Time will tell

 

Was this going to be a make it or break it moment? Jake went to Chicago on a whim. Yes, it was the first time he'd ever felt close to someone, and that someone was Macy.

Yes, he'd always enjoyed their conversations. He felt sad now that he'd waited too long, but he'd always felt an outsider. And even now, he felt like an outsider waiting for this moment to happen on the steps of the brownstone where Macy lived. He went inside.

Jake checked his trusty watch again. He had texted twice already and had not heard a thing. 

He never traveled. Had always wanted to, but he never let himself, and then, when he noticed how cheap the flight could be, and a straight shot to Chicago, it was like lightning had struck him. Still, he didn't want to look too happy. She might see through him and know the goofy boy that he was. He needed to be serious.

But all that washed away when he saw her come out of the elevator. Only, Macy was not alone. Naturally, he towered over both of thim and he studied the lanky blonde who looked quite distressed.

"What are you doing here? We were coming to the airport to pick you up?" It startled Macy and this meant the other person was bumping Macy from behind.

Jake put on his best smile. "You forgot to read the rest of the text."

He dropped his duffel bag and spread out his arms. Of course, Macy rammed into his stomach for a hug and a little squill, and he awkwardly put his arms around her. But he knew someone was immediately hurt, and Jake wasn't quite sure what to do about that.

Macy did her best to start an introduction.

"Oh, this is L? Who you told me about?" Jake smiled back, hoping it wasn't a smirk. He wanted to be sincere. He was sincere, but he had a feeling with that leer of L's that he wasn't. 

She left soon enough after a cold handshake. Immediately, he imagined she was the sick one, but he wasn't quite sure of the sickness. He did feel sad for a slight moment. But no. It was a delight of giggles and chuckles all the way up on the elevator. Of course, when it stopped, he felt as if his legs might be jelly, but he guessed he wasn't much of a traveler, after all.

"I can't believe you're here." Her smile practically made him glow. He could feel it in the core of him, and it radiated a certain happiness he didn't know could make him practically drunk, but he let her lead the way.

"You must be hungry," Macy said.

"Oh, I'm not that hungry." He settled on the leather couch, which was a bit slippery, but he managed to plant himself on it, gripping the arm tightly with his long fingers. He tensed, thinking his hands were large, and when he looked down at his sneakers. It was devastating. His feet were gigantic. Would Macy notice?

Of course, not. She stumbled over his feet just to give him a bottle of water. If it had been open, he would have been soaked. Instead, it hit him in the middle of the chest as if it were a reality bite.