-Chapter Three-

"Girls, come and eat!" Mom called from the kitchen. It was now seven thirty-six, and Jake still didn't reply.

It's been at least five hours since we stopped our conversation...

Why hasn't he replied yet? Heck, why am I even so eager?

"Okay, coming mom!" Danielle and I yelled simultaneously as I turned the living room's TV off. No, Danielle isn't my sister. She's my best friend of ten years. Yeah, I know. Long time.

"What's for dinner?" Peyton asked, walking through the other entrance of the kitchen.

"Food," Danielle stated flatly.

"What kind of food?"

"The kind that you eat. What other kind?"

"What are we eating!?" Peyton demanded. Whoa, someone's getting a little frustrated.

"Well, my little friend, why don't you go ask mom? I'm sure she'll tell you." Danielle patted Peyton's head and winked at her. Peyton slapped her hand before going to the dinner table where my mom was setting it.

"Mom, what are we eating for dinner?" she asked.

"Food."

Dani started snickering at Peyton. "I told you!"

I chuckled, and took a seat at the long table. My family, or at least the people who lived here, consisted of five other people: Peyton, my mom, my step dad (he was pretty much a real father to me), and my baby brother Kyle. And, since Dani is here most of the time, she counts too.

Once the others had joined, we began eating what Mom had made us. Spaghetti and meatballs.

"So, how's your brother been, Danielle?" Mom asked.

"He's doing a lot better. He can almost walk without his crutches now." Danielle's brother, Daniel (I know, weird... They aren't even twins!) jumped off of the roof of a shed and broke his ankle.... Again.

Why would he jump off of a roof? Pfft, like I would know. Why would he jump off a roof and break his ankle twice? Go ask him.

"That's good." She nodded firmly, swirling spaghetti noddles on her fork.

"I still think he's an idiot," Peyton declared.

"Of course you do," I said, rolling my eyes at her. "But I can't really blame you."Dani chuckled beside me.

A silence filled the room. What, Mom couldn't pull up another random subject?

My phone vibrated in my pocket, followed by a short ding.

Fishing it out, I opened up the message to see who it was. It was a number from California. Who the heck -- Jake!

I quickly saved his number as a contact, and replied to his 'hey'.

"I'm eating dinner now. Can't talk."

"Alex, you should know that texting is not allowed at dinner table," my step father, Liam, implied.

My phone buzzed again. I looked down at it slowly. "Aw, okay. :( Text me when you're done eating?"

Why the sad face? Oh well. "Sure, I guess :D Bye"

He didn't reply after that.

"Who were you texting?" Peyton questioned, leaning in to sneak a peek at my phone's screen.

I pushed her head away. "None of your business!" I snapped. "Plus it's not like you know any seventeen year-olds."

"I know you, don't I? And Danielle. And your ex-boyfriend, Christian. And--"

"Peyton. Shut the fudge-nuts up!" I glared at her. "It's none of your business." I gritted my teeth at the thought of Christian. That little....

"Alex, no swearing!" Mom scolded me.

"Fudge-nuts isn't even a curse word, Mom."

"Well, it's a substitution for the other word, yeah? Don't say it again."

I muttered a quick sorry, sipping at my cup of Coke. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Fudge-nuts, really Mom?

* * *

"Mm.. spaghetti sounds good." Jake replied.

"It was okay, I guess."

"What's up?"

"Watching The Big Bang Theory."

"I want to watch!"

"It's on On Demand." I told him.

"I hate you -_-"

"Oh, but you know you love me!" I replied.

"Sure that's it ;)"

"STOP THAT! Ugh, I'm going to go hang out with Danielle now," I told him.

"Who's Danielle?"

"My friend."

"Is she pretty?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just asking xP No need to get all snappy"

I frowned at my phone. "Sorry."

A few minutes passed, and still no reply. Gosh, what's up with this kid and leaving randomly? Usually he texts back in less than a minute, or even forty-five seconds for that matter, but other times... It drives me crazy!

Well, he probably does have a social life... Wait, what if he's some thirty something shaggy guy who lives in his old granny's basement?

Uh... Creepy thought...

But you never know, it could be true. But hopefully that's not the case.

No, that can't be right. Thirty year old guys don't act like Jake. Jake is fun-spirited, he can't be an old creep.... Right?

I jumped at the buzzing of my phone. I came out of my trance as I checked my messages.

"It's ok, lol :)"

Oh thank God! I thought he died... Even though it's been, what like five minutes? Whatever.

"I thought you died *shrugs* Guess not =/"

"HURTFUL!"

I chuckled at the message. '' ;) "

 "Hey! Only I can wink at you!"

 "Even though I hate it?"

"Yes ;)"

I shook my head, looking at my phone. "Who's that?" Someone whispered next to my ear. I jumped violently.

"What the fudge-nut!?" I exclaimed.

"Alex!" My mom's voice boomed through the house.

Dani was laughing at me. I scowled at her."Shut it."

"Who is that? What's their name? Jake? You don't know a Jake."

I don't want her to know about Jake. Jake is mine. Gosh, that sounds really possessive, doesn't it?

Oh well.

"My cousin. Have you met him? I don't think you have..." I mused.

She narrowed her eyes at me, giving a skeptical look. Eventually she shrugged it off, taking a seat on one of the small couches. She began flipping through the channels on the TV.

"Well then." I replied to Jake.

" *sigh* " he replied.

 "Why the sigh? Something wrong?"

 "I thought you were dead. Guess not =/"  

 "Hey!! You're mean :'c" I typed. I can't blame him for saying that, I did do it myself.

 "Sorry :)"

 "Whatever =P I'm hungry."

 "Then go get some?" he replied.

 "Nah, I'm too lazy :("

 "If we ever meet, I'm taking you to a gym!"  

 "But.... JAKE! I'm too lazy.... :("

If we ever meet? I doubt that would happen. Ever.

Hey people of earth who may or not be reading this!! I just wanted to say thank you for all of the comments and feedback! I really appreciate it! Xxx

~Storylover11~