Meant To Be: A Jerika Story

Chapter Nineteen

Erika POV: Listening to him talk about me like that made me feel so warm and fuzzy; made me feel so loved. I finally get up from my hiding place and walk into the living room.
"Erika!" exclaims Marie; giving Jake a knowing look. I smile.
"How's everything?"
Good," says Jake.
"That's good," I reply.
"Yes it is," he says.
Marie smiles, then gets up. "Well, I think I'm going to head on home."
"Why? Stay over for the night," I say.
"Nah, I'm really tired and my friends are probably waiting for me."
"Alright then," I say, and we all get up to go to the door.
"It was so nice seeing everyone, hopefully we meet again." She steps out the door.
"Oh, and Jake? Good luck," she says with a wink. Jake laughs.
"Thanks. I'll need it." After she leaves, Jake goes back to the couch and I go to the kitchen.
I start cutting up strawberries for my snack. "Whatcha doin?" says Jake, walking up to me. He pushes himself up onto the counter.
"I'm hungry, so I'm making myself a dessert."
"Strawberries? That's your dessert?" "Yup."
He laughs then shakes his head.
"You're the only person who would think having plain strawberries is a dessert."
"It's healthy!" I argue. I pop one in my mouth, and savor how juicy and sweet it is. Jake watches me, licking his lips as I eat the berries one by one.
"Want one?" I say, reaching my arm out to him. He nods, and I lift the strawberry to his lips. He slowly bites into it, and the juices run all over my fingers.
"Sorry I'm so messy," he whispers. Staring into my eyes, he takes my hand and licks the juice off my fingers.
"It's all over your face too," he says softly as he pulls me close. He runs his thumb across my lips, and my heart starts to race. He pulls me up onto the counter, and the room starts to get hotter and hotter. I leans in, and we start to kiss. He slowly pushes me down against the countertop, and moves his lips to my neck. I run my hands through his hair, softly moaning as he kisses my collarbone. For once I felt no guilt, no hesitation and no anxiety about being with him. The moment was passionate; but more than that it was sweet, it was comforting. I felt like I belonged in his arms.

Jake POV: I wake up smiling. I couldn't forget about what had happened last night. Erika and I had made out in the kitchen for long time, and it was amazing. At least it was amazing until I had to leave to finish my audition tape. Still, it was great. It was weird too, because we hadn't even confessed our feelings for each other or anything, we had just kissed. I wasn't even 100% sure she truly liked me. But I wasn't complaining. It was way more than I could have asked for. I get ready, then pull out my vlog camera. Today was going to be an exciting day for the vlog; we were going back to the insane asylum. The last time we had went some creepy guy had chased us out and security almost caught us. But that wasn't going to stop me. "Hellooooo," I yell, bursting into Erika's room. She looks up from her computer.
"Hi to you too," she says, laughing. I walk over to her desk, where I spot her modeling book. I flip through it, and I'm truly taken back by how gorgeous she is.
"Oh wow Erika," I say, pointing the camera at various pictures. She laughs. I flirt with her some more, until Anthony walks into the room. He watches us for awhile, then suddenly intervenes.
"Yo I gotta know, is this flirting just for the vlog? Because I'm hearing rumors that Jerika is low key a thing," says Anthony.
"No, he's like my little brother," says Erika. Alarmed, I look to her, but she mouths
"just kidding" to me. "Yeah, until she's a dude, I'm not interested," I say. We all laugh.

Later-

Jake POV: Armed with the Ouija board, we all climb into my truck; ready to go to the asylum. Chance, Anthony, Ray, Kade (and surprisingly) Erika had all agreed to come. I couldn't wait to play, it did freak me out a little but I couldn't resist the thrill of it. We sneak through the fence and enter the building, which was just as eerie and scary as I remembered. As we walk in I feel someone grab my hand.