Things Change Part Two (Section Two)

"No Rowan it isn’t, do I seem like the kind of man who likes to joke around? Didn’t think so." My mouth drops and there are snickers around the class. "I said quiet." He yells out. My brain freezes as I stare at my computer screen. I take a deep breath and decide to take this chance too look up things about Pancreatic Cancer. It’s all right there everything the doctor said. The survival rate is 1% or less. I feel my eyes start to water. I go to Mr. Myall and say that I am not feeling well and he lets me go. Since I am already practically crying in front of him. I step out of the hall and lean against the wall. I slide down to sit on my but. My mom is going to die and there is nothing I can do about it. Right In the middle of my high schools hallway I start bawling like an idiot.

"Um, Hey are you ok?" A deep musical voice asks. I look up to see none other then the new guy Jake Ryder standing tall in front of me. In his right hand was a bathroom pass. I look him in the eyes.

"No." he then does something I really don’t expect. He sits down beside me and leans his head back. "Why are you still sitting here?" He looks at me for a long moment, examining my face.

"I seriously have no idea." We sit there for a moment as I try to get it together. "Do you want me to get somebody?" I turn to face him.

"I just want to get out of here." A smile flickers across his face.

"I can do that, just give me a minute." He walks back into Mr. Myall’s room and comes out a second later with mine and his things. "Follow me." Not knowing what I was doing I get up and follow him. Next thing I know were out in the parking lot standing between my Jeep and I assume his Charger.

"Do you want to go for a ride?" I nod and put my things in my car. I notice that my cell phone was blinking. It is a text message from Audrina.

What is going on?
Why did Jake walk out with your stuff?

I close it and throw my phone back into my Jeep as well. I walk around to his car where he opened the door for me. Not knowing what to do I muttered a thank you and I swear I saw him laugh.

He gets in the opposite side and starts driving. I love the sound of his car. It makes my Jeep seem old and trashy. After awhile I ask him where we are going.

"To a diner. We are almost there." When we are finally there we both get out and I stop staring at an old 80’s looking diner. For some reason I can’t help but love it. We step inside there’s a jukebox playing Elvis and the floor is a tiled checker style in black and white. We take a seat in a bright bed booth beside a window that looks out into the parking lot.

"How did you find this place? It is amazing." He laughs and smiles. A waitress walks up; she is young and in her mid twenties with bright blonde hair and a apron tied around her waist.

"Hey there Jake, what would you like?" She is staring at him like a kid eying ice cream.

"The usual. What do you want Rowan?" He asks not taking his eyes off me. The waitress turns her head and her eyes widen. I wave, I hear Jake chuckle.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry. Jake doesn’t usually bring people with him. What would you like?"

"Whatever he is having." She smiles and walks away. I turn back toward Jake who is still staring at me.

"Why did she say that? You usually don’t bring people?" He frowns, and looks down at the table.

"I am not really a people person." He says that and looks up at me.

"Oh" I look out the window suddenly feeling like I was intruding. I put my hands up on the table.

"So," he ventures, "what was all that about in the hallway."

"Um it’s kind of a long story." I turn towards him as he leans back and smiles.

"I have got time."

"Do you really want to know?" He nods.

"Well I just found out yesterday that my mom well has..." I stop and look out the window again.

"Has what?" I feel his eyes staring at me; I close my eyes and just try to breath. I will not cry again.

"Has-has Pancreatic Cancer." I hear a sharp intake of breath. I then feel warm hands around mine. I turn to face him, he’s leaning forward.

"Well that explains your reaction when Mr. Myall said that thing about the Power points."

"Ha-ha yeah, I normally don’t do those kind of things." He smiled.

"I noticed."

The waitress bring us our food which was a cheeseburger and fries and cokes. It was really good, Jake and I talked about everything. Mainly of why he moved here and what we plan on doing after we graduate in the spring. Before we both know it its 2:30 and school is dismissing and I have to get home for my dad. Jake runs me back to school and I see an impatient Audrina standing by my car. Jake pulls up beside my car and grabs my arm.

"Wait, does she not know?" I nod

"You’re the only one who knows." He nods like he understands. I get out and open the door. Audrina’s mouth drops, I smile. I hear a window rolling down behind me.

"Hey there Rowan you dropped this." He is leaning over the console holding out a folded piece of paper. He winks his blue eye at me.

"Oh, thanks. Must have fell out of my pocket."

"Right must have." He rolls up the window shaking his head laughing. I am wearing sweats and they don’t have any pockets. I turn to face Audrina whose mouth is still hanging in mid air. I look around the parking lot to see a lot of other stares. Right now I don’t care though, I had a good day. I walk over to Audrina and I push her chin up so that her mouth is closed. I still feel student’s eyes watching me.

"Don’t want a fly to go in there do we?"