#jarisol

Jake goes over to Marisol’s house to find out why she’s been acting so differently lately. 

Marisol laughed to herself as she locked her phone, her mood dimming as she walked down the stairs to get to her music room. She could feel the weight of grief pressing down on this level of the house. Her mother sat in the kitchen, looking at a book of crossword puzzles. They'd become her new coping mechanism as of late. She started to speak, but Marisol couldn't find the words. She opened the door to her music room quietly, knowing Jake would let himself in. It had been two months since her dad passed, and things around her house had never been the same.

Jake hopped out of his truck and made his way towards Marisol's front steps. He was going to knock but the door was already open, leaving just the screen and it didn't take long for Mrs. Lewis to wave him inside. It had been a few weeks since he was last over for dinner and that was only due to the fact that his schedule just became busier. He knew that this family was still going through a difficult time and if being there every night for a small meal made them just a bit happier than so what. After sharing small talk with the woman, he found Marisol's music room and usually he'd knock before entering but she was expecting him this time. "Hey, you," he greeted with a big smile, walking up to her and giving her a hug. It had been too long since they hung out, just the two of them and actually made music together. It was one of Jake's favorite activities and he was definitely in need of it with all the drama that had recently poured into his lap. "Before we get started, how are you?"

Marisol heard Jake come through the door, her mom making a bustle around the floor above her. Knowing her she was probably trying to feed him. Marisol smiled to herself and let her hands run over the piano. Jake came down the stairs and shegot up and grinned at him, smiling as she hugged him in return. "I'm okay. How are you doing though? I've been worried sick. And you don't deserve whatever happened."

Jake shook his head, "You don't need to worry about me, Mare." He walked over and sat down on the small couch, knowing she'd more than likely follow. "Katie and I are over and I couldn't be happier... Besides, it's me we're talking about. Nothing can keep me down for too long," he explained with a small smile, trying to reassure her. As difficult his break up with Katie was, it did take a huge weight off his shoulders and he hoped that all the nonsense and drama that occurred after would soon pass. "Now tell me, how are you /really/?" He repeated himself, giving her a look of concern.

Marisol shook her head. "I'm always going to, though. You're the best friend I've got, and I take that for granted." She told him with a shrug. "Well, you can't keep a good dog down." She sang with a laugh, her nostalgia getting a little the better of her. She sat down and looked at her hands in her lap. "I'm alright. I think I'm just lonely lately, you know? I mean, Fi is stressed to the max, and V is just... All over the place. I love her but that girl is a mess. And on top of that I haven't been on a date in months. So that also sucks. But the worst part? Seeing my mom so unhappy. That's what's really wrong at the root of it I think. She loved my father endlessly, and it makes me so sad for her that she'll probably never have that again." She explained, her voice a little sad. "And I'm afraid I won't have that ever, let alone have it and lose it."

Jake rubbed her shoulder. "Oh stop," he said in a modest tone. "I'm not going anywhere, though so honestly you have nothing to worry about." He laughed with her at her comment, knowing that if Marisol could sing every word instead of speaking it, she would. "Well, that's understandable," he told her, nodding. "For everything you've been through lately, it's normal to feel that way. And I'm here to try to and make that feeling a little less painful," he continued with a caring smile. "And Fi is going through her own crisis right now and don't get me started on Vanessa..." He trailed off, rubbing his forehead. "Boys aren't even worth your time, Mare," he added, now facing her. "And as for your mom, I know it's tough but what your parents had is irreplaceable and even though it didn't last forever, it was memorable and it was real. You're gonna have a love as powerful as that one day, I know it."

Marisol smiled sadly at him. "I know you aren't. It just makes me nervous, you know? I'm also really sick of feeling helpless, but I can't change anything. That's the hard part. So I sit down here and I write, but it's never anything good. All my best work is done while I'm living, but I haven't been lately." She told him with a shrug. "I know that it'll be okay. It's just hard. It's really hard being everyone else's shoulder and then only having you to help me in return. Because you have a life, you can't be at my beck and call. And I can't just come to you with my problems alone. Which is why I'm glad we're doing this." She explained, nudging his shoulder.

Jake "You're far from helpless," he said softly, looking down. As much as he disagreed with what she was saying, he understand how she felt. After all, if had a loving family member that passed, he'd more than likely be a wreck as well. That's sorta how he treats the Artists, anyways—like family. "C'mon, Mare. Some of the best and most meaningful songs are written when you're feeling sad and in a bad place. If anyone can find it in themselves to make a song like that, it's you." He looked up at and smiled. "You can always come to me with your problems. It's nice helping all of you girls instead of having to worry about my own life," he said, hoping to be encouraging. "But enough of this talk, let's get to the good stuff," he added, getting up from the couch and waiting on her piano bench for her.

Marisol shook her head. "Jake, you just don't understand what it's like to feel like you're not wanted in this world. I know that we all have our struggles, but I felt about as low as dirt for a good portion of this year. But I feel like I've managed to actually turn things around for me. And while I know that, and it's really obvious in my head, for some reason I just can't shake the feeling that I'm fucking everything up." She explained with a shrug. She nodded, her face brightening a little as he talked of music. "You're a hundred percent right." She told him, getting up to walk over to her piano where he sat now. She ran her hands over the keys. "But you know you can always come to me with yours, too. I abuse that privilege, unfortunately. It's time you did too." She told him with a nod, playing a major chord on the keys.

Jake shrugged. She was right, he didn't understand but at the time, she probably didn't understand what she was saying herself. "The thing is though, you're doing alright now. You keep moving forward and that's what you should be focusing on... Be proud that you made it this face, Mare," he replied in an inspiring voice. "My problems aren't really problems, I guess that's a way of putting it... But what do you want to know that I haven't already said?" He asked as he watched her start playing. He was amazed at her talent when it came to the piano, since all Jake knew was the guitar. And as much as he was interested in learning another instrument, part of him felt like he'd be betraying what he's been doing since birth. She started playing a bunch of notes which led to a light bulb going off in the boy's head. "You know, that tune would sound great with some lyrics I've been working on," he told her. He then opened his mouth and started to sing, "It's my last big breath what you want me to do? When you act all cool like you already knew.. that I'll be stuck here cold just waiting it through...til your heart starts beating for that somebody new.."

Marisol The darker girl shook her head. "You're right. I'm focused on music, I'm focused on the future. Thank you for sharing it with me." She told him, nudging his shoulder. She nodded. "I'm glad I made it this far. I am." Marisol said with a smile. "I know that, but... If you wanted to talk about Katie, or about Vanessa, then we can. Because let's face it, I'm the closest thing you have to a wing man." Marisol explained with a chuckle. She continued to play and then when he spoke, she stopped her fingers. She listened to the words, and slowly began to play. The melody seemed to be fairly fitting for the words. It was a little melancholy, of course, considering its content matter. "Jake, this is really good." She encouraged, playing a few different chord progressions to see what would sound best for the piece.

Jake smiled at the things she was saying, proud of her for finally being positive about her life and things in general. "That's what I'm here for," he answered, nudging her back. "Katie's not worth talking about and as bad as it sounds, Vanessa might headed towards that same boat," he confessed, shrugging. He was so hurt over what Vanessa did that he didn't know if he could forgive her so being with Marisol was a good distraction for now. "See, I knew you'd like it," he gushed with a big smile. Pulling out a piece of paper from his back pocket, he unfolded it and placed it in front of her. "You sing the chorus."

Marisol shook her head. "I'm sorry that this is happening to you, Jake. You don't deserve it. You'll always deserve better than them. Both of them." She said, without remorse. Vanessa was one of her best friends, but she would be lying if Marisol said she thought that Vanessa was the right person for him. She shook her head, letting those thoughts flow out of her head so that the music could flow in. "Cause it's the beautiful people like you who get whatever they want, and its beautiful people like you who suck the life right outta my heart. And it's beautiful people like you who make me cry, cause nobody else could be nearly as cruel as you." She said, with a few breaks to figure out chord progression. "Jacob, seriously, sometimes I wonder if we're two parts of the same brain." She said with an excited laugh.

Jake shrugged, letting out a deep sigh. He knew that he deserved better but the situation itself was so messed up that it was clouding his judgment. Not to mention the fact that he really cared for Vanessa, before all of this, she was a friend and he hated the way things had turned out between them. "I just don't know how things could've gotten this bad," he finally replied, pursing his lips. He listened as Marisol sang and watched as she let the song take control of her, feeling the emotion in all the lyrics. "That was amazing, Mare!" He told her with a big smile and chuckled at her comment. "This might be our best one yet."

Marisol shook her head. "You know, sometimes things just don't work out, and sometimes that's for the better. You already took the plunge, but now your lifecoaster is on its way back toward the top. Everything will be sunshine and daisies, Jakers. You'll find a girl that's perfect for you and I'll find a guy who can put up with my craziness, and we'll both be okay. We'll be happy." She told him with a nod. She continued to play, letting her fingers work through the kinks in the music. She smiled broadly at him and ruffled his hair. "We make the best team, you know?" She told him affectionately. Her heart tugged a little, knowing that they'd never be the team she'd desired for so long. But sometimes that was for the better.

Jake was a bit surprised to hear how positive Marisol was being but he didn't bother to say that out loud, knowing that this new view of hers was uplifting as it is. "As great as that sounds, I think I'm gonna hold off on relationships for awhile... Things seem to go better that way," he replied, nodding. "For you though, I know for a fact you'll find someone someday and I've told you that several times," the boy added, hoping she truly believed in what she was saying and wasn't just saying it for his sake. "We really do, Mare," he agreed with a smile. Even though the two of them had their disagreements on certain things, they were friends first and their mutual love of music was always something that could shine through even the darkest of times. And it was times like these that reminded Jake of why the two became such good friends in the first place.

Marisol nodded her head. "Well, I can understand for you. But for me... I think I'm going to keep looking. I know the right person is out there for me. It's just gonna take some time to find them, that's all." She told him with a curt nod. "I'm finally taking your word for it and I'm going to stop being so negative about relationships. Just because one hundred percent of mine have failed doesn't mean that the average won't fix itself eventually." She said, her enthusiasm a little to high to be a hundred percent genuine. It sucked, being the sad single friend that couldn't keep a boyfriend, but that was just how things worked out for her. She smiled broadly at him as she looked down at his next verse and bridge, and she began to play again. She'd missed being able to play with him.

Jake gave her a gentle grin. "There's not a problem with that but when you do find someone worthy of you, make sure you run him by me first. He's gotta have the Jake Martin stamp of approval," he replied with a laugh. Part of him wished Marisol would just be happy being single and enjoying life on her own but another part of her knew how lonely she was and if she felt the need to fill that void, he wasn't going to stand in her way. Once she started playing again and the two began singing together, finishing the song, the smile on his face was everlasting. "That was great, Mare. We'll have to record this and get it up online ASAP," he told her. "And maybe you can perform it with me at my next show," he added, the excitement of the possibility taking over. "But how about we go get some ice cream to reward ourselves? My treat," he asked.