Image: The dream team's swimming race, where Jake and his friends competed against other universities.

Mood: swipe left and tap the media box above to listen to Oye Como Va (K&F edit). This song's for the cactus in this chapter 🌵🍸.

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Lydia

After the toga party, I told Jake that I needed to stand on my own two feet. To have, as Carrie once said, legs of steel. I was tired of the pity parties and needed to buck up and suck it up. We get dealt certain cards in life, and we play with the cards we've got. That's how we win the game of life.

Over the next two months, I focused on my studies, my friendships-especially with Kath-and on me. I took a basic Pilates class and invested in my hobbies and interests, including writing poetry.

Jake trained at the gym next to my Pilates class. Sometimes I went over to the gym to say hello to him when he was close to finishing his workout. I honestly didn't mind watching him take his shirt off.

One of the receptionists at the gym, Anastasia, really enjoyed talking to him. I caught them checking each other out a few times. Jake once eyed her butt as she turned her back and squatted down to open a drawer behind the counter. In turn, she eyed him and pretended to fan herself, grinning at me, when he took his shirt off, and he wasn't looking at her.

Typical Jake. He was too young to settle down. I knew that. There was no way things would work out between us if we got into a relationship then.

However, I did not know at the time that Jake was giving me the space I needed to heal from the recent re-appearance of my past demons. As part of his love for me, he did not want to rush us into a romance until I was fully ready. Like a fledgling needing strength before she could soar in the sky, I needed to gain my strength before embarking on a relationship.

Jake and I spent time strengthening our friendship. For example, we donated blood at a charity blood drive. I found out Jake was type O, and I was type A. He joked that he could share blood with me.

Kath helped me study for Roman History. She took the course last semester and steered me in the right direction with my midterm assignment. Jake chose another topic, so I couldn't work with him on it, even though we were in the same class.

A few weeks after, we delivered our midterm assignments, students in the class were handed back their marked assignments.

"What did you get?" Jake asked.

I had my paper face down and didn't dare look at it. I dreaded the possibility of failing.

"I haven't looked," I whispered. We sat in class, and I heard a few gasps. A few people mock-cheered for failing, and a few people let out sounds of relief for passing.

Jake quickly peeked at my paper, and then he grinned.

"Did I pass?" I asked nervously.

"Oh, you did more than pass, Missy," Jake replied.

"Really?" I turned the paper upside. I stared at a series of comments and then the red A- on the top right side of the page.

"I got an A!!!" I squealed. Technically it was an A-, but it was still an A!

"Well done, smarty!" Jake kissed me on the cheek and rubbed my shoulder.

"What did you get, Jake?"

He showed me his paper and smiled. There on the top right corner of the assignment cover was Professor Richland's handwriting: B+.

Oh, my goodness! I beat Jake!

---

That Saturday morning, I took Kath and Carrie with me to watch Jake's swim race. Elsie wasn't there, which I was relieved about.

"I think she must have given up on Jake a long time ago," Carrie said.

"Well, it's been a while," I replied.

"Oh, my goodness! Who is that hunk?" Kath asked.

She was wide-eyed and excited as if she had discovered a million bucks. At first, I thought she referred to Jake, who came out and stood in his place for the race. But then I noticed Kath's eyes followed Leon Kessler.

"Which guy?" I asked.

"That one. Second from the right," Kathleen pointed to Leon.

"That's Leon Kessler. They call him the Tornado. He's deadly in the water and deadly in bed, from what I heard," I said to Kath.

"Eeep!" Kath squealed, before slurping on her soda and burping some gas. We had a good laugh. We were in each other's comfort zone.

---

We went to the swim team party, dubbed as the 'dream team party' that evening. It was at the clubhouse, and they had beer kegs, vodka, sodas, hot dogs, a popcorn machine, cotton candy, and fire-throwing entertainment. It was going to be a wild party.

"Hey, I was drinking that!" I yelled out to Jake when he removed the cup of vodka and lemonade from my hand.

"How many have you had?" my hot, hunky warden asked.

"It's only my second cup!"

"That's one too many for you."

Jake tipped the contents into a large cactus plant.

"Poor cactus," Kath said, while Carrie rolled her eyes.

Jake went outside to join the guys doing body shots on some of the girls at the party. They called him out there to do a shot. As Jake walked towards them, he raised his arms and fists in the air, making victory symbols with both hands. They roared and cheered at him. After all, they won a record number of gold medals today. Jake came first in his swim race, so he was celebrating tonight.

Kessler had just finished a shot when he came inside and spotted Kath.

"Lydia, good to see you here," he said. He turned to Kath. "I'm Leon Kessler."

"Kathleen Portland."

Within the next few minutes, Leon already smoothly waltzed his way into Kath's life. She leaned against the wall, and he mirrored her, with one hand on the wall behind her.

I started walking away when I heard a voice.

"Hi, my name is Gabe."

"Oh, hi! I'm Lydia."

A real cutie stood in front of me with ruffled brown hair and cute brown eyes. He was about five foot ten with a slim build. He was less muscular than Jake, but still masculine.

"Are you on the swim team?" I asked.

"I sure am, ma'am."

I giggled. He seemed like a gentleman-someone warm, caring, and sweet.

"Congrats on the team's win today," I said.

"Thanks, Lydia. We trained hard all year."

"It paid off," I replied.

We had a moment of awkward silence. Gabe stared at the cactus plant. He had no idea Jake spiked it with my vodka drink. I let slip a giggle.

"Yeah, I wonder how a cactus can get that big," Gabe said. Oh, he thought the plant's size amused me. "Lydia, you seem like a sweet girl. I was wondering, you see, it's not often I meet a really nice girl..."

I blushed deep shades of red.

"Lydia, would you like to go to the movies with me? Just as friends, of course. It doesn't have to be a date. Or it could be a date if you want it to be."

Aww, he's so sweet! I beamed a smile that went from ear to ear. It's not often you come across adorable and humble guys like Gabe. How could I say no to someone as sweet as Gabe?

"Gabe, I'd love that! As friends, of course," I grinned at him.

Oh, crap! Someone was watching.

Angry Jake stormed toward us like a hurricane.

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