Chapter 8: Date?

When we got back to the house, I kicked off my shoes and headed straight for the living room. I tossed my bag onto the couch before collapsing beside it. I let out a long sigh, my body sinking into the cushions. It felt good to finally relax after the day I'd had.

Jake, on the other hand, didn't waste any time. He headed straight to the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves like he was ready for battle.

"I'll handle dinner," he called out, his voice drifting from the kitchen. "You just sit tight and recharge."

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, letting the faint sounds of cupboards opening and pans clinking fill the air. There was something oddly comforting about having someone else in the house. Normally, the silence here was deafening, but now it felt… alive.

"Need any help?" I called out, though I wasn't really planning to move from the couch.

Jake's laugh echoed from the kitchen. "Do you even know how to cook?"

I frowned, even though he couldn't see me. "I can… sort of."

"That's what I thought," he teased. "Just stay there. I've got this."

I rolled my eyes but smiled to myself. Jake seemed so at ease in the kitchen, like he belonged there. I could hear him humming a tune under his breath as he moved around, the faint scent of something savory starting to fill the house.

As I sat there, my mind wandered back to the strange dream I'd had earlier that morning. Jake's face, his warm smile, the way my heart had raced... it all came flooding back, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease it left behind.

"What are you thinking about?" Jake's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I blinked, realizing he was standing in the doorway, wiping his hands on a towel. He was smiling at me, but there was a curious look in his eyes.

"Nothing," I said quickly, sitting up straighter. "Just… tired, I guess."

He didn't press further, just nodded and went back to the kitchen. But as the sounds of cooking resumed, I couldn't help but wonder if he'd noticed the way I was avoiding his gaze.

After a while, Jake called out from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!"

I pulled myself off the couch and headed to the dining table. The sight of the meal he'd prepared caught me off guard... it wasn't anything extravagant, but it looked and smelled amazing. There was a plate of garlic buttered chicken with a side of sautéed vegetables and rice.

"Wow," I said as I sat down. "This looks… really good."

Jake grinned as he set the last dish on the table and took a seat across from me. "Told you I wouldn't burn anything."

I smirked and grabbed my fork. "Guess I underestimated you."

The first bite was enough to make me pause. It tasted as good as it looked. I glanced up at Jake, who was already eating, his dimples showing as he chewed with a satisfied expression.

"This is really good," I admitted, my voice full of surprise.

He glanced at me, his grin widening. "Told you. I wasn't bluffing about knowing how to cook."

Dinner passed with light conversation. Jake told me a few random stories about his time in his previous school, and I found myself laughing more than I expected. It felt… nice. Comfortable, even.

After we finished eating, Jake stood up and started gathering the plates.

"I'll help," I said, following him to the sink.

"Alright, but I'll wash, and you can dry," Jake replied, rolling up his sleeves again.

We worked in silence for a bit, the sound of running water and the clinking of dishes filling the kitchen. Occasionally, our hands would brush when I took a dish from him to dry, and every time, I felt my heart skip a beat. I kept telling myself it was nothing... that I was just tired... but it was getting harder to ignore.

"Thanks for dinner," I said quietly, breaking the silence.

Jake glanced at me, his smile softening. "No problem. It's nice cooking for someone else for a change."

When we finished the dishes, we both headed upstairs. The hallway was quiet as we reached our respective doors.

"Good night, Aiden," Jake said, his voice low but warm.

"Good night," I replied, slipping into my room and shutting the door behind me.

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't stop thinking about the day. About Jake. About how being around him felt… different. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

It's nothing, I told myself. Just someone new in the house, that's all.

But deep down, I wasn't so sure.

*****

The morning light filtered through the curtains, but I stayed lying in bed, not in any rush to get up. It was the weekend, and I didn't have class. I let my thoughts drift as I stared at the ceiling, still half-asleep. The quiet of the house was comforting, and for a moment, I allowed myself to sink deeper into the warmth of the covers.

After a minute of peace, a knock on my door interrupted the stillness.

"Aiden? You awake?" Jake's voice called from the other side.

I sat up quickly, surprised to hear him so early. "Yeah, I'm up," I replied, rubbing my eyes.

The door opened before I could get out of bed, and there stood Jake, leaning casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

"Good morning," he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

I blinked, still waking up. "Morning. What's up?"

Jake stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "Well… I was thinking." He paused, looking at me like he was deciding how to word something. "How would you feel about going on a date with me?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, my mind struggling to catch up. A date? With Jake? I wasn't sure how to respond.

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out at first. Jake was standing there, looking at me expectantly, and all I could do was stare at him in shock.