And then my phone rang.

My stomach dropped as I looked over at Jake, who's eyes instantly shot down to my phone, seeing a photo of Josh and I flashing onto the screen. I had completely forgotten I had set that photo as his contact, him and I lying in my bed, his arm wrapped around me and our faces squished together, his smile bigger than I had ever seen. He had insisted we take the photo, and I was so thankful he did. I barely ever had photos of myself, but he always made sure to take enough for the both of us.

I think the last photo I had with Jake was still on film.

My heart was racing, unsure if I should answer it or not until he motioned down to it, insisting that I do. I hesitated for a moment before finally accepting.

"Hey.."

"Hi Jaime!" He said, much more cheerfully than when he was talking to Jake. "What are you up to on this lovely evening?" I couldn't help but smile.

"Oh, um.. nothing, why?"

"Well, everyone's getting together at Danny's tonight and I was wondering if.. you wanted to come with me." My heart dropped. With him?

"Oh.. w-with you?" I asked.

"As friends. Or.. whatever you're comfortable with. I just.. I want you to come." I bit down on my lip, peeking back over at Jake who was already glaring back at me, shaking his head.

"I can come pick you up." He added. "We were all gonna go swimming and his hot tub is open now so.. it was just gonna be a fun night and.. I don't know, I thought you'd have fun." Jake angrily shook his head.

"Um.. w-when.. when would you.. come and get me?" I asked, shooting Jake a look. He rolled is eyes, turning back towards the window.

"As soon as you want!" He said happily. "The guys and I are at the carnival right now but we're gonna head out soon, nothing much going on here tonight anyway, so.. we could swing by or.. I could come and get you myself. Whatever's easier for you. Whichever you'd prefer."

He was always so sweet.

I looked back over at Jake who held his glare out the window. I don't know what he expected. Josh had no idea, and as far as he was concerned, we would be getting back together. Of course he would offer.

"Um.. how about.. I just meet you there?" I finally answered. "I'm.. I'm leaving my mom soon and.. I think it'll just be easier, you know, getting home and such."

"Well, I wouldn't mind taking you home either. Whenever you wanted to leave, that would be fine with me. I don't want you going out of your way if you don't have to." He said. I could tell he wouldn't be accepting no for an answer.

"I.. um.. y-yeah, sure okay." I finally said. Jake then quickly turned around, glaring back at me.

"Hang up." He mouthed.

"Okay great! I'll text you when I'm on my way. Can't wait to see you."

"Y-yeah, okay. See you then." I said, hanging up.

"Why are you going with him?! Now you're basically his date." He snapped.

"Well I can't go with you, you're suppose to be out on your own date, remember? And you know that there is no way you and I could show up together, not after what happened.."

"I just don't think it's fair that we have to hide like this. You didn't have to do this with him. By us having to sneak around like this, you're just proving that his feelings come before mine." He said. My heart sank.

"Jake, that's not.. it's just.. it's different." I managed, feeling my face get hot. I didn't want to fight with him, not after the night we just had. Everything was finally perfect, and now..

"How is it different, Jaime?"

"I just.. I don't want to hurt him."

"So instead you'll hurt me?"

I don't understand why this was becoming such a problem now. It was his idea to keep us a secret in the first place? Why was this all of a sudden such an issue for him?

"This isn't hurting you, Jake."

"Yes it is, Jaime. All I've ever wanted was to finally have someone that I can be.. excited about, someone to love just like everyone else and-"

"Someone to.. what?" I said, cutting him off. My heart now feeling like it was going to beat out of my chest.

Did he say what I think he just said?

He stopped, staring back at me wide-eyed for a moment before finally looking away.

"I.. I just.. I want to be able to have what everyone else has, and for it to be real. And now that.. it finally is, I have to.. we have to hide it, and that's not fair." I reached over for his hand.

"Jake, you know I care about you."

"You care about me." He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Okay, well, then I'll get you home. I don't want you to be late for your date." I could feel the anger now growing inside of me.

"It was your idea to keep us a secret, remember?"

"Yeah, I remember." He sighed, starting the car.

I could feel tears start to come to my eyes.

"Tonight was everything I've ever wanted." I said softly. He turned back to me, his face dropping. "Every year.. I've had to watch as you took different girls up there, and every year, I just.. so badly wanted it to be me. And this time it finally was and.. it was perfect. Now.. can you please just bring me back to the house so I can kiss you goodnight?" His face finally relaxed, his lips curling into a gentle smile as he reached over for me, caressing my face and pulling me into a long, tender kiss. I grabbed onto his shirt, pulling him in closer, kissing him harder.

"Can I still come upstairs?" He sighed, finally backing away. I nodded, giggling to myself.

"Of course."

When we got back to his house, he came around, opening the passenger door for me, grabbing my hand and quickly leading me over to my house before the rest of the guys got home. I pulled him towards the back door, hastily guiding us inside and up the stairs to my room.

Before we even made in through the doorway, I felt his hands on my waist, turning me around and pulling me into a passionate kiss. I didn't hesitate to wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him back harder as I felt his hands move down my body, lifting me up into his arms and carrying me over to my bed.

I couldn't help but laugh as he carefully tossed me down, crawling over me, kissing me again, so lovingly. I reached up, tangling my fingers in his hair as his lips moved down to my neck, kissing me that much more intensely. I could feel his breath getting heavier along with mine as he pressed his body down onto me, his hands slowly gliding up my arms until they found themselves in mine, our fingers now tightly interlocked above my head.

"Are you gonna get changed?" He asked between kisses, his breath now feeling so warm against my skin. "You look way too cute for someone who's not going on a date." I couldn't help but smile, shaking my head.

"What should I be wearing then?" I asked, smirking back up at him. He bit down on his lip, holding his stare on me for a moment before eventually rolling off, going over to my dresser.

"Well, we're going swimming right? So, where are your bathing suits?" He asked, now opening my top drawer.

"Don't go through them." I laughed. "Bottom drawer, on the right." He knelt down, opening it, now rummaging through. I sat up, watching him as he dug around, trying his best to find matching pieces. It was funny seeing him so into this now, considering how many times he complained to me about how he couldn't care less about what his exes wore.

"Oh.." He finally said, holding up a bright blue bikini. "This is the one." My cheeks burned. I never wore that one around anyone else. It always felt.. way too revealing, and I never thought I looked good in it. I had been meaning to return it for forever, but it was far too late now.

"Why have I never seen you in this one?" He asked, his smile growing. I shook my head, reaching out for it.

"Because." I said softly. "It doesn't look good."

"Oh, I seriously doubt that, Jaime." He insisted, handing it over to me. "You look good in everything." I shook my head again, avoiding his eyes.

"No I don't." I mumbled.

"Just try it on, and if you really hate it then.. okay." He said, giving me a reassuring smile. "I can go stand out in the hallway if you want." He laughed. I nodded, avoiding his eyes.

"Okay." He said softly, leaning in and kissing the top of my head before heading out, closing the door behind him.

I quickly got changed, now inspecting myself in the mirror, not able to comprehend how he could ever think I looked good in something like this. I couldn't help but think of his exes, how effortlessly flawless they all looked in their bathing suits, half the time making me stay home when everyone got together to go swimming, knowing that compared to them, there was no way he would even look at me.

Finally, I peeked out into the hallway, waving him in. As he propped the door open, he stopped, staring back at me with wide-eyes, his cheeks burning bright red.

"I know, it's.. I'm just.. I'm gonna change." I sighed.

"Jaime, you are.. the most beautiful girl I have ever seen." He said, keeping his eyes locked on mine. And for a moment, I believed him, unable to contain my smile.

"Really?" I asked. He nodded, his smile growing as he leaned into a soft, tender kiss. I reached up, gently holding his face in my hands, kissing him back.

"Almost.. too beautiful, maybe you should change." He laughed, kissing me again. I shook my head, giggling to myself as I pulled him back into a series of kisses, each one longer, harder than the next.

"We should just get you out of this thing all together." He laughed, picking me up again and bringing me over to my bed. I held on tight, as he lied me down, crawling over me, his lips moving down to my neck again. I sighed, tightly clinging to his back as his kisses got harder, his breaths getting sharper as his hands slowly moved down my body, grabbing onto my bathing suit bottom. I then moved my hands down onto his, stopping him.

"N-not yet." I managed, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. He backed away, his face dropping as he stared back at me.

"O-oh.. I'm.. I'm sorry, I just-" And then my stomach dropped as I heard knocking coming from the front door.

"He's here, I.. I should go." I said, maneuvering out from underneath him. He sat back on the bed, watching me as I gathered my things.

"Jaime, I.. I think we should talk abou-"

"Just.. wait until we're gone until you go, okay?" I asked, pulling on my shorts, grabbing a shirt from the foot of my bed. He nodded, biting down on his lip.

"Okay." He said softly. I stopped in the doorway, staring back at him for a moment before going over, and pulling him into a long kiss.

"I'll see you soon." I sighed, gently brushing the hair out of his face. He nodded, forcing a smile.

"Jaime.." I heard from behind me. I quickly stopped, turning back to face him.

"Yeah?" I asked, now impatiently leaning in the doorway. He held his stare on me, his eyes now uneasy and sad.

"Jaime, I.."

"We can talk about it there, okay?" He nodded again, now avoiding my eyes.

"N-no. T-that's okay. I'll.. I'll just see you there."