𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐲

IX. In Love With You.

THE GROUP were now inside the Chateau, enjoying some beers and chilling. Sarah had grabbed two beers from the fridge and headed off to John B's bedroom as JJ pops open a beer and held it out towards Jake who's just standing there in the kitchen, texting his mom.

Cleo and Pope are talking about what kind of plane Ward's was. "Peace offering?" JJ said and Jake quickly looked up. "Oh, thanks..." He took the beer from the blond who just sighed, taking a swing from his own beer. "I'm sorry." He began and Jake cups his hand over his ear. "Can you repeat that?" He teased.

"Shut up, man. I'm not saying it again." JJ shoved his shoulder, but it wasn't with malicious intent, it was playful like Jake's tone. "For real though... I'm sorry. I guess I was just being... petty or jealous or something." He said and Jake furrows his brows. "Petty? Jealous?" He's a bit confused by what the Maybank means and the blond takes another swing of his beer, taking a big gulp of it.

"I was being petty because... when everyone else got home to a warm nice welcome from the island, and you're off at Kookland, I come home to an eviction. And then the stuff with my bike, which I don't blame you for, at all, and... then the stuff with Kie and, you know..." He stops there and took another swing of his beer, so Jake just stared at him, slightly confused. "That's... what you were jealous for? Because of Kie? You--you have a thing for--" "No... no. Not Kie." JJ cut him off right away, emphasizing and then he nodded softly. "I'm gonna go take a leak." He walked away then.

Jake was left a bit dumbfounded, in the middle of the kitchen before it all slowly clicked and he raised his brows. "Oh." He says quietly then he began walking, slowly at first, approaching the table where Cleo and Pope were playing a game. "Did you know?" He asked Pope quietly and the Heyward boy nods. "Yup." He said and Jake just furrows his brows.

"Huh..." He walked away, sitting onto the couch next to Kie who's playing with her ukulele. "So, I take it, he told you?" The girl asked and Jake looked at her right away. "Did everyone else know before me?" He asked right away and Kie just chuckles, setting down her little instrument onto the couch next to her.

"I mean... he just recently told me but apparently Pope and John B knew longer. It's why he's always nagging you. And was... always rooting for us, because he just wanted you to be happy. Even if it wasn't with him." She shrugs and Jake just softly nodded, raising his hand to the front of his face. "I just feel so stupid... and blind. Did I do anything that would lead him on? Like am I--" "No. It wasn't your fault. I mean, in his words, he said you'd be the only guy he'd ever date, but knows that he doesn't have a chance. So it isn't that big of a deal for him... I guess." She shrugged then rolled her eyes slightly.

"Everyone's in love with you, aren't they?" She quips, kind of snarky about it and Jake instantly looked at her. "Hey... I--I just wanted to say sorry. About yesterday..." He began then glanced away, pursing his lips. "You were right." He says and she smiled widely.

"No way. I was right?" She said and he chuckled, quickly looking over at her. He stopped just to stare at her as she looks at him, smiling as well. "You were right. I wasn't being fair. And I was being mean... I'm sorry. I just... I guess, when I saw you and JJ, I just jumped to conclusions, I assumed the worst, and... wanted to hurt you. And I'm sorry. That's very messed up of me, to wanna do that--" "no. I get it. It's fine." She says quietly.

"No. It wasn't fine. Don't excuse what I did just because you feel bad. We both feel bad... right?" He said and she quickly looks over at him, just staring at him. "I feel really bad, yeah..." She said and he just continued to stare at her. God, she's so beautiful. How could he ever just mess up as badly as he did? How could he lose the one good thing he's had, other than Evie, of course.