Tormented love

Chapter 6

"How many of these do we actually need?" I looked towards him standing behind the shopping cart and threw another fluffy blanket into the basket.

"Around twenty more." He rolled his eyes and exaggerated laying his head on the handle of the cart. "Anyways you have some explaining to do." He glance at me, confusion across his face. "The prom thing." Although his expression still read as confused he started speaking.

"There's nothing to explain." His voice sounded hurt. "I have like you for what six months now? Then every time I try hanging out, Jake somehow gets involved. This is literally the first time I've been around you without Jake." I was playing with the tag of the blanket when he stepped around to me and took it, tossing it with the others. "It's a simple question Anna, it deserves a simple answer." I swallowed hard. Scared of how I should answer. Yes would mean, Jake be pissed for a few days. No would mean Zach and I possibly never have a chance and I'm not sure if I like that idea either. "Yes or no?" It wished it was that simple to give him an answer it should be. Maybe I shouldn't let my best friend boss me around about who I talk to. Then again if I said yes it would disrupt our entire dynamic. If we went to prom as friends it may be awkward but we'd return back to normal at Jakes. If we kissed or ended up dating it could end horribly and that'd be another few days of Jake not speaking to me. "Anna?" I glanced up at him. Still in thought. I was petrified.

He didn't speak though, he didn't say another word. I wasn't even sure if he was breathing. Maybe I wasn't sure if I was breathing.

His intent stare down scared me so I began to turn back to the blankets before he spun me back around. His lips found mine before I even realized he was again in front of me. I didn't stop him, my own lips encouraged his. I had no idea what I was doing. The only guy I'd ever kissed was in kindergarten and for crying out loud, it was on the cheek.

That didn't stop me though.

When he pulled away, I knew he was breathing I could see his chest moving rapidly. He lips looked tender and swollen and my hand that rested on his chest felt his heart beating, fast.

"Anna, I really have liked you for a long time, you going by Jakes instructions isn't going to be beneficial to you." Shit. Jake. I'd forgotten about Jake.

"He's going to be so pissed at us Zach. He's already going to be mad that we left without him, when he finds out we've kissed and that I'm going to prom with you instead of him." I whine. "He's going to kill us."

"You're going to prom with me?" A smirked played on his lips before he moved towards me again but only left a peck on my forehead and embraced me in his large arms. "Anna he's going to be fine. At the most he will be angry for a few days."

"So what does this mean?" I ask. I was actually scared to be answered. Where we dating, did he only want to take me to prom? If that was the case I was going to be pissed, he should not have kissed me.

"This means we're going to keep quiet as we go on a few dates, figure it out. Before we pester with the dynamic." He mocked. "If we end up liking one another, thats our own business and we will date, if you want. Then I'm taking you to prom." I liked that idea if I'm honest. It was the most reasonable thing to do. I nodded my head and picked out a few more blankets.

"We can go now." I started towards the self check out as he glared at me. I could feel the intent stare through my soul but kept walking. Before long he'd nudged me with the cart.

"Hey brat. All you did was nod your head, give me an answer." I nod my head again as we walk forward and he chuckles and picks his pace up joining me. His arm lays lazily over my shoulder as he kisses the side of my face, not bothering to move the few strands of hair. "What's it going to be. I say three dates top, then we tell Jake. That's if we decide to become official."

"Seems to me as though you have it all figured out already." He shakes his head and starts helping me scan the blankets. "But yeah, I like the idea. Just I don't know if I'm ready for Jake and I to have conflict for a few days. He's all I've had for years, you know?" I pause as he looks at me, thinking. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to cause a problem between the two of us, or hinder our friendship." He sighs and opens his mouth to speak. "Or the two of you guys friendship honestly."

"Anna come on. You and Jake, you guys are forever. We all know that. But I really do like you. I want you to open your mind to the thought of having others around you sometimes." He scans a few more blankets before grabbing my hands. "Anna, Jake may be mad at the two of us for a few days, he's going to forgive us and we'll go back to the same as we are now. Give us a shot and I'll put my whole heart into it." He pulls me into his chest kissing the top of my head. My head rest barley below his shoulders and I relax into him. "I'll be there those few days, I won't leave your side." I wanted to believe Zach and he was right, I needed to open my mind to the idea.

So I did.

"You're right, we should give it a chance." He smiled at me as I scanned the last few. "As long as you're going to promise to be there those few days. Even possibly a week."

"Oh duh, of course." His reassurance was precious but my friendship with Jake was breath taking and I was terrified i was going to lose that. Even if I only lost it for a second, I'd be heart broken.

Unloading the car at the gym was easy. What wasn't easy was lying to Jake when he asked what we were doing, partially it was honest. That does count for something. It has to.

"I came up with a plan and Zach took me to buy a few blankets."

"Alone? Why didn't you call me I would've road." I could tell already he sensed something was up. And maybe I should've told him. Maybe the outcome wouldn't be as brutal in a few weeks, but I was scared.

"You guys were waiting on the results. Did they come in yet?" I tried to change the subject I did.

"They did. While you guys were off playing around, we set up majority of the gym." He was trying to set me off, but I knew he only felt betrayed.

"Jake, don't be like that."

"We have the fridge stocked and the monitor set up. Amber is setting up lights right now." He was avoiding me.

"Jake?" He made a strangled noise and let out a smart ass chuckled before he turned towards the double doors.

"What're we going to do with blankets anyways?" He was standing at the door, holding the handle.

"Don't worry about it." He yanked the door open and I waited for him to walk inside before I followed and went to find Zach. "Are you going to help me?" He stepped away from Tyler, Rohan and Amber to walk towards me.

"So princess pain in my ass, what're we doing?" I threw a blanket at him and Jake let out another fake laugh as he watched.

"Pain in your ass?" He mumbled. "How about pain in my ass?" Amber slapped him as I rolled my eyes, she walked over.

"How can I help?" She picked up a blanket and began to unfold it from the plastic.

"You guys know how people use to go to drive through movie theaters and do a little blanket picnic thing? That's the plan."

"That's adorable!" Amber awed and Zach side-eyed the two of us.

"Yeah, yeah. Adorable, that's the exact word I was looking for." The three of us began setting up the blankets while the other three guys sat in the stands and talked.

This was something I was hoping Jake was going to be a huge part of but by the looks, he has every intention of not being bothered with it. So much for a great start to Junior year.