HIS UNMATCHED AFFECTION

Chapter 9

Eric’s POV

I admire myself in the mirror. Am dressed in black and white. A black suit, white shirt with a black bow tie, black belt and matching black shoes. Today is the D day. For the very first time Jake and I are going to the dance each of us with a date of their own. Usually he would be having more than three dates while I hang out with the guards. Stacy isn't talking to me. Am not worried I know she will come around, she always does. She is still mad and I don't know how she'd react to see me with my date unless Jake's told her already. They are all pretty, smart and charming but am waiting to see her reaction. Maybe the jealous switch may work and make her want me.

"You ready?" Jake asks happily standing at my door.

He is also in black.

"Yeah let's hit the road" I say happily.

"Hold on, how we gonna get there and Stacy doesn't want to talk to you which is ironical but that's the way it is", He says arms akimbo.

He is right. We only have one car. We will have to drive to Clara's some three four miles out.

"Let me ask mum if I can use her car"

"Good luck with that", Jake says sarcastically.

Mum rarely lets us use her car but Jake doesn't know we have become very great friends with her. Ever since I let her help with my date she's been resourceful and she might be willing to lend me her car just for a night. Unlike Jake I drive carefully, that is without hitting pot holes, within the speed limit and not competing the drivers in front of me. I walk downstairs. Mum and dad are cuddling on the coach watching the discovery Channel. Mum is carrying a bowl of popcorn and they have a bottle of 4th street wine on the table. Two glasses half full.

"Hey mum", I say shyly.

It's good to be humble when you want something that's usually not negotiable like your mums car for a high school dance. I figured out my parents enjoy meekness. And it is still an uncomfortable environment when both your parents are cuddling and you are standing right there.

"Hello, look at him. So handsome right hunnie? "She flatters staring at dad.

She's good at making me blush although I don't like it am not a kid she can toy with anymore.

"I know that look, he wants something", Dad says making a smiley face.

"Anything for you darling", Mum says.

Am scared if going straight to the point. I'd rather hit around the bush and hope she'd figure out what am asking for before I ran out of words.

"So Jake is taking Stacy to the dance and Stacy isn't talking to me because I took Clara to our favorite restaurant..."

"The keys are on kitchen stand", she interrupts her eyes glue on TV.

Dad picks a handful of popcorn looking at me surprised.

"When you come back you gotta teach me how to do that", He says.

"Do what?" I ask smiling proudly.

"You know what am talking about... Have fun son", He says.

"Thanks dad", I say walking to the kitchen.

On my way I text Jake to go without me. He says the same thing dad said when mum gave me her car. I text Clara to let her know am coming.

"And remember..." Mum shouts when I get to the door.

She doesn't have to complete the statement I know the drill.

"Less alcohol, No drugs, No fighting and unprotected s*x" I say shyly again, the last bit makes me nervous.

Which kind of a mother makes his sixteen year old stepson recite not to do all the fun stuff that happens at a high school dance like it's a pledge of allegiance?

"Good boy! Have fun" she says.

Maryse's POV

Eric thinks his dad and I never went through this stage. In fact ours was more fun than theirs. Am happy he is trying to get more comfortable with me just like he was when he was young. Although am not convinced they are okay with Jake. I smell a rat and my instincts are telling me it all started that day in the football game. They joined us in the car acting funny. Talking out loud about stuff they don't talk about. Jake hates nerd stuff how the hell did he get to know that hyena packs are led by a female? As their mother my job is to make sure they love and protect each other.

I also have a feeling their cold war has something to do with Stacy. The two are alpha males even though most people including their dad thinks Jake is the alpha and Eric automatically is the beta. They both can't stand each other with a female in between. I think Jake did a good job getting Clara to go out with Eric so that he doesn't feel left out but that's not gonna hold for long. Eric and Stacy have been friends for long and Jake is threatening that friendship. The two boys have been competing for everything and the only thing that Jake doesn't have that Eric has is a friend like Stacy. All Jake's female friends are either his girlfriends or his exes. In this case I think Eric is feeling threatened. It's a good thing their dad is here to help me help them.

"So, Stacy and Jake", He says.

He startles me. It's like he's been reading my mind. God it feels bad when it's done to you what you like doing unto others.

"Yap, they are just going out nothing more than friends", I say.

"And you think Eric is Okay with that?"

"No, I don't think he is", I say sadly.

Eric rarely opens up and he is hard to read unlike Jake who tells me almost everything. He is also free with his dad. They hang out most of the time even without Eric who if he is not in his room reading or training he usually hangs out with Stacy.

"Me neither. He feels threatened if Jake takes Stacy away from him he might end up lonely", Allan says.

"But Jake's trying to fix it", I say happily.

I love it how we solve problems when it comes to the boys. No one takes sides to protect their own son. We all treat them as equals and our biggest fear has been watching them grow apart. We even forced Eric to love football so that he'd feel like Jake isn't better than him. We got them a car which they co-share everyone has access. We do them shopping together and we have set aside funds in separate accounts for their college.

"Yeah he is smart. Try and talk to him I see he trusts you nowadays" Allan says massaging my head.

Am glad he also thinks of it that way. I draw my phone to text Jake if they are okay. It has been an hour now and none of them has given me an update. Ooh just twenty minutes.

"Don't worry I got you covered"

"I love you Maryse" He says kissing me lightly on the lips.

It can't be. There must be a catch Allan doesn't like being romantic in the living room even if the kids are not here.

"I love you too Allan" I say speculatively staring at him in the eyes.

"We are out of popcorn", He says withholding laughter.

"I saw this one coming", I say getting my head off his lap.

Jake's POV

Before we get out of the car I reply mums text. She worries too much about us. I love what she is doing with Eric. Mum is not giving him a chance to lack anything and feel sorry which is even better for me now I have more time with Stacy. She is looking gorgeous tonight. Eric was right she loves the dress. When we get to the entrance everyone is looking at us. I want this to work am praying so hard that my past in form of ex-girlfriends doesn't show up and ruin this evening for me. We take a stop at the photo booth before we walk in the hall. It's well decorated with seaside academy’s colors; blue and Yellow. Disco lights make the room glitter and the deejay is playing lovely tunes. Am feeling proud and confident having her soft hand in mine.

"You're nervous? The great Jake Brown is nervous?" She asks jokingly pressing her thumb my palm.

It has a ticking feeling and am I feel like bursting into laughter in front of all this smartly dressed students.

"No am not" I say confidently.

"Why are you sweating then? You can tell me what scares you that's what friends do" she says stopping abruptly.

I didn't know she's this relentless. I think I've missed so much in terms if friendship to an extend I don't know what friends can and can't do. Everything girl I've been with we've connected physically. This emotional bit is new to me.

"Am scared about my past ruining this day for us" I say sounding embarrassed.

She holds my cheek. Am feeling both euphoric and horny right now.

"Hey, look at me!" She says authoritatively.

"Yes"

"Every day is a clean slate, we've all made mistakes in the past" She says.

Now I know why Eric likes her. She can be a Complete Package, a friend and girlfriend.