Pieces of Me Read Free

happened yesterday afternoon and the strange conversation with my Mum, she suggested that a little retail therapy was needed. So, I threw on a pair of jeans and drove straight to her place to pick her up.
     
    We lock the car and head toward the entry of the large shopping mall. As we stroll around searching for a bargain, Lacie brings up the topic that I have kind of been avoiding since I picked her up. I want to talk to her about it, but I’m also a little embarrassed about my new feelings, especially as I think my Mum is wrong and Jake doesn’t feel the same about me.
    “So, I think your Mum is right.”
    “What!” It comes out a little louder than I planned and a little more high pitched than my usual voice, but I am kind of shocked. “What do you mean you think she’s right? Are you crazy? He’s with Vanessa. Why would he even look twice at me?”
    “Abbi, you are so blind. Vanessa is boobs and arse, but that’s it. There is no substance to her. She’s totally one dimensional. I think your Mum is right and I think Jake is in love with you.”
    “Hey girls!”
    I look up to see Jake and Corey standing in front of us. Oh my God! I hope they didn’t hear what Lacie had said. But, when my eyes drift to Jake’s face, I can see his dimples, so I know he must have heard her. He’s also standing only a metre away from us, so I think it’s pretty safe to say he heard everything.
    As his eyes search mine, I can feel my face heating. I glance at Lacie to see her looking back and forth at us with a massive smile on her face.
    “Hey, guys. Fancy seeing you here! We were just about to head over to the food court for a milkshake, care to join us?”
    Corey starts to say something. “Sorry…” But Jake cuts him off.
    “Of course we’d like to join you.” He grins at me and I quickly start walking toward the little coffee house at the end of the food court.
     
    Jake falls into step beside me, but I don’t look at him. I can’t. Are my Mum and Lacie right? Could I be in love with Jake? Now I feel even more nervous around him. I feel that if I look at him now, he will see straight through me, right into my soul. Instead, I glance back to see Lacie and Corey walking side by side, Lacie gazing longingly at him as he talks about some football game. Suddenly, I feel Jake’s hand on my shoulder, and I immediately feel tingles down my arm.
    “Are you okay, Shorty?”
    Shrugging, I paste a smile on my face before quickly glancing at him.
    “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    Just as he starts to speak again, we reach the coffee house and I turn and ask Lacie and Corey what they want to drink, rudely cutting off Jake. I’m starting to feel like a bitch, but for some reason, I can’t act normal around him anymore. I’m far too aware of him and how my body reacts to him when he’s near. He follows me to the counter and after we put in our order, I stand awkwardly, still trying to avoid looking in his eyes.
    “Shorty.”
    “Hmm.”
    “Look at me. Please.” I can’t ignore the desperation and sadness in his voice, so I turn and slowly raise my eyes, until they meet his chocolate ones; beautiful, chocolate brown, puppy dog eyes. The worried look on his face tugs at my heart strings, making me feel horrible.
    “Jake, I’m okay.”
    He doesn’t buy it for a second.
    “Why does it feel like you’re trying to avoid me?”
    “I’m not avoiding you, Jake. I’m just…I don’t know. I’m just not feeling well, I’ve got a headache.”
    “Oh.”
    The young girl that served us places our drinks on the counter and I quickly grab two of them and make my way to the table where Corey and Lacie are deep in conversation. Jake follows close behind me, I can almost feel the heat from his body as I place the drinks on the table and slide onto the booth seat. Corey and Lacie are occupying one side, so Jake slides in next to me, his elbow bumping mine and giving me goosebumps all over. Leaning away from him, I glance over and see him