Not only did I have to worry about

Not only did I have to worry about what happened with my brother, but now my boss was acting erratic and out of character.
When he said he would drive me, I thought he meant his driver would take us, but Jake took us down to the parking garage. He opened the door to a slate gray Bentley Continental and I climbed in, my mind dazed. I fumbled with the seatbelt and Jake took over for me, buckling me in. His fingers grazed my cheek, bringing my gaze to him.
“It’s going to be okay, Cora.”
He spoke so confidently that it eased some of my dread.
I nodded gratefully.
Once we pulled out of the garage, Jake made me recount my conversation with the principal.
He reached over and squeezed my knee in encouragement when I stumbled over my words. The touch of his big hand sent a bolt of heat racing up my thigh to my core and I flushed. Luckily, he was looking at the traffic and I sighed in relief when he put his hand back on the steering wheel.
I looked at his strong profile in bafflement. Why was he so hell bent on helping me?
Over the last few weeks, we had gotten along well, but I wouldn’t call Jake a friend. Before I had time to mull over the situation, he was pulling into the small parking lot of the school. It was a madhouse because school had just ended and students streamed out of the building. The luxury call drew many covetous glances from the male students.
“You don’t need to park! I’ll just hop out,” I hurried to say and unlatched my seatbelt.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going in with you.” He pulled into an empty parking slot.
I blinked at him owlishly. “What?”
He engaged the parking brake and turned to face me. His fingers tucked a strand of my brown hair behind my ear. His blue eyes were filled with concern. “I know you value your privacy and I respect that, but in case you need anything, I want to be there. And I’ll be on hand to take you both home.”
As I sat there stupefied by his statement, he rounded the car to open the door for me. My mind awhirl, I put my hand in his and he helped me out of the vehicle. His palm felt hot and comforting, but I released his hand immediately. This whole thing felt too intimate already.
I had been to the school for their open house, but I felt lost as soon as I entered the building. A few students were still hanging out in the hallways, but for the most part, it was empty.
“Excuse me. Could you direct us to the principal’s office?” Jake asked a teen with pierced lips and Goth makeup.
“Sure. Down the hall and make a left.” The girl didn’t even look up from her phone.
With a muttered thanks, I walked as fast as I could without breaking into a run. Jake’s long legs had no problem keeping up with me.
The door to the office was open and when I walked into the reception area, I saw my brother immediately. He sat with his shoulders slumped, holding an ice pack against his left cheek.
“Marcus,” I gasped and lunged at him, yanking him into my arms. His arms hung at his sides, not returning my hug. I stifled my hurt and pushed away to look at his face.
The area around his eye socket was red and swollen and I’d bet by tomorrow it would be a nice mélange of blue and purple. There was a small bandage right on the apple of his cheek. He refused to meet my gaze and his lips were set in a stubborn line.
“Jesus!” I raised my hand to touch the shiner but he flinched away before I could make contact. “Are you okay? What happened?”
He shrugged, remaining silent and I wanted to shake him.
“Ms. Branton?” A slender African-American woman walked out of the inner office. “I’m Laura Woodsen, the principal. We spoke on the phone.”
“Yes, it’s nice to meet you, Ms. Woodsen.” I winced at my inane comment and shook her hand.
She looked at me with a sympathetic smile. “Why don’t we go into my office?” Her eyes cut to Jake. “Oh, is this your husband?”
I almost choked on my own spit. “NO! No…” I looked at Jake who raised an amused brow. It didn’t feel right to call him something as impersonal as “boss” after he had been so considerate. “Um…this is Jake Weston. He’s a friend.”
His expression didn’t visibly change, but I sensed my statement pleased him. He shook hands with Ms. Woodsen.
Marcus’s eyes lit with interest as he looked Jake over.
The principal nodded in greeting. “Marcus, please come into my office as well.”
My brother slinked into the office, his head bowed.
Jake touched my elbow. “Go ahead. I’ll wait out here.” He folded his long frame into a chair that was clearly meant for someone much smaller. He should have looked ridiculous, but even cheap, tiny chairs could not diminish his innate elegance.
I walked into Ms. Woodsen’s office and took the seat next to Marcus. There was the familiar smell of dust and paper I remembered from my days in my school counselor’s office. The scent was apparently universal to all school administrators.
The principal sat in her chair, her bearing regal. Her dark brown eyes were somber as she folded her hands on her desk.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Not only did I have to worry about what happened with my brother, but now my boss was acting erratic and out of character.When he said he would drive me, I thought he meant his driver would take us, but Jake took us down to the parking garage. He opened the door to a slate gray Bentley Continental and I climbed in, my mind dazed. I fumbled with the seatbelt and Jake took over for me, buckling me in. His fingers grazed my cheek, bringing my gaze to him.“It’s going to be okay, Cora.”He spoke so confidently that it eased some of my dread.I nodded gratefully.Once we pulled out of the garage, Jake made me recount my conversation with the principal.He reached over and squeezed my knee in encouragement when I stumbled over my words. The touch of his big hand sent a bolt of heat racing up my thigh to my core and I flushed. Luckily, he was looking at the traffic and I sighed in relief when he put his hand back on the steering wheel.I looked at his strong profile in bafflement. Why was he so hell bent on helping me?Over the last few weeks, we had gotten along well, but I wouldn’t call Jake a friend. Before I had time to mull over the situation, he was pulling into the small parking lot of the school. It was a madhouse because school had just ended and students streamed out of the building. The luxury call drew many covetous glances from the male students.“You don’t need to park! I’ll just hop out,” I hurried to say and unlatched my seatbelt."Jangan konyol. Aku akan tinggal bersama Anda." Ia ditarik ke dalam slot parkir kosong.Saya berkedip dia owlishly. "Apa?"Ia terlibat rem parkir dan berbalik menghadapi saya. Jari-jarinya terselip untai rambut cokelat saya di belakang saya telinga. Matanya biru yang penuh dengan keprihatinan. "Aku tahu Anda menghargai privasi Anda dan saya menghargai itu, tetapi dalam kasus Anda perlu apa-apa, saya ingin berada di sana. "Dan aku akan di tangan untuk membawa Anda rumah kedua."Saat aku duduk boléh oleh pernyataan-Nya, ia bulat mobil untuk membuka pintu bagi saya. Pikiran saya awhirl, aku meletakkan tanganku dalam dan dia membantu saya keluar dari kendaraan. Telapak tangan terasa panas dan menghibur, tapi aku merilis tangannya segera. Seluruh hal ini merasa sudah terlalu akrab.Saya telah ke sekolah untuk rumah terbuka mereka, tapi aku merasa hilang segera setelah saya memasuki gedung. Beberapa siswa masih nongkrong di lorong-lorong, tetapi untuk sebagian besar, itu kosong."Maafkan aku. Bisakah Anda langsung kami ke kantor pimpinan?" Jake meminta seorang remaja dengan menembus bibir dan Goth makeup."Pasti. Down hall dan belok ke kiri." Gadis itu tidak bahkan mencari dari telepon.Dengan terima kasih bergumam, aku berjalan secepat mungkin tanpa melanggar ke lari. Jake di kaki panjang tidak punya masalah menjaga dengan saya.Pintu ke kantor terbuka dan ketika aku masuk ke area resepsi, saya melihat saudara saya segera. Dia duduk dengan bahu merosot, memegang paket es terhadap pipi kiri.“Marcus,” I gasped and lunged at him, yanking him into my arms. His arms hung at his sides, not returning my hug. I stifled my hurt and pushed away to look at his face.The area around his eye socket was red and swollen and I’d bet by tomorrow it would be a nice mélange of blue and purple. There was a small bandage right on the apple of his cheek. He refused to meet my gaze and his lips were set in a stubborn line.“Jesus!” I raised my hand to touch the shiner but he flinched away before I could make contact. “Are you okay? What happened?”He shrugged, remaining silent and I wanted to shake him.“Ms. Branton?” A slender African-American woman walked out of the inner office. “I’m Laura Woodsen, the principal. We spoke on the phone.”“Yes, it’s nice to meet you, Ms. Woodsen.” I winced at my inane comment and shook her hand.She looked at me with a sympathetic smile. “Why don’t we go into my office?” Her eyes cut to Jake. “Oh, is this your husband?”I almost choked on my own spit. “NO! No…” I looked at Jake who raised an amused brow. It didn’t feel right to call him something as impersonal as “boss” after he had been so considerate. “Um…this is Jake Weston. He’s a friend.”His expression didn’t visibly change, but I sensed my statement pleased him. He shook hands with Ms. Woodsen.Marcus’s eyes lit with interest as he looked Jake over.The principal nodded in greeting. “Marcus, please come into my office as well.”My brother slinked into the office, his head bowed.Jake touched my elbow. “Go ahead. I’ll wait out here.” He folded his long frame into a chair that was clearly meant for someone much smaller. He should have looked ridiculous, but even cheap, tiny chairs could not diminish his innate elegance.I walked into Ms. Woodsen’s office and took the seat next to Marcus. There was the familiar smell of dust and paper I remembered from my days in my school counselor’s office. The scent was apparently universal to all school administrators.The principal sat in her chair, her bearing regal. Her dark brown eyes were somber as she folded her hands on her desk.

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 2:

Tidak hanya saya perlu khawatir tentang apa yang terjadi dengan saudara saya, tapi sekarang bos saya bertindak tidak menentu dan keluar dari karakter.
Ketika ia mengatakan ia akan mendorong saya, saya pikir dia berarti sopir akan membawa kami, tapi Jake membawa kami ke garasi parkir. Dia membuka pintu ke batu tulis abu-abu Bentley Continental dan saya naik di, pikiran saya bingung. Aku meraba-raba dengan sabuk pengaman dan Jake mengambil alih bagi saya, tekuk saya. Jari-jarinya menyerempet pipi saya, membawa pandanganku padanya.
"Ini akan baik-baik saja, Cora."
Dia berbicara begitu percaya diri bahwa itu mereda beberapa ketakutan saya.
aku mengangguk penuh syukur.
Setelah kami keluar dari garasi, Jake membuat saya menceritakan percakapan saya dengan kepala sekolah.
Dia mengulurkan tangan dan meremas lutut saya di dorongan ketika saya tersandung kata-kata saya. Sentuhan tangan yang besar mengirim sambaran panas melesat hingga paha saya untuk inti saya dan saya memerah. Untungnya, ia melihat lalu lintas dan aku mendesah lega ketika ia memasukkan tangannya kembali pada roda kemudi.
Aku melihat profilnya kuat dalam bingung. Kenapa dia begitu sih bertekad membantu saya?
Selama beberapa minggu terakhir, kita sudah bersama dengan baik, tapi saya tidak akan menyebut Jake teman. Sebelum saya sempat memikirkan situasi, ia menarik ke tempat parkir kecil sekolah. Itu sebuah rumah sakit jiwa karena sekolah baru saja berakhir dan mahasiswa mengalir keluar dari gedung. Panggilan mewah menarik banyak melirik tamak dari siswa laki-laki.
"Anda tidak perlu untuk taman! Aku hanya akan melompat keluar, "aku bergegas untuk mengatakan dan membuka selot sabuk pengaman saya.
" Jangan konyol. Aku akan dengan Anda. "Dia menarik ke slot parkir kosong.
Aku berkedip padanya owlishly. "Apa?"
Dia terlibat rem parkir dan berbalik ke arahku. Jari-jarinya terselip sehelai rambut cokelat saya di belakang telingaku. Mata birunya penuh dengan keprihatinan. "Saya tahu Anda menghargai privasi Anda dan saya menghormati itu, tetapi dalam kasus Anda butuh sesuatu, saya ingin berada di sana. Dan aku akan berada di tangan untuk membawa Anda baik di rumah. "
Saat aku duduk di sana tertegun dengan pernyataan, ia mengitari mobil untuk membuka pintu bagi saya. Pikiranku awhirl, saya meletakkan tangan saya di dan dia membantu saya keluar dari kendaraan. Telapak tangannya terasa panas dan menghibur, tapi saya dibebaskan tangannya segera. Semua ini terasa terlalu intim sudah.
​​Saya telah ke sekolah untuk open house mereka, tapi aku merasa kehilangan begitu aku memasuki gedung. Beberapa siswa masih nongkrong di lorong, tetapi untuk sebagian besar, itu kosong.
"Permisi. Bisakah Anda mengarahkan kita ke kantor kepala sekolah? "Tanya Jake remaja dengan bibir ditindik dan Goth makeup.
" Tentu. Menyusuri lorong dan membuat kiri. "Gadis itu bahkan tidak melihat ke atas dari telepon.
Dengan berkat bergumam, aku berjalan secepat yang aku bisa tanpa melanggar berlari. Kaki panjang Jake tidak punya masalah menjaga dengan saya.
Pintu ke kantor terbuka dan ketika aku masuk ke ruang tunggu, saya melihat adik saya segera. Dia duduk dengan bahu merosot, memegang kompres es di pipi kirinya.
"Marcus," Aku tersentak dan menerjang ke arahnya, menghentak dia ke dalam pelukanku. Lengannya menggantung di sisi-Nya, tidak kembali memeluk saya. Aku menahan sakit dan menjauh untuk melihat wajahnya.
Daerah di sekitar rongga mata merah dan bengkak dan saya berani bertaruh besok itu akan menjadi melange bagus biru dan ungu. Ada perban kecil tepat di apple pipinya. Dia menolak untuk bertemu tatapanku dan bibirnya membentuk garis keras kepala.
"Yesus!" Aku mengangkat tangan untuk menyentuh berlian tapi ia tersentak pergi sebelum aku bisa melakukan kontak. "Apakah kamu baik-baik saja? Apa yang terjadi? "
Dia mengangkat bahu, tetap diam dan aku ingin mengguncangnya.
" Ms. Branton? "Seorang wanita Afrika-Amerika ramping berjalan keluar dari dalam kantor. "Aku Laura Woodsen, kepala sekolah. Kami berbicara di telepon. "
" Ya, itu bagus untuk bertemu dengan Anda, Ms. Woodsen. "Aku meringis komentar konyol saya dan menjabat tangannya.
Dia menatapku dengan senyum simpatik. "Kenapa kita tidak pergi ke kantor saya?" Matanya dipotong untuk Jake. "Oh, apakah ini suamimu?"
Aku hampir tersedak ludah saya sendiri. "TIDAK! Tidak ada ... "Aku menatap Jake yang mengangkat alis geli. Itu tidak merasa hak untuk memanggilnya sesuatu yang impersonal sebagai "bos" setelah ia telah begitu perhatian. "Um ... ini adalah Jake Weston. Dia teman. "
Ekspresinya tidak tampak berubah, tapi saya merasakan pernyataan saya senang. Dia menjabat tangan Ibu Woodsen.
Mata Marcus menyala dengan bunga saat ia memandang Jake lebih.
Kepala sekolah mengangguk ucapan. "Marcus, silakan datang ke kantor saya juga."
Saudara saya menyelinap ke kantor, kepala tertunduk.
Jake menyentuh siku saya. "Maju. Aku akan menunggu di sini. "Dia melipat bingkai panjang ke kursi yang jelas dimaksudkan untuk seseorang yang jauh lebih kecil. Dia seharusnya terlihat konyol, tapi bahkan murah, kursi kecil tidak bisa mengurangi keanggunan bawaan nya.
Aku berjalan ke kantor Ms. Woodsen dan duduk di samping Marcus. Ada bau akrab debu dan kertas saya ingat dari hari-hari saya di kantor sekolah konselor saya. Aroma itu tampaknya universal semua administrator sekolah.
Kepala sekolah duduk di kursinya, dia bantalan agung. Mata cokelat gelap yang muram saat ia melipat tangannya di atas meja.