Chapter 6: Chapter 6

"Well, the Jaggers was gotten from the first letters of the first gang members' names. They were the ones that formed it." She started as she walked to the counter, watching me make the food. "Jake, Aiden, Gregg and Grey (twins), Ethan, and Rafer. You didn't meet them last night because Aiden and Rafer had gang matters to attend to. Gregg and grey were just home playing video games, and Ethan had some home work."

She rolled her eyes as she finished talking. I laughed, and passed her sandwiches on a plate while I took the other plate of sandwiches. "Here."

"Aw, thanks, Max. That is so sweet of you. I came by unexpected, but you still made me a sandwich." Jane gushed as she took the plate from me.

"Sweet? I don't think so, I just like you."

"Oh, admit it. You are not as bad as you lead people to think. Just like Jake, you are putting up a front because you are afraid of getting hurt."

"What are you? A psychologist? You are reading too much into things." I laughed again and picked up my sandwich then bit into it.

"If that's what you want to believe." Jane laughed too then bit some of her sandwich and swallowed.

"Anyway, there are eight more people in the gang, three girls and five guys. You'll meet all the gang members but not today. In total we're twenty two plus you."

* * *

"Push yourself to your full potential."

I swung at Jake again with more force, following his instruction. He dodged the blow to his chest by moving to the side. Taking both of my arms in quick speed, he held my arms across my chest. I tried getting them out of his grip but the grip didn't lessen.

"You need to try more."

"What does it seem like I'm doing?" I was getting both tired and frustrated, he has been teaching me non-stop, saying that it wasn't enough. He wanted me to try harder, and kept saying it like I wasn't but I was trying harder.

"You have to give it your all!"

"I am giving it my all!" I finally got him to loosen his grip on my arms, and I yanked them out from his hands throwing a punch at his stomach, but he was fast enough to dodge it, stumbling back a little.

I tried again, but with a kick, he held my leg for over what seemed like a minute breathing hard from our fight before he released it. He stepped back, turning his back to me while running his hands through his hair. His back and shoulder muscles contracted, making me entranced as I watched his muscular torso.

He turned around, giving me the view of his toned abs as sweat trickled down. I couldn't suppress the butterflies in my stomach at the sight. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't push you. You're trying hard and I'm being a jerk."

He walked over to the window opposite to where we were standing, trying to cool down and feel the fresh air.

"You're right, you were being a jerk. I'm going home since we're done here. Call me when you're ready to tell me what's bothering you."

I walked out of the gym that was owned by his family and to my bike, climbing onto it.

* * *

' Meet me outside. I'm ready 2 talk.

J's Max ' - Received 6:04pm

I silently read the text from Jake then grabbed my jacket from beside me, on the bed. I stood up from the bed and placed my phone in my pocket. Making my way to the door, I opened the door and walked out. Closing it, I started down the stairs.

Jake was standing at the door of their house, two blocks across the street. He gestured with his hand for me to go to him.

"What's up?" I asked after I reached where he was standing.

Jake was dressed in dark jeans, a white shirt, leather jacket and a beanie on top of his head. He looked delicious.

He sighed, rubbing his face before replying, "Can we walk further down the street? I know a place where we can talk."

"Sure." I replied back, walking beside him as we made our way down the street. He put his hands inside his jacket's pockets while I wrapped my hands around my middle because of the cold.

"This is it." He said, referring to the abandoned building we were standing in front of.

'Chase Hospital' read the sign on the building. It seemed old and unused for a very long time from the outside, even the sign was looking dirty and faded along with the building.

I followed behind him as he entered the building through the back. After climbing a set of creaky old stairs next to the entrance, he opened a door that led to a balcony.

He walked inside and leaned his folded arms on the railings when he reached it, looking out at the city.

"So, what's bothering you?" I asked, still by the entrance to the balcony.

He sighed again, "My parents."

I walked to him, and leaned against the railings, placing my gloved hands on it with my face turned to him.

"What happened?"

"They are getting a divorce."

Jake has never talked about his parents or anything personal for that matter until then, and that meant it had to be serious. I was glad that he was finally opening up to me, and I was going to try to be there for him whenever I could, like when he was there for me when I opened up to him.

"They have been fighting for months now, and I'm starting to think they are better off divorced. I understand that they can't stand each other anymore, but what I don't understand is how it has come to this."

He looked at me after saying that like he was waiting for me to help him understand. Sadly, I didn't know how either. I didn't know how people that had fallen in love, could fall out of love and into hate.

"We're people, and we all change. That's just how the world is."

"Yeah, you're right. People change." He still sounded sad when he said that. It was so unlike him, and that made my heart squeeze. I couldn't stand seeing him that way.