnant barged into his home and started demanding things of him. Jake had to hold back the impulse to strike Mr. Carters as he had to endure not only Mr. Carter's angry words, but every racial slur the man could think of when it came to Jake's Chinese heritage. Jake was glad that Trixie's son would not have to grow up around such hate.
OoOoO
It was a little before dawn, when Trixie woke up one morning, within Jake's bed, to find that he wasn't there with her. She called out his name gently, but she got no response. She called out his name again after she had risen out of bed. She walked down the hall and knocked on the bathroom door gently. When she still got nothing, her heartbeat slowly began to rise in panic. She ran down the hall towards the stairs, when suddenly she ran into something that felt like a brick wall. She felt herself beginning to fall, but she never touched the ground as Jake had catch her in his arms.
Trixie threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. Jake had asked her what was wrong, but she rapidly shook her head back and front against his neck. A moment later, Trixie pulled back and noticed that Jake was fully dressed. She asked him if had to go to work early, but he told her it was something else and that he would be gone for a little while. Trixie didn't like the sound of that and so asked him where he was going. Jake only smiled at first before he kissed her forehead and told her she should go back to sleep and not to worry. She hesitated, but did what she was asked, not nothing that 'a little while' meant she wouldn't see him for the rest of the week.
Within that week, Trixie had worn a low cut shirt, which within itself wasn't a big deal, but she had been grocery shopping with Johnathan and Haley, when Johnathan went to hand her a bag of sweet potatoes, when suddenly he drew away from her as she was reaching for it. Johnathan leaned over, fixing his glasses as he did so. He smiled as he complimented her on her necklace and asked if it was a gift from her betroth. After providing him an answer, he took the bag of sweet potatoes to the cart and began to wheel it away. Trixie could only smile, thinking Mr. Long was stranger than she once thought.
It was Trixie's birthday and she had turned eighteen years old. She looked at Jake curiously at he sat in front of her at breakfast table with a huge grin on his face. “Why the hell are you staring at me?” she couldn't help but ask.
“Because I have a present for you,” he told her.
“It's real nice too. You're going to love it,” Haley smiled brightly at Trixie as well.
Trixie became a bit excited, she really wasn't expecting anything. “What is it?” she asked.
Jake shook his head. “After you finished eating,” he instructed.
“Aren't I fat enough?” Trixie asked.
Jake opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted before he began. “Trust me, son, no matter how you answer that, you're going to be wrong,” Johnathan advised. “You're better off not saying anything at all.”
After breakfast, Jake led Trixie to the car where he blindfolded her before they got inside. “Okay, Jake, now you're just being ridicules.”
“I know,” he said as he turned his head towards her when they reached a red light to see Trixie playing with the blindfold. “No peeking,” Jake warned her. Trixie removed her hand and pouted.
A few minutes later, Jake parked and helped Trixie out of the car. He took her hand and she followed him cautiously, afraid he was going to accidentally run her into something as they entered a building. Trixie then felt herself on a elevator and the two road up. Jake then lead her down what Trixie could only guess to be a hallway. “Okay, here it is,” Jake said as they came to a stop.
“Can I take this off now?” she asked reaching for it.
“No.” Jake caught her hand before she could. She sighed in irritation before she heard the sound of keys. “Come here.” Jake took her hand once again and she stepped forward a few more steps. She then felt him move behind her before he reached for the blindfold and took it off. Trixie blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light. “Happy Birthday,” Jake whispered.
Trixie looked at her surroundings. It was a small apartment. On her left side was the living area and on the right was a kitchen and dinning area. “I tired to get all furniture here yesterday, but it was a no go. The bedroom stuff is all set up, but the rest is coming today.” Trixie turned around and looked at him, her expression odd. “What?” The smile that had been on Jake's face faded.
Trixie shook her head. “I don't understand,” she told him.
Jake's smile returned to his face. “This is our place,” he informed her. “I signed the lease two days ago.” He then showed her the rest of the apartment, which was made up of one bathroom and two bedrooms. Trixie stopped in the doorway of the baby's room. The crib was in the corner, next to the window and the changing table was located on the other side of the room. There was also a dresser on the other side of the window. The walls were painted blue with pictures of dragons and other magical creatures. “No, unicorns,” Jake pointed out, knowing Trixie never liked them as he came up behind her. “I know it's a bit much, but I wanted the baby, right off the bat, to know what is in this world.”
“Jake-” Trixie whispered, concern etching onto her features.
“There's more,” he told her as he wrapped his arm around her, placing his hand on her stomach. With the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ring box. Trixie only turned her head and looked at him. Jake snapped the box open with one hand. “It's not much, but I think it'll do the job,” he said before turning Trixie around and slipping the ring onto her finger.
Trixie stared at the expensive looking ring on her finger. “How can we afford this?” she asked as she once again looked at the beautiful apartment.
Jake walked back down the hall. “I got the coolest entertainment system,” he began, avoiding her question. “I was thinking we could put it along this wall here.”
“Jake,” Trixie called again and was once again ignored.
“And we should probably start to baby safe the place. Of course, I don't know how to do that so I bought a few books. They're in the car,” he explained. “I also bought-”
“Jake!” Trixie yelled and finally got his attention as he turned to look at her. “We can't afford this. Not on what we make,” she pointed out.
“Don't worry,” Jake told her. “I already paid the landlord several months in advance on the rent and the furniture is taken care of.”
Trixie frowned as he spoke. “Jakey, where did you get that kind of money?” she asked.
Jake frowned as well. “Why can't you just be happy?” he asked of her. “I mean this is what you wanted, right? Normalcy? I'm giving you normalcy.”
“Jake,” Trixie shook her head. “Nothing about this is normal. We are eighteen and pregnant. There is no way we should have these kind of finances,” she told him. “So tell me, how did you get the money?” she demanded to know.
Jake shifted his weight to one side as he placed his hand on his hip. His other hand went nervously to his mouth before he lowered his head and comb his fingers though his hair. He took a deep breath. “I am not doing anything wrong,” he told her in a way that sounded like he was trying to convince himself instead of her.
“Then why won't you answer my question?” she asked.
“Trixie, please,” Jake begged of her, his expression reading of pain. “Don't put me in a position, where all I can tell you. . . are lies.”
To Be Continued. . .
Friends for Life - Friends for Real
By Evilevergreen
By Evilevergreen
Summary: “We all harbor dark secrets,” was what he once told her, but little did she know that those same secrets would lead them to a world full of magic, lies, betrayal, and worst of all. . . love. Follow Jake, Spud, and Trixie through a tale that will test the bonds of their friendship, and the strength of a vow made long ago.
Chapter Eleven: Lies
Trixie was having the most wonderful dream. Spud had never left. He wasn't a prince, fighting for a group of people, in another dimension, she had never heard of. Jake wasn't a dragon, but a normal boy with normal responsibilities. Her friends were human just like her. She was content in this made up world that had no chance of being real, but she didn't care because Spud had her in his arms, holding her tightly in the rain as he told her he loved her and their son. But this world of dreams, she knew couldn't last as she was reminded as soon as she heard her name being called by Jake, tearing her from Spud once again.
“Trix,” Jake called as he shook her gently. “Trix, get up.” Trixie groaned in protest, her knees moving towards her chest as she felt cold. She then removed Jake's hand before she searched blindly for the blanket. She just wanted to go back to sleep with hopes of Spud waiting for her in them. “It's useless,” Jake told her as he straighten himself up and crossed his arms over his chest. “I'm washing it,” he informed her.
Trixie's eyes opened, wondering what kind of teenage boy cleaned his room willingly. She then turned towards him before she scoffed and rolled her eyes. Wasn't rejecting her and making her feel like a fool last night bad enough, did he also have to disturb the only time in the day she was able to see Spud as well?
Jake only shook his head as she rose out of bed. “Your clothes are on the dresser. Along with a bath towel and a wash cloth,” he told her. “I'll make sure my dad knows you're here.” Trixie didn't even acknowledge that she heard him as she picked up her clothes and walked out of his bedroom door. She headed towards the bathroom were she prepared for a shower, wondering why her skin felt so sticky before she stepped under the water.
Meanwhile, Jake stripped the rest of the bedding off his bed so that he could wash them with the blanket he had pulled off earlier.
After stuffing the bedding into the washing machine he headed downstairs. Haley yawning got his attention as she fell into step behind him. “So did you sleep well?” she asked with a huge grin.
“Shut up,” he said plainly without even looking at her. “Up for some breakfast?” he asked as Haley followed him into the kitchen, she nodded as they stepped inside, where they found their father fixing himself a cup of coffee. “Morning, dad,” both Jake and Haley greeted him.
Jake then stood next to him, leaning on the counter. “I need to talk to you.”
Johnathan smiled as his eldest child. “Morning to you too, my little cougar. What can I do you for?”
Jake fringed interest on the tiles that made up the counter. “I know I should have checked with you first, but you were out like a like yesterday,” he tried to explain.
Johnathan looked at his nervous looking son. “What is it, son?”
“You see, Trixie, she uh, had some issues come up at home, so I told her she could spend the night here.” Jake finally looked into his father's eyes. “Dad, she was kicked out.”
Johnathan sighed before he turned back to his coffee. “Sounds like Richard came home.” Jake confirmed his suspicion about Trixie's father. “So how is she doing?” he asked.
“She's more pissed at me than him.” Johnathan looked to him curiously. Jake shook his head. “Don't ask.”
“Hey!” Haley suddenly yelled from the table. “I'm wasting away over here. Where's my breakfast?”
Jake pushed himself off the counter. “You want something, dad?” he asked as he went to find what he needed to cook their meal.
“I'll have a little something,” Johnathan told him as he took his coffee to the table and sat down.
“Waffles?” Jake asked as he reached for the waffle iron.
“No. Pancakes please,” Haley replied. “Would you like some help?” she offered, but was up out of her chair to assist him before he could response.
Before long the three were sitting around the table, just about to start their meal, when Trixie entered into the kitchen. “Morning, Haley. Papa Dog,” she greeted the two before making her way over to the cupboard to fetch a glass. She then went over to the fridge where she poured herself a glass of milk.
Jake merely watched her before he spoke. “You should eat something,” he suggested.
Trixie lowered the glass from her lips. “I will, later,” they were the first words she had said to him that day.
“It'll be cold later,” he reasoned.
“I'll nuke it,” she countered.
“Trix,” he began, his forehead creased. “You know what the doctor said,” he warned her, causing Johnathan to slightly look up from his newspaper, his fork pausing just outside of his mouth.
“I know,” she placed her hand on her stomach. “I just don't feel well,” she informed him as morning sicken had taken her.
Jake pushed his chair out and stood up before making his way over to her. He took one of her arms in his hand. The other went up to her forehead as he felt her skin. She was a bit too warm for his liking. “Probably because that bastard had you out in the rain.”
“Jacob, language,” Johnathan, who only called him by his first name when he was serious, spoke.
Trixie closed her eyes. “Please, don't say things like that about my dad.”
“How can you still take his side, Trixie?” Jake asked her. “After what he did?” he whispered, the mark on her face darker than it had been the night before.
Trixie angrily whispered back. “I told you, that was my fault. Besides, it's not like he does it all the time.”
Jake scoffed. “Of course not, just whenever he's home.”
“I can take care of myself, Jake,” she told him.
“Then why the hell are you here?” Jake didn't even realize what he had said, until he saw that blank expression on her face. The face she had learned to adopt to cover up the hurt her father had caused her, but now it was he who was the reason for her hurt.
“You're right,” she agreed. She then placed her glass on the counter and then for the second time that day she removed Jake's hold on her. She then stepped around him and walked out the kitchen.
“You're a jerk.” Haley looked at her brother in disbelief.
“Yeah, I know,” he didn't even try to fight her on that before he made his way out the kitchen and up the stairs where Trixie was.
He found her in his room, holding herself as she looked at the busy people before his window. “Give me a few days,” she began with her back to him when she heard him come into the room. “Just long enough to find somewhere to go.”
Jake looked at her curiously. “What are you talking about?”
She held herself tighter. “Please, don't play dumb. You've made it very clear. . . you don't want me here.”
“That's not true,” he slowly made his way over to her. “I just want what is best for you. I always have,” he admitted. “I know things are very stressful now, but with everything going on, we can't avoid that.” Jake then leaned on the other side of the window. “I know you can take care of yourself and I didn't mean to imply otherwise. It's just. . . I'm scared, alright?” Trixie finally looked at him. “There are just so many things that have gone wrong in my life,” he didn't need to elaborate for her to understand. “I just don't want you- us to be one of them,” he said honestly.
“Since the fifth grade, I have kept my mouth shut and I have kept your secret. . . even from, Spud,” he told her. “But to be frank, I'm glad he kicked you out.” Trixie looked at him in surprise. “I'm glad I no longer have to hear those lame excuses about your bruises, like the ones I used to hear whenever he came home. I'm glad I no longer have to watch as everyone else believed you, when I knew the truth.”
Tears brimmed in Trixie's eyes as she lowered her head so that Jake wouldn't see them. “So you weren't asking me to leave downstairs?” she asked.
“No, of course not,” Jake made clear. “I spoke without thinking.” He stepped closer to her and lifted her downward face. “We are friends for life and friends for real. The three of us made that promise to each other and come hell or high water it will remain,” he vowed.
Trixie nodded her head in understanding before she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you, Jake.” Jake said nothing as he merely returned her hug.
OoOoO
It had been a month since Trixie had began living with Jake and his family. It had been awkward at first, but all together not a terrible experience. Their most difficult task had come a week later, when Jake insisted that they go back to Trixie's former home to pick up her things. She had been buying a new outfit everyday, because she had nothing to wear. Trixie fought him on it, she didn't want to face her father again, and thought it would be best if they just waited until he left town again. Jake understood why she didn't want to go, and he respected that, so he went about it himself.
Things did not go smoothly, between Mr. Carter and Jake as Jake packed not only several suitcases with Trixie's belongings, but also took her car keys that were hanging on the wall next to the front door. Jake told him to have everything transferred under Trixie's name and that they would take care of the car notes. Mr. Carter didn't like how the boy who had gotten his daughter pregnant barged into his home and started demanding things of him. Jake had to hold back the impulse to strike Mr. Carters as he had to endure not only Mr. Carter's angry words, but every racial slur the man could think of when it came to Jake's Chinese heritage. Jake was glad that Trixie's son would not have to grow up around such hate.
OoOoO
It was a little before dawn, when Trixie woke up one morning, within Jake's bed, to find that he wasn't there with her. She called out his name gently, but she got no response. She called out his name again after she had risen out of bed. She walked down the hall and knocked on the bathroom door gently. When she still got nothing, her heartbeat slowly began to rise in panic. She ran down the hall towards the stairs, when suddenly she ran into something that felt like a brick wall. She felt herself beginning to fall, but she never touched the ground as Jake had catch her in his arms.
Trixie threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. Jake had asked her what was wrong, but she rapidly shook her head back and front against his neck. A moment later, Trixie pulled back and noticed that Jake was fully dressed. She asked him if had to go to work early, but he told her it was something else and that he would be gone for a little while. Trixie didn't like the sound of that and so asked him where he was going. Jake only smiled at first before he kissed her forehead and told her she should go back to sleep and not to worry. She hesitated, but did what she was asked, not nothing that 'a little while' meant she wouldn't see him for the rest of the week.
Within that week, Trixie had worn a low cut shirt, which within itself wasn't a big deal, but she had been grocery shopping with Johnathan and Haley, when Johnathan went to hand her a bag of sweet potatoes, when suddenly he drew away from her as she was reaching for it. Johnathan leaned over, fixing his glasses as he did so. He smiled as he complimented her on her necklace and asked if it was a gift from her betroth. After providing him an answer, he took the bag of sweet potatoes to the cart and began to wheel it away. Trixie could only smile, thinking Mr. Long was stranger than she once thought.
OoOoO
It was Trixie's birthday and she had turned eighteen years old. She looked at Jake curiously at he sat in front of her at breakfast table with a huge grin on his face. “Why the hell are you staring at me?” she couldn't help but ask.
“Because I have a present for you,” he told her.
“It's real nice too. You're going to love it,” Haley smiled brightly at Trixie as well.
Trixie became a bit excited, she really wasn't expecting anything. “What is it?” she asked.
Jake shook his head. “After you finished eating,” he instructed.
“Aren't I fat enough?” Trixie asked.
Jake opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted before he began. “Trust me, son, no matter how you answer that, you're going to be wrong,” Johnathan advised. “You're better off not saying anything at all.”
After breakfast, Jake led Trixie to the car where he blindfolded her before they got inside. “Okay, Jake, now you're just being ridicules.”
“I know,” he said as he turned his head towards her when they reached a red light to see Trixie playing with the blindfold. “No peeking,” Jake warned her. Trixie removed her hand and pouted.
A few minutes later, Jake parked and helped Trixie out of the car. He took her hand and she followed him cautiously, afraid he was going to accidentally run her into something as they entered a building. Trixie then felt herself on a elevator and the two road up. Jake then lead her down what Trixie could only guess to be a hallway. “Okay, here it is,” Jake said as they came to a stop.
“Can I take this off now?” she asked reaching for it.
“No.” Jake caught her hand before she could. She sighed in irritation before she heard the sound of keys. “Come here.” Jake took her hand once again and she stepped forward a few more steps. She then felt him move behind her before he reached for the blindfold and took it off. Trixie blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light. “Happy Birthday,” Jake whispered.
Trixie looked at her surroundings. It was a small apartment. On her left side was the living area and on the right was a kitchen and dinning area. “I tired to get all furniture here yesterday, but it was a no go. The bedroom stuff is all set up, but the rest is coming today.” Trixie turned around and looked at him, her expression odd. “What?” The smile that had been on Jake's face faded.
Trixie shook her head. “I don't understand,” she told him.
Jake's smile returned to his face. “This is our place,” he informed her. “I signed the lease two days ago.” He then showed her the rest of the apartment, which was made up of one bathroom and two bedrooms. Trixie stopped in the doorway of the baby's room. The crib was in the corner, next to the window and the changing table was located on the other side of the room. There was also a dresser on the other side of the window. The walls were painted blue with pictures of dragons and other magical creatures. “No, unicorns,” Jake pointed out, knowing Trixie never liked them as he came up behind her. “I know it's a bit much, but I wanted the baby, right off the bat, to know what is in this world.”
“Jake-” Trixie whispered, concern etching onto her features.
“There's more,” he told her as he wrapped his arm around her, placing his hand on her stomach. With the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ring box. Trixie only turned her head and looked at him. Jake snapped the box open with one hand. “It's not much, but I think it'll do the job,” he said before turning Trixie around and slipping the ring onto her finger.
Trixie stared at the expensive looking ring on her finger. “How can we afford this?” she asked as she once again looked at the beautiful apartment.
Jake walked back down the hall. “I got the coolest entertainment system,” he began, avoiding her question. “I was thinking we could put it along this wall here.”
“Jake,” Trixie called again and was once again ignored.
“And we should probably start to baby safe the place. Of course, I don't know how to do that so I bought a few books. They're in the car,” he explained. “I also bought-”
“Jake!” Trixie yelled and finally got his attention as he turned to look at her. “We can't afford this. Not on what we make,” she pointed out.
“Don't worry,” Jake told her. “I already paid the landlord several months in advance on the rent and the furniture is taken care of.”
Trixie frowned as he spoke. “Jakey, where did you get that kind of money?” she asked.
Jake frowned as well. “Why can't you just be happy?” he asked of her. “I mean this is what you wanted, right? Normalcy? I'm giving you normalcy.”
“Jake,” Trixie shook her head. “Nothing about this is normal. We are eighteen and pregnant. There is no way we should have these kind of finances,” she told him. “So tell me, how did you get the money?” she demanded to know.
Jake shifted his weight to one side as he placed his hand on his hip. His other hand went nervously to his mouth before he lowered his head and comb his fingers though his hair. He took a deep breath. “I am not doing anything wrong,” he told her in a way that sounded like he was trying to convince himself instead of her.
“Then why won't you answer my question?” she asked.
“Trixie, please,” Jake begged of her, his expression reading of pain. “Don't put me in a position, where all I can tell you. . . are lies.”
To Be Continued. . .