Popcorn, football, and trouble

In the morning we go and get our pets from our parents' houses. We go out to lunch on our way home and make plans for the football game. After lunch we go home and I put Leah down for a nap. Jake and I are in the living room again and I'm working on some homework. "I hope it's okay with you if Mac and Erin come over tomorrow. They can help with the move and everything." I say without taking my eyes off my work.

I feel Jake's hand rubbing circles on my back as he replies, "It's fine with me. As long as everything gets done and we don't have any trouble." I smile at my work. "Thanks. This really means a lot to me," I tell him cheerfully. He doesn't respond, which is fine, I know him well enough that he doesn't need to.

Jake looks at the piles of papers and books I have littered around us. "What are you working on?" he asks, clearly not understanding my organization method. "Um . . . I have two papers due on Monday. Three math assignments, two A.P. Bio worksheets, then all the notes from my two history classes. I also have to send out emails to the yearbook staff and some coaches and supervisors for pictures and lists of participants of extracurriculars for the yearbook pages." I rattle off without taking my eyes off my current project, a second math assignment.

Jake whistle, "anything I can do to help?" I smile knowing he can't really do much. He never was really smart. Heck, when he was in high school I would help him with his homework even though I was three years or grades below him. "Make me a cup of cider." I demand. I don't drink tea or coffee, which I get teased for a lot. But I really prefer cider. Somehow it always seemed to clear my head. Jake doesn't understand my preference, but he gets up to make me a cup anyway.

He comes back in with a steaming cup of cider for me. He sits down next to me, puts my cup in front of me, and snatches one of my papers. "Hey!" I make a grab for the paper. "It isn't finished yet! Don't read that." He pulls the paper just out of my reach, "Can't I read it?" I sigh and glare at him. "It isn't very good. Like I said, it isn't finished yet." He smiles at me, "I don't mind. It's still probably better than anything I've ever written. It might even be the best in the class just like this."

I snort a laugh, "Yeah, unedited and unrevised." He shrugs, "Since when have you had to make major changes to a paper after an editor looked over it?" I take a minute to think. "I don't know. A year, maybe two. Maybe more. I can't remember." I say like it's really no big deal. He nods, "Exactly. Besides, what's the harm in me looking over it? Let me just proof read it. Please?" I laugh, his face looks ridiculous. "Alright, but just this once." I finally relent. He pumps his fist in the air in victory. "Don't let this get to your head mister." I say sternly, squinting at him accusingly. "I'll do my best." He says jokingly.

I laugh again, but before I can reply I hear a tiny giggle as a little blonde head pokes into the room. "Leah? What are you doing up so early?" I ask as she starts bouncing into the room. I step over the pile in front of me to meet her. I swing her up into my arms and spin us quickly. Her joyous laugh follows us, a trail of twinkling sound in the air. "Um, Beck, it's been an hour and a half." I check the clock at this. He's right, I'm shocked despite the amount of work I'd gotten done. "Well then," I say looking at Leah, "I guess we'll have to get someone a snack." I start bouncing and she giggles.

"Popcorn it is." Jake announces and goes into the kitchen to make the popcorn. Still holding Leah I put my stacks of papers and books safely to the side and pick out a movie for us to watch. The movie is just starting when Jake comes back with a huge bowl of popcorn. "Think I made enough?" he asks jokingly. I look at the bowl and frown, "No, I know you didn't make enough." He scowls and sits on the couch with me and Leah. "But I guess we will have to make it work." I add as an afterthought.

About halfway through the movie I get up and start the leave the room. "Where are you going?" Jake asks, slightly annoyed. I roll my eyes before I answer, "To feed your dog and get ready for the game." Then he sits backs on the couch, muttering to himself, but let's me go without

I feed the dog and go to our room to get ready for the game. I get my hair up, not planning on having to change my hair for half time. Then I get my uniform out and start to change. Our uniforms are several pieces and I get really warm when I'm trying to get ready to I usually don't zip up the back and sometimes don't even pull it all the way on until it's almost time to leave. Which is what I do now. I'm working on my make up, putting in an effort to look my best assuming people would expect me to look horrible. I hear the door behind me swing open slowly and a low whistle come from the guy standing in the doorway.

I hardly pause in getting ready, ignoring him as best I can. "Like what you see?" I retort, not really liking the memories this brings to mind. This snaps him out of his daze, oh please, he can only see my bare back. He walks up to stand behind me and slips his hands around my waist, inside my uniform. His warm calloused hands brushing my skin. "Jake." I warn him, slightly annoyed. "Yes?" he asks, his breath brushing my hair, obviously not picking up on my irritation. "Jake stop." I snap, turning around and dislodging his harness from me. "Why?" He demands, I ignore him and grab my bags and start to leave the room. "Pack a bag for you and Leah, we leave in about twenty minutes." I call over my shoulder to him.

I march into the kitchen and dump my bags by the door. I pull my phone out of the waistband of my skirt, what? I don't have any pockets, and text Mac. She responds almost immediately asking for a ride to the game because her parents are busy tonight. I let her know that it's fine, but that I was planning on getting there early so I could stretch on my own before the game. "Make that ten minutes, we're picking up Mac." I call to Jake who is still in our room.

I let Mac know we will pick her up in fifteen to twenty minutes. Then I take a deep breath. This is going to be a lot harder than I originally thought. A lot harder. And I'm going to have to work hard for it, harder than I have for anything ever before. But if it was up to me, Leah would get the best parents she could have, the best ones I know.