Chapter Four

As I left the school, I decided to offer to accompany Jacob to pick up his sister from school. While we walked, I couldn't help but feel nervous and a little sad for him. Emily didn't deserve it; it was obvious that Jacob was a great guy with a pure soul, always willing to help others. It was admirable... and I confess, I've liked him since we were 13, since that art class.

I remember, he was the first and only one to praise my drawings, with that shy and sweet smile that I long for in my memories as if it were the most valuable thing in the world.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, lost in thought. I knew he was thinking about Emily, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy stab my heart.

—"Anne?" —he called me with that voice I longed to hear every day.

I looked at him; he stopped at the avenue, letting the cars pass, and his eyes found mine.

—"What’s wrong, Jake?"

—"Why do they despise Emily so much? I know she's popular, but she's different from all of them."

What he said only formed a knot in my throat; I didn't hate her for being popular; I hated her for being the center of Jacob's attention.

—"I don’t hate her..." —I confessed.

—"But..."

—"Yes, I know what I said the other day, but what you said today made me realize that... you’re right." —I said, trying to sound casual and hide my pain.

Jacob frowned, as if trying to unravel the true meaning of my words. His expression was a mix of confusion and concern, which only intensified that pang of jealousy.

—"So, do you really think she’s different?" —he asked, his sincere tone resonating with me.

The question caught me off guard. Was she really different? She was popular, yes, but there was something in her sadness that told me there was more than met the eye. But that didn’t change the fact that my heart raced every time Jacob talked about her.

—"Maybe..." —I responded, feeling the sincerity of my words fade away. —"Perhaps, inside, she isn’t like the others."

Jacob nodded slowly, as if he were processing my words. As we crossed the street, I couldn’t help but keep looking at him. His face illuminated by the sunset had a beauty that left me breathless. But in my mind, the image of Emily continued to interpose between us, like a dark shadow.

—"I don’t know why, but I feel she carries a weight on her shoulders that she doesn’t share with anyone." —Jacob said suddenly.

—"I think so too..." —I murmured, my heart beating erratically and my hands sweating uncontrollably.

The rest of the walk to Sophie’s school was quiet, uncomfortable, and painful for me.

Sophie ran up to Jacob and hugged him; I couldn’t help but smile at the connection he had with his little sister.

—"Anne!" —she squealed and hugged me.

—"Hello, little one! How was your day?" —I asked, bending down to be at her level.

—"Wonderful! My friends and I painted a huge canvas!" —she said enthusiastically, bouncing up and down.

Sophie and I are great friends; I adore her enthusiasm and ingenuity. She has a lot of creativity and a natural talent for art.

—"Let’s go home. Do you want to join us?" —Jacob asked, putting Sophie’s backpack on his shoulders.

—"I would love to." —I said with a smile.

—"YAY!" —Sophie cheered happily.

As we walked home, Sophie’s laughter and energy filled the air, which made me feel a little better. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and while she talked about the canvas she painted with her friends, I tried to focus on her joy instead of the shadow Emily cast over my thoughts.

—"And what did you paint?" —I asked, wanting to keep the conversation going.

—"We painted a giant dragon and a rainbow coming out of its mouth. It was so colorful!" —Sophie excitedly recounted, her eyes shining as if she were still in class.

—"That sounds amazing!" —I exclaimed, trying to imagine the artwork in my mind. —"I’m sure everyone in your class was impressed."

Jacob smiled, watching his sister with admiration. It was evident he adored her. The way he looked at her made me feel a mix of warmth. Sometimes, I wished I could be part of that family dynamic, the one who filled his eyes with light like Sophie did.

We arrived at their house, and Jacob opened the door.

As I entered, the warmth of Jacob’s home enveloped me. The walls were adorned with family photos, and a soft light illuminated the living room. Jacob's mother, always attentive, was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

—"Hello, kids!" —she greeted with a smile. —"How was your day?"

—"Wonderful!" —Sophie exclaimed, running toward the kitchen. —"We painted a giant dragon and a rainbow at school. It was incredible!"

Jacob’s mother smiled, but her gaze lingered on me a moment longer than usual.

—"Hello, Anne. It’s good to see you here." —she said, her kind tone filling the space.

—"Hello, Mrs. Anderson. It’s nice to see you." —I replied, feeling a little more comfortable.

As Sophie continued talking about her day, Jacob and I moved to the dining table, where several of his sister's drawings were displayed as if they were trophies. I joined him, admiring each piece of art.

—"She has incredible talent, doesn’t she?" —Jacob commented, his voice soft and filled with pride.

—"Yes, she really does." —I agreed, feeling the knot in my throat begin to unravel a bit. Each stroke of Sophie’s drawings reflected her personality: vibrant, imaginative, and full of life.

Jacob looked toward the kitchen, where his mother was still cooking. With a gesture toward the drawings, he said: —"She’s always impressed me with how she finds a way to turn what she imagines into something tangible. You should give her some art tips; you’re really good at drawing, and she admires you a lot."

My cheeks flushed at hearing his compliment. —"Maybe I could help her with some drawing tricks." —I said, feeling a small spark of excitement at the thought of teaching Sophie.

Sophie returned from the kitchen with a cookie in hand, looking triumphant. —"Look what Mom gave me!" —she said, holding it up like a trophy.

—"I don’t even want to know how many you’ve eaten already," —Jacob joked as Sophie stuck her tongue out at him. The dynamic between them was refreshing and made the atmosphere fill with laughter.

As dinner approached, Jacob looked at me again. —"Would you like to stay for dinner? Mom would love it if you did."

The proposal surprised me. I had never been at his house for dinner, and while the idea excited me, it also filled me with nerves. —"I don’t want to interrupt..." —I started, but Jacob interrupted me.

—"It’s no bother; really. There’s always plenty of food, and Mom likes having company." —His gaze was sincere, and it made me feel a little more at ease.

—"Alright, then." —I smiled, feeling grateful for his invitation.

As dinner was prepared, the conversation shifted to weekend plans. Sophie wanted to organize a small sleepover with her friends, and Jacob offered to help her plan it. I watched him as he spoke, noticing how his face lit up imagining the laughter and fun.

Dinner was delicious. Jacob’s mom had made pasta with homemade sauce, and as we ate, I felt increasingly at home in his house. The warmth of the Anderson family wrapped around me, and the knot of jealousy I had felt all day faded a little.

After dinner, Jacob and I moved to the living room to help Sophie clean up. As we organized the dishes, I couldn’t help but steal furtive glances at him. His laughter was contagious, and his closeness made my stomach flutter.

—"Anne?" —he called me again, this time closer. His tone was more serious, and it made me stop.

—"Yes, Jake."

—"Sometimes I feel there’s something more to you." —he said, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that made me hold my breath. —"You’re an incredible person, and I hope you don’t think I’m a fool for what I said about Emily."

His sincerity touched me, and a wave of emotion coursed through my body. Could it be possible that he saw beyond what I showed? —"Don’t think like that. I’m just getting used to this situation..." —I replied, feeling that my words were a mix of truth and vulnerability.

—"You don’t have to worry about her, Anne. You’re special to me." —he said, and my heart raced. His words echoed in my mind like a whisper of hope.

That moment felt eternal. But suddenly, Sophie interrupted, breaking the magic that had emerged between us. —"Come on, guys, let’s play a game!" —she announced, jumping with joy.

We both smiled, and although the spark of connection remained, the moment faded amid Sophie’s laughter and contagious energy. As I joined them in the game, I couldn’t help but wonder what Jacob's words really meant. Could it be that, despite my inner turmoil, there was a chance he felt something for me too?