Liam leaves the room. I look back at Jake, “You ready to go?” he nods and gets up “Yep, what’s wrong with Uncle?” I shrug, “I don’t know, he looked a little red when he left,” Jake sniffs.
“Maybe he likes you?” he tilts his head and plays with his hat. I look at him, “What types of books do you read?” Jake looks at me.
“Fantasy, my teachers say I read like an 8th grader, Uncle lets me read a lot,” I nod, “That’s impressive,” he shrugs “I guess, Uncle writes poems but he doesn’t let me read them. I saw one once…” he looks down. I look down at him, “What happened?”
“Nothing, it was just so sad...he doesn’t publish them though. He doesn’t like talking ‘bout grandma or grandpa. But...but that’s what the poem was about...I think. I found him crying once….” Jake frowns. Really? I take his fedora off and squat down to his height, “That’s the thing about literature,” I say softly as I ruffle his hair, “I’m sure he’s okay, that’s just the easiest way for him to express himself,”
Jake shrugs “He gets really mad at the beginning of a new book sometimes, but he doesn’t show it. I wish mom was here….she’d know what to do when he’s mad,” I pick him up, “Hey, it’s alright, “ I say as I move the hair from his face.
“Many people don’t like Uncle, I don’t know what. He’s the nicest person I know….you’re next, you’re nice too,” I smile, “Thank you, your Uncle is very nice,” he nods and buries his face in my neck.
“I like chu, you’re not mean like some people,” I rub his back as I laugh lightly, “Thank you, I appreciate it,”
“Uncle likes your laugh,” He looks at me and smiles. I nod my head, “Thank you for letting me know,” I smile. He already told me that before. He sniffs “He published his new book,” I forgot that was coming out.
“Oh yeah, I’m glad I finished the first one in the series,”
“Why do you like Uncles books?” I think about it as I swing us lightly, “They’re very fascinating, it’s like they take you to another world,” I spin us around.
“Really? Can you see the hidden message?” I shake my head, “I knew there was something, but I didn’t know what it was about,”
“Want me to tell you?” I swing us around, “If you’d let me know,” he tilts his head “What do you mean?”
“I mean if you want to tell me,”
“You know how the guy can’t go in the Valley?” I shake my head, “Why?”
“He can’t find his true self, the girl doesn’t help either….and he hasn’t found true love. In a way...it’s kind of like Uncle,” I nod, that was something that seemed a little off about the book.
“Did you see how Gavin and Sebastian act?” he looks at me, I was going to ask about it when the door opened. I turn around, looking at Liam.
“C’mon,” he motions with his hands as he talks on the phone. I carry Jake out the door, “Where are we going?”
“Company, unless you want me to drop you off,” I feel Jake squirm in my arms. I look back at Liam, “I got all the books I need-” Jake shakes his head and puts his hands on my face.
“Don’t leave,” his eyes wet. I put my hand over his, taking it off my face, “Hey, buddy, it’s alright,” I say softly, “I’m not going anywhere,” I reassure him, calming him down. He smiles and nods , I hear Liam curse softly “alright we gotta go” Liam walks out , talking on the phone. I follow him, Jake still in hand.
“what do you mean you can't? Try! I have a tour next week and I don't want to be unprepared!” he unlocks the doors. I sit in the front with Jake on my lap. I rub the back of his head as Liam gets in on his side.
“I don’t care, get it straight,” Liam growls and hands up “People,”
“Everything alright?” Liam shrugs “I guess” he looks at Jake and smiles “You get to see Jude,” Jakes eyes widen as he grins. I look down at Jake, “Who's Jude?”
“A guy at the company who is like my brother,”
“Awe, cool,”
When we get there a guy with black hair and grey eyes comes over, smiling.
“Hey,” Liam smiles and hugs him “Hi,” I set Jake down. Jake runs to the guy and hugs his torso “Jude!”
“Hey, Man,” the guy, Jude looks at Liam and gives him a smile and a weird look.
“Good to see you,” Liam nods and looks at me “This is Owen,” he puts a hand on my shoulder. Jude looks at me and gives a lopsided smile “Hey, I’m Jude,”
“Owen,” Jude nods and takes Jakes hand “Wanna watch the covers print?” Jake nods and walks with Jude. Liam sighs and crosses his arms, “You sure you don’t want me to drop you off at the library?”
“It’s all good, Jake would probably be mad if I left without saying bye, and I don’t really have much to do at the Library anymore,” I plan on just finishing some of those books at home. Liam sighs again and puts his hands in his pockets. He looks at the sky, his face looked so lost. He looks back down and his hair flows in his eyes. I shake my head, looking away. I bump his arm with my elbow, “Are we going inside?”
“Yeah, c’mon,” he walks toward the the door and opens it. I walk inside, saying a quick ‘thank you’ as I look around. Books and manuscripts lay around as people type or look through manuscripts.
“Wow,” I say softly. People say hello to Liam but they call him Jordan. A new cover of a book called “Valley’s Fury,” was printing. It was blue and green with a guy in a cloak with a dagger and red eyes. I look at Liam, “Is that…”
“Yep, the new book cover, like it?” I nod, “Did the program work well? I mean, if you used it of course,”
“Yeah, it was great, didn’t take me long for me to figure it out. However, coming up with an idea was hard as hell,” I laugh lightly, not wanting to disturb others, “Yeah, coming up with a concept can be hard,”
Liam smiles “Yeah, but I think I did a good job. It fits with the plot in the next-”
“It’s done!” someone yells, Liam looks over and walks toward a girl with a book in her hand, “Hardcover?” she nods as he takes it. He leafs through the pages and smiles.
He walks over and holds out the book “Here,” I look down at it confused, “Are… are you giving it to me?”
“Yep, it's the first copy” I’m getting the first copy? I look up at him, “Why?” I say softly, still dazed at the fact he wants to give me the first copy of his book.
“Why not? You read all of them,” I look down at the book, taking it in my hands. I hold it to my chest, “Thank you,” I smile as I look back up at him.
“No problem,” I read the back of the book, engulfed in the words. And that’s only the back. He chuckles and crosses his arms “You look so happy,” I move the hair from my face as I look back up at him, “I love books,” he laughs “I see that,” he runs a hand through my hair and smiles. I smile back, I can’t believe I have a first copy. I can’t believe he let me have his books first copy. He chuckles as his hand slides down to my neck. So warm. I look back down at the book as his hand is on my neck, replace the cold with warmth. I let out a sigh, “Is there anything else in here?” I question, looking around the floor.
“What do you mean?” he takes his hand off my neck. I look at him, “I mean, what else is there in this building,” I feel a little sad that he took his hand away, why is he so warm?
Liam looks at me and laughs, “What?” I rub my face, “This is why I suck at communicating,” he chuckles “Would you like me to put my hand back?” his voice filled with amusement.
“You’re… just… very warm…”
“You didn’t answer the question,” he shuffles closer. I nod my head, “Yes, you’re very warm,” he smirks then comes behind me, putting his arms around me.
“How’s this?” I nod as I look down at my book, opening it, “Good,” he buries his face in my neck and chuckles. I start the book, relaxing as I feel warm.
“You must really like bein’ warm, I hate bein’ so warm. Makes me feel hot,” I hum, “I’ get cold,” I say absentmindedly, paying attention to the book. We stay like this until we hear Jakes’ voice next to us “What are you guys doing?” he tilts his head. I close the book, using my thumb as a bookmark, rubbing my eye, “I’m cold,”
Liam raises an eyebrow, “Really?” Jake looks confused then looks up at Jude who gives a questioning look.
“Sorry, I was cold,” I say lightly. Liam pats my head then moves back, “Come with me for a minute, c’mon Jake,” Jake smiles and tugs at my shirt, “C’mon,” I laugh lightly, “I am, I am,” I say as I let him pull me around. We reach a place with different bookmarks and computers “Here is the room where we make or a person makes their own bookmarks,”
“Cool,” I say as I look at the equipment and pre made bookmarks.
“You can make one if you want, Jake likes to come in here and make them alot-”
“Jordan! I need your help! I can’t get this background!” Liam groans, “I’m not that good at drawin’,”
“You made all of your damn book covers and characters for manga, the hell you mean you can’t draw!” Liam sighs and goes to were the voice was coming from. I look at Jake, “That was something… wanna make some bookmarks?” he nods, “Yeah,” he walks over to a computer and grabs a piece of metal.
“Uncles good at drawin’ but he doesn’t like to admit it,” I laugh lightly as I walk over to him, looking at the computers, “I bet, his covers are really good,” Jake opens a software on the computer and hums, “I feel bad for Uncle though, he doesn’t….” he sniffs and looks around. I sit down at the computer next to him, opening the program, “What’s wrong?”
“He doesn’t have a Mrs. Prince, like how mom had dad…” I sit still before I rub his head, “He’ll find his Mrs. Prince soon,” I say softly.
“I’m not so sure….he’s never had one before,” Jakes eyes narrow as he puts a deer on the slate of metal.
“He's probably just… Looking for the right person,” I say as I format the drawing into bookmark size. I start on my first one, starting with a forest background. After a little bit I finish my first one, have a deer in the middle, and the forest as the background. I let out a sigh and print it out, looking over at Jake.
He moves off the chair and pushes a button, stamping the metal, “How’s your bookmark?” I ask.
“Good, wanna see it?” I nod, “I would love to,” he pulls it out and shows it to me. A fawn with a baby deer eating under a full moon, “That’s really good,” I complement as I look at it.
“Thank chu, it’s for Uncle other book he’s working on,” I get my bookmark from the printer, “That’s sweet,” he shrugs. He looks at me, “Question,”
“Yeah?”
“Do chu like Uncle?” I nod, “Your Uncle is very nice,” he cringes, “Not what I meant,”
“You mean as in, if I like him… oh,” I scratch the back of my head, “I don’t know? He really is nice, but I don’t know much about him,” I pause, “Why are you asking such a question in the first place?” he shrugs and sniffs. I smile and shake my head.
“Well, I made my bookmark, are you happy with yours?” I say as I stand up. He nods “Can we show uncle?”
“Yup,” I look around, “Do you know where he went off to?” he nods and turns a corner. I follow Jake, making sure he doesn’t get too far ahead. I see Liam with thin rimmed glasses with a look of concentration as he draws something. I look at the screen as me and Jake stand behind him. That’s pretty good. A girl looking at the moon with a wolf that’s howling.
“There,” Liam straightens and jumps as he looks at us. Jake giggles as I shake my head, “Sorry; we’re done with our bookmarks,”
“I see,” his eyes glittering with pride, Jake gives Liam's his. Liam smiles “Amazin’, this for my new book?” Jake nods excitedly. Liam ruffles his hair. I smile at the two, that’s adorable. Liam looks at me and tilts his head.
“Hmm?” he smiles and shakes his head. Jake looks at both of us and shrugs. He begins watching a girl draw a manga character. Liam watches him with love written on his face “Poor boy,” I look at Liam, “What do you mean by that?” Liam’s face falls slightly “His parents—well his mother—died in a accident when he was five,” I look back at Jake. That’s why he’s living with Liam? That’s really sad.
“His father is just….not qualified to care for a child,” Liams face turns to look like he tasted something sour. I nod slightly, Jake never did say he wanted his dad, it was always his mom in dire situations. Liam sighs softly “I’m just worried I’m doin’ this wrong….”
I run my hand through Liams hair, “Hey, you’re doing great, Jake’s really happy with you, he adores you,” I say softly, dropping my hand. Liam looks at me, surprised.
“Don’t act so surprised,” I laugh lightly as I look back at Jake.
“No it was just….no one's ever...done that before,” he runs both hands through his hair.
“Well, now someone has,” he raises an eyebrow and puts a hand on my head, ruffling my hair. I laugh lightly, Liam chuckles and crosses his arms over his chest. Tilting his head and pushing up his glasses. Jake comes back over, “Uncle?” Liam hums. Jake points to me, “Can he come home with us?” He makes me sound as if I’m a lost cat that he wants to take home.
“He’s not an animal, and that’s for him to clear up. Not me,” Jake looks at me, his face basically saying ‘Please come with us’. I go down to his height again, “I know I said this before, but next time, I promise,” I say as I hold my pinky out, “Pinky promise?” Jake looks at my hand, nodding, “Okay,” He crosses his pinky with mine, “Next time,” He says softly.
I hear Liam chuckle, making me stand up and ruffle Jakes hair. Someone bumps into me, making me step back and lose my balance. I hit into Liam, falling down with him. Liam chuckles as the person yells a ‘sorry’. I feel his hands on my waist and he fixes his hat “Well then,”
“That was something,” I say as I rub my head, sitting up with him.
“You good?” he flicks his hair out of his eyes as he looks me up and down. I nod, “Yup, you? I mean, I did fall on you,” he nods “I’m fine,” I put up a thumbs up, “Good,” I stand up, extending my hand to help him. He takes it and stands up. He sighs softly, I hear Jake giggle softly. I look at Jake, “What are you giggling about?” he grins “Nothing,” he sings. I raise an eyebrow, “Okay then,”
“Jordan! Your tour starts tomorrow! They changed it!” someone yells, Liam’s eyes widen then growls.
“Blasted,” I pat his shoulder, “Calm down, it’s okay,”
“It isn’t cause I had to get Jake ready, there isn’t enough time. It takes two days,”
“Do you want me to help?” I ask, I didn’t really know what to say other than that.
“I...uh….sure. But it’s medical so…” I hesitate a little, “That’s.. That’s fine,” he looks at his watch “Hungry anyone?” Jake speaks up first, “Yes!” making me laugh a little.
Liam raises an eyebrow, as if asking me.
“Sure,” It doesn’t sound bad at all. He nods “what should we get?”
“I’m okay with anything; what do you want Jake?” I ask as I look down at him.
“Place with the grapes!” I laugh a little as I give a questioning look to Liam.
“Olive Garden,” Jake jumps around, saying grapes over and over again. I laugh, “Olive Garden it is,”
When we get there, Jake pulls on my shirt, “I’m going,” I laugh. Liam runs a hand through his hair as we enter. We get our table, the waitress placing menus down in front of us, two adult and one kids menu. We order and Jack hums softly. I tap my fingers on the table, not really know what to do.
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