Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Ms. J didn't pay any attention to him or even punish him for being late when he walked into the class. That was so unfair with how she acted on my first day due to my tardiness.

He walked past my seat to his usual seat behind me without acknowledging my presence. It seemed that he was angry. Why? I didn't know, what I did know was that it definitely had to do with what he had done before coming to class.

* * *

I was riding in Jake's car as he drove us to some place which he didn't tell me. I turned down the radio and looked out the window, gazing at the sky with its cloud, lost in thought.

"So... when's your dad coming to see you?"

Jake broke the silence as he glanced at me from the corner of his eye as he drove.

I turned to him. "I don't know." He seemed to wait for me to explain further as he raised his eyebrows, but I didn't.

All I knew was that he had to work, and I understood that he had to do that, but couldn't he make time for his daughter, his only child? I sighed inwardly. I wish I was important enough for him to make time for us together, as father and daughter.

"Don't worry, baby doll. It will get better soon enough." Jake's lips lifted up at the corner into a smirk. I took a deep breath and let it out. I was so glad to have him as my friend, and that feeling had me smiling back at him.

* * *

"So, this is..."

"Yeah, the place I come to when my parents start one of their fights."

"It's wonderful." I breathed out as I looked around.

Jake sat down on the grass and I followed suit. We were on a high land, covered with green grasses and some trees to the sides. Flowers swayed, roses of all kinds, lilies, peonies and more. It was breath taking.

We could also see the stars so clearly because of how high the land was. It had a cliff, but we were far from it as we looked down at our streets below.

"I know." He replied in a low voice. He laid down on the grass, and gestured for me to do the same.

The sun was starting to set then, and we watched it, mesmerized. Jake took my hand, but I slipped it away as I gave him a strained smile. He let out a sigh, "Why do you keep closing off, baby doll?"

"You know why, I am not ready to get close to anyone yet." I said as I turned away from him and looked out at the streets.

"But I would never hurt you, Max. You are unlike anyone I have ever met. I really like you." He said as he lifted his hand and held my chin. He turned my face to him as he looked into my eyes.

"I am not ready for that, Jake. I like you too, but I just met you and after all that I have been through, I don't think I want to get into a relationship right now." I said as I gazed back into his eyes.

He sighed and let my chin go, "What about later?"

"Later, maybe." I said with a soft smile. His lips lifted up in a smile, "That sounds like a yes to me."

I laughed and he joined me as he bumped his shoulder into mine.

* * *

I was sitting in the cafeteria with Anna who befriended me just recently. She was chewing on some chips while telling me about the latest episode she had watched of Doctor Who.

But I was distracted. I loved Doctor Who and almost everything that has to do with it, but I had my reason, and that reason was a certain bad boy with hazel eyes, and a teasing smile.

Jake and I have been inseparable since we went to that party. But he hasn't in school for three days now. Not that he was at school every day but when he wouldn't be there, he always texted me. Always.

"And then Amy said 'what's it short for? Roranicus?' And... Max! Are you even listening?" I looked up at

Anna, who was glaring at me as she sat beside me.

"What? Oh yeah, I am." I said, biting into my burger and nodding.

She sighed and placed her hand on my arm. "What's wrong? You know you can tell me anything right?"

"I know. I'm just worried..."

"About?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

"Jake. He hasn't been in school for three days now and his friends are not even here today. They usually tell me he's fine and that he couldn't make it to school." I finished with a sigh.

"Wow, you really care about him." She smiled. knowingly.

"Well, we are friends."

"You both care too much for each other to be just friends."

"We aren't going to be anything more than friends, not now anyway." Maybe later, I thought with a small smile touching my lips.

She gave me a look as she finished up her Pepsi. "What do you mean?"

I finished my burger and sprite, and stood up. "I don't know how to explain, but I need to go to the bathroom. I will catch you later, okay?"

"Okay." Anna replied as she watched me walk out of the cafeteria.

* * *

Jake's POV

"We have to tell her, man." Shane said to me.

I rubbed my face with both hands. I was sitting on the couch in Aiden and Rafer's home. Those of our gang members who were injured were getting treated by Aiden and Rafer's family doctor and his nurse. The injuries weren't serious, but they were still injuries.

The Drillers gang have been attacking our gang for almost a week now, and we've tried to fight back as much as we could, but our gang was a lot smaller than theirs. I had no idea what Kane was trying to do, but I wouldn't let him get to Max. I sighed. We haven't talked in a while and I missed her, but I had to concentrate on our gang.