It's Totally Stalkerish

It's such a beautiful fall day that I don't want to stay indoors. I throw on my favorite grey sweatshirt and put on my tennis shoes. On the way out the door, I grab my backpack and shove my new novel, a few snacks and a couple of water bottles inside.

Walking to the park, I realize I am really looking forward to seeing it again. I have not been there since I returned home. I wonder if my favorite spot still looks the same.

In the park, I head past the tree line, towards the large elm beside the creek.  I pull up short as I realize there is already someone there, sitting in my spot.

"Jake?" I say.

He glances up from the book he is reading. Jake smiles at me, "Hey Maddie." There's that lop-sided grin.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. I slip my backpack off my shoulder and walk over to him.

"Contemplating the meaning of life." he says. He pushes himself off the ground and stands up to look at me.

"And what did you find out?" I ask, chuckling.

"I'm still working it out." he says, grinning at me. He has such nice eyes. I've never noticed they are the color of melted chocolate. Pull yourself together, Maddie!

Smiling at him, I say, "I like to come out here to read. It's cheesy but I like the solitude and the sound of the creek. It's like my own little oasis."

"I know." he says. "This is your favorite spot."

How can he possibly know that? Crossing my arms, I ask, "Oh really, Obi Wan. How do you know that?"

Jake puts his hands in his back pockets and rocks back on his heels. Looking at me, he says, "In the 5th grade, you won the Spelling Bee with the word 'stalagmite'. In the 9th grade, you punched Reid Simpson in the nose for calling Molly fat. In the 11th grade, you gave a report on Marten Van Buren while biting your bottom lip the whole time because you were nervous."

When he is finished, he tilts his head to the side and crosses his arms, mimicking my stance. His eyes are locked on mine. His face looks composed but his brown eyes are smiling at me. 

To say I am stunned is putting it mildly. He remembers all of that? "Wow." I say. "I don't know if that is really sweet or really stalkerish."

Laughing, he says, "Oh, it's totally stalkerish, especially considering I was licking the glass outside your window while you slept last night." He is funny AND charming. Wait a minute! This is Jake Whitfield!

Leaning back against the tree, I shake my head. I say, "Who knew? The captain of the baseball team noticed a bookworm like me."

He walks over and stands in front of me. Placing one hand on either side of my head, he leans in towards me. "I always noticed you." Jake says.

"Yeah, with all of those girls hanging around, it was really obvious." I retort. Am I really having this conversation with Jake? It's been 4 years since high school. This is crazy!

"Maddie." Jake says. "Stop talking."

Jake reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. His thumb traces small circles on my left cheek. He is staring at me so intensely that I feel he can see straight into my soul.

My mind wonders what it would be like to feel his lips on mine. My heart skips a beat. My fingers itch to run through his hair. For crying out loud! My whole body is betraying me.

"So beautiful." he murmurs.

He lowers his head and brushes his lips softly against mine. It's such a sweet, gentle kiss. I melt into him, savoring the moment. I kiss him back, enjoying the feel of his lips on mine. Because, if I'm honest, I've wanted to do this for a long time.

Suddenly, I realize this may not be the best idea. Pulling away, I place my hands on Jake's chest. "Jake." I say. "I'm not sure if we should do this."

A shadow passes quickly across his face. He asks, "Is it because of Sam?"

"Something like that." I mumble.

"Something like that or it is that?" Jake says.


This is my second entry with Jake and Maddie. I am really enjoying writing fiction, especially these two characters. I'm thinking my blog will now include some ficitional writing, along with my usual humorous personal stories. Enjoy!