SUNSHINE - COLE WALTER

005.

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Jamie followed eagerly as Cole led her to a serene stream, causing her to stop in awe and quickly capture the beautiful scene in a photograph. He slowed down and handed her a delicate flower with a genuine smile.

"For you," Cole said kindly as Jamie accepted the flower.

"Thanks—hey! Give it back!" Jamie exclaimed, her words cut off as Cole snatched the camera from her hands and playfully kept it out of her reach while she attempted to grab it back. "This isn't funny!"

"Come on, Sunshine. You've got to live a little," Cole teased, continuing to keep the camera just out of Jamie's grasp, causing frustration to bubble within her. Eventually, after a playful struggle, she managed to retrieve it from his smirking face.

But Jamie wasn't done yet. In a swift move, she snatched Cole's jacket from his hands while he wasn't paying attention and held it out of his reach, playfully waving it around and pulling it away every time he made a grab for it. Her laughter filled the air as she enjoyed his amusing struggle.

Then, unexpectedly, Cole took Jamie by surprise as he wrapped his arms around her waist, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. They locked eyes, their connection intensifying in that moment.

As the laughter settled, Jamie found herself sat down, still clutching the flowers Cole had given her, while Cole simply admired her.

"It's beautiful here," Jamie commented, breaking the silence.

"But?" Cole prompted, sensing there was more to her thoughts.

"It's just... everything is so different here. You know? I miss New York. So much," Jamie admitted with a tinge of sadness.

"I've never been to New York. Actually, I've never been anywhere. I can only imagine," Cole replied, genuine curiosity lacing his words.

"Never been anywhere?" Jamie asked, surprised.

"Not really. I went to Florida once when I was younger and spent a couple of weeks upstate last summer, but... besides that, no. That's what I really want to do—travel," Cole confessed, his eyes gleaming with a sense of adventure.

"Where?" Jamie inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Honestly? Anywhere that isn't here. I mean, I love it here, don't get me wrong, but... I want to go places. You know, experience something new. I was supposed to head to Alabama for college. But now, well..." Cole's voice trailed off sadly.

"Now?" Jamie probed, wanting to understand his situation better.

Shifting the conversation, Cole changed the topic. "Do you have dreams?" he asked, his eyes locked on hers.

"What?" Jamie responded, caught off guard.

"Dreams? Earlier, you mentioned that Jackie has big dreams. Don't you have big dreams?" Cole questioned, his gaze penetrating.

"I don't know. I have a lot of interests, but I just don't know where to go with them, unlike Jackie, who knows exactly what she wants to do," Jamie confessed, her fingers nervously playing with each other.

"That's surprising; you and Jackie seem so alike," Cole remarked honestly.

"I'm not Jackie. Not even a little bit. I mean, maybe now we seem alike, but before, we were complete opposites," Jamie explained.

"Tell me more. What were you like before?" Cole probed gently, eager to understand Jamie on a deeper level.

Jamie deflected the question, saying, "We should probably go. I don't want your mom to worry."

"Let me help you," Cole offered, getting up and extending his hands towards Jamie, only to playfully pull them away when she reached for them, emitting a small laugh as she glared at him playfully.

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"Is there anything left? 'Cause I am starving," Cole announced, his stomach growling audibly as he and his family entered the house.

"You know you're supposed to call if you're running late, right? I mean, that's the whole reason you have a phone," George chided, reminding Cole of his responsibility.

"Where have you guys been?" Katherine interjected, clearly curious about their whereabouts.

"Yeah, we, uh, went to the watering hole. Lost track of time," Cole explained nonchalantly, already diving into the food.

Interrupting the conversation, Jamie took a deep breath, eager to speak her mind. "Listen, I—"

"Jamie, excuse me," George cut her off dismissively, silencing her attempts to share her thoughts.

Unsettled, Jamie's eyes darted towards Cole as George pressed on. "Hey, Cole, do you know anything about a bet with Isaac this morning?" George questioned, causing shock and hurt to flash across Jamie's face.

"No. No, doesn't ring a bell," Cole replied defensively, raising suspicions in the room.

"I didn't catch that," George insisted, probing further.

"Seriously, Cole?" Katherine voiced her disappointment, her tone laden with concern.

Cole sighed and brushed it off. "It was just a joke, okay?" he defended, but his words led to a gasp from Jackie, and Jamie instinctively reached out, gripping Jackie's shoulders to provide comfort.

Alex then interjected. "Maybe ask Jordan what he's got on camera," he suggested, igniting a heated reaction from everyone present.

Unable to find the right words, Katherine expressed her confusion. "Jackie, I don't even know what to say," she confessed, her disappointment palpable.

Realizing she needed a moment to collect herself, Jackie abruptly stood up from her seat. "I have to go fix my hair. Come on, Jamie," she said, beckoning Jamie to join her as she walked away from the table, seeking solace in their friendship.

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Unable to find sleep, Jamie found herself tossing and turning in bed once again. Frustrated and restless, she gave up and silently slipped out of bed, mindful not to disturb Jackie. Making her way downstairs, she sought solace in a glass of water.

Reaching for a glass, she moved over to the sink and began filling it. A strange sensation washed over her, causing Jamie to abruptly shut off the tap and turn around. Her gaze met Cole, leaning against the kitchen island and staring at her.

"Can I help you? Or are you just gonna stare?" Jamie spoke with an edge, not in the mood for idle conversation with him.

"I'm sorry," Cole uttered sincerely, his voice filled with regret.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to," Jamie replied firmly, her tone conveys the weight of the situation.

"I know, but I should have told you I was involved when we were talking about it," he admitted, displaying a flicker of remorse.

"Don't worry about it. I didn't have high expectations from you anyway," Jamie remarked, her words laced with a mixture of disappointment and resignation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cole's expression softened, hurt flashing through his eyes.

"It means I know your type. You flirt with every girl, expecting them to fall at your feet," Jamie declared, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Yeah, well, I know your type too. You think that just because you're not from here, you're better than everyone else. Newsflash, you're not that special, Sunshine," Cole retaliated, his words hitting Jamie hard.

Her wounded heart acknowledged his words with a nod as she turned and quietly made her way back upstairs. Behind her, Cole was left with regret, realizing the weight of what he had said and the pain he had caused.

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