Meant To Be: A Jerika Story

Chapter Eleven

Three Weeks Later-

Erika POV: As I wake up, I'm confused by all the noise I hear from outside my door. Usually it was silent and peaceful when I got up, so something was definitely wrong. I go to check my phone and see that it's 10:30. Shit. Today was the day we all were going to Coachella, and I had slept through the 7:00 am alarm I had set for myself. I get up and rush to get ready, quickly showering and changing into my outfit. I was actually super excited about it; it was rose gold and glittery and perfect for Coachella. I leave my room, and the first thing I do is bump into Jake. Things were cool between us again, he did flirt with me now and then on his vlogs but we kept things friendly otherwise.
"Hey Erika." He continues to walk toward the door, but he suddenly stops and turns to take another look.
"Damn," he says, grabbing my hand to twirl me around.
"You look gooood."
I laugh, and go along with it.
"So do you," I say pointing to his outfit; an unbuttoned pink shirt and some shorts, paired with yellow sunglasses.
"Thanks. By the way, do you want to ride with me in the truck? Everyone else is going in the van, but I don't think there's anymore room in there," says Jake.
"Sure, why not," I say, and go to get my bags from my room.
Thirty minutes later we're on the road, with Jake driving and me in the passenger seat, where I was really getting sick of having to listen to 21 savage on repeat.
"Do you like any non rap songs?" I ask, to which Jake shakes his head. I pout.
"Can we play one song that I chose? Just one?"
"Fine," he says, handing me his phone.
I scroll through Apple Music, and the first song I recognize is "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis, so I decide to play it.
"What the hell? Why'd you chose this," says Jake with a laugh.
"I don't know it came up and I felt like listening to it," I reply. He shakes his head, but I could see he was slightly smiling. The songs starts, and I smile. I loved this song, it just made me feel so happy and dreamy.
"Wise men say, only fools rush in," I sing along with Elvis.
"But I can't help falling in love with you," joins in Jake, his singing completely surprising me.
"Shall I stay, would it be a sin? But I can't help falling in love with you,"  he continues.
"Like a river flows, surely to the sea.. darling, so it goes. Some things are meant to be," we sing together.
"Take my hand," sings Jake, holding out his hand. I hesitantly place my hand in his. "Take my whole life too," he croons. I can't stop myself from smiling.
"But I can't help falling in love with you," we sing, staring into each other's eyes as the song winds to an end. I could feel myself blushing.
"I really can't," he whispers, slowly intertwining his fingers with mine.

Jake POV: I was staring into her eyes; my hand gripped around hers. We had just sang a duet to one of the most romantic songs ever, and I couldn't stop myself from blurting out what I felt. "I really can't," I hear myself say. I was being completely honest. The last few weeks had been hell for me. I was crushing hard on Erika, but she had friend zoned me and made it quite clear that she didn't have any feelings for me whatsoever. But then here she was now, looking at me in a way that was way beyond "friendly". She doesn't say anything in response, just slowly pulls her hand away from mine. "You should probably pay attention to the road," she says, turning to face the window.
I really could not understand her.
Was she playing mind games with me? Or was I just imagining everything? I turn back to face the road, and decide on blasting rap music again to numb everything I felt.