The Change (Closed)

[Mayu]

Life could be unfair and very unforgiving, but for one couple it was about to become very hard. Emily Wolf was a young girl who had a lot to give, she was a beautiful nineteen year old. She had grey eyes and black curly hair, that laid over her shoulders in length. She was a very quite kind of girl, she only had one soul that seemed to care about her. His name was Jacob Potter, he was twenty years old and very sweet to Emily. They met each other in High School, and since he was a year and a few months older. He was a senior in high school already when they met, but they were very close and she enjoyed his company. Which made her choice to go to college very difficult, she went to Harvard for there music programs.

When she left it was very difficult, she cared for Jacob and it hurt like hell to leave. But they stayed in contact over the internet, or over the phone. They chatted every single day, and they still had a close connection, even being hundreds of miles away. But one day, she was six months into the program when she got a frantic phone call from back home. Saying Jacob had been attacked, that he was in bad shape and asking about her. Not even thinking about it, or warning anyone she went right back home. She decided to take about a month off of work, she had it where her work could be sent over the internet. So she had her laptop with her, and by the time she got there, he wasn't in critical condition any more.

When she got home, settled in she went over to his place and took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She had decided to keep her return a surprise, hoping that her friend would be happy to see her.

 

[fr33ks33k]

Life after high school wasn't as promising for Jacob as it had been for his best friend Emily. She excelled in music theory, but she was bright in most other subjects as well. He was pretty average, though he never worried about failing. His physical stature was athletic, but he was average at the sports he tried too.

After Emily had left, Jacob took a bit of time for himself, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. He took a job at a local hardware store, saving up money until he could formulate a plan. Luckily he had Emily to talk to, to keep his thoughts straight. They'd always been close and the distance hadn't changed that.

---------------

One night after work, on his walk home, Jacob was attacked. He didn't see the assailant and the police officers who questioned him after he awoke in the hospital couldn't get any details out of him beyond a vague description of a pale man who was tall and lanky and who ran faster than any track runner he'd ever seen, even in the Olympics.

The oddest injury he'd incurred was one that the doctors seemed to overlook. Honestly, if you weren't looking directly at it, you'd miss the twin pinprick marks at the base of his neck on the left side. His tox screen had come back negative, so there hadn't been anything injected into him.

His pallor was attributed to shock, and he was released the next day. His overprotective mother, who didn't leave him alone even when he'd graduated, called all of the family, even Emily. Leave it up to his mother to turn something that was bad and make it sound like the end of the world.

Even so, days after the attack, Jacob didn't exactly feel better. He felt tired, his neck was sore where the marks were, and his normally healthy appetite had all but disappeared. His job had been understanding, giving him about a week and a half off to recuperate.

--------------

Eyes half-closed stared at the TV, watching whatever happened to be on at the moment. His focus was starting to drift. When did the sun get so bright? Even through the curtains he felt the need to squint.

Was that the door? Who could that be...

He got up and went to answer it. He didn't remember ordering any food so...

"Holy crap....Emily! Hi!"

He hugged her tightly, but had to release her quickly. The sun was so unbearably bright...maybe he was having an adverse reaction to the pain meds they'd given him.

"Come on in....I thought you were in the middle of classes? I'm fine I swear...you know how Mom is..."

He closed the door, eyes blinking a few times to readjust. Once they had, he smiled at his friend, the surprise of seeing her still setting in.

"So..how are you?"

 

[Mayu]

Emily was almost pacing back and forth, but then before she knew it the door opened up. And there he stood, he was really pale. Smiling as he hugged her, she wrapped her arms around him. Hugging him right back and watched as he reacted to the sun, when she went back in and heard the door close behind her. Turning her head she looked at him with a loving look, she always felt something special for her friend. She sat down on the couch and patted the spot beside her. A big smile on her face, how to explain this? Sighing softly she wasn't to sure what was going on. So she just decided to relax a bit, thinking for a moment she wasn't to sure what to think about how pale he was. Her friend meant the world to her, he was the only person she had in her life. She had no family, all she had was her friend.

"I know your mom can be like that, but you are her only child. And as for me? When your mom called, I told the school that I had a family emergency and that I could do classes over my laptop. I wasn't lying when I said family, since Ive always seen you as family. Only reason why I came back, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'm just glad you were not seriously hurt. But you look really pale, guess you have been inside since you got out of the hospital?" She said. "So I'll be here for a while, decided to take a vacation. College will be out in three days for three weeks, doing some kind of studies for midterm. So you will be stuck with me being around for a while, do some of the old stuff we use to do in school." She really did find love for him in her heart.

 

[fr33ks33k]

He sat obediently in the spot next to her on the couch, still smiling, reeling from seeing his old friend for the first time in months. As she talked, he looked her over. Same curly black hair...he'd often thought about running his hands through it, stroking through it as they...

He realized she was done talking. He grinned sheepishly, his hand resting on the cushion between them.

"Yeah...haven't really been up to going out. I think I'm getting light sensitivity from the pain meds they gave me. But it's nice to have you around...this place got pretty lonely when you went away...three weeks to catch up? That sounds great!"

His fingers toyed idly with the fabric of the couch cushion. He'd always had a crush on Emily, but he'd never had the nerve to tell her. They were closer than most siblings, and in a way she was like his little sister. He tried not to think of that when he looked at her, because that made him feel creepy. He couldn't help but stare though.

This was one of those moments, and he caught himself just in time to look up and ask one more question.

"So are you crashing at your parent's house? Or did you book a hotel room? If you need a place to stay, you could...well, you could always stay here."

 

[Mayu]

Emily smiled at Jacob and saw the way he acted around her, she had a feeling that he had a crush on her. But then again if she was wrong, she would look pretty stupid in saying it. She didn't know what to say about everything, but then when he asked her about where she was staying. When he asked if she was at her parents house, or a hotel room. It was then she realized he must not have heard, taking a deep breath she placed her hand on his.

"You didn't hear did you? I sold my parents house. After there death I can't stay back there, to many memories. And it's time to push ahead you know, make a new future for ourselves. So they bought the house and everything inside it, I took my stuff out. It's actually in my room at school. Wouldn't part with anything especially my pictures of both of us. But I just got in and haven't had a chance to get a hotel room, but with you offering me a place. Id much prefer to stay here with you, then at a hotel room"

Kissing the side of his cheek she smiled at him, sighing softly she relaxed a bit. Thinking about what to do, she really was happy about everything. "I have to admit it's good to be back, Ive missed you. I mean I know we talk every day either on the internet or on the phone, but I miss our hugs you know? Maybe kinda silly but still."

 

[fr33ks33k]

"Oh..."

He hadn't known about the sale of her parents' house. Surprisingly, his mother hadn't run gossiping to him about it. Maybe it was meant to remain low-key. Either way, he was still shocked.

His shock increased when she kissed his cheek. It had been a long while since anyone had done that besides his mother, and it took him by surprise. His fingers tightened on the cushion just slightly.

"Yeah, you always did say I gave the best hugs ever."

Perhaps a little awkwardly, he turned and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing a bit. Her slight frame made it easy for his hands to overlap behind her back, even reaching to the opposite forearm. He remained there for a moment, smiling and breathing in her scent.

With his eyes closed, he could swear he heard her heart beating in his ears. Surely he must be imagining it; but no, there it was loud and clear. Th-thump, th-thump, th-thump. He never recalled such a vivid sound in his life, not a note of music or anything that was so vibrant and hypnotic...

With a jolt, he let go of the hug and moved back on the couch. His eyes blinked a few times, and on each blink, one could notice his pupils returning from an abnormally large dilation to a regular size.

"So, do you have any luggage in your car? I can help you grab it if you want."

 

[Mayu]

Emily smiled as she felt his arms around her, hugging her. She found herself resting her head on his chest, and didn't really realize it. But she enjoyed being this close to a man, especially her friend. Sighing happily, when he pulled away her head raised up. Gazing into his eyes she smiled at him. And when he asked about her luggage she nodded, going to the door she just went to her car and grabbed one bag. Since that was all she had.

"I just brought one bag"

She said and walked back inside, looking at him she knew that he said he would get it. But it didn't bother her, since she was allowed to park in his drive way. She had asked before hand so she knew where to park. Thinking for a moment, she thought it would be a very nice time to be here with her friend. Taking a deep breath she shut the door behind her and grinned at him. Thinking about all the times they had together, she really was glad to be here.

"It's alright, care to show me where I'll be staying? I also asked your mom if it was okay to park where I did, and she was cool with it. Just so you know"

 

[fr33ks33k]

"Ok, that's fine. Yeah, sure..."

He rose from the couch and headed down the short hallway that held all the doors to the rooms in the house.

"On the left is the bathroom, that door there is my room, this one's the laundry room, and this one...will be yours."

He pushed open the door to expose the barren room. He'd been using it for storage, but then he'd gone on a cleaning kick and gotten rid of everything inside. There was only a bed, a dresser, and a desk with a lamp in the room now.

"You can decorate it or whatever. I haven't really used it since I got rid of all my junk."

Standing there in the hall, he thought he smelled something. It smelled awfully familiar. It was Emily's perfume. But she wasn't standing quite that close to him. How could he smell it so clearly? Maybe from their brief hug? No...the scent was like he was burying his nose in her neck or something...he shook his head, but the smell was still there. He decided to ignore it, chalking it up to more side effects of the meds.

Idly his hand rubbed against the two pinprick wounds on his neck.

"So, I bet you're hungry after your long day of driving."

 

[Mayu]

She smiled as he showed her the room, she looked at it. A nice simple room, laying her suit case on the bed she listened to what he said. Looking at him she nodded, she was really hungry. "Yeah been driving for fifteen hours straight, wanted to get here as fast as I could. Only stopped once and it was to use a bathroom" She chuckled happily, and decided to get comfortable. So she slid out of her shoes, and removed her jacket. Which exposed a black tank top under the light jacket.

She was also wearing short shorts, they were a light blue color. Putting her hair up in a pony tail she sighed a bit. Walking up to him she smiled happily, sighing a little as she relaxed she kissed his cheek again and was really happy with him. "but yes I'm starving" She said happily and sighed silently. It really was going to be a happy time to be here with him. Since his mother said she could stay as long as she wanted, though she didn't want to impose.

"I do have to say that I'm glad to be back, this vacation I'm taking is long over due" She said happily.

 

[fr33ks33k]

"I believe it. Schoolwork gets to be overbearing. Well, I've got some stuff in the fridge. I dunno if you'll want any of it, but if you don't we could always order a pizza or something..."

He walked with her back to the kitchen, which was small but efficient. His entire apartment was that way. His eyes kept trailing downward; Emily's shorts barely covered the important things. He swallowed hard, forcing his eyes back toward less scantily clad portions of her, ending up following the curve of her hip where her tank top overlapped her shorts.

Now he could hear a heartbeat again. The scent was fainter, but now the th-thumping was back. He must be imagining things...

He bumped into the short island/counter top that served as a prep area in the kitchen, jolting him back to reality. He leaned against it to try and cover his clumsiness, smiling sheepishly.

 

[Mayu]

She thought about it for a moment, and before she knew it she turned and watched the way he stood. She ignored it, though something in her told her that something was up. But just smiling at Jacob she chuckled a bit. "I'll order a pizza, be my treat" She grabbed her cell phone from her pocket and ordered the usual when they got pizza. She knew they delivered and would be there in about twenty minutes. Sighing softly, she began to wonder what the day would bring.

"Pizza will be here in a bit"

Emily said with a grin on her face. "But you are right about school work, college is fun at times. But then all that stupid homework, but I'm glad to be here with you Jacob, nice to hang out with the only person I have in my life. Though I'm surprised you don't have a girl hanging around, your a good looking guy but it appears your still single" She grinned happily.

 

[fr33ks33k]

Pizza sounded good even though he wasn't very hungry. Maybe it was just from Emily's presence. Either way, food would help him distract himself from the odd things he kept hearing and smelling.

"I haven't really been trying to get a girl...I..."

He almost continued with I've kind of been waiting around for you to notice how much I've liked you, but caught himself. And what was that about him being the only person in her life? She was popular enough in high school; he couldn't see her slipping into obscurity in college. This train of thought wasn't helping his staring, so instead he deflected the inquiry.

"I've been busy with work and such. Not really any time to date. So, wanna watch some TV until the pizza gets here?"

 

[Mayu]

She listened to him and just nodded, going over to the couch she sat down. But she noticed a couple different things about him, watching him closely he looked really pale. But when she asked him about why he didn't have a girl, the look hit her pretty hard. Thinking for a moment, she started to search her own feelings for him. He really was her best friend, the only guy who liked her for everything. Not just her looks, guys wanted to be with her because she was beautiful. But did he love her as well as like her?

When he sat down she decided to test the waters, see if what she was sensing was right. So when he sat beside her, she moved to her side a bit and rested her head against his shoulder. Looking at the T.V, a soft smile on her face.

 

[fr33ks33k]

Whatever they were watching was forgotten the moment her head leaned into him. He felt a chill and his arm moved as if it had a mind of its own, wrapping around her shoulder.

Either she was very warm or he was very cold....he could almost swear that her body heat was higher than normal. And there that th-thumping was again. Maybe it was his own heart, beating into his throat from being this close to Emily. Closer than he'd been to any woman in ages. Even then, he'd felt awkward. No one compared to her, and now here she was, cuddling up against him like they'd never been apart.

His fingers started to idly stroke at her shoulder, the exposed skin there furnace-warm to his touch. It was odd, but he continued to blame the damned medication they had him on for his apparent hallucinations.

In an effort to keep his mind off of her, he turned his attention back to the television. It was one of those terribly written supposed reality shows, stuck in reruns for weeks now. He might have seen this particular episode five times already. Even with the dreadful programming, he managed to laugh at a few of the hijinx the cast found themselves part of. Each laugh sent a shudder through his hand, more than likely shaking Emily with them.

 

[Mayu]

Emily was really contented that she was in his arms, but feeling him wrap his arm around her. Made her do a lot of thinking, closing her eyes for a moment. She had to search her own feelings for him. And realized her feelings that she had for him, she slowly opened up her eyes and realized she was in love with him. But how could she tell him? She was always afraid of rejection, which was why she never had a boyfriend. Taking a deep breath, she enjoyed the chuckle that came from his mouth.

"Jacob..."

She said softly at first, but said his name again. This time with more volume to it, not screaming his name of course. But it had more force behind it, she didn't know what she was doing. But he had to know she cared about him, she needed to try and search his feelings for her. Since he had no girlfriend, she wondered if it really was as he said. But she wasn't so sure really, looking up into his eyes. A soft smile on her face followed, Jacob really was the best thing in her life.

"The whole time I was away I thought a lot about you, I mean I know we talk to each other every day just about, either over the phone or on the internet but. You really do mean the world to me Jacob, I mean part of the reason why I never had a boyfriend was because of you. There is only one guy Ive ever felt comfortable with, and it's you Jacob." She looked down, unsure what he would say.