Mood: Swipe left and tap the media box above to listen to Love by Lana Del Rey. 🎼

Jake

Junior prom night.

Lydia looked beautiful. Ethereal. Like she was from another world. She wore a gold gown, and her tanned skin glowed. She left her jet-black hair down, as I suggested, and she had it straight. Her feline eyes were accentuated by smoky eyeliner, and her lips were plump, juicy, natural red.

I'd never seen anyone as beautiful as my Lydia. Missy.

You know what? I had the honor-no, the pleasure-to pick her up and see her walk down the stairs in her home. Her mom and dad were as proud as punch and took photos of her. They took photos of me and then photos of her and me together.

I had a corsage to match her dress, which I put on her, and one to match my tux. I wore a black bow tie, so it was nice to have something to break the black and white. My vest underneath my jacket matched Lydia's dress. I made sure we'd match tonight.

Lydia was a stunning girl with the kindest heart.

"Take good care of each other and enjoy the night," Lydia's dad, Ben, said.

"Take lots of pictures for us," Lydia's mom said. The tiger even cracked a smile.

"We'll do that, Mrs. C," I replied. I had my SLR camera out and looked forward to getting some good photos for the school yearbook.

"Well, we know our Lydia is in good hands. Take care of her, Jake. Make sure you both have fun," Ben added.

---

Lydia

When we got to the venue-one of the ballrooms at Gainsville Town Hall-I noticed other girls couldn't take their eyes off him. He was deliciously appetizing as if he had stepped off the runway of a Vogue fashion parade.

His dark hair was classically combed back, accentuating his razor-sharp cheekbones, aristocratic nose, and long, ebony eyelashes, contrasting his violet-blue eyes. He was my Armani prince, who enticed me with his masculine signature scent-a blended aroma of bergamot and cedar.

We hired a stretch limo, so we could all go together-me, Jake, Zach, Carrie, Reggie, and her partner, Jordan-a guy from another school, as well as Lindy Timmons and Greg.

I became friends with Lindy through Carrie. She and Carrie were both cheerleaders who practiced the team spirit that they preached. They were objective and fair friends, like diamonds among autumn leaves.

"Do you think the sirens will stop staring at Jake?" Carrie pondered aloud.

"I was thinking the same thing. Hey look, Elsie is coming up with a bottle of Coke for Jake," Lindy replied.

Elsie wore a sequined cream-and-gold mini-dress, which seductively revealed her perfect figure and slim legs. She was professionally spray-tanned, and her blonde curls framed her oval face. She looked truly amazing with her lash extensions and carefully applied bronzer. Standing to the right was Katie, who wore an almost matching dress. She copycatted Elsie's look, but Elsie didn't mind. She believed that copying was the greatest form of flattery.

"Hi, darling," Elsie cooed into Jake's ear. "I've brought you a drink."

"Thanks, Elsie. You look good," Jake responded.

"I look good for you, dear. Girls, you don't mind if I steal Jake for a dance?" Elsie looked all glossed up like a Hollywood reality star. She and Jake matched nicely together.

"Go ahead," I said.

Most of the night, I watched Jake hang out with Elsie and her crew. I kept craning my neck and looking back at him as we sat at our table. Jake had swapped places with someone else, who sat with another group of friends, and we had one empty seat next to mine.

Jake looked achingly, no, painfully, handsome. Together with Elsie, they looked perfect. Like a Hollywood couple shining above everyone else. They outshone Max Roberts and Crystal Gonzales, who looked terrific with a daring, plunging neckline and thigh-high split. I guess those two were back together.

Devon was with Rosita. He wore a red dinner jacket to match her deep-red dress. They were fighting in the car park when I saw them last. He looked disheveled and miserable. She looked mad. Really mad. I saw her and her wannabes stir a commotion, waving their hands and arms in emotion and anger, no doubt about Devon.

A few guys asked if I would dance with them that night, but I wasn't up for it. Keith DiMarco, captain of the school's soccer team, approached me. He was kind of cute, and I needed a distraction, so I said yes when he asked me to dance. Keith tried to grind his stiff dick into my pelvis and told me I'd like that. Feeling humiliated, I walked off the dance floor.

I glanced in Jake's direction, and I saw his eyes flashed with raw emotion. His jaw tightened, and then Elsie placed her hand on his chest, turning him to her. He tried to look back at me, but she kept a firm, tight hold over him, using her body to close in on him.

Towards the end of the night, after they announced prom king and queen, I sat at the table and was about to get up and leave. Just as I eyed the door, someone placed his hands on my shoulders. I thought it was Keith again, or some other guy. Maybe Devon.

"I'm about to leave," I said.

"Not without one last dance," he whispered sincerely into my ear. I felt his warm breath against my neck. I turned around immediately.

"Jake!"

"Dance with me." His eyes were dark and hungry. He was serious. He wasn't letting go of me.

---

Jake

Finally! I needed to get back to Lydia. Elsie had me with her group of friends most of the night. I neglected the time... The night flew by so fast.

After they announced prom king and queen, I realized there was only one dance left. I looked over to Missy, and she was sitting alone. Shit. I'm a dope friend.

I know she said we were just friends, but c'mon, friends can dance together, right?

Was I stupid to get hooked on her? She's like a drug. It kills me that I love her. Correction, I'm in love with her. Yet, she lets every guy flirt with her. She was either way too nice, or she genuinely enjoyed the attention. Or both.

As I danced with her, I used some moves I learned from Spanish dance classes my mom signed me up for.

"You sure know how to dance, Somersby," Missy quipped. "You use your hips, and it's kinda sexy."

"You're kinda sexy tonight, Missy," I whispered into her ear. I breathed into her neck and kissed it gently.

"Jake, we're just friends," she gently reminded me. I groaned. She had to say that.

"Missy..."

"I see how you look at Elsie. You both belong together," Missy said.

We danced together. We were silently holding each other's bodies.

"I took some great photos of you by the beach on the way here. We should get a few more before we leave," I said.

"Let's do that," Missy said.

---

Lydia

Jake and I skipped the after-party, and he took me home. Reggie was busy getting it on with Jordan, and Carrie was talking with Johan. She looked besotted with him, so I didn't dare interrupt.

Zach was with Katie, sitting on the stairs and singing out of tune together. They looked so cute together. "Taxi!" one of the passers-by yelled about Greg when he started to nod off.

Later that night, as we approached my doorstep, I turned to Jake. "Jakey, thank you so much for taking most of the photos tonight. I'm sure they will turn out amazing."

"No problem, Missy." Jake looked ravishing. His bow tie was hanging undone, his collar was unbuttoned-the top two buttons-and his hair was a little ruffled.

"Wanna come in?"

There was a pause in our conversation. I watched Jake's expression, trying to figure out what he was thinking. He had a look of deep thought.

"Nah, we're friends, remember?" With that, Jake turned around, winked back at me with a naughty grin, and walked to the limousine, whistling, with his hands in his pockets. He was one sexy guy. The tux he wore outlined his impressive physique very well.

The limo drove off with one sexy hunk called Jake, a sleeping Greg, a glowing Carrie, and, finally, Zach and Katie making out. Reggie and Jordan were already at the after-party.

A/N: Please vote and/or comment if you like this chapter. ⭐️

WTF, Missy, why friend-zone Jake? 🤨 What secret is behind the insecurity?

If you prefer a more confident female protagonist, I've got a couple other stories you can swap over to: Love Fool (PG-rated), Wicked Seduction (mature rating, 17+ only adult readers), etc.