forum Dead

Started June 16, 2018 by @Imperfect_Autumn group

tune

Jacob clapped in honor of the couple, yet it a hollow pit grew inside him as well. Would he and Brooke ever be like that? Would she want to be?

As soon as the commotion had settled down, the couple declared that games would be starting soon. For now, though, everyone was welcome to mingle and eat.

Brooke turned to Jacob and smiled. "Have you eaten anything yet? Is there anything good?"

"Oh?" he shook himself out of his daze, "Oh, yeah. Definitely. I actually finished some delicious BBQ steak before I saw you."

Seeing this as a great opportunity, he grasped her hand, leading her toward the kitchen area.

A light blush grew on Brooke's face when Jacob took her hand, but she mentally shook it off and followed him. They entered the kitchen, and she looked around at the piles of food that took up nearly every open space. Jessie and Sam had really outdone themselves this time!

"Wow…" she whispered, wide-eyed as she saw it all. "This is ridiculous! There's so much food!"

"It's a party hosted by Jessie. What'd you expect?" he teased, even though they really did go all out.

Jacob took a plate and handed it to Brooke, not bothering take one for himself. He ate earlier.

"Thanks." Brooke smiled as she took the plate. She inspected all of the food, eventually picking out some cocktail hotdogs, Pizza Pockets, and a couple of cute dessert things that looked like strawberry shortcake on a stick.

While she picked out her food, he went to the beverages, pouring a water. Jacob sipped on his drink as he waited. He tapped his foot in rhythm to the music.

When she had finished, Brooke turned back to Jacob, giving him a small smile.

"So, Jake, how've you been?" she asked before blowing on a Pizza Pocket to cool off its molten-lava-like insides.

"Not as stressed as I could be. Mellie and Jade are arguing again. It's like a war over there, so it's nice to get a break," he sighed, remembering the bickering.

"Aw, sorry," Brooke sympathized, frowning slightly. She gently bumped his shoulder with hers. "At least you don't have to worry about them while you're here, though, right?"

Jacob's face heated, though he forced the blush down. "Yeah," he agreed, "I shouldn't worry right now. After all, we're celebrating. Don't want to ruin that."

Brooke smiled as she finished her last cocktail hotdog, then moved on the trying her dessert. Her eyes widened as she tasted it; it tasted like strawberry shortcake, all right, but it also had something else to it, something that gave it a different flavor than the regular old stuff.

Chocolate! That was it! The strawberries were filled with chocolate!

"Ohmygosh, this is so good!" she exclaimed, covering her full mouth as she spoke.

Jake snickered at her antics. He chugged the rest of his water down, then looked back at her. "Careful, Brooke. You don't want to choke now," he gasped in mock horror.

"You have to try it!" Brooke exclaimed with a grin after she had swallowed her mouthful. She held out the stick covered in cake and strawberries to Jake. "Seriously, it's so good!"

"Hmmm…." He acted as though he were considering it, putting a hand to his chin. After a moment, he leaned over into Brooke's space, eating a strawberry right off the stick. That was still in her hand. Straightening again, he licked his lips. It really was delicious, and he wasn't the biggest fan of chocolate.

Brooke smiled as she noticed a bit of chocolate on Jacob's cheek.

"Oh, you've got something right–" She reached out and gently rubbed it off with her thumb. "–here."

When she realized what she had just done, she felt heat rising to her face, so she turned away slightly.

Internally Jacob screamed at the way she reciprocated. Externally his face turned hot, causing him to step backwards in embarrassment. Why did he do that?

"Y-Yeah. Thanks, my kind lady," Jacob bowed, partly to hide his face and partly to shove the awkwardness out.

"No problem, good sir," Brooke replied, laughing quietly as she curtsied.

She was saved from further embarrassment by Sam calling everyone together again. The guests all gathered in the living room, waiting for instructions.

"The first game we'll be playing today is – drumroll, please! – Truth or Dare!" Jessie exclaimed, grinning. "Yes, we know, it's cliché! But, hey! It's still fun!"

Though Jacob found Truth or Dare cruel in the ways it was used, he joined in. "You coming, fair one?" he asked, trying to keep up the modest act.

"Of course, I am, finest," Brooke laughed, blushing slightly at the teasing names.

Jake smiled softly at her before heading to the living room with the other guests.

Brooke and Jake joined the other guests in the living room, where everyone was sitting on couches, chairs, or the floor. Brooke chose to sit on the floor and waited for Jessie and Sam's directions.

Quietly Jake waited, mentally preparing himself for whatever happened next.

"I'll start, then," Sam said as he looked around the group, about fifteen people in all, and he grinned almost wickedly when his eyes landed back on his fiancé. "Jessie, truth or dare?"

Jessie flushed at the look Sam gave her, then answered, "Um, truth."

Sam leaned slightly closer to her. "When did you first realized that you love me?"

"Uh… Well, I think we had been dating for a couple of weeks, and I had gotten really sick. You stayed and took care of me, even though you were at risk of getting sick yourself."

Sam kissed her lightly, causing a chorus of "aw"s to run through the crowd, and Jessie flushed a little bit after they pulled apart. She cleared her throat before turning her focus on the guests. Her sight landed on Jake and Brooke, and she smiled.

"Brooke, truth or dare?" she asked, a mischevious sparkle in her eye.

"Dare," Brooke said, feeling confident that she could take whatever her friend threw at her.

Jessie grinned. "I dare you to sit in Jake's lap for the rest of the game."

Brooke's face and neck turned deep red, and she bit her lip. Turning to Jake she mouthed, "Sorry," and moved to do as she was dared.

Jacob blushed brightly, nodding to her though panicking inside. Don't think about it. Once she got settled comfortably, he gave her a quick pat on the head to let her know it was okay.

"R-Right," he ignored the fact his voice was going lower and higher with each word, "Who next?"

(Have to go soon)