My Beloved//Jake Kiszka

Ch. 14

Sunday morning, you all woke up feeling the aftereffects of last night's party. The Kiszka living room was a mess, with empty cups and snack bags strewn about. You groaned as you sat up, clutching your head.

"Why did we drink so much?" Izzy muttered from the couch, rubbing her temples.

"Because it was a party, and we were having fun," Josh replied, though he didn't look any better than the rest of you.

Jake was leaning against the wall, trying to rehydrate with a bottle of water. "I need fresh air. Let's get out of here."

Josh's eyes lit up. "I know just the place. My secret spot. It's perfect for a day like this."

"Secret spot?" Sam asked, looking intrigued.

"Yeah, it's this beautiful lake with a waterfall. Trust me, it'll help with the hangover," Josh said with a grin.

You and Jake exchanged glances, both curious and eager to get out of the stuffy living room. "Let's do it," you said, standing up.

"Alright, everyone grab your swimsuits and let's head out," Josh instructed.

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

An hour later, you were all hiking through the woods, the fresh air doing wonders for your hangovers. Josh led the way, with Izzy right behind him, chatting excitedly. Sam and Danny, the youngest of the group, were goofing off, throwing sticks and teasing each other.

"You know, this better be worth it," Jake grumbled, though he was smiling.

"It will be," Josh promised, shooting him a look. "Trust me."

Finally, you reached a clearing, and the sight before you took your breath away. The lake was crystal clear, with a stunning waterfall cascading down into it. Trees surrounded the area, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze.

"Wow, Josh, this is amazing," you said, your eyes wide with awe.

"Told you," Josh replied, a proud smile on his face.

Izzy nudged him playfully. "This is the spot, huh?"

Josh blushed slightly but nodded. "Yeah, it's special."

Everyone quickly changed into their swimsuits, eager to jump into the water. You and Jake exchanged a look, a silent agreement to enjoy the day and forget about last night's tension.

"Cannonball!" Danny shouted, sprinting toward the water and leaping in with a huge splash. Sam followed suit, not to be outdone.

Izzy and you slipped into the water more gracefully, sighing at the coolness against your skin. "This is perfect," Izzy said, floating on her back.

Jake and Josh waded in, joining the rest of you. "Alright, who's up for some water games?" Josh asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Race to the waterfall!" Sam suggested, already starting to swim.

"Last one there is a rotten egg!" Danny added, laughing.

Everyone took off, splashing and laughing as you raced to the waterfall. Josh and Izzy reached it first, with you and Jake close behind. Sam and Danny brought up the rear, playfully accusing each other of cheating.

After a while, you all gathered near the waterfall, enjoying the cool mist on your faces. Izzy and Sam started pretending to be mermaids, swimming gracefully and making exaggerated poses.

"Look at me, I'm Ariel!" Sam called out, striking a dramatic pose.

"And I'm the evil sea witch!" Izzy added, cackling and waving her arms menacingly.

You all burst out laughing, the sound echoing off the rocks. The playful mood continued as you took turns diving off a nearby rock into the deep part of the lake, trying to outdo each other with creative jumps and flips.

As the sun began to set, you all climbed out of the water, tired but happy. Josh led the way to a nearby clearing where you could set up a campfire. Danny and Sam gathered firewood while you and Izzy found some flat rocks to sit on.

Once the fire was crackling, you all sat around it, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. The sweet smell filled the air, mingling with the scent of the forest.

"Alright, who's got the best ghost story?" Josh asked, his face illuminated by the firelight.

"I've got one," Sam said, leaning in closer. "It's about a haunted school..."

He launched into his story, and you all listened, the flickering firelight adding to the spooky atmosphere. After he finished, Danny tried to top it with a tale about a creepy old mansion in the woods.

"Okay, those were good, but I've got a real one," Izzy said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "This one actually happened to a friend of mine..."

She told a story about a girl who received mysterious phone calls in the middle of the night, each one getting more and more disturbing. By the end of it, everyone was glancing nervously around, half-expecting to see something lurking in the shadows.

"Alright, enough with the ghost stories," Jake said, chuckling. "Anyone got any happy stories?"

"Remember that time we went camping and Josh tried to cook breakfast?" Sam said, grinning.

Josh groaned. "Hey, it wasn't that bad!"

"You burned everything!" Danny laughed. "Even the toast!"

Everyone started sharing funny stories from past adventures, the laughter echoing through the night. As the fire died down, you all leaned back, looking up at the stars.

"This has been a good day," you said softly, leaning against Jake.

"Yeah, it has," he replied, wrapping an arm around you.

Izzy and Josh were sitting close together, lost in their own world. Sam and Danny were still bickering playfully, but it was clear they were having fun.

As the night wore on, you all slowly made your way back to the Kiszka house, tired but happy. You knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, you could face them together, as friends and more.