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tece26

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1. Keri enjoyed talking with Jake. He was smart and sweet and had a real sense of humor. This surprised her. She had grown up next to the Stevens family her entire life, why had she never given Jake a chance? Alone, away from his family, he was a decent guy.
2. Most days were bad for Jake, she knew by the cuts, bruses, sometimes even the black eyes he would bring to their meetings. But even then he could make her smile and would refuse to talk of his life. She felt so bad for him. Other than his family, they talked to each other about everything. She told him about Mike and her fears about leaving him. He told her of his dream of leaving and starting a new life without the history.
3. “Why don’t you just leave now?” Keri asked him finally.
4. “Because,” he shrugged, “it’s a big step. When I leave I’m will not come back. So I need to have everything in order. A place to stay, a job, everything. So I have to be one hundred perent sure I;m ready.”
5. “Makes sense. You have really thought everything through.” Keri said.
6. “What about you?” Jake looked at her closely. “Why don’t you just leave now? You could go to New York now.”
7. Keri was quiet for so long he thought she wasn’t going to answer. “If you don’t want to go to New York, maybe we could you know, go somewhere together.”
8. She looked up sharply. “Jake wait, I don’t, I mean its not like that. I’m not looking for a relationship now and I…”
9. His heart dropped but he tried to make it look like no big deal. “No,” He said cutting her off, trying to save his pride. “I just meant that we could help each other, but if that’s not something you want no big deal.”
10. “Oh, okay. Good, cuz I think I would hurt you Jake.” She laughed nervously.
11. “So? Why aren’t you leaving now?”
12. Keri took a moment while studying him. “Well,” she finally started, “At first I guess I didn’t leave because I didn’t think I deserved any better. I was lucky to have Mike.”
13. “That’s stupid!” Jake said. “I’m sorry but you deserve a lot better than him. The man’s a jerk.”
14. Keri smiled, “Thanks Jake, but that’s how I felt. I know now Mike played a big part in making me feel unworthy and keeping me there. I believed him until the night of the party.” She looked up at him. “You heard about that right?”
15. Jake laughed, “Who didn”t? It’s not often the football team gets into that big of a fight with each other.”
16. “Yeah well, Mike was mad because I was happy. I was about to do something I loved, on my own, and I never even thought of him. I liked it, and I wanted it. I realized Mike was going to have to go.” Keri laughed then looked back down.
17. “I feel a but coming.” Jake prodded.
18. “But,” she continued quietly, “I found out I am pregnant.”
19. Jake was quiet for so long she couldn’t help but look up at him. He was looking at her. “Your pregnant?”
20. “Yes.”
21. “What are you going to do?”
22. “I have no idea. Probably keep it.”
23. “You could get rid of it.”
24. She was shaking her head before he finished. “Everyone keeps saying that. I don’t think I could. The only thing is, I do not want mike involved. If he finds out though I’ll never get rid of him.”
25. “Whoa.”
26. “Yeah. The only thing I thought of would be to go to New York, but I’ll be alone then when the baby comes. Plus I’ll lose my scholarship.
27. “Stay with your parents. Couldn’t they help you?” Jake offered.
28. “Then Mike would find out. I couldn’t really hide it from him.”
29. “It’ll all work out.” Jake told her. But inside he felt his heart dropping. Keri could never be his with Mike always in the picture at some level.