Jacob

Date: September 15

   Hazel's school day went well. After it was over, she looked over her English project and texted Frank that it looked good. She looked at her phone. Jacob was coming over in fifteen minutes. She checked her hair and spritzed on some licorice and vanilla perfume. She cleaned up her room quickly and by the time she heard the door bell ring, she was satisfied with the condition of her room.

   "Hey Jacob," Hazel said, smiling at him.

   He was still dressed in fake glasses and suspenders for "Nerd Day." He smelled like the cologne he liked to spritz on: motor vehicle exhaust and burnt bacon. Hazel wondered why he had chosen his cologne. Did he think it would make him a chick magnet? If he wanted to, he should have just bought cake scented perfume.

      "Hey babe," Jacob said. "Want to hang out in your room?"

     "Yeah," Hazel said.

     They walked upstairs and Hazel said, "Nico is over at a friend's house."

    "Nice," Jacob said. "Your room looks tidier than usual."

     "I cleaned up," Hazel said.  "Do you like it?"

     "The bed looks comfy," Jacob noted. "Can I sit down?"

     They sat down on the bed. Hazel showed Jacob her bridle that she used every year at the state tournament.

    "Arion is as fast as a pronghorn," Hazel boasted.

     "He sure is," Jacob said. "You've won so many trophies. Do you know what else you've won"

    "The lottery," Hazel said. "I won it at 13, but it was only $1, 000."

    "You what?" Jacob sputtered. "No, you've won my heart."

    "I have?" Hazel asked. 

    "Yes, Hazel Levesque," Jacob said. "I love you."

     He kissed her and Hazel felt happier than the time she had tripped over a diamond that her mother had sold to pay the rent. The kiss was long and lingering. At first, it was slow, but the kiss grew more intense and faster. Jacob ran his fingers through her hair at first, but soon he was tracing her stomach and tugging at her shirt.

    Hazel broke off the kiss. She pulled her shirt down.

    "Jacob, what are you doing?" she asked.

    "I told you, Hazel," Jacob said. "I love you."

    He tugged at her shirt and pulled it off. Hazel crossed her arms across her chest. She felt exposed in her bra.

    "Jacob, I don't want this," Hazel said.

    "But I love you," Jacob said. "Don't you love me?"

    "Yes, but I'm not ready," Hazel said.

     "We've gone out for two months," Jacob protested. "We should have done stuff by now. Come on; we can have a fun time."

     "We can have fun with our clothes on," Hazel said, grabbing her shirt and slipping it back on. "Besides, being your girlfriend doesn't mean I consent to sleeping with you."

    "Hazel, come on," Jacob said.

    "No," Hazel said. "I don't want to sleep with you."

    "Because you want to sleep with Frank?" he asked.

    "What?" Hazel asked. "I barely know him!"

     'You're working on a school project with him," Jacob said. "I bet you've already slept with him."

    "Jacob. I'm a virgin!" Hazel said. "I'm not ready, ok?"

  "I get that you're always making excuses to not sleep with me," Jacob said. "This is your last chance: if you say no, then you're not my girlfriend anymore."

    "Fine," Hazel said. "Get out of my house, Jacob!"