Hearts ✓

Twenty - Four 💕

The clock is ticking.

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Five days. The words echoed infinitely in my head.

Time had traveled too fast, it almost felt like I was still back on my porch with Jake, on the first day we had met. I had never known that I was going to do the one thing that I had ultimately refused and despised doing: falling in love, a bitter taste tread through my tongue. I flicked it off.

After our kiss on the bench, It was almost as if there was an endless waterfall of sparks, that neither of us could erase.

Here was the truth, I was in love with Jake.

"What do they do five days before the end?" I examine the reactions of the group of girls that were eager to help.

"It's a common pattern for the boys to kiss you," Lauren answered. "First Kiss."

"Except you've already had two."

"I just don't know, guys." I can't even begin to attempt faking to be strong because I know how easily I'll fall.

"Callie, what's supposed to happen is that he should steal your first kiss, then he breaks your heart," Aubrey tells me. "Which is why they usually wait until the end to do it."

"But if Cals got her kiss early on, does that mean its genuine, or rushed?" Ally asks. "He did run away."

Aside from me, Ally and Elliot had also reconciled with the other girls, and although they still were pretty awkward around one another, at least they were on talking terms.

"I need to let loose from all this." I sleepily rubbed my droopy eyes. "A sleepover?"

"Before you make any plans with us, you should check on what lover boy has planned." Lauren nudges me playfully while gesturing quietly at both Jake and Darren who were walking towards us.

"Callie?" Jake nods towards me, his eyes asking me if I wanted to come along with them to whatever they were doing.

"Uh, sure." I mentally cursed my inability to speak smoothly during awkward situations. All the girls and Darren stared alternating between the two of us. "I should probably get going, we'll talk later."

The girls nod as I turn to follow Jake.

"Hello to you too, Darren." I laugh as he shifts uncomfortably

"Actually, Darren and I were inviting you for movie night over at my place," Jake says. "It'll probably end at midnight though, so your parents might not be too happy with that."

"Sure I'll come. My parents won't be home until tomorrow morning, and Taylor, well, she's sneaking out too."

Jake comes to pick me up at my house at around eight, and he brings me back to his exquisite house. The last time I was here, we only hung out in the gardens until his sister, Caty, ushered us inside.

Today, however, as soon as Jake parked the car, she was running towards me and enveloped me in a hug. "Hey, Caty." I laugh.

"I cannot believe that this girl lasted three whole bring home sessions." Caty laments in disbelief. "The first, I wasn't around for."

"I don't even know how you're older than me." Jake scoffs.

"Callie!" Lou yells enthusiastically. "You're back!"

"Asha, Lou, Caty. Callie over here is staying for a movie, please try your very best not to harass her during her visit." He fakes a British accent as he tries to sound formal although, in turn, he sent us all into fits of laughter. "What?"

Jake brought me to his room, and we both loaded up on blankets, pillows, or anything fluffy then headed to the sofa facing the TV. We had set up a mini blanket tent, using the form of the sofa as the framework, inside, we loaded up on pillows and Jake's comforter.

Eventually, he decided to microwave a pack of popcorn while the movie loaded onto his laptop. Soon enough I could smell the strong aromatic buttery popcorn coming from the kitchen, I could hear the light 'pops' and it was as if I could almost taste it.

Jake cozied up beside me as we switched on the movie, I didn't know the title, but it was an action movie with both a male and a female lead.

I snuggled deeper and tightened the grip of his comforter between my fingers as the rain began to pour. The sound of the individual droplets softly hitting the roof was relaxing, and soon I found myself unable to tear my eyes of Jake. I admired his eyes from the beginning, but this time, there were bags under it that made him look tired. He must've been working late.

I could feel his hand reach mine as we held each other in a bear cuddle, with the comforter between us until the movie ended. It wasn't such a plush ending, but I guess the director ran out of his vision.

After the movie, we had just laid down, sitting side by side, my hair in all mismatched positions, our arms entangling like our hearts, but yet, we were smiling. Laughing-even. Then everything broke apart when Taylor frantically called me saying that our parents would be home in ten minutes.

With a final word of goodbye, this ended my encounter with Jake.

Another 'X' was written on my calendar to mark the end of another day, I sighed and directed my attention at the day encircled with a red permanent marker. Five days, and I just keep getting closer.

Jake, the clock is ticking.