(Past Thea) -

[Stalker Journal: Entry NO. 13]

"Mom, I'm going out on my bicycle!"

Hearing a faint 'okay, honey' I left the house and quickly cycled to the forest trail behind the school, and then gradually slowed my pace so I could enjoy the beauty of the forest. The leaves gently swaying with the winds, birds chirping softly in the background, and the smell of the earth creating in the air.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes to relax and enjoy the serene environment. Closing my eyes was safe since I was usually the only one here at this time around, however, that was not the case today.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" I heard a familiar voice shout and I slammed the handbrakes, just barely stopping from bumping into the person in front.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" I asked, worried.

"I'm fine, but you should start watching where you're going. You're too clumsy for your own good."

I sheepishly smiled at Cole, one of my best friends and crush, as he ruffled my hair.

"Don't worry about it, princess. So what are you doing here?"

"Oh, well as you can see I was cycling," I said, motioning to my bicycle. "I wouldn't mind some company if you want to walk with me?"

"Sure." He grinned and we continued to finish the trail, me on my cycle while Cole hiked beside me. Soon, Cole had to go since he had to pick up his little sister from a friend's house.

"Sorry I can't drop you home, princess. Call me when you get back home, okay?" I nodded as he said so and then we both parted ways.

I was out of the forest and in my house's street now when I heard a voice.

"Well, well, well."

"And we meet again, seriously what is up with this?" I groaned at the sight of the person in front of me.

"How would I know, idiot?" he mockingly asked and my lips twitched downwards in a scowl.

"Unfortunately for you, I have somewhere to be," I said as I mounted my cycle once again.

"I think that's rather fortunate, don't you?" he taunted.

"You're wrong."

(Past Thea) -

"Open the door, Thea!" I heard Jonah shout from behind the door. I groaned as I walked towards it and pulled it open. I may or may have been avoiding him, even being close was making my heart race ever since I admitted I liked him out loud.

"What?" I grumbled, my voice; rough.

"Why are you such a mess this week?" he questioned, stepping into the room and dragging me with him.

"Because Chance's gone home for a week." I frowned, only partly lying. It was true that I was sad that Chance was home but I also had been freaking out like a schoolgirl over a small, no scratch that huge crush.

Jonah sighed and pushed me down on the bed. Going through my closet, he passed me some clothes and told me to go shower and change.

"We're going out for some air and food. You being grumpy makes me want to be grumpy and I don't want to be grumpy today," he explained and shoved me into the bathroom.

I huffed in annoyance but took a shower anyway. Wrapping the towel around me, I got out of the bathroom.

"Get out of the room, Jonah. I can't change in the bathroom right now, it's too humid in there," I demanded and he immediately obliged, raising his hands in defeat. He knew better than to force me to do something twice.

I quickly changed into the outfit he left out for me; a dark grey sweater dress, thigh-high boots, and a beanie. It was perfect for the cool weather today. I invited him inside again once I got dressed and he instantly fixed up my hair for me and gave me my bag. Looking me over, he gave me a thumbs up and dragged me outside and to the park.

He rented a bicycle and mounted on in the front while I sat behind him, grabbing his waist to keep me secure. I could feel his abs through his sweater and my cheeks instantly reddened as I tried my best to hide my face with my hair.

He began to cycle on the dirt path and I slowly eased up. Nature was always a favorite setting of mine, I would rather hike with my camera in my hands than sit in my room any day of the week.

"You okay back there? You're oddly quiet," Jonah commented. Honestly, I'd be worried too, I talk way too much to be this silent.

"Yeah, I'm fine, sorry. I just miss Chance very much." I smiled, lying as I rested my chin on Jonah's broad shoulders, making my grip around his waist tighter.

"Ugh, again with Chance. Forget him for a while, relax. Besides, aren't I better than him?" Jonah flashed me a smile as he said so and I laughed.

"There's that melodic laugh I was searching for," he confessed with a grin, turning around a bit to boop my nose with his finger.

"Now, there's a little diner in the corner over there so we're going to have to stop here and walk," he told me as he stopped and I shook my head, pouting.

"I don't want to walk," I whined as I got off the cycle. He sighed and held up a finger, telling me to wait. Turning around, he locked the cycle with a rail and then crouched down, bending his knees.

"Get on my back," he instructed and I beamed, immediately getting on. He stood up with ease, my weight not bothering him.

"Aren't I heavy? I'm like 130 pounds, give or take," I asked, tilting my head to try and look at him.

"Nah, you're perfectly fine," he reassured me.

As he continued to walk further, he softly traced circles with his thumb on my bare thigh, giving me a slight squeeze every once in a while making me squeak out in surprise every time. When we finally reached the shop, he slowly let me down and smiled at me.

"Shall we?" he invited me, holding out his hand.

"We shall," I nodded, taking his hand and walking in.

The bell on top of the doors rang as we stepped in, the diner had a vintage vibe to it, with booths located to the side and a bar in the front, only they served desserts instead of drinks. I took a seat on one of the stools while Jonah sat right beside me.

A frail little woman came up to us shortly, giving us a warm smile, "Good morning children, what may I get you two lovebirds?"

My eyes widened when she said lovebirds and I immediately thought to correct her. "Oh, we're not a couple, just friends."

"For now," I faintly heard Jonah say and I blushed as I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What? Anyways, I'll have a bagel sandwich and a black coffee." I knew he deliberately chose to ignore me but I didn't question it.

"I'll have a hot chocolate and the chocolate waffles, please." I smiled at the lady and she nodded, walking off to the kitchen.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a bit until I decided to break it.

"It's unusually chilly today, no?"

"Yeah, I probably should've given you some leggings to wear too," he admitted.

"Nah, I'm fine like this. Leggings would've ruined the whole look. Besides, a hoe never gets cold." I winked at him and he laughed.

"Oh, so you're a hoe now?"

"I mean, I'm not a virgin, not that it makes you a hoe, I'm just saying."

"Oooh, with who?" Jonah teased, resting his head on his hand as he looked at me, waiting for me to go on.

"With my ex, he was one of my best friends in high school, we still talk from time to time but we're not as close now"

"And I thought my little Thea was a pure soul." He smirked and I smacked his chest.

Suddenly, he looked troubled and his eyes darkened, beads of sweat slipped down his temple as he gripped the counter tightly. I leaned forward and was just about to ask what was wrong when he stood up abruptly, "I'll be right back."

Worried, I tapped my finger on the counter impatiently until Jonah came back looking a lot better.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to take my meds today so it messed me up, I'm okay now though," he assured me but before I could ask what his meds were for, our food arrived and I got distracted.

~

Jonah and I were chatting and laughing as we strolled on the cobblestone path under the trees. We had wandered all the way to a hill while talking and were on our way back to our bicycle now.

Eventually, the conversation died down and we were left in comfortable silence. I silently led him to the side where there was a huge tree, my hands were in the pockets of my coat as I walked, suddenly, I remembered something.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are your meds for?" I glanced at his face to make sure he wasn't upset at the question and was glad when he wasn't.

"Oh, those? They were anti-depressants and some other shit, most of them leave me temperamental if I don't take them. I guess I just forgot this morning," he honestly confided, looking down and even though I was itching to ask why he needed anti-depressants, I refrained from doing so, knowing that he would tell me if he wanted to.

"Aah, I get that, my sister takes those, she's bitch if she doesn't," I joked, trying to lighten up the mood and he chuckled.

"How many siblings do you have?"

"Two, an older brother and a younger sister, I couldn't imagine life without them." I smiled, thinking about them and how much I missed them. The last time I saw them was at New Year's back in January and it was February now. Shaking my head to get rid of these thoughts, I decided that I'll call Lucky today.

"What about you, Jonah?"

"I-I had a little sister, my twin," he murmured, looking up at the trees and my hand flew to my mouth in shock.

"I'm so sorry, what happened?"

"I'd rather not talk about it but yeah, it's partially why I take my meds, I can see you itching to ask me," he grinned at me, despite the tears welled up in his eyes.

It was silent for a while but then out of nowhere I dove into his chest and hugged him. Jonah, not expecting the sudden action was still for a moment but he hesitantly eased in and hugged me back. In a matter of a few minutes, the tears that were in his eyes just an instant before were flowing down his cheeks as he cried into my shoulder, him shaking with each silent sob.

Unable to take it any longer, he collapsed, taking me down with him. We fell on the grass, me clutching onto Jonah, afraid that if I let go, he'll just fall deeper into the hellhole he was trapped in.

"It's gonna be okay," I kept muttering as I rubbed his back in a gentle manner.

His crying eventually died down but we stayed like that for a while, none of us willing to let the other go as while he was seeking comfort, I wanted to give it away.

"Thank you, Thea, I needed that," Jonah said after some time, his voice; hoarse from crying.

"It's okay, don't worry about it, I'll always be there for you," I honestly told him and he moved back to smile at me and I softly smiled back at him, as the butterflies in my stomach began to increase.

Suddenly, he poked my side and I giggled, then that one poke turned into two, and soon enough he was tickling me while I was on the ground, laughing and yelling at him to stop.

He soon stopped and was just hovering over me, a single silver chain dangling from his neck.

"Why do you always tickle me?" I pouted, as I asked.

"Hmm, many reasons. I love hearing you melodic laugh, I love touching you, I love torturing you, shall I name more?" He grinned and poked my nose.

"No, it's fine, I get it, you love me," I teased but Jonah turned serious as I said so.

"I do," he confessed.

"I love you too, silly."

"No, Thea. I mean like, as in romantically," he told me with his cheeks pink and my heart began to flutter as I stared into his grey eyes.

"I-I like you too," I shyly admitted and his face lit up.

He smiled, slowly leaning in towards my face, and asked, "May I kiss you?"

I could only nod as before I could say anything, our lips met. A thousand fireworks exploded in me as he grabbed my waist, pulling me up towards him. One of his hands gripped my thighs and squeezed it as we parted away. We rested our foreheads against each other as we breathed deeply.

"God, Thea, you drive me crazy."

._.

Hello, beautiful people.

I know y'all hate me, save the comments.

Don't deny it, Jonah's sweet af and when he broke down my heart- I was practically crying when I wrote that scene.

Question: How do you feel about Jonah NOT as a love interest but as a character? He's his own person before being a love interest and I'd like to hear your honest opinions on him. I have a lot in store for him, my poor baby.

Welp, that's it for now, thank you for supporting me.

Potato out.