‘ tell me you’re not planning on doing anything stupid. ’
Jake stared back at Marley, trying his best (and failing) to suppress the anger that was bubbling up inside him. “Stupid? No, but I am going to kick his ass.” He snapped, turning away from Marley and reaching for the door handle. He’d come to pick Marley up from one of her usual Cheerios parties, he always offered to be her ride home from them if he wasn’t attending himself, mostly so he could make sure she got home safe. She usually appeared fairly quickly whenever he texted her to let her know he was waiting outside. But tonight she had taken longer, and he could tell something had happened as soon as she’d gotten in the car. It looked like she’d been crying and she was much quieter than usual. Jake tried to push her for an explanation, piecing together that one of the jocks had said something about her, or her mom or maybe it was about him. He wasn’t sure, the explanation had been mumbled and slightly incoherent - which was most likely related to the alcohol he could smell on Marley’s breath.
But details weren’t important to him, not when the girl he cared so deeply for was upset. It provoked something within him and it was something he wanted to do something about. So he climbed out of the car, ignoring Marley’s repeated plea not to do anything stupid, and headed towards the house to find the asshole responsible. Jake hadn’t thought about what he was going to do when he found him, his rage was clouding his judgement and he would just do what felt right in the moment. He heard the other car door open and shut behind him, followed by the sound of heels tottering along the ground before Marley was pulling at his arm, trying to persuade him back to the car. He ignored her, continuing up the steps to the front door before Marley swung herself round in front of him, blocking his way into the party.
Marley began pleading with him again and he could feel the rage beginning to ebb away as he focused his attention on her. “Fine, because this is apparently what you want, I will go back to the car.” Jake sighed after a few moments of stand off between them, she only had to bat her eyelids at him though and he’d do whatever she wanted. He was weak like that. Weak for her.
“But we’re stopping for milkshakes on the way home. And burgers, or fries, or whatever you want.” He knew that there was nothing better than comfort food when you were drunk, or upset or in this case, both. He held out his hand, helping her back down the steps before wrapping his arm around her as they walked towards the car. “You’re paying though, it’s your forfeit for being a drunken mess.” He teased, attempting to lighten the atmosphere and put a smile back on Marley’s face. He knew he’d do anything at any point to see that smile and maybe, just maybe, he was starting to realise exactly how hard and fast he was falling for her.













