Ice Cold Heart

Chapter 3

Jacob gave me his address and we drove to his house with him humming a Ed Sheeran song. I was busy thinking about the dare and what I have gotten my self in to. I didn't think I would ever be doing something like this, I wouldn't want anyone close to me to go through this but here I was.

I parked in front of the fourth house in the neighborhood and he got out the car. I did the same and walked him to his front door. He inserted the key but before he turned it he turned to me and gave me a bright smile. Before he could speak his front door open and his mother appeared. I remembered her from when she use to bring him to school but she did look really sick. She was slimmer and paler, under her eyes were dark. Her face was thin and she had a head wrap on but her blue eyes were as bright as day.

"Honey who is this?" She asked looking at me with a smile.

"It's umm a friend?" Jacob responded and scratched the back of his head. He started to rock back and forth as he usually do when he is nervous. I took it upon myself to introduce myself.

"My name is Zaiden, its nice to meet you Mrs.Richards."

"Hello Zaiden, it's nice to finally meet someone apart from J'adore and please call me Lucy, come on in."

"I don't think he want to." Jacob said in panic

"Honey shush." Lucy pat his head. She opened the door wider for us to enter and we did.

Jacob went into another room while Lucy led me to the living room. She motioned me to sit down and I did. Jacob came back with a glass of water and a small container.

"Mom it's time for your 4:15 medication." He said as he stretch his hands out to his mother.

"I know honey."Lucy sighed and took the two items from Jacob. She took two pills from the container and put them in her mouth and drank the water afterwards.

"Zaiden would you like something to eat or drink, Jacob would you get him something." Lucy said before waiting for my answer.

"No thank you Mrs.-hmm Lucy,I ate not too long ago ".

"Yes." Jacob nod

"Together?"Lucy ask

"Yes Zaiden bought me to Tutti Frutti ."Jacob blush and looked away from us.

"Thank you Zaiden, this boys does nothing but bury his face in his books now a days."Lucy smiled at me and I returned it.

"It's no problem."

Suddenly her phone started ringing, she searched around in the couch for a while and found it just in time to answer.

"It's my sister, you can take Zaiden now this is going to be a long phone call." Lucy laugh

I stood up and Jacob once again took my hand and brought me down the hall to his room. His bedroom door was painted yellow, unlike the rest of the doors in the house which were white and the walls were a light grey. We entered and he placed his school bag on the floor and sighed.

"Sorry about my mom it's just that I have never brought anyone over like she said." Jacob said

"It's fine, she's really nice."

Jacob smile and nod

"She is ,some people say I'm just like her, personality wise."

"That's exactly what I was about to say." I said and Jacob laugh.

"Is your dad a work?" I asked

Jacob frown and leaned against his closet door.

"My dad left when I was about three years old. He was having an affair with my nanny and my mom caught them in bed. He told her that he loved the other woman and that he was leaving my mother because with the other women he was free. He didn't have responsibilities such as taken care of a child or providing for a household. He later married my nanny and they left together the state. We don't know where he went, my mom tried contacting him on f*******: to tell him that she is sick but he had blocked her a long time ago and she didn't know until then. My family comes to visit sometimes but they are mostly busy with their own lives. I work at the front desk at the central library and my mother have insurance so we are steady for now." Jacob smiled but his eyes started to fill with tears. It's probably been a while since he have spoken about his father.

"I'm sorry. You probably don't want to hear such a story." He chuckled and bit his bottom lip as they began to tremble.

I shook my head and went up to him "I don't mind at all."

He smiled and step closer to me.

"May I have a hug like you promised?" He ask, his big brown eyes staring into mine.

"Of course." I smiled. I bought him into my arms and held him tightly.

We literally stood there for like five minutes. Jacob holding me like his life depended on it, his face buried in my hoodie and his small arms wrap around my waist. Even when I stop hugging he still held onto me so I just continued to hug him.

I looked down at him when I heard a soft sniffle. Jacob was silently crying. I hugged him tighter and caress his soft brown hair to comfort him.

That's when I knew he needed this. Someone to hold him and someone he can say will be here with him at the end of the day. The way he walks around school with a smile on his face and top his classes with zero effort you could never guess he would be like this behind close doors. I'm promised myself to be here for him even if this is all just a game.

**********

I gave Jacob my number and told him to call me if he ever needed something or just someone to talk to. He looked at me weirdly but nod. I would be confuse too because all of a sudden I came into his life and wanted to be so close to him. I've even been at his house already and even met him mother.

Even though I gave him my number I was still surprise to see Jacob text me at 8:45 pm with a simply 'hi, it's Jacob'

I found my self smiling at the three worded text before replying

Hey Jacob, what's up?

Nothing much I was bored and decided to text you before I go to bed

It's just 8:48 pm though, you are going to bed this early?

I always go to bed by 9:30

I am not surprise at all

You should be sleeping by then too, what you do all night?

Watch movies ,play games or play with my dog

Oh my gosh you have a dog?!!

I found myself smiling at that text

I do, he's a Siberian Husky, his name is Diego

Gosh I wish I could meet him, I love dogs.

You can meet him, if you come over tomorrow😏

Can I?

Of course I basically just invited you

Ohhh thank you.

Did he just thank me? he's too cute

We text for a little more mostly me telling Jacob about how I got Diego for my 17th birthday and him asking a lot of question about what my dog likes and dislike

I'm sleepy now, It's time for bed

Good night Jacob

Good night Zai❤️

Seeing the little red heart beside a pet name he gave me made my heart skip a beat.