Bad Luck with Love

Chapter 23: Boys!

“Ugh,” I groaned, “Remind me never to sleep like that again.”

Jake chuckled, “I told you to go to bed or take the couch. This is your own fault.”

I hit his arm weakly since I was still sleepy from just waking up, “Shut up,” I grumbled as I pulled away from him to stretch out my cramped legs.

“Make me,” he said, yawning.

“Don’t have the energy too,” I replied, sitting back down next to him, curling up against his side while he wrapped an arm around me, his hand gently rubbing up and down my arm as my eyes slipped shut.

My cell phone rang, 'Riot' by Three Days Grace blasting loudly from somewhere in front of me.

I groaned as I leaned forward, opening my eyes slightly so I could see my phone. I hit the talk button and held it to my ear, “What?” I mumbled.

“Ivy? Did I wake you up?” Chad asked, sounding both amused and surprised.

“Kind of,” I said, settling back against Jake again.

“Do you want me to call back later?” he asked.

“Just tell me what ever it is you wanted to tell me now so I can go back to sleep,” I mumbled while Jake started playing with my hair.

“Okay then,” he said, “I was just wondering…last night….are we together or…?” he trailed off awkwardly.

I stiffened for a moment, “Um…I don’t know."

“Oh, well when you figure it out can you tell me?” he said.

I blinked, “Wait, what? I have to figure it out? Why me?”

“Well, I want to date you. The only question is do you want to date me? Therefore, you are the one who decides whether or not we get together,” he said in a ‘duh’ voice.

I scowled, “How about I get back to you on that?”

“Okay, call me whenever you make up your mind,” he said before he hung up.

“Jerk,” I muttered, hanging up before I tossed my phone back on the table.

“Who was it?” Jake asked curiously, running a hand through his messy brown hair.

“Chad,” I sighed.

“What did he say?” he asked, stretching his arms as I scooted slightly away from him.

“Um….nothing particularly interesting,” I said as I stood up.

He grabbed my hand and yanked me back down onto his lap, “Ivy, Ivy, Ivy,” he shook his head at me as he ‘tsked’ me, “We’re friends now. And friends tell friends stuff, no?”

“You don’t want to hear it,” I said quietly, looking away from him.

He put a finger under my chin, turning my head back to him, “I want to make this work, Ivy,” he said, searching my eyes, “Even if you get a new boyfriend I want to know about it. That’s what friends are for, remember?” he said, smiling slightly.

But I don’t want you to be my friend! I screamed in my head. I wanted Jake back….but there was always that chance that he would cheat on me again.

When I didn’t say anything he sighed, brushing my hair behind my ear, “Honestly Ivy, I can take it.”

I looked at him for a long moment, “He wanted to know if I was his girlfriend or not,” I said carefully, “But I told him I’d get back to him on that since I’m still not sure if I’m ready for another relationship.”