One Step at a Time

No need to change your story idea on my account. It\'s not like you\'d be stealing the Phantom idea.

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“Hey, Jake, it’s Liz. Um, I was just calling to see how you were. We haven’t talked since… well, uh, just give me a call back, okay?”

Jake heard every word left on his answering machine as he sat at his desk, tapping a pencil point on the surface. He actually wasn’t writing or drawing anything, but as soon as he heard Liz’s voice on the phone he picked it up to begin his nervous habit. Normally he would have been up in a second to answer, but he wasn’t in the mood since he knew exactly what she wanted to talk about. Quite frankly he just wanted to forget. She had the right idea at the beginning, he thought as he flipped the pencil at the wall across the table. He sat there silently for a few minutes staring at his computer which he was working on up until the call before letting out a sigh and picking up the phone.

Dialing her number he flipped his legs up on the desk as he put the phone up to his ear to hear the first ring. It never reached a second when he heard her soft voice on the other end. “Hello?”

“Hey.” He said simply, unconsciously expecting her to know who it was, but she recognized his voice immediately. Jake had a drowsy way of talking a lot of the time, especially when on the phone that Liz, though she would never confess it, thought was kind of sexy.

“Hey.” She greeted back in the same manner. “I wasn’t expecting you to get back to me so soon.” A hint of relief in her voice. Jake wouldn’t know it, but she was actually sitting by the phone just waiting for his call.

“Yeah, well, I was in the middle of something when you called.” He stretched the truth. Though he was doing something, he wouldn’t tell her that he could have easily picked up the phone that was sitting right next to him. “How are things?”

“No complaints.” She felt as if she was lying to him. Ever since a few nights ago she had been full of worry about him, still blaming herself for what happened. “I just called to see how things were going.”

“Fine I guess. I’ve been kind of busy lately.” This he made the truth. The last few days he was looking for stuff to do, to take up his time, to have an excuse for breaking contact with people for a while.

“That’s good.” She said timidly. The conversation felt awkward to her, as this was the first encounter with an ex after a breakup. “I also… I also had a small favor to ask.” She said, losing her nerve somewhat after she started. “Or a big one, depending on how you look at it.”

Jake raised his eyebrow wondering where she was going with this. “Yeah?” He asked cautiously.

Liz cleared her throat, though much quieter than the way Jake did. “Um, I have this friend, Kim, and her brother is getting married.” She set up. “The wedding is next week and she invited me and told me I could bring a… date.” She paused for a bit, but Jake decided to say nothing, waiting for her to continue. “So, um, I was wondering… if you would maybe want to go. Maybe. If it sounds interesting.”

Jake had to hold back a slight laugh when she let out a sigh of frustration after ending her short ramblings. He could just imagine her slumped down on her couch embarrassed waiting for his reply. “Um, well when is it next week?” He asked.

“Uh, the seventeenth. Thursday.” She informed, a sound of hope in her voice. “About ten a.m.”

“Are you sure you want me to go? You wouldn’t rather ask one of your other friends instead?”

“Everyone I know is already going there. Plus, all my friends are girls… it would be a little odd taking them as a date.” She joked, relaxing her own nerves a bit.

Jake thought about it for a moment. It couldn’t hurt, he thought. I’d get to take a day off work too he smirked to himself. “Okay, I’ll go. If you really want me to.”

“Really? You’d do this for me?” She chimed, ignoring the less than enthusiastic tone to his voice. “Do you know where the old St. Helens church is?” She asked. Jake confirmed that he did and asked if there was anything he should bring, but she declared that just him in a tux would do. After they hung up Liz sat quiet on her couch, cross-legged as she normally did and hopped this was a good idea. She knew from personal experience that unless you knew the person weddings were about as boring as it could get, but she had to try and make it up to Jake.

***

The sky was hiding behind heavy clouds that looked as if they could break any moment on the day of the wedding. Jake climbed out of his truck looking over the roof from across the street at the church, a mob of people around the entrance, but no sign of Liz. Combing his longer winter hair back with his fingers after a gust of wind disturbed it he trekked across the street to search her out, still fidgeting with his tie that he had yet to successfully tie. It didn’t take him long to find her lingering around the garden behind the church with a couple other girls. Sitting on the edge of a small fountain with an angel statue in the center, she was dressed up simply wearing a lime green spaghetti strap dress that fell mid-calf and wearing the denim jacket that was apparent to be her favorite.

Liz looked up and saw Jake stopped a few feet away, dashing in a black tuxedo with a silvery-gray vest and the ends of his bow tie hanging on either side of his neck. She said something quickly to the others before getting up and heading over to take with a timid smile. “Let me help you with that.” She offered as she reached up to take the loose tassels and right them.

“How do you know how to do this?” He asked amazed as she whipped through the motions as if it were second nature to her.

“I have two brothers.” She said. “Neither of who know how to tie a tie, so I’ve had lots of practice.” She finished and patted the knot a couple times looking up at his face for the first time and noticing that his eye was still a little dark from being hit. She brought her hand up to run her fingers over it, but he moved his face away and she looked down apologetically.

“Um, hi.” He said after the fact in a comforting tone, making up for the previous gesture.

“Hi.” She said back, looking up again. “Glad you could make it.” She looked around nervously, biting her lip, wanting to get away from the awkward moment they just had. “Come on, there are some snacks in the recreation room. Let’s get something to eat before the wedding.”

She led him into a small building behind the church where they were going to have the reception. It was already set up with several round tables and chairs with an open area in the center for dancing and a long banquet table for the newlyweds and special guests. Along the walls were artificial bunches of flowers and pink and white ribbons strung higher up and others hanging down to the floor. Right now there were a few drinks and some food for the guests before the wedding.

Liz dragged Jake over to the buffet table and filled a couple glasses of sparkling cider for them. He took the cup Liz offered him and looked around the room. There were only a few other people in there with them, mostly adding some final touches to some of the decorations. Everyone else must be seating themselves in the church he thought to himself when he heard some voices calling out from somewhere.

“Liz!” One of them shouted. Someone he didn’t recognize, but knew it must have been one of her friends. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“You could have found a more private place than this for some alone time with your boy toy.” Another one grinned. Liz rolled her eyes at the ridiculous accusation, but couldn’t help but blush a little at the idea.

“Quiet!” Liz whined. “You know it’s not like that.” She pulled back a curl of her hair that fell out of place and adjusted her glasses some before continuing. “Jake, these are a couple of my friends, for the time being.” She joked, glaring at them. “Cathy and Anne. This is Jake.” She introduced.

“Yes, I remember you.” Cathy said, causing Jake to raise an eyebrow in confusion. “I saw you at Lizzie’s college once.”

“Ah, well, good to meet you.” He said, sticking out a couple fingers as a wave from the hand he was holding his drink with. After they were all introduced the two girls turned their attention back to Liz. Talking about the wedding and asking about the bride and if anyone has seen her in the dress yet. All the while Liz glancing over to Jake occasionally who was off to the side, unable to get into the conversation at hand. Looking down at his drink and swirling it around in the cup.

Liz decided to cut her conversation short, remembering that she was literally the only person he new there and she was spending the time talking with her friends. She told them that she’d see them later and after they left turned her attention back to Jake. “Sorry about that.” She apologized. “I guess I’m not a very good host.”

“You’re fine.” He said plainly, finally taking another sip of his drink. Liz was growing more visibly frustrated as she blew the curl of hair away that has been pestering her all day. She didn’t have the nerve to speak up, though. Especially given the fact that they were going to be with each other for the next two or three hours. She would rather the experience be relatively pleasant and not overly awkward from an argument.

“We should get a seat.” Liz started. “They should be getting started any minute now.” She sighed inwardly, trying to put aside her frustrations and lead Jake back to the church.

The wedding went off without a hitch. It lasted about half an hour with the priest speaking through most of it, though Jake was willing to bet everyone but the bride and groom wasn’t paying attention. Then they got to the vows in which they wrote their own as well as had the traditional ones recited and with their first kiss as man and wife everyone was able to leave for the reception. A little too eagerly, however, in Jake’s case. Sitting in one spot for too long was never a strong point for him.

Liz, though, was more than happy just sitting there. There was no time for talking while the ceremony was going on, so in turn no chance anything slipping that would displease Jake. It was pleasant just having his company next to her, but now that it was over she was growing nervous again. Wondering how Jake would be acting at the dinner, or maybe he wouldn’t even stick around for it, she thought.

The last worry fading immediately when he followed her to a table and sat with her. There were already appetizers like baby carrots and meats and cheeses laid out on the tables with a bottle of wine in the center for the guests to share. Jake was still fairly silent, though, only giving one or two word answers to anything Liz said. Most everyone else was mingling around with each other, congratulating the newlyweds, and giving toasts, but the two of them were sitting inactive. Jake told her she could go on and have a good time, but she didn’t want to leave him alone again like she did earlier, and when everybody began to dance on the floor and he told her she’d enjoy herself more if she asked one of the other guys she had had enough.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his chair and dragged him out of the room to prevent making a scene until they reached a decent distance away from the others. “What is your problem?” She chided as if she were scolding a child.

“What do you mean?” He asked as if he didn’t know.

“Your… your whole attitude. You’re not talking, you’re not doing anything, and it’s starting to get on my nerves.” Jake was silent to accusation, so she continued. “It’s about Halloween, isn’t it?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” He said starting to walk around her.

Liz stepped aside in his path and held him back with her arms. “Well I do!” She said, raising her voice and was taken back by her newly found courage. “What was it? Because you got hit? Because it ruined your night? Didn’t get to throw a punch? What was it, a shot to your male ego or something?”

Jake was seemingly pacing as he was trying to get by her, but every time he made a step she was there to block him with another question. He scratched his head out of frustration and finally whipped his hand down in annoyance to her endless attacks. “Because I care about you!” He shouted as quietly as he could so no one would hear him. Liz was silence immediately and confused by his outburst. “And… and I can’t look after you.” He said with a lower voice and crossing his arms in embarrassment.

“I don’t know what you mean.” She said quietly, her voice somewhat exhausted from all of her questions.

“I’m… not a fighter, or whatever you’d call it.” He mumbled. “I can’t look after you.”

“What? I don’t need protecting, Jake...”

“You did that night!” He snapped. “And I couldn’t do a thing.”

“You stood up for me!” She hollered in the same tone. “That was enough.”

Jake grumbled audibly. “No it wasn’t enough. If we weren’t at a party with other people, if Will and what’s-his-name weren’t there to pull my ass out of the fire… I don’t know what would have happened. I don’t want to be responsible.”

Liz let out a small sigh of disbelief and shook her head. “So because of that you just try to break all contact? If I hadn’t called you, you wouldn’t have had any intention on talking to me again would you?” Jake tried to protest, but Liz didn’t allow it. “You’re doing the same thing you got mad at me for doing. Did you think I wouldn’t have a problem with it? At least I had the courtesy to say it was over.”

Her voice was noticeably shaky as she forced out those last few words. It killed him looking into those wide, brown eyes of hers and seeing them glaze over. All because of him. It was the last thing Liz expected when Jake suddenly pulled her into his arms. It was even surprising to him, but it was the only thing he could think of to try and calm her down. “You’re right.” He whispered into her hair when he rested his chin on her head. “I’m sorry.”

She hesitantly wrapped her arms around him to accept his apology, muffling a sniffle in his chest. “I’m sorry, too.” She said. “For… everything.” He patted her back lightly as to say okay and after a few more moments in the embrace they broke apart. Liz sniffling again and clearing her throat in a nervous manner as she wiped her eyes. “So, are we still friends?” She asked, not realizing she was blushing from being so close to Jake.

“Yeah, still friends.” He said with the first honest smile he had given that day. “Now how about I treat you to that dance?”

***

A week later it was Thanksgiving Day. Liz pulled up in front of Jake’s house and ran up to the porch to avoid getting too wet. Since the day of the wedding it has rained nearly nonstop, more than making up for the dry, hot summer. Earlier in the week she asked if Jake had any plans for the day and he said yes, but thought she would stop by before heading to her parents to wish him a happy Thanksgiving. She shook rain droplets out of her hair and tapped her boots against the front stoop before ringing the doorbell.

“Pizza’s here!” She could hear being shouted inside by a voice she didn’t recognize. Pizza? She was thrown from this, thinking he was having dinner with family or something. The door swung open and a guy was standing there that didn’t look familiar to her. “Never mind.” He said. “Jake! Girl!” He called back.

“I thought you ordered pizza, not an escort.” Someone else laughed inside. Liz bit her lip and looked around, completely oblivious to what was going on. Finally Jake showed up at the door.

“Oh, hey.” He said, pleased to see her. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“Uh, yeah…” She managed to say, still confused with the situation. “I thought I’d stop by and wish you a good day before dinner.” She stopped and kind of peered in past Jake. “Um, who are they?”

Jake turned around to see what they were doing inside. “Oh, just a few guys from work. We all decided to get together and watch the basketball game today. Um, come in.” He offered.

The warm house felt good to Liz after being in the damp cold outside. “Um, when you said you had plans I was thinking it would be something more… traditional.” She said as she stopped in the entrance hall.

“About as traditional as it gets around here. Do you want something to drink or something?” He asked, motioning to the kitchen.

“No, thanks. So, you weren’t seeing any family or anything?” She asked, moving away from the subject Jake placed in front of her.

“No. I told you that my parents aren’t around anymore.” He said nonchalantly, taking an occasional look into the family room to see what was going on.

“I know, but I mean other family, like uncles or cousins or…”

Jake only shook his head. “My parents were only children, I’m an only child… kind of kills the whole immediate family thing.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” She trailed off, feeling bad for bringing up his family again.

“Don’t be. I’m use to it.” Just then the doorbell rang again and Jake answered it. It was the pizza delivery boy with three boxes, barely enough for the four guys hanging around that day. Jake greeted him, but when he reached behind to his pocket he felt that he didn’t have his wallet. “Oh…um, Liz, can you do me a favor and get my wallet from my room? It’s right on the stand.” She nodded in compliance and headed down the hall. Meanwhile Jake took the pizzas into the kitchen and told the deliverer to hold on a second. “Guys! Food’s here!”

No one should be use to it Liz thought when she entered the room. She felt absolutely guilty now where she was having a big Thanksgiving dinner with her family and Jake was spending it like any other day. It just wasn’t fair. She picked up the wallet and was about to return with it when she became curious of its contents, namely what his driver’s license photo looked like. Pretty good she giggled to herself. His hair was a little longer and neater, and he was shaven, but it was him alright with his drowsy looking green eyes.

“Wait a minute.” She said aloud to herself. “November sixteenth?” She closed the wallet like a book and left the room to return it to Jake. He was standing with a paper plate and a pizza in the hall while the others were mobbed around the boxes in the kitchen. She handed him the wallet and he thanked her, paying and tipping the guy, then returning to his slice. “Happy birthday.” She said leaning against the wall.

Jake looked up at her from the top of his eyes while he was still taking a bite from his pizza. He quickly downed it before he could reply. “What?” He asked muffled, still chewing on a bit of it.

“I saw you driver’s license. Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” She whined, pushing away from the wall and slumping her shoulders.

“It just isn’t that important. Don’t worry about it.” He said wiping his mouth with a napkin and turning some when he heard some cheers from the other room.

“How can you say that? Of course it’s important.”

“Well, it just didn’t come up, that’s all. Like yours.” He tried to defend himself.

“Mine’s in June, of course it didn’t come up.” She said. “It’s just… you’re just so casual about all these things. Nothing for your birthday, pizza for Thanksgiving…”

“Liz, it’s alright. I’m fine, really.” He cut her off. “Don’t worry about it.” These words making Liz pout in defeat and she leaned against the wall again.

“Oh my God that was awesome!” One of the guys yelled as the others cheered around him. “Jake, you’re missing a hell of a game!”

“I guess I should let you go, then.” Liz said with a weak smile. “But I’m not forgetting about this.”

“Fine, but like I said, don’t worry about it, or me. I’m fine.” He said with a reassuring smile. “Oh, hey, hold on.” Jake went around the corner a short distance and took a raincoat out of a closet. “Here, it’s pouring outside. You’ll get soaked.”

She accepted it gratefully and laid it over her arm. “Thanks.” She said as Jake opened the door for her. “And happy Thanksgiving.”

“Thanks. You too. And I’ll see you later.” Liz nodded and stepped outside as the door closed behind her. She took a minute to put on the coat Jake lent her, taking in his scent that was lingering as she lifted the hood over her head. I have to do something for him; she thought to herself with a sigh, stepping off the porch into the rain and hugging the front closed. He’s too good for him to shrug himself off like he does. As she climbed back into her car and started the engine an idea came to her. She only hopped he would accept.