I'm Open, He's Closed

11

"Louise, you look, gorgeous."

I took a look down at myself. I had just thrown on a blazer over my shirt and paired it with some old jeans. I was looking far from gorgeous.

"Thanks." I said, leaning in to give Jacob a kiss on the cheek.

I walked past him into the restaurant and he pulled out my chair so we could sit. I knew what he was doing. Trying to flatter me with a fancy restaurant and flashy menu and a heap of compliments.

But I was over being angry. I was simply going to sit back, relax and enjoy being spoiled for once. Besides, I needed him for information.

It was Saturday night and I hadn't heard a peep from Luke all week. I didnt see him in class or in the lecture halls or in the library either. He hadn't even made his usual poor attempt at scheduling a meet up to discuss the project. The research paper on my side was well underway, but right now, I had more pressing issues.

I wasn't mad at him anymore, I was worried. I needed to at least check if he was okay and find out why he had disappeared off the face of the earth. But I didn't really know where to start and Jacob was my best shot.

I grabbed the menu off the table, scanning its contents absent-mindedly.

"Anything tickle your fancy?" Jacob gazed at me, but I kept my eyes fixed on the menu.

"I'll have whatever you're having." I put the menu down.

Jacob was still watching me.

"What?" I said

He reached across the table, grabbing hold of my hands and interlocking our fingers. It was weirdly intimate. I'm sure we looked like the perfect, happy couple and him the cute gentleman to all the onlookers at the restaurant.

It couldn't be further from the truth.

"I'm thinking we should skip straight to dessert. What do you think?" he said, earning a grimaced look from me.

I let go of his hand, "Actually, for dinner I want the seafood pasta." It had been listed at $40 on the menu. I sure was going to be entertained tonight, and at Jacob's expense for once.

"Sure, babe," he called over the waiter and I pulled out my phone while he ordered.

Still nothing?

"Louise, anything to drink?"

I looked up, puzzled, "Huh?"

Jacob's eyes looked between me and my phone. With anyone else, I would've been concerned that they could see right through me: what was bothering me and why I'd been on my phone all day.

But this was Jacob.

"She'll have red wine," he said smoothly, handing the menus back to the waiter who told us it would be ready in 15.

Jacob's attention focused back on me, "You've been obsessed with that thing all day."

I put it back in my pocket, "I dont know what you're talking about."

"Come on, Louise. You can talk to me."

I sighed, "I know I can talk to you. Whether or not you'll listen is the question."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, "Try me."

I leaned forward too, "I need your help."

He nodded, insisting I continue.

"Something's been bothering me all week and I can't shake the feeling that there's something wrong."

His forehead creased. It was the first time I had seen Jacob looking so concerned. I blinked away those thoughts and concentrated.

"Jeez, you're really scaring me now Louise. Is it something to do with your health? You're not sick are you?" his eyes widened. I knew where he was going with this and the thought alone terrified me.

I rushed in, "It's about Luke. You remember him?"

He leaned back in his seat, "Is that a joke? Do I remember him? How could I forget the idiot."

I shook my head, "I'm being serious Jacob. I need your help, he's not been in lessons all week and we have our art project that needs doing. I can't get ahold of him."

"Have you tried calling him?" the concern that had once been written across his face was long gone. He couldn't look more unbothered. I watched him as he fiddled with the cutlery.

"I don't have his number," the realisation suddenly dawned on me.

We had been speaking through e-mail this whole time. Not once did I ask for his number, nor did he ask for mine. How dumb was I?

"What is it exactly that you want me to do, Louise? I don't have his number either."

"Would it kill you to show a little bit of sympathy? He could be hurt, or in danger."

He shrugs nonchalantly.

"If something happens to him, could you really sit there and say you did everything to help out?"

From experience, a little bit of guilt-tripping usually went a long way.

It didn't take long before he resigned, "What can I do?"

My eyes lit up, "I need to you to talk to the administration office. To ask for his number, or his address for this term, something I can use to get ahold of him."

"They don't give away that information to just anybody. It's confidential. I mean, he's not even my buddy!"

"You're Jacob. The charming, witty, handsome track star player? Can't you think of something to sway them over?"

He was gazing at me again. I probably went a bit heavy on the compliments.

"You think I'm charming."

"That's what I said, didn't I?" I took a swig of my water.

"And witty? And handsome?" He had a playful glint in his eye.

"Jacob, now isn't the time," I stressed, "Can't you see how worried I am?"

"I can. And I'm struggling to see why."

"Excuse me?"

He folded his arms, "Look, All I'm hearing is he's decided to chill out for a week. Or he's probably so badly hungover that he forgot he had commitments. It happens to the best of us."

"You could be right. But Either way, I need to know for sure. My grade counts on it."

I wasn't sure I had buttered him up the right way. Jacob wasn't the type to help just anyone out, not without there being something in it for him.

Suddenly I had an idea.

"If you do this for me, I promise we can go out on date nights each week, doing whatever you want," I cringed as soon as the words left my mouth.

But my proposal seemingly worked a treat, "You're serious? See, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist. I am paying after all."

I hummed, "Do it as soon as possible okay?"

He reached over and placed his hand over mine, "Anything for you."