Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:51:20 -0800 (PST) From: Joe Parker Subject: I think I'm in trouble. Part 1, Chapter 11 I THINK I'M IN TROUBLE Part I Chapter XI (I dedicate this chapter to my good friend Mr Mclemore.) *** (Felix) Its been two weeks.., two whole weeks! And he hasn't spoken a word to me. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I thought he would at least talk to me or scream at me or torment me or somin... Well actually he has been tormenting me - by not talking to me. He's not talking to nobody except his buddies Clarke and Junior. He don't talk to Jessica either and even though she and I talk a lot, for some reason we just can't bring ourselves to speak about Jake. Well actually we did chat about him online the first couple of nights after the 'incident'. But since then we haven't really had anything to discuss bout him. He's not speakin to us and is making it obvious that he don't wanna either. Two weeks of misery but life does go on and it has. It has sure been interesting too! Momma and Mr Ryan have become as thick as thieves lately and there have been a couple of uncomfortable (for me) shared dinners, one here at our house and another up top where we have all gotten to know each other better. Well most of us have. Jake has definitely told his family that we had a big bust up. I doubt he told them WHY, but he has somehow convinced them not to say nothin and to just let him take care of thangs. I decided to ask Momma and Uncle Gary to do likewise and they have agreed.., for now. Mom watches me like a hawk and the few times we have been together with Jake she has observed us with worried and puzzled eyes. I have also noticed all the pensive looks his father has swung my way, I think he expects me to 'fix' thangs and is silently trying to urge me on. It's so clear he loves his son.., I wish I had a dad who loved me even half as much, I would be ecstatic. Jake seems to be very clingy with his Daddy, is he always like that or is he just like that lately? I can tell that Ryan is really concerned for Jake coz he is making every effort to accommodate his son. When I say that I haven't really talked to Jake, I mean TALK. Coz there has been dialog between us but not any actual real discussion, know what I mean? 'Pass the salt please' kinda don't count. There was one single day however when we DID talk. Sorry for not telIin you the full truth but I been tryin not to think bout it coz it made me hope too much. I will tell you bout it soon. Anyway I am really glad to see Ryan treating my Momma like a precious jewel and I don't think he will change either. He is clearly into her and I am amazed at how his interest has transformed my Mom into this beautiful and I mean like TOTALLY GLOWING woman. He brings her flowers everyday, (Yes he visits daily). All the flowers are from the gardens Maxson Eyrie. Mom has started giving flowers away to people at work coz we are all filled up like a flower shop at home. I came home from school the other day to find a vase full of dusky mauve roses in my room. Like ack! He brings cool little trinkets and gifts for her, for all of us. And no they ain't expensive in the normal sense - although some of them are very expensive, but more importantly they are precious. We learned that he loves to carve or whittle as some folks like to call it and he has given us all some of his amazing work as gifts. The kids have received little zoo animals, all lacquered and shiny and they love them. Lil Shaun is too young to have such toys yet, he will gobble them up lol. But Abby has placed her menagerie set of 30 animals high up on top of her bed shelf and she writes stories about them all the time. She is gonna be a great writer one day, you jez wait and see! Ryan gave me a 6 foot high horse! - any bigger and I would have been wondering if Jake was hiding inside, ready to storm my room! He said he had finished carving it a long time ago, but had never lacquered and polished it, but after meeting us he felt motivated again to work on all his unfinished pieces and this one called out my name - whatever that means. I absolutely love it! And we don't feel at all like he has been trying to buy or gift his way into our hearts. He was so shy and unsure of himself when he gave them to us, it was so sweet and cute. They have horses up there and he is gonna learn me how to ride! I have always wanted to learn to ride a horse! I noticed him look at Jake as he said this, but Jake just put his head down and said nothing. It was like a nail in my coffin. Ryan has struck up a real good friendship with Uncle Gary who really likes him. They went fishin together all day Saturday and Momma weren't none too happy! It amused me to watch her pacing round the house all huffy'n'puffy eyes squinting in a cold jealous rage coz her brother got to spend the whole day with her beau. I still ain't gotten over how hot Jake's dad is you know... He could wear a hessian sack for clothes and my heart would flutter. He showed up last Saturday morning in fishin gear. Hiking boots, sand colored cargo pants with pockets everywhere, red checker plaid shirt over a black thermal high necked top and a red thick sleeveless coat again with pockets all over it. He had this ridiculous floppy hat thang on and my did he look delicious! I think Mom wanted to do some fishin of her own - ewwww bad thoughts, bad thoughts, clear the mind! - somethin new! GAH! When we had dinner here the other night, Ryan talked a lil more bout himself to Uncle Gary whilst Momma was cookin. I was in and out of the kitchen coz I were helpin Mom out. (And tryin to avoid Jake who played with the kids in the corner). Grrrrr those lil critters betray me by lovin Jake too much! You should have been there when Jake, Abby and Lil Shaun all fell asleep together on the floor after dinner, toys scattered like skittles all around them. Abigail was tucked safely under his arm - a smile curving her little pink lips. Lil Shaun on his chest, still sucking his thumb and all three of them off in dreamland. My heart just overflowed with emotion. Watchin him sleep is the most peaceful pose I think I will ever see him assume. His lengthy lashes fluttering every now and then. One muscular arm tucked under his magnificent head. His strong chest rising and falling with a lil baby riding the wave in blissful repose and I ain't allowed along for the ride. It's just another nail in my coffin. Anyway, as I was sayin.., Earlier that night Ryan told Uncle Gary that if he had his way he would have been a simple carpenter. Well he ain't no simple carpenter at all! We have seen some of the furniture he has crafted, not made - but 'crafted'. They are astoundingly exquisite pieces and I know that all the furniture in our house could not add up to the value of the mahogany chair, dresser and mirror set he gave to Mom last week. Oh my these Maxson's move fast don't they? When they think they are in love they strike like lightning. And when they stop bein in love they move just as fast... *** I sigh and try to concentrate on old droner and his lesson. It's been so hard to concentrate on any of my lessons with my mind in such turmoil. Especially when the object is sittin behind me boring holes into the back of my head. Man I didn't know he was a brain surgeon. I know he's lookin at me, not only can I feel his x-ray eyes but Beth told me so. I slowly crouch down to my left pretendin to get somin out of my book-bag.., I sneak a surreptitious glance up behind me. Dang, he's staring right at me, with a smirk on his face - I'm busted. His right eyebrow raised in question. I turn a bright shade of scarlet, grimace and then slowly turn around to face the front. There are currently two traffic lights in Forkridge and one of them is stuck on red. I freakin HATE it that he can do this to me. I can feel another set of eyes peering at me from the side, it's Mark. He's a real nice guy and if it wasn't for Jake I could really dig him. In the past few weeks I been comin to grips with the whole gay thang and havin guys like Mark Fisher around sure makes it alot easier.., he is some serious eye candy. He's spent some time gettin to know me and he is such a neat guy I really like him. Blondes with sparkling blue eyes cannot be taken lightly! I look forward to handling his hot body later on today. When I told him I like to play basketball he almost orgasmed, ok well not quite but this is my story okay? It's my party and I'll lie if I want to. There's an after school pick up game in the gym this afternoon and I'm gonna go show them some lucky Kentucky shizzuckey! I grin back at Mark and he whispers -- "Don't forget, after school". I give him the thumbs up. "Grrrrrrrr..," - I can hear growling from behind me. Jake barks out, "Shut up, some of us are trying to get an education!" I cover my mouth, Hehehehe I think somebody's jealous. Mark mouths some smart words back at Jake, somethin like 'Oh please forgive me Kemosabe!' his hands in the prayer position. Jake continues growling behind me. Wow! - Mark is the only guy who doesn't cower in fear when Jake gives him the evils. They seem to have an interesting 'live and let live' thang goin on. The air often seems to crackle around them. If they weren't so stuck on other people you would start wonderin if somethin ain't goin on tween them. But I HAVE TO BELIEVE that Jake is still fixated on me - Lord I sure hope he is. And as for Mark.., well these past few days have been really intriguing. He has been making overtures t'wards the previously untouchable Jessica, who has made it clear that she and Jake are finished. WOW! - it has caused a furore! - the whole school has been talkin bout the end of the golden couple.., the demise of the fairytale royal relationship. Nobody can quite figure out why but they all dyin to find out. I feel all prickly knowing that I am seriously implicated in the whole reason they are over. The speculative looks Mark gives me every now and then confirm to me that he has made his own deductions bout the whole matter. He has come to his own conclusions and he is very very happy about them. In fact he spends alot of time telling me how awesome it was that I came here and how I am a blessing to him in more ways than he could ever explain. At first I thought he was talkin bout basketball but now I ain't so sure. Suffice to say that Jessica is giving him like the totally coldest shoulder this side of Alaska.., but he is still as happy as a carving knife in a pumpkin patch. I really think he likes her - what do you think? Hmm I also think it's very interesting how Jake don't seem to be doin much to dissuade Mark. In fact he almost seems to be encouraging him. There's one person that Jake has NOT been encouraging, and that's the delicious Lenore. She noticed that somethin was up tween Jake and I straight away that day we all went up top. And since then she has been a real honey to me! We have become real close, discussin thangs every afternoon while she baby-sits and I cook supper. She told me that it's clear to her that I really like Jake.., "Felix don't freak honey coz like nobody else can really tell but I can" My eyes are ready to be reinserted back into my head with that comment... "I can always tell who's zoomin who and I think it's so cute baby!" she purrrrrrrrs and kisses my cheek. I blush. "Tell me Feely" - that's her new name for me. "Do you want to get him back, to make him yours?" I nod stupidly, she laughs throatily and kisses me on the other cheek then hugs me to her ample boobies. Hmmm maybe I don't want him back after all haha! Lil Shaun comes wobbling over with an aggrieved look on his face. He raises his arms to Lenore and I get the short shift as she welcomes our lil man to her generous bosom. What the Hell! -- he din't like me goin there lol! That boy's gonna be a real ladykiller I can tell! He turns and glares at me with a 'Keep away from my woman' look. Lenore laughs at the expression on my face. The younger generations start earlier and earlier! She kisses his sleepy head, "I'm gonna do all I can to get you what you want Feely" I'm not sure what that means but I have come to learn that things initiated by Lenore tend to have unforseen consequences! The next time Jake came visiting with his father Lenore went on the offensive. She was all over me sticking tight like a little lycra bodysuit on Godzilla, totally ignoring the death stares she was getting from Jake. Hell if I was the target of those intense looks of disapproval, I'd be dead by now! What cracked me up was when I left the room for a moment, he closed in on her. I eavesdropped shamelessly from outside the door... "What the devil are are you playing at Lenore!" he's tryin to keep his voice down and not cuss. A velvet feminine voice replies.., "Abigail did you hear someone say somin honey?"... "Yes it was Mr Jake's an he said a bad words, I'm tellin!" I can just see their faces in my mind... His all screwed up with frustration and hers - mocking - like the cat who has just devoured the canary. He can't exactly say much with the kids in there, especially Abby who will repeat word for word whatever she hears to Momma and Uncle Gary. He makes a 'bristling with anger ' sound and then with a staccato type voice he snaps... "Just. quit. calling. him. 'Feely' - that's just stupid" Her response is a rich musical laugh.., and then a lil girls voice rings out once again, "Ummm you said stupids!" He decides to be peurile, "Ummm so did you!" in a sing song voice. "Abigail honey.., did somebody say somin?" Lenore sets the whole cycle off again and I can't help but laugh at Jake's sudden high pitched scream of frustration. I can hear heavy incensed footsteps comin my way. Uh oh he's getting the Hell out of Dodge, I better make my escape. Before I can move away the door slams open and he walks right into me. What's up with that? This is the second time he's done that... His reflexes are so true that there's no way I'm gonna hit the deck. He captures me more than catches me, and lifts me up into the air - eye to eye. At the same time he reaches back with his foot and hooks the door closed. He's carrying me again and he marches us straight into the downstairs bathroom then locks the door. I can't help it, I start giggling at his incredulous, outraged expression. I'm lovin the contact wer'e havin even if I'm possibly only seconds away from imminent destruction. I've missed him like crazy, I have been starving for him so bad it's been drivin me to distraction! His glorious, frustrated beyond words eyes narrow as they put two and two together. "Ohhhhhh so you think it's funny huh? - you evil lil spy!" I bite my lower lip and his eyes dilate as they zero in on my mouth... GULP! He presses my head to his.., our noses smooshing together... He crushes me into his body, leaving me in no doubt how he feels. Sending me x-rated signals about the state his body is in. I quit laughing. He shoots me a sinister smile... "Ha! your'e not laughing now are you, you little minx" And I'm thinkin - Nope this ain't no laughin matter... "I know just what you need Feeely" he turns his head sideways and and looks me up and down. He smiles radiantly, sets me down and then straightens my clothes fingers lingering all over my heated body. I reach out to touch him but he snaps his hands around my wrists in a vice like grip. "Uh uh uh!" he shakes his head condescendingly. "Oh no you don't, your'e gonna be a good boy and listen to me" Who the Hell does he think he is tellin me what to do! "Okay Jake" I whisper inanely.., (Yes roll your eyes and throw your hands up!) He looks a lil surprised by my response but quickly seizes the moment... He raises one pinky in the air and begins, "Firstly - Quit messin with my head.., I'm talking about you and Lenore!" I shrug - "Gee I don't know whatchoo talkin bout Jake?" "Give it up Jarrow, I know your'e only doing that to rile me, well it ain't working!" I scoff, he can pull the other one on that count. "WHAT -- ever", I reply... He ignores me and carries on with his list, holding his second pinky up... "Secondly - Quit hangin around with Mark, I don't want you with him and you ain't playin basketball with him either" WTF! - he aint stoppin me from playin basketball and he ain't keepin me from bein friends with Mark either! "I AM gonna play ball and I AM gonna be friends with Mark. This is not negotiable" He shakes his head vehemently, "You are not!" I do my chicken neck swivel thang and repeat what I jez said before... His mouth quirks in a half smile and he mimics my swivel neck action, embarrasing me. "He don't love you like I do" As usual I totally miss his point when I say, "Yeah, he's in love with Jessica!" He just looks at me, I think he's finally realizing I'm an utter and complete nutcase. He repeats.., "I said -- I love you - and, and, and.., I'm sorry and once I get myself together I am gonna prove it to you" I'm starting to get it... He's not finished yet, "And I just want you to be my friend again.., and nobody elses. I am lonely" My turn to talk, "Wait, wait, wait!, okay you think you love me? -- And grrrrrr you can be my friend but you can't keep me all to yallself" - I fold my arms adamantly and shake my head. He smiles and then he kisses me. It's just one kiss, it's very chaste and it's very sweet. Filled with all kinds of wonderful sweet promises. "Well baby, you just think about it alright?" I am at sixes and sevens, hyperventillatin and overheatin... He gives me a wonderfully crushing hug, rubbing his face against the side of my head and then he's gone. I stagger over to the basin and turn the cold water on. Grab a fresh face cloth and wet it. I look at myself in the mirror as I dab at my flushed face. What the Hell just went on here? I think I have just taken a hit from Hurricaine Jacob. *** Jake, Jake, Jakey Jake Jakey-Jake! -- what do I do bout Jake? Do I approach him and let him know that I do wanna fix thangs? Do I hold on to my pride and make him come begging like he prolly should? I know that he still has feelings for me, just coz he don't talk to me right now don't mean he don't care bout me. Yeah that incident in my bathroom happened a few days ago and since then he has acted totally disaffected by me. Geez he makes me mad! I got to believe he's still interested or I will just roll over and die. Because folks, I am more in love with Jake than ever. Damn, tears have sprung to my eyes! Graaaah! - have you noticed how many tears have flowed through this story? It's awash with salty bittersweet torrential teardrops. One would think we bought the mortgage on the waterworks! That big ole oaf sitting behind me has got me hook, line and sinker, lock stock and barrel.., game set and match. But I am determined as Hell to make him come to me and set things right dammit! I just hope he does it soon, before the moment is lost to both of us. *** Bounce, bounce bounce, I love the sound of the basketball. I love the smell of the gym. I love the excitement of psyching up and preparing to exert my body as I face off against the other boys. Yes I have blatantly disregarded Jake's 'command'. He ain't tellin me what I can do! I am pleased with myself actually. I ain't gonna let him prevent me from doin what I love to do. I know that it could cost me havin somethin with Jake but in the end how happy would I be? How happy would I be if he controlled my every move? If I let him tell me who I can and can't be friends with? See guys, I can stand up to him! High five! Now I love the guy to distraction, yes I know it's been less than a month but hey! - his own Dad was goin out with Aunt Shonta at 17 and he told me it was love at first sight. Jake snickered when Ryan said that and he got a deadly cold look from his father. He weren't laughin after that! I love the boy, for what it's worth.., this 17 year old loves that 17 year old. Yeah I am actually just about a month younger than him being born on January 24th. did you know that Jake was a Christmas Eve baby? We finish warming up, the only guys I know kinda are Mark and Junior, but I have spent a lil time with some of the other guys as well. I been really startin to enjoy Junior's friendship. Jake insinuated that Junior is somewhat of a dipstick but he ain't actually. He is a sweet natured boy when he ain't tryin to follow the crowd and he has a real love of all things vroom vroom. Uncle Gary said he's was gonna take me to buy a cheap second hand car soon but he's been so busy that we just never seem to get round to it :( Anyhow Junior came over to my house the other day to pick up his sister, Lenore. Before that though we hung out and we shot hoops outside the garage. He drives a cool restored vette and when he asked if I got a car I told him my lil story. Well now he is gonna take me car shoppin and Uncle Gary is pretty okay with it so yeah... I really like the Junior hehehe and he's easy on the eyes too. We was just bout to set up a 4 on 4 game with a revolving sub but it never eventuated because of the appearance of one J Maxson... Yep he just ambles on up and says "Whose team am I on?" Everybody pauses and I shiver a lil. I am wondering if he's gonna explode and try to get me away from the court but he don't look like he will after all. I still don't like the way Jake's been lookin at me. And I become even more concerned when Mark recalibrates the team and places me against Jake. So it's now me Mark, Elroy (this cool black kid who's somehow related to Miss Carol), a beanstalk lookin boy with a nice smile called Johnny who is my height and finally Junior. We are up against Jake and 4 other guys who all look like they got game. From the nervous reactions of the other boys it seems they are a lil intimidated by Jake's size, well I ain't. I am gonna use my speed and guile to mess with him and wrong foot him. I don't know how the other boys play but I am lookin forward to workin it all out. At 6'8" Jake towers over us and will obviously play center for his team, but our side is taller overall with Mark, Johnny and myself bein around 6'2" or thereabouts and Junior is bout 6'feet even, by the looks of him. Just my luck, Mark selects me to go center and then it's all on! Jake easily won the tip off but from there he and I went at one another like hammer and tongs. He is like a titan on the court, dominating, all consuming and the absolute central focus for his teammates. They realize this quickly and adjust their game accordingly. We work tirelessly to harass them and confuse the space around Jake when they look to pass to him. We utilize our own strengths of three main shooting options in me, Mark and Elroy, with Johnny and Junior backing up and setting it all up for us. I am totally lovin it! Jake's eyes study me with interest and approval throughout the game. I can sense he has a new respect for me. I have managed to show him that I can mix it up with him and his boys and then some. I work overtime to keep him off and away from me. He keeps tryin to grab me, shove me and barge me, but I dance around him. I keep executing tight little footwork moves in order to keep him from cornering or catching me. I keep mixing it up so he can't set up against me. He is remarkably quick on his feet and doesn't seem to tire. He don't even seem to be sweating. He barks commands and his troops follow, executing his orders to a tee. His quickness off the mark has surprised me a few times and if not for Mark backing me up, Jake would have scored all 26 points by now (Mark knows what Jake's capabilities are). As it stands Jake has scored all but 3 of his teams 26 points. I have scored 14 points for our team and Mark and Elroy have 6 between them. So we are locked up at 26 all and it's the first to 30. We are deadlocked and I signal to Mark that we gonna have to take a risk and change some of our attacking and defense lines. Jake's team are sitting pretty, they don't need to change nothin, it's us who have been havin to work like dogs just to stay with them. I propose a mid-court press defense and they quickly nod, let's do it! Now there is somthin I have always worked on with my game, and that's 'Point of difference'. The ability to totally change the style of my play in order to disrupt the opposition and cause hesitation in their ranks. I like to pull it out in close games and now it's showtime. Keeping in line with the zone defence I totally get off the body with Jake, I loved rubbing up against him lol but it's time to put this baby to bed. We let them have all the freedom they want for moving. Instead we fill all the space up between their ball carrier and Jake, forcing them to work the ball down the sidelines and lob the ball high to Jake. He gets the first lob and dunks it (rolls eyes). 28-26 to Jake's team... On our feed we work the ball carefully down the court not trying to do anything too fancy, avoiding Jake, using each others body to check him from getting too close. We make as if to rush the keyhole and the opposition respond by overcommitting to that area. Mark dashes out, headed for the 3 point line and Jake follows him. But before he can get all the way out I sketch a quick move and block his access just as Mark gets a sweet 3 pointer away - SWISH! -- we scream with delight and a blast of released pressure. Jake yells at his boys not to overcommitt and to stop us from double teaming him - thereby keeping him from defending our shotmakers. He stares red hot pokers at me! - I grin... So 28-29 to the good guys! On their next play they are more careful, Jake helps bring the ball down the court this time, mindful of our marking the space. He has been ramming through all game driving straight to the post and slamming it home, right in our faces. This time we block up the top of the keyhole inviting him to pass to Harry, who has snuck in behind us waiting for Jake to take advantage of his availability and lob it over us to him. But Jake doesn't do it, he has not done it all match and he won't do it now. He don't trust them enough and instead he drives through like we expected and attempts to take the score and the game. But not. All match he has been fouling us, holding onto us and pushing us like crazy. We have given as good as we got and on this play I do just that! Just as he makes to drive straight over me, I step to the side and blatantly goose him haha - I remember how ticklish he was and he still is! His hands lose just enough of their death grip on the ball to allow me to swat it away. I pass it straight out to Junior for the fast break and he's away! We score at the other end for a famous victory! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! 31-28!!! But there's no time to celebrate, I am already running lol.., I didn't even look behind me to check if he was after me. I hear a mighty roar behind me..., "FELIX I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!! - ARRRRGGGHHHH!" I feel kinda detached and insanely happy as I run away out of the gymnasium. I cackle wildly noting that Junior has also beat a hasty retreat, his feet taking him swiftly t'wards his car. I can run real quick but only in short sprints. Jake swears and as I speed through the outer gym door, he is hurtling through the basketball court doorway.., his long lope, eating up the ground between us... "YOU WON'T ESCAPE! -- GRRRRR!!! - YOU JUST WAIT!" I cackle again, the adrenalized freedom and liberation I feel right now is beyond comparison. I race through the car park seeking out Juniors' car but he's already gone lol! I can hear heavy breathing behind me, he's gaining on me and I prolly only have seconds and he'll have me. I take the only option left to me. I race to the nearest tall tree and scamper up the thang cackling all the way - lol! I think I'm in trouble! - REAL BIG TROUBLE!!! Call me Deathwish Jarrow, pleased to meet y'alls, it was good to know y'alls, me go now! I am the boy in the tree, yes that's me (wave out). The angry boy at the bottom of the tree is Jake, don't bother wavin to him, he'll just flip you the bird. In case you for some unbelievable reason missed him.., he's the one cursing and shaking the tree lol. Those other guys in the background are Mark, Johnny, Elroy, Harry and co... they are making sure to keep their distance. As you already know, Junior has left the building haha. I can't stop cackling, I know it's infuriating my Jakey but I can't help it. I think it's a nervous reaction! He shakes the tree again and it gives a mighty swish. I hold on for dear life and cackle like a berserker. "Ha ha ha ha ha! Hehehehehe!!!" "Felix get down here right now and face me like a man you little cheater!" Jake tried to climb the tree at first but I stomped on his hands hehe... naughty eh?!?!... me sorry. I am just high enough to avoid getting pulled down every time he jumps up. It's actually quite an exhilarating feeling. "I ain't comin down ever!, I'm emigratin to this tree, I have sought asylum with this tree!" "You audacious little shrew - why I am gonna run you through when I get my hands on you!" He slams his fist into his palm, reiterating his threat.., he shakes the tree again... and I laugh like the mad hatter. "Shrew, Through, You... Hey that all rhymes Jake, are you like some damn poet or somin?" I think he is becoming concerned for my sanity... frankly, so am I. "I'll give you 'Shrew, Through, You', in a moment!" he growls hands on hips... "Get down here!" I laugh and call out... "As for you Troy Donohue, I know what you wanna do! I think I'm havin a case of one of Miss Carol's famed ecstatic utterances, "Keep your filthy paws off my silky drawers!" Jake's mouth is hangin wide open lol, hands still on hips, he's shakin his head now. "My God you are nuts! Why didn't I notice this before???" I blow him a kiss and then wave out to Mark... "Hey Mark! - Marky Mark!!! - bring some water there's a fine chap!" Jake shoots Mark a silent look (which I can't see, his back is turned) Mark calls back apologetically "Errrr no can do sorry bro..." I hang my lip and look at Jake... "I'm not sorry Jake, we won and I ain't sorry EVER!" "You ain't right now Felix but you damn will be!" He shakes the tree again for bout 12 seconds and curses as a beautiful bevy of leaves judiciously decide to drop and decorate his deliciously devilish hair. I laugh softly as he shakes his head... "Here you missed one" I reach down and pull a leaf out of his hair. "There you go" I whisper, audible only to him. My eyes shining down into his. "Thanks" he whispers back huskily. His eyes reflecting back to me. I envision a purple ray between us, connecting us. "You gonna come down now sweetheart?" "You promise not to hurt me?" His eyes go all misty. "I promise" "Can I trust you Jake?" "Yes please Felix, just let go baby" I let myself fall out of the tree and straight into his arms. "I got you, lets go home for a shower hey?" "Yep" - I pick another leaf out of his hair and tickle his nose with it. He laughs. "Hmmph I think I am gonna play basketball this year, what do you think?" "Yep, do it sweety, I wanna be on your side" We walk past an astonished group of boys, yes I am in still in Jake's arms - this will be the third time! Well almost all of the boys are astonished, Mark don't look surprised at all. "All's well that ends well" says Mark. "Yeah something like that" Jake grumbles. He glares at the other boys.., "What the Hell are you all looking at?!?!" They quickly change their expressions to neutral, mumbling apologies. I don't know how this is all gonna go down but I am sure we will hear all bout it tomorra! But I'm not scared, Jake has just shown me and everyone else what his intentions are! He settles me into his big badass truck and buckles me in stealing a quick kiss. "You are now my boyfriend" He states matter of factly. I nod dumbly... We head for my house. He glances over at me and smiles, eyes crinkling and I melt. The memory of that contentious game of basketball quickly fades. It's a whole new ballgame now and for the first time my Jake and I are on the same team! Man I love basketball! ***************************************** (Jessica) In the history of the universe, the human race will spend 0.7 of a second on Earth before its extinction. Human existence ended long before you finished reading the previous sentence. This is called context and perspective. ***************************************** Please join me again for the next chapter Contact the author -- joejoeparkertex@yahoo.com