Learning To Trust Again

Jake’s frown deepened and throwing his arms in the air, he roared ‘yeah well someone had to make sure you got home safely, it’s clear you weren’t going to do it yourself.’

Still glaring at him, Rebecca replied in the same clipped tone ‘well who asked you? I’m quite capable of looking after myself.’

‘Oh yeah, you did such a good job of that last night’ Jake said with considerable scorn lacing his words, ‘and as for who asked me, you did when I had to rescue you last night. I didn’t save you from that just so you could put yourself in danger again the next night.’

Seething at his low blow, even though she could see he had a point, Rebecca’s eyes narrowed and she yelled ‘well it’s too late now, I didn’t bring my car.’

‘So get a taxi.’

‘Yeah like a taxi is going to agree to take me on a thirty seconds trip and maybe miss out on a decent fare. I’d have more chance of learning to fly.’

Anger etched on his face, Jake threw his hands up and shouted ‘fine I’ll walk with you.’

‘What?’ she asked a puzzled look on her face ‘why would you do that?’

‘Because at least that way I’ll be able to sleep tonight’ he said anger still underlying his words.

That shocked Rebecca. Not only because he was willing to put himself out for her after shouting at her for the past few minutes, but also because he would be worried enough to lose sleep over it, if indeed he was being honest about that. Her anger evaporated. She starred at him, and said ‘oh.’

But Jake didn’t appear to share her calmer state of mind yet. He was still frowning, his face a dark mask. He asked ‘what?’

Rebecca smiled. She’d been thinking about him ever since he left her last night, but she never thought she’d see him again. And yet here he was, albeit yelling at her, but prepared to go out of his way to walk her home. And he must have been waiting a while too, because she was late. All of a sudden, she didn’t care about his anger. In a bright voice she said ‘that would be great Jake, thank you.’

However it seemed this only caused Jake more unease, as he just continued to frown. He searched her expression for a few minutes in silence.

Rebecca smiled to herself as she realised she’d confused him. She didn’t attempt to explain.

Looking away, seeming to give up on trying to work her out, his voice was gruff as he said ‘let’s go.’

Rebecca glanced at him, he still looked formidable but he wasn’t yelling anymore and even if he was she wouldn’t have been put off. For whatever reason he’d come back and she was not displeased about that. Smiling to herself at his confusion, she looked away as she fell into step beside him.