Media credit: Bluestorme for this excellent cover. Check out her work-Sunset Memoirs and other lovely stories.

Mood: swipe left and tap the media box above to listen to Cake By The Ocean by DNCE.

- - -

"Why am I not with you?"
- English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley to Mary Godwin, October 27, 1814.

Lydia

Two months later.

Prom was just around the corner, and rumors buzzed and flew about who was going with whom. Jake was the latest trend in vogue for junior prom season and several girls, including the sirens, asked him to be their date for this trumpeted event. However, he alluded to them that he would be going with friends.

Devon and I were on-again and off-again until he inevitably broke up with me. When he said it was for good, I was on the verge of scratching the word 'relationship' out of my dictionary, as it burnt like needles on fire penetrating my heart, to be dumped and rejected. Jake, Carrie, and Reggie came over to cheer me up, and together, we watched slapstick comedies while eating ice cream.

I was supposed to go to junior prom with Devon, but Jake cautioned that I needed my friends, not some douche. I was content going to prom with friends-it meant I would be going with Jake too. I didn't want to admit it out loud, but being with Jake felt good. However, I wasn't the only one who basked in his company.

Reggie and Jake were getting close. There were rumors that the two did seven minutes of heaven at a party, but nobody really knew or said what went on behind closed doors. Seven minutes of heaven was a game of dare, involving two people using a room to talk, kiss or make out for that period of time.

Reggie hurled sharp blades of criticism at me, particularly about my conservative dress sense. When I confided in Carrie, she insinuated that Reggie was bitter and jealous. Like two autumn leaves falling off the same branch, only to be flickered by the wind into different directions, Carrie and Reggie also drifted apart.

Reggie started associating with the drifters, a group of people who had zero interest in school and just wanted to lose themselves in the real world. Hence why they called themselves the drifters. Like they were some cool band.

A wind of change blew in my direction in the form of Max Roberts, who stood with Zach after football practice one day. Being Gainsville High's resident 'jock,' Zach competed in the school's football and swimming teams. He came from a high achieving family who started with nothing when his grandparents arrived as refugees from Cambodia years ago.

Carrie and I waited for Zach because we had a group project to do. Carrie had another plan, though-she was secretly checking out Johan during football practice.

Max was a senior, a year above us. He was sexy and more mature than most guys. Rumor has it that he was sexually experienced, and he sported the nickname 'the pleasure machine.' He was aiming for a sports scholarship to college, which he would get. He was eighteen, but he looked twenty-one. Something about him attracted me.

"Hey, who's the raven-haired beauty?" Max asked Zach as he eyed me from top to toe.

Zach rolled his eyes and sighed. "Max, meet Lydia. Lydia, Max."

"Hi, Max."

"Lydia, are you always this beautiful?"

Shit, I was blushing. "I bet you say that to all the girls."

"Nope. Just the pretty ones."

An awkward silence choked the air with a dose of discomfort. Carrie and Zach exchanged knowing looks as if they telepathically traded an unspoken secret.

"You need a ride home, Lydia?"

Zach jumped in, "No can do. Lyds and I are gonna go to Carrie's place. Group assignment due soon."

"Sorry, Max. Maybe another time."

"Can I at least get your number?"

"Sure."

---

A few days later, I was in the library with Jake, working on an assignment. Max and I had been texting each other when I noticed Jake rubbing the back of his neck as if he experienced discomfort.

"What's up, Somersby?"

"Elsie wants to take me to prom." Jake was smitten by Elsie Richards, who was a Gainsville High siren. She was blonde, tanned, beautiful, and smart. She also had great legs and looked terrific in a bikini. That was according to Jake, so naturally, I was jealous. I know I should be happy. Jake liked her, but something in my stomach churned.

"Do you want to go with her?"

"Nah, I asked you first. Mates before dates, right?" Jake looked like he put his thinking cap on.

"Jakey, it's okay. Max Roberts may ask me to prom."

"What? Look, I don't want to rain on your parade but..."

The worried look and the silence said it all.

"He's not my guy, is he?" I asked.

"Missy."

I sighed in despair.

"Missy, he's taking Crystal to prom. I'm sorry," Jake said.

"It's okay. I've seen Max Roberts flirt with other girls. Goodness knows who he's doing this week," I sighed sadly.

"Missy, you deserve better." Jake's violet-blue eyes looked into mine. He was right.

"Are you working at the Havana Beach Club this weekend, or are you babysitting?" Jake eyed me.

"I'm working at the beach club. Will you be there?" I replied.

"I hate those westies." His violet eyes were bluer and cold.

The westies Jake referred to were the Portside senior students and frat college guys who thought they owned everything and everyone around them. Spoiled jerks with bottomless wallets. They made disgusting comments about lewd sexual fantasies and one of the guys smacked my butt.

Our uniforms were skimpy, which attracted the guys. They placed large orders and big tips. That came with the teasing, flirting, and eyeballing that they gave us. It was a thankless job that lasted from spring until the end of summer.

Jake and his folks were members of the beach club, so he'd been going there with Zach to keep an eye on me. I needed the job because my dad got laid off a few weeks ago.

Fast-forward to two weeks later. Jake was pretending to be my boyfriend up until he met my work colleague Kelly Romano. She was only a year older than us, but she was preparing for college. Lucky for Jake, Kelly had a big crush on him.

"Lydia, your boyfriend, Jake, is gorgeous!" Kelly flicked her caramel highlights and put one hand on her hip while she continued to stare at him.

"Oh, he's not my boyfriend. He says that just to keep the westies away."

"You're kidding me! So, you guys aren't a thing?" Kelly's eyes widened.

"Nope. I think he likes you. You should ask each other on a date," I said.

"Wow!"

Jake was coming our way. Being a skilled swimmer, he had just finished doing some quick laps up and down the pool. He won gold for Gainsville High's swim team in the last state swimming competition.

"Hey, ladies. Everything okay, Missy?"

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Hey, Jake. You're looking good as always!" Kelly was flirting with Jake.

By the time our break was over, Kelly had managed to get Jake's number, and the two were going on a date the next weekend. Jake seemed over the moon, so I was happy for him.

I was alone the following Saturday night. Carrie was hanging with Johan's sister, Kelsey, while Reggie was at a bonfire party. Zach was on a date with Katie Stone, Elsie's minion.

I was reading a romance novel when I was surprised by a knock on my bedroom door. My dad was downstairs watching TV, and my mom was working late.

I heard the knocking on the door again.

"Come in," I hollered. It was probably Dad who might ask me if I wanted chocolate pudding or hot cocoa. He did that from time to time.

"Erm, your dad said you were up here." A pair of violet-blue eyes stared at me.

"Jake, you were supposed to be on a date with Kelly tonight!"

"Yeah, well, it didn't go down so well."

Two minutes later, Jake told me he ended the date with Kelly, but he refused to reveal too much.

"And she didn't ask you why?" I wondered aloud.

"No. Why would she? I told her I wasn't into her that way in the nicest way.

Kelly and Jake made out, but she wanted to sleep with him. He said no.

I had a burning question to ask Jake.

"Jacob Somersby, are you gay? You know it's totally okay to come out of the closet."

"Lydia, I am not gay! Why the fuck would you think I was gay?" His eyebrows ratcheted up to his hairline.

"Because you're super hot, and you don't date the hottest girls who hit on you?" I squeaked.

"Lydia, I'm straight, and you know it. I'd do you right now if we weren't just friends. The thing is... Can you keep a secret?"

"Jake, you can trust me."

"Missy, I've never been with a woman before."

"What?"

"I'm a virgin." Jake was blushing.

Oh my fucking goddess, the hottest guy in school was a virgin! He was in my room on a Saturday night! And he was into girls.

"Jake, can I ask you something, and can you give me an honest answer?"

"Sure."

"Why are you here? I mean, do you like me?"

"Of course I like you! You're my BFF!" Jake barked a laugh. Then his eyes grew dark and widened as he stared at me.

"No, I mean, do you like me as more than a friend? Or do you like Reggie? Because she thinks you're crushing on her," I paused. "And don't lie!"

"Awww, Missy! You know we're friends, right?"

"Jake, I just want to know."

"Well, Reggie and I like to flirt. I mean, she's fun."

"You like the attention," I rolled my eyes. "I'm the boring friend, I guess."

"Can I stay over?" Jake asked.

"Yeah, sure. You're already here," I replied.

Jake spotted my book and picked it up.

"No, don't read it!" I lunged for the book, but Jake was too fast, and I missed it.

Jake skimmed over the open page and flipped a page. He read the next page, and then his mouth twitched. It turned into an evil smile while his playful eyes glanced at me.

"Seriously?" Jake laughed. "You must be bored!"

"Jake, give it back! It's not funny anymore!"

He started reading. "She glanced at his muscular physique. His hard length protruded from his muscled body as he turned to her..."

"Jacob Mathias Somersby! Drop that book right now! I don't go through your porn stash!" I was panicking now.

"You want it? I'll give it to you." Jake surprised me with a seductive side smirk, revealing his left dimple.

"Jake!" My eyes were startled. He moved one step closer to me. I felt the warmth of his body as he held my hands.

"Lydia, I will always like you as more than a friend. But if that's all you want, I'll take what I can get." His fingers outlined the contour of my face. "Missy, you can't expect me to be a monk if a friendship is all you want. I will date from time to time. I will flirt with the pretty girls. I don't sit around while you flirt with the likes of Max Roberts."

"Jake!" I took a step back.

"Lydia, I want you. If you want me, I want you to be my first. I'll give you my virginity. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met."

"Um, not right now. Besides, you just made out this evening with Kelly. I'm not dessert!" I panicked inside because Jake unintentionally unlocked Pandora's secret, which still haunted me. I was afraid that the painful history of my early high school years would repeat itself.

That was enough to send me running down the stairs and calling my dad for ice cream. To cool things down. When we were in the kitchen later, Dad asked if there was anything wrong. Jake and I both shook our heads and continued eating our ice cream as if nothing happened.

We ended up watching a science fiction film in bed, and I fell asleep in his arms. I was in my nightie, and he was in his boxers when we fell asleep.

When we woke up in the morning, I glanced at his boxers, and there it was. An outline of his appendage, hard and big, tenting out. I glanced away, got up, and showered. By the time I was ready, Jake was downstairs having breakfast with Dad.

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