Loving 2 boys at once

Double date.

Start of another school week. Jake is first for once, wich is really odd. Ever since the party, he feels rather confused. And that's now 1 week ago and still he needs to hide from his friends that there is something playing in his head. He never thought that he would ever feel anything for Hailey. They have been best friends for so long that he always thought she is more like a sister to him, but apparently not. 
" Hello!" Hailey arrived, but Jake hadn't noticed. She is waving in front of his eyes. He snaps out of his thoughts and looks at her. 
" Welcome back to earth!" She smirks while getting some books out of her locker.
She closes her locker and looks at him, confused. " You okay there? Haven't said anything yet." 
He smiles at her, realising he had been staring at her the entire time. " I'm okay.. Just had a bad night." He lies, sounding believeable. 
" Figures why you are so early here.." She grins.

" I talked to my dad. It's that stupid ball again from his work and I have to go again." She grumbles. She crosses her arms and leans against her locker. " You need to go too?"
Jake's dad is a deputy and works at the same team of Hailey's dad. 
" Yeah.. I so hate it! What are we gonna do there all night again?" 
" Maybe we can bring some alcohol and sneak outside when our dad's aren't watching." She grins.
Jake shakes his head. " Right, don't you think we will have trouble for that?"
" Yeah.. But at least it will be worth it. And we just need to hide it as much as possible."
Jake nods his head. "Yeah why not.. When is that again?"
" In 2 weeks if I'm not wrong.." Hailey responds.

Then James comes rushing to them. He is puffing when he has reached them. " You... Have.. No... Idea...." 
" Take a breath, man!" Jake pats at his shoulder.
James takes a deep breath and starts talking again. " You have no idea what I just did."
Hailey and Jake both shake their head. "No... But I'm am guessing it was something out of your comfort zone."  Hailey replies.
James nods. " I asked Anna out.... And she said yes." 
" Woow finally!" They both say.
" But..." James starts.
Jake and Hailey look at him.
" That never sounds good.." Jake says.
" She wants the first date to be a double date.. " James says.
They both nod. " Okaay.. And who is coming on that double date?" Jake asks him.
"Well... " James scrathes the back of his head.
Hailey gets what he means and sighs. " You told her we would come, didn't you?" 
James smiles nervously at them and nods. " Yeah.."
" What? I need to take Hailey on that double date thing then or what?" Jake is so not in for this.
" Well.. for you  guys it will be a friend date. " James explains. Hailey and Jake are both shaking their heads. " Come on, guys. I always help you out. For once, help me out in this."  James pleads to them. 
" Fine!" They both say.
James smiles happily. " Great, thanks guys! It's friday at 7 pm. I am gonna tell her right away." He is already back on his way to go and say Anna the great news.
Jake and Hailey look at each other. 
" Hope this won't get awkard." Hailey says..
Jake sighs. If only she would know what is playing in his head right now. "  Yeah let us just try and make the best of it. It's only one time." 
"Yeah you're right. " Hailey smiles. 

The bell rings and they both make their way to their first class of the day. 

At lunch..
" So where are we going on the date?" Hailey asks at James.
" Dinner and a dance café." He replies.
He keeps looking at his plate, not wanting to look at their faces.
Jake and Hailey look weird at each other and then back at James.
" Did you say a 'dance' café?" Jake smirks.
" Anna choose what you were gonna do, apparently." Hailey grins.
James shoots his head up and narrows his eyes. " Yeah she did. And I agreed, since it's the first day. Please not making any more comments on it. Thank you. " He replies. " And besides..." He looks straight at Hailey. " She is gonna wear a dress.." 
She grumbles. " You are gonna make me wear a dress too, really?" 
James nods.
" Do you even have a dress?" Jake asks smirking.
She hits his shoulder. " Of course, I have a few. You will be surprised." She tilts her head up. She stands up and leaves for next class.
The guys get up. "I wonder what that will be." James smirks.
Jake grins. " Same.." 
They get after Hailey to get to their first class. 

Date night..
Hailey is standing in front of her mirror, looking at herself. She is wearing a black dress with short sleeves and short black boots with a high heel. Normally this isn't her kind of look, but James made her too. Otherwise, he would be pissed about it. 
She sighs as she looks at herself. She looks great actually! She has her hair falling down in waves and she putted some light make-up, not too much. Because that's not really her thing. 

She walks down the stairs and into the living room. Her dad is sitting in the sofa, watching some tv. He has the night off. He looks up at his daughter when she enters the room. 
" Well don't you look beautiful.. Why so dressed up?" He asks.
" Double date.. James asked a girl out and he wants Jake and I to join. " She takes a seat next to her dad. Jake said he would pick her up around 6.30pm. 
" You and Jake? You guys aren't.." He asks confused.
Hailey shakes her head immediately. " No dad, it's just as friends.." 

DING DONG!!!

The bell rings. Hailey gets up. 
" Be carefull.. And no trouble for one night, okay?" 
She smiles. " I'll try my best, dad." 
She leaves and goes for the door. She opens up and sees Jake, also dressed up nicely. 
"Woow..." He stares at her. 
" Told you I own nice dresses." She smirks. She pushes him a little at the side and closes the door behind her. 
She walks to his car and gets in. He is still standing at the door. 
'Geez girl.. You're killing me..' He is thinking to himself. 

They arrive at the restaurant.
It's really nice and cozy here. Hailey sees James waving at them. He is already here with Anna. 
Jake and Hailey go over to them. Hailey goes sitting in front of Anna, Jake in front of James.
They are sitting close to a small fire, wich makes it super cozy. 

A while later..
The 4 of them just finished eating. They have loads of fun together. 
Then suddenly Anna asks a question. " How long have you guys been together?" 
Everyone's smiles are fading and it gets quiet.
" Uuhh.. Jake and I aren't dating.." Hailey answers her question.
Anna looks at them a little embarrassed. " Oooh.. I-.. I'm sorry. I thought.." 
" It's.. okay.." Jake responds. Not knowing what to say right now. Are people really thinking that? It's starting to get more difficult for him.
" I am gonna go to the bathroom, I guess.." Hailey gets up. 
Jake gets up too. " Yeah me too.." 

Anna turns her head. " I really thought they were a thing. Lot of people do."
James looks at her. " Jake and Hailey are close, but they aren't interested in each other like that. "
" Lots of people think they are together, you know. The way they act around each other.. It's just.. Whatever. My mistake.." She smiles. " So when they get back, we should go to that café."
James smiles at her. "Yeah we should.. " But in the back of his head he thinks of what she just said. 'Lots of people think they are together' 
James never has thought it about it that way. He always have known them being so super close, he has never thought any more of it. But now after what Anna said, he might start think different too. 

Dance cafe..
Hailey is dancing on the dance floor. She had to be alone for a moment, not in the present of the others. She is thinking of what Anna said. Things are flashing through her head. 'how long are you guys together... Lots of people think they are together.' That last thing she might have heard when she was just around the corner and heard James and Anna talking. She is so messed up. Are Jake and her really acting that close that people think they are more than friends? Never has she thought about it. Never has she thought of dating one of her friends, not even after the kiss in the thruth or dare game last week. 

She hasn't talked to Jake about it either. What does he think? Does he think about her like that? Or is she just a friend to him? But she is too scared to talk to him about it. She can talk to him about anything, but this is just one subject she won't talk about in his presence. 

James, Anna and Jake are standing around a table, watching Hailey on the dance floor.
" Is she okay over there? I'm scared I just started some weird tension between the three of you." Anna says a little guilty.
James takes her hand that's laying on the table. " She is just thinking, better to let her alone for a while. And you don't have to feel guilty. She'll be fine. Right, Jake?" He pleads for Jake's support.
Jake is still looking at Hailey, not hearing that James was talking to him. He's wondering what's on Hailey's mind. The more hints he gets for them being together, the more he starts think about his feelings and the more he starts getting nervous around her. It's all rushing so fast lately. A few weeks ago, he would've never thought about it like that. 
" Jake!" James exclaims.
" Yeah.. " Jake snaps out of it and looks at James.
" Hailey will be fine, right.!" James hisses at Jake.
He nods. " Yeah she will be fine." Jake turns his head back to Hailey.
James sighs and shakes his head. " Let me take you home, Anna. Your dad told me to bring you home by 10.30pm." 
Jake looks to them. 
" You make sure to bring Hailey home, without getting in trouble. Got that?" James demands at Jake.
" Duuhh.. Off course.." Jake replies, like it's too obvious.
Anna waves at Jake as she leaves with James. 

No matter of how the night turned out, James and Anna had a fun first date. James knows how his friends are and knows it will all be okay.
Yet, he doesn't know that both of them are having confused and mixed feelings rushing through their heads at this very moment.