Free Totem by E.M. Lathrop

know I am driving right?”  I ask it as a question but there was no room for a wrong answer.
                  “Yes, ma’am,” replies Michelle with a salute as she hands me her purse and staggers off to the bathroom.
                  I am left alone with Jake. It is the first time all evening that we have been alone. Immediately I am all too aware that this date was set up for the two of us. My face flushes a bit as I become self-conscious. I adjust my body accordingly and take another sip of water.
                  “I had fun tonight.” I state filling the void of silence that surrounds us.
                  “Me, too,” replies Jake. “I am glad Daniel told me that you wanted to set up a double date.”
                  Immediately, a red flag rises as I think back to Michelle’s pleading speech in our dorm room. She wouldn’t set us up like this would she? I had to investigate.
                  “What exactly did Daniel tell you?”
                  Jake flushes as if he has said too much.
                  “Well, he told me that you secretly had a crush on me and would love to go on a date. Then he suggested that he talk to Michelle and we can go on a double date so it won’t be so uncomfortable if it didn’t work out.”
                  I look at Jake in shock. A smile creeps over my face as I begin to laugh at the scenario.
                  “What?” Responds Jake
                  “Well, Michelle came running into the room earlier today saying that you had a crush on ME. She said you wanted to go on a double date because you were too shy to go alone. She said Daniel thought it would be best if we all went together.”
                  Jake smiles at me. I look across the room towards the bar. Michelle had come out of the bathroom and was now standing next to Daniel. A huge smile is across Daniel’s face. Michelle flicks her hair revealing her two best assets as she leans into Daniel. I smile at the scene then turn back to Jake.
                  “Jake, I believe we have been hoodwinked,” I say dramatically.
                      “Oh, No! Not HOODWINKED!” Exclaims Jake “Whatever shall we do?”
                  He leans into me. His hand goes over his head dramatically like a damsel in distress. I giggle at the sight and place my hand on his shoulder. For a brief second our eyes meet. Jake makes it so easy to like him. He has such an endearing quality about him. I feel butterflies begin to creep up in my stomach. Shrugging them off, I turn serious.
                  “Of course, you know what we need to do now,” I state.
                  “What?” States Jake
                  His face matches my pseudo serious look. At the sight of his, I falter letting a smile and laugh slip out. He brings his face close to mine. I reach out and grab his face. This startles him.
                  “We have to pretend like this past conversation never happened. For the sake of their future relationship, they must never know that we know.”
                  I shake his head as I say the last few words. Jake laughs then nods his head in agreement. I look him in the eyes. When I am satisfied with his answer, I lean in and quickly kiss him on the cheek. I let go of his face as I begin to laugh harder. Jake joins in as we both laugh at the situation at hand.
                  “What’s so funny?” Daniel asks as he walks hand in hand with Michelle back to our spot.
                  I look at the two schemers in front of us and laugh even harder. Jake has a huge smile on his face as well. It was a private joke that the two us share. One day perhaps we will tell them that we found out what they were up to, or at least what Daniel was up to. I shake my head and start