Being True

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Flynn

       I know I promised both Jake and Lilly I would mind my own business and stay out of Jake's love life but they should know better to know that I wasn't the type of person to mind my own business. As Jake's best friend and former love interest, I needed to make sure Jake had someone that made him really happy.

       So I had to break the promise I made and interfere in his love life because that was the type of amazing best friend I was.

       The best way to make sure Jake got his happily ever after with Taylor was to do the thing I do the best.

      Wait for Jake to finish his work and text Logan not to pick him up so Jake would have to be forced to walk home with me.

       Jake didn't seem to happy to see me when he walked out of the cafe and saw me standing nearby. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

       "I'm sorry, are you... are you actually mad to me?" I asked. "Is this it? Are we have our first fight? What's next? The silent treatment?"

       "Yeah, probably," Jake said. "I keep telling you to leave me alone with the whole... Thing. But you're not listening."

       "Because I'm stubborn and I want you to be happy," I said. "By the way, Logan isn't picking you up. I texted him and told him not to and he surprisingly didn't object. So I am here to walk you home."

       Jake scoffed and started walking to his house, so I quickly caught up to him. "You just don't get it," Jake said. "My dad will never be okay with it."

       "Why?" I asked. "Because Taylor's a guy?"

       "Yes," Jake said. "And five years older. And a dad. He was barely okay with Logan dating Infinity and those two are basically soulmates."

       "Who cares if you're dad isn't okay with it?" I asked. "Infinity isn't okay with me and Lilly dating but we're dating anyway because love."

       "Your sister not being okay with you dating her best friend isn't the same thing as my dad not being okay with me even being friends with Taylor," Jake said.

       "Okay, so it's not the same," I said. "But that doesn't mean that you should listen to your dad. He was wrong about Logan and Infinity. He could be wrong about you and Taylor. Correction: He is wrong about you and Taylor. Taylor is your soulmate. I just know it. So I say forget your dad and pursue the man of your dreams."

       Jake was silent for a bit before saying, "Okay, even if I did decide to ignore my dad completely, what's the point in it? I doubt Taylor actually likes me."

       Poor Jake. Poor, oblivious Jake. It was clear Taylor liked him, but Jake didn't notice.

       "Jake, dude, he asked for your number," I said.

       "Because we're in the same class and there could be days one of us can't make it. It's easier contacting someone other than the professor to find out what we missed. And having someone's number doesn't mean anything. I have your number."

       "Yes, and you were in love with me so that's a poor example."

       "Okay, I have Infinity's number."

       I narrowed my eyes. "Do you like her too? Because she's my sister and you're my best friend."

       Jake blinked a few times. "You're literally... dating your sister's best friend..."

       "Ah, right. Anyway, besides the cell phone thing, he helped you picked up your books when I knocked them down."

       "Yes, like a friend would do. Well, any friend but you because it's clear that you don't have a nice bone in your body."

       "Ouch. And to think, I'm trying to help you out."

       "You're not. You're making things worse."

       I huffed. All I wanted was for my best friend to be happy and to not be the fifth-wheel in our friend group. He deserved some love in his life and right now, Taylor seemed to be the only person I was deeming worthy enough to be Jake's significant other. No other boy or girl fit my standards.

       "Okay, listen to this," I said. "If I could prove that Taylor likes you, will you ask him out?"

       "What? No," Jake said. "I'm not... I'm not making the first move."

       "Fine," I said. "How about if I find out that Taylor likes you, I'll get him to ask you out? And I mean I'll have to know one-hundred percent that he does. I'm not going to just go up to him and tell him to ask you out. I promise I'll only do it if I hear him say the words 'I like Jake'."

       Once again, Jake hesitated before answering. And it was not the answer I wanted to hear. "No."

       "Jake, come on," I said. "I'm only going to ask him if I know one-hundred percent that he likes you. Not ninety-nine percent. One-hundred. I have to hear him say those specific words. What are you so afraid of? It's not like you'll be rejected."

       "I know that but... I've never been in a relationship before and the thought of it is scary."

       "It really isn't. Okay, yes, part of it is but if two people really love each other, it's an amazing thing. Trust me, the amazing part definitely outshines the scary part. That seriously can't be the only reason you're afraid to go out with Taylor."

       Jake sighed and stopped walking, so I stopped walking to. "And I never had my first kiss yet."

       "So?" I asked.

       "So I don't know what to expect."

       "First kisses aren't that big of a deal. Do you care about it?"

       "No. I just never had mine so I won't know what to expect."

       "So to clarify, you don't care how you get your first kiss? Or when? Or who it was with?"

       "Not really, no."

       "Okay, good," I said before cupping his face in my hands and pressing my lips on his. When I pulled away, I patted his shoulder. "There you go. Now your first kiss is out of the way."

       Jake was taken aback before saying, "Why would you kiss me?"

       "Uh, to get your first kiss out of the way," I said. "Obviously. Now you know what to expect when, and not if, when Taylor asks you out."

       "Okay, but... You do realize you technically cheated on Lilly, right?"

       "No, I didn't. I'll even tell her about it tomorrow when we're having that game night thing. She won't be mad."

_________________

flynn ftw lol

who wants to bet if lilly will be mad or not ahahaha

and now i sleep (aka work on a book trailer while laying on my bed because woo)