Heartstrings

Chapter 22: Backfire

Jake's Perspective

My feet were planted firmly in the ground. There was no way in hell I was going to kiss one of these girls. There was no way in hell I was going to kiss anyone but Emma.

The crowd before me cheered and chanted my name, but I was numb. I knew what I wanted to do - I wanted to run straight up to Emma and plant a kiss right on her lips and stick it to Katelyn and her petty little schemes. But that would blow our cover. Sam would know. Everyone would know. And then we'd have to end things per our agreement.

I watched Emma closely. Even from a distance, I could see the panic in her eyes. As the chanting continued, the girls around me closed in even more, eager for me to choose one of them. And Emma began to rush towards the exit. My eyes followed her as she quickly walked along the top row down to the side, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I turned around abruptly and found Sam with a fire in his eyes - he was pissed.

- Jake, I swear to God if you kiss anyone but Emma I'm gonna kick your fucking ass.

My eyes could have popped right out of my head. What the fuck? He knew?? I stood, still frozen staring at him, mouth agape.

- How do you -

He shoved me and pointed in the direction of Emma as she made a break for it. My feet finally became unfrozen and I walked right up to Katelyn and ripped the microphone out of her hands.

- Emma Knight?

As I spoke her name into the microphone, I saw her freeze and slowly turn to face me. The entire gym full of students went completely quiet. Katelyn tried to grab the microphone back, but I swatted her away. I took a deep breath to try and alleviate the nerves that were enveloping me, before turning back to Emma who was starting to open the door again.

- Emma... can you just... like... stay right there, please?

She stopped again and looked back at me, confused and probably mad as hell. But I just turned back to the school body.

- Guys come on. This is so lame. Last time I checked we're living in the twenty first century and if I don't want to kiss someone, then I don't have to kiss someone. 

I turned around and glared vindictively at the group of teachers whose silence had made them complicit through this whole charade. I turned back to the student body. 

- And even if I did, I'm not putting on a show for you people. It's called consent. If you want entertainment this bad you can buy a ticket for our football game tonight. See you there. 

I dropped the mic and walked over to Emma as people started clapping. My mind felt numb and I was alternating between confusion, anger, and a vulnerability I rarely felt. When I reached Emma, I took her hand and we walked out of the gym together. 

Neither of us said a word. The echoes of claps and cheers and the band playing it's final song followed us all the way out to the parking lot. When we reached her car, we finally stopped and she leaned against the door. 

Her eyes looked like two identical hurricanes, and I took her other hand in mine, too. I stared back at her, but for once, her expression was impossible to read. 

- Jake... thank you...

I kissed the top of her head and put my arms around her, shielding her from the world. 

- ...But Sam knows now... which means we have to stop. And I don't want to stop. I haven't gotten enough time with you... I feel like we just got started. This isn't fair.