dakota's pov +

i sat on jonah's desk chair, turning back and forth as i texted jack as olivia on my old phone.

i told myself that i was going to cut back from pretending to be her, because things are going pretty well with jack. i feel like him and i are actually starting to develop a real friendship.

but then that's the issue.

i don't want just a friendship and at least with olivia, he sees a romantic relationship with her.

jack:

😂 i seriously can't wait for the day that i meet you.

me:

yeah me too x

i sighed, locking my phone as i turned to jonah who was lying in his bed, still trying to recover from his cold.

"jack's been talking about meeting olivia lately" i told him.

"didn't you say that you'll stop once you got in too deep?" he said, following by a few sneezes.

"yeah, but talking to him everyday just feels like such a release from everything. he understands me and i understand him".

"wow, thanks" he replied with sarcasm.

"you know what i mean".

"what about facetiming?" jonah questioned. "has he ever asked you to do that?".

i huffed, "all the time, but i told him that my camera doesn't work. then with phone calls, i just say that i have strict parents, so they'll get suspicious".

"you've seriously got the answer to everything and i don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing" he spoke through his nasal cold and i rolled my eyes to respond.

i looked back down at my phone once i received a new text.

jack:

so olivia, sam's having another party this week. you should come along...

me:

really?

jack:

yeah and if you don't want to stay at sam's, we can just go and hang out somewhere else. just us.

i nervously bit down on in the inside of my cheek as i tried to find a reply.

"hey, do you know anyone that's going to sam's party this week?" i inquired.

jonah sat up a little in his bed, "connor invited me and if he's invited me, that means you and kelsey too. why?".

"well, jack wants olivia to come".

"what?!" he exclaimed. "you have to tell him that you can't or she can't or whatever, just tell him no".

"i was going to but if i keep making excuses, he'll start to get suspicious".

"okay, fine" he hesitated for a while. "just say that you'll come, but don't show up".

i narrowed my eyes, "isn't that bit messed up?".

"this whole situation is messed up, dee. doing this won't make a difference".

he was right, so i reopened the text and began typing.

me:

sure, i'll come

jack:

wait are you serious?

me:

yes 😂

jack:

fuck now i have to mentally prepare myself for meeting you

jack:

i apologise in advance if i start to act like a dork around you, that only happens when i'm trying my best not to mess up in front of a girl that i like

me:

i'm sure that i'll be nervous too. we can just be dorks together 😌 💞

jack:

of course 😂 ❤️

"so, how was school today without my glamorous presence?" jonah questioned before blowing his nose into a clean tissue.

"lunch was lonely without you and kelsey, but liam joined me for a while. so, it wasn't all bad until he got grumpy and left as soon as jack came over".

jonah shook his head with a laugh and i knitted my brows in confusion.

"okay, i never understood that kid but i mean, whenever he sees you he might as well get down on one knee and propose".

"what are you talking about?".

"it's so obvious that he likes you, dakota".

"what? no way. liam is like my brother and you know that" i tried to correct his theory.

"like your brother?" jonah scoffed. "wasn't he your first kiss in 5th grade?".

i pursed my lips at his smug face, then folded my arms across my chest.

"liam and i are friends, jonah. only friends" i insisted.

"fine, but at least you'll have a fall back plan if things don't workout with jack" he shrugged and i deeply rolled my eyes at his words.

+

i stood against the wall in sam's living room, taking my time to drink the alcohol in my hand as his party went on around me.

i couldn't help but glance at jack every second as i saw him nervously preparing himself for meeting olivia.

i tugged on jonah's arm beside me to bring him down to my height.

"i feel so bad" i spoke in his ear over the music. "i should have just said that olivia wasn't coming".

he placed his cup down and stood in front of me to put his hands on my shoulders.

"stop overreacting. once she takes too long, his attention will be on the next hot girl that walks by. trust me" he said and i pursed my lips, accepting his word then focused back on enjoying myself.

my anxiety from lying to jack caused me to consume two or three drinks in a short space of time, that i was instantly in desperate need for the toilet.

once i'd finished, i walked out of the bathroom and with my luck, jack stood in the hallway mirror - trying his best to fix his hair and clothes.

i guiltily bit my lip and walked in his direction since i'd have to pass him if i wanted to go back downstairs.

"hey, what are you doing?" i decided to question.

"you know that girl that i told you about? olivia? the one i've been texting for a while" he replied.

"sure".

"well, i'm hopefully meeting her today. she did say she would come, so fingers crossed" jack told.

he paid his attention back onto his reflection and it was evident that he was freaking out on the inside. i swear, i'm the worst person ever.

"you're really nervous, huh?" i mentioned.

"yeah and i never get nervous when it comes to girls" he answered. "great, now i'm sweating. do you mind getting me a shot? i think it'll help".

i nodded, "of course. one second".

i walked past him and down the stairs where numerous couples were making out inappropriately, before i reached the bottom and spotted jonah in the corner.

he was leaning against the wall as connor stood over him, whispering into his ear.

as cute as they looked, i took jonah's arm and abruptly dragged him to the side.

"it's official. guilt has got to me and now, i can't even look jack in the eye. i'm gonna cancel" i announced, taking my old phone out of my bag.

"no, the best thing to do is to let him become detached to olivia, not the other way then he'll realise that the person for him has been right in front of his eyes the entire time" jonah advised.

i narrowed my eyes, looking up at him, "that sounds really optimistic, jonah".

"do you even know me at all?" he said, leaving me to conclude that he must be a little tipsy from all of the alcohol.

i finally allowed him to go back to connor, then went to the kitchen to get that shot that i promised jack.

-

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