Picture of Jake

The soothing sound of droplets tapping on his window woke Jake up from his nap. Taking a look at his phone, Jake noticed his last class of the day was to begin in thirty minutes, and he had to get up. It's not that he hated school, he loved it, actually, and truly enjoyed learning. His priority had been to graduate early to then decide on law or medical school.

He could feel his heart and body yelling at him to flee and find adventure. However, his mind was against it.

"Wanna grab a slice, or something after class?" Jake was taken out of his own thoughts, hearing a familiar voice. It was then that he noticed he wasn't alone in his room.

"You really need a break, dude," Taylor chucked, shaking her head and taking a seat on the empty desk chair.

The repetitive routine was getting to him. Jake became almost underwhelmed with the consistent schedule he had going. His life included school, homework, work, and at times he would see his friends.

"I know, I know, but it's not in the cards for me to have a life," Jake sighed, throwing on his shoes and grabbing what he needed for his calculus class. His curly hair was getting long, and he felt it was time to get a haircut. If only he had the time for that.

"Oh, come on, J. Live a little! Come to the lake house with us this weekend," Taylor suggested, smiling at her friend.

"Tay, if I go to the lake house, we'll drink and won't be back till Sunday night, so I won't have time to study, or do anything before Monday," the hazel eyed boy retorted, opening the door to his single room with Taylor right beside him.

"Would it be so bad to actually enjoy yourself? Plus, I heard we got a new kid in your hall so we can invite him, too," she sure was convincing, but nothing could make Jake change his mind.

"What does the new kid have to do with me? Also, I enjoy myself in class and when I do homework."

"Yes, that's true, but I know you and I know there's a little voice inside you telling you that an escapade is indeed something you need," Taylor stood in front of Jake, knowing this is where they parted ways. "And, by the way, rumor is he's cute and gay," she spoke a bit too loudly in excitement, earning a few stares.

"Tay, find yourself a human and leave my love life alone," Jake rolled his eyes, playfully, before hugging his best friend and walking away.

"I would if you had one," Tay shouted for everyone to hear.

****

Class came and went, leaving a bittersweet taste in Jake's mouth. He did truly enjoy the learning aspect of college, but he kind of wished he would have let loose a bit more, and experienced college itself. Here he was, a junior graduating a year early from Brandon University with nothing but academics to look back on. He could just stay the extra year and do what everyone else was doing, maybe even try and fit in, but he feared that would impact him horribly.

The buzzing feeling of his phone vibrating brought Jake back from his mind. 'So..... Pizza?????' the text read, causing Jake to laugh, as he replied with a 'Sure, dude.'

Turning towards the main exit of the building, Jake made his way towards La Pizzeria, where his group of friends usually hung out between classes. They became accustomed to meeting there, as that's where most of them worked. By the second semester of freshman year, the seven of them had their own table in the little pizza shop.

The clouds were gathering closer and getting darker than they had already been; the world almost looked lifeless and gloomy. Sudden winds picked up their strength and the sun hasn't been out. Jake picked up the pace, making sure not to get caught in the rain, as it was growing stronger.

The crowded table of seven friends caught Jake's attention, sitting in their designated area, as he walked into the restaurant. He happened to be well liked by others, but he enjoyed his alone time. He wasn't awkward or rude to others, but unless spoken to, he never really was the one to strike up conversation first.

Though, there was one issue; he did tend to have a mouth on him when being pushed too far.

"...and then Britney fell from the cheerleading pyramid!" A very animated Taylor spoke, while the others listened. Her long, dark tresses were being played with by Bailey, as she spoke. Taylor was used to the attention; She was the kind of person who was easily noticed. She was lively and bubbly and that was just when she was greeting others. When you got to know her, you realized how undeniably loyal she was.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Jakey!" Landon said a little too loudly, causing others to turn and look their way.

"What's up, guys?" a very monotone Jake spoke, sitting beside Taylor. Pizza wasn't something he would turn down, but he knew this outing would consist of the others beginning their convincing strategy to bring him to the lake house.

It took merely seconds for them to start the convincing process. A small chuckle escaped the boy's lips, as he predicted this.

"You need this, J," Landon started.

"Just one weekend, dude," Bailey agreed, with her twin, Kailey, nodding beside her.

"You have your whole life to be a buzzkill. Come on, man!" Taylor laughed, listening to Kai speak.

"I'll come on one condition..." Jake finally cracked, hanging his head back, his dark golden curls swaying along. The sudden cliffhanger kept his friends all on the edge of their seats. "I can bring my books with me for the way there and back."

"We'll take it!" Tay answered for the group, before he could change his mind.

"So, about the new kid..." Taylor began, trying to lighten the mood, earning her a laugh from the boring boy himself.

"Don't push it, T," Jake grabbed a slice when the food was brought, and took a bite with a smile on his face.

One weekend with his friends, what could go wrong, right?

****

Walking back to his room with Taylor by his side, Jake knew he had to come up with an excuse now that his teacher emailed him about a new project due by Tuesday.

Why did he have to say yes? Why didn't he just continue ignoring their begging?

"Don't even think about it Hart!" Tay shook her head, scolding him. "I know you're second guessing this weekend, but nope, you're not getting out of it!"

"Mr. Grace added a new project to the schedule, and I have work Monday evening, so I won't have time to do it, T."

He was steps from his door, and he could hear Taylor replying to him, rambling on and on. His mind, however, was on the peculiar looking gadget on the floor; it was small, square, black, and had some buttons. Bending down, he took a look to his left and then to his right, to see if someone around might have dropped it.

Naturally, seeing it was just him and Tay in the hall, he picked it up, before getting up.

What is this? He thought to himself, clicking on the button to the middle of the instrument. It wasn't plastic; he could feel the silicone around it.

He could hear a small scream coming from down the hall, which brought him back to reality. Shrugging it off, he decided to put it in his pocket.

"...and that's why you're going this weekend," the long haired brunette finally finished her rant, realizing she was being blatantly ignored by her friend.

"I'm a witty conversationalist, I shouldn't be ignored," she said, kissing his cheek before they said their goodbyes.

Pressing the button once again, Jake decided to keep the little appliance with him, as some sort of stress relief toy. He would press it when he needed to just let go.

Opening the door to his room, Jake took a seat on his desk chair, taking the little silicone looking thing out of his pocket to press it several times, wondering if it could turn something on around him.

Little did he know this was stressing someone out, when it was supposed to make him feel better.