I've Taken All I Can

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~This might come as quite a shock

But I've given it a lot of thought

This thing that's come between us can't be ignored ~

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~ Jake ~

The rain beat down heavily. Jake stared at his clock; it was one in the morning. He sighed and sat up on his bed. Usually the sound of rain would lull him right to sleep. But not tonight, in fact Jake couldn't remember the last time he had gotten a full night's worth of sleep. This girl was about to drive him crazy. He shook his head, only twenty-two and he was already going insane

He didn't know exactly when it happened, but that didn't matter anymore. Katie was always on his mind now. No matter what he did she always seemed to stay at the very edge of his memory. It didn't make any sense. They had been nothing more that friends for over fifteen years. Then out of the blue it all changed. Or at least for him it did, as far as he knew Katie only thought of them as she always, just friends.

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~I've taken all I can,

this is where it's gotta end,

'cuz I can't be your friend anymore ~

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Katie had always been naïve when it came to a guy's feelings. She probably had no idea how Jake really felt about her. She had never been one of those girls who were always desperate to have a boyfriend. So she never really cared or even noticed them. But they certainly noticed her. He remembered when they were both back in high school. The guys would have done anything to get a date with Katie O'Riley. Just looking at her a person could understand why so many guys asked her out. She was absolutely beautiful, Katie didn't seem to think she was, but there was no mistaking it she was drop-dead-gorgeous. She had short straight red hair; her eyes were a deep piercing green. She had a confident, unwavering gaze. At times her eyes seemed so intense that it felt like she could see into your soul. She seemed so strong and determined to be independent. Yet she seemed so innocent and vulnerable. She had a sweet but fiery attitude and a smile that could make you melt right out of your shoes. She always put her full heart into everything she did. She genuinely cared about how a person was doing. An aspect Jake considered to be very rare. Of course she had her little quirks and flaws; after all she was only human. And they were apart of who she was, they were what made Katie, Katie. And as far as Jake was concerned she was perfect, absolutely perfect.

Jake sighed in deeper frustration. There was no point in denying it now. He had fallen in love with his best friend. He loved Katie more that life itself and there wasn't one thing he could do about it. It was almost too much for him to handle. Life seemed to enjoy torturing him by putting the only thing he wanted so close but yet so far out of reach. He felt so jumpy and agitated; he just had to do something. He was tired of feeling so lonely and incomplete. His misery seemed like it had been going on forever. Enough was enough; he just had to do something, and soon.

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And I can't be accused of not being there for you
How many nights have you shown up at my door?
I hope you understand this wasn't in my plans
But I can't be your friend anymore

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Jake felt like he had gone completely insane. He's Fallen in love with the least likely person, or at least from his stand point it was. Everyone else had always thought they would make a good couple, he had never agreed with them . . . . . until recently. Now she was all he could think about. She was all he wanted to think about. Almost every memory he had, she had been in it. They had been friends for as long as he could remember. They had been practically inseparable, even through high school. She had always been there for him, and he had been there for her.
He remembered that one night, they were both still in high school. Is was cold and eerie, and raining just like it was now . . . .

. . . .Jake sat there watching the TV, it had actually gotten pretty late, but he wasn't tired. A knock came at the door; it had been so sudden that it nearly made Jake jump out of his skin. He got to answer it, having no idea who would be out this late. He stood there stunned when he came face to face with who it was. A terrified 17 year old girl. She was soaked from head to toe. Her usual bright eyes were dampened with sadness and pain. Her face had been drained of most of it's color, her breath was short and ragged.
"Katie What happen? Are you okay?" Katie just dropped her head and started to cry, Jakes felt like he had been stabbed in the heart. She looked so defenseless and scared. He pulled her into the house out of the rain. "you wanna to tell me what's wrong?" he asked gently. She kind of shook and nodded her head at the same time. "Yes . . . . . . No . . . . . . I don't Know." She said as her voice filled with confusion, and she began to cry harder. Jake pulled her closer hoping to comfort her, he hated watching her cry, it tore his heart right out of his chest. She winced is he hugged her close. He immediate released her, "I'm sorry, did I hurt You?" he asked with deep concern, within the next moment before Katie even said anything; he knew exactly what was wrong. "He did it again didn't he;" he said suddenly as the rage began to fill his veins." Your dad beat you again didn't he?" his temper began to boil with anger. Katie only nodded her head weakly crying even harder. The anger slowly melted away, He watched as the defenseless girl in front of him seemingly fall to pieces. He pulled her close careful not to hurt her this time. Katie was the only thing he cared about right now.
She cried softly into his chest. "Jake I . . . I was s.so scared." She stuttered, the fear still filling her voice. Jake could feel her tremble in his arms. "Shhh, it's okay, I not gonna let anyone hurt you again." He said softly as he tried to comfort her. He picked up gently and laid her on the couch in the living room. He sat down beside her; she was looking even more pale than before. He breathing was becoming more ragged. "Katie where did he hit you?" he asked with apprehension, afraid that she had been severely injured. She motioned to the bottom her rib caged. "Do you mind if I take a Look?" He asked softly. "Go ahead" she said quietly, he could tell she was trying hard to pull her self together and just grit her teeth against the pain. He carefully lifted her shirt up to the bottom of her rib cage. He could see the discoloration already starting to show. Her bottom rib was obviously broken, it was kind of stinking out but not enough to break the skin. He knew that wasn't her only injury. He just prayed that she hadn't puncture a lung or was bleeding internally. He stood up "I'm getting my parents" he stated bluntly. "Jake Please Don't . . . ." she was about to argue when Jake interrupted her. "Katie How Can Defend Him?! He could have killed you, and what's to say that next time he won't, you can't give him that chance, I won't let you!" He didn't care whether he sounded high handed or not. He was not letting that man near Katie ever again. . . .

Jake would never forget that night for has long as he live. Katie's father was arrested and tried for child abuse. He was convicted and sentenced to thirty years in prison. He died while trying to escape from prison. In all honesty Jake couldn't be happier that the man was dead, he only felt bad because it hurt Katie. Even after all that he had done to her she still loved him. From the point Jake promised himself that no one would ever hurt Katie again.
Jake remembered that old feeling of wanting to protect and take care of Katie. That feeling burned with in just like it had all those years ago, only this time he wanted it to be forever.