-Chapter Eight-

 Is it wrong that I can’t get to sleep tonight? More importantly, is it wrong that I’m lying awake at this very moment thinking about Jake?

I think there is definitely a problem with this situation.

Number one, I shouldn’t be awake at three AM on a school night.

Number two, I shouldn’t be awake at three AM thinking about Jake. 

Number three, it’s three AM and I still haven’t finished my homework.

Put those three things together and you have a problem. I have a good reason for not finishing my homework, though. . . . I’m too lazy to get out of bed and walk across the room to my book bag.

Yep, that’s my reason. Oh well, I’ll have time to do it tomorrow. 

My thoughts wandered back to Jake for the millionth time tonight. I don’t even know why! He is a guy who lives in California.

I am a girl who lives in Florida. We shouldn’t even still be talking to each other! I don’t even know him for crying out loud! Well, no, that’s a lie. I do know Jake. He is no longer a stranger to me.

Is he a friend then?

I have no idea.

Rolling over onto my side, I gazed at my alarm clock. It’s now three o-five. I’m not even tired! I blame Jake for all of this.

If I can’t go to sleep, I might as well do something, right?

But what? What can I do when it’s three o’clock in the morning? Nothing.

Well. . . . I can text Jake. . . . No, he’s probably asleep. Ugh, this sucks. Who cares, I’m bored, and I’m going to text him.

“Jake?” I texted him. There, it’s done. I can’t take it back now. 

“Yes, Alex?” he asked after a few moments.

“Did I wake you up? Sorry…”

“No, I can’t really go to sleep =/ *sigh*”

“Really? Why not?” I asked. I actually thought he’d be asleep by now. 

“I’m too busy thinking about stuff.”

“Like what?” 

“You.” 

And that’s when I died. 

No, just kidding, I’m still alive and breathing. But I swear, my heart stopped right then and there. He’s thinking about me?

I was in pure and utter shock. “Why?”

“That’s what I do not know. Why are you still awake? Isn’t like three something there?”

“Yeah. I’m doing my homework.”  That was a lie. I was most definitely not doing my homework. But I can’t tell him that I was thinking about him, now can I? No.

“Sucks for you :)”

“You’re telling me. I can’t get to sleep though! I’m not even tired. So…. I decided to text you.”

“Well, I was just about to text you myself ;)”

I smiled as I read his text, and sat up straight in bed, resting my head against the headboard. “Really?”

“Nope, but I was thinking about it. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

“Sure, Jake.”

“I’m calling you. Like now.”

“What? Why—” My loud ringtone cut me off as the ‘Answer/Decline’ screen came up. I pursed my lips as I stared at the cute puppy that I set as Jake’s contact icon.

I answered. “Yes, Jake?”

“Hey, Alexandria.”  His voice was raspy and tired from lack of sleep. You know when people say that a guy’s voice always sounds a lot hotter when they’re tired?

That is so true. 

“It’s Alex, not Alexandria. Don’t call me that name,” I told him. 

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because it’s too long of a name. It’s like five whole syllables!”

“So?”

“So don’t call me that.” I lowered my voice, remembering it was past three AM. “Why exactly did you call?”

“Can I call you Lexi?” he asked, completely ignoring my question.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Sure, Jake. You can call me Lexi. I don’t really give a flying fladoodle.”

“Flying fladoodle?” he repeated.

“Yes. I believe that is what I said. Flying fladoodle.”

“Huh. Hold on a sec.”

“Okay?”

About a minute later, he started talking again. “Okay, I’m back.”

“What did you just do?” 

“I set your contact name as ‘Lexi, the Flying Fladoodle’.”

I chuckled a bit. “Okay? That’s cool.” I smiled, thinking of the little Golden Retriever puppy that I have set for him. “You look like a puppy.”

“What? Did you just say I look like a. . . puppy?”

“Yes, I believe I did.”

“And why do I look like a puppy?”

“Because your contact icon on my phone is a puppy.” I smiled again. Aww. . . That puppy is so cute!

“Does that mean you think I’m cute?” he asked.

Yes. “What? No…?”

“So you think I’m ugly? Oh okay, I see how it is then.”

“No! Trust me, you are definitely not ugly. You look like a—” I stopped myself before I could say something stupid like a Greek god, or an Abercrombie and Fitch model.

“Like a what?”

“You. . . Look like a puppy. Yes, you look like a puppy.”

“But puppies are cute. So I’m just going to assume that you think I look sexy.”

I do. But I can’t let him know that. “Puppies aren’t sexy, Jake.”

“Whatever, Lexi. I’m still going to assume you think I’m sexy,” he told me. 

“Okay. You have fun with that!”

“Oh, I will.”

“Whatever that means. So do you have any particular reason you’re calling me?”

“Because I want to talk to you. Is that a bad thing?”

“No, it’s just that we could’ve continued our conversation through text messages. . . . Oh well. So when are you going to bed?”

“I don’t know. I’m not really that tired.”

“Jake, go to bed. You’re tired. I can hear it in your voice.”

He paused before replying. “Fine. But we, my friend, are Skyping tomorrow after I get out of school. Understand?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, Jake, I promise.”

“Good. Bye, Lexi the Flying Fladoodle.” With that he hung up, not letting me squeeze in another word. How nice of him. I couldn’t help but crack a smile. 

Jake was now my friend. My friend that Danielle still doesn’t know about, that is. I have to tell her tomorrow. . . Well, later on today, I guess. 

This time when I tried to get to sleep, I actually succeeded. 

* * *

At seven PM, when I was done my homework, I got on Skype. Earlier on today, Jake told me to get on at seven. . . . So here I am, getting on Skype at seven.

I scrolled through my contact list, looking for Jake’s contact. Once I found it, it said he wasn’t online. 

Why would he tell me to get on, then not be on himself? Does that even make sense?

No, it doesn’t.

I retrieved my phone out of my pocket and pulled up his number.

“Are you going to get on Skype? Don’t just leave me hanging.” I texted him. I gave him some time to reply, but the message that I was waiting for never came. 

What should I do now, call him? Duh. 

I dialed his number into the keypad. Wait, how did I even remember his number? Oh well. I pressed the call button and waited for him to pick up.

After a few rings, it went to his automated voicemail. I tried again, and this time he picked up.

Well, that’s what I thought. It was actually Lily who picked up. “Sorry, Alex, Jake isn’t here.”

“What? Where is he?” I asked. 

“He’s at the hospital.”

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