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~ Day Dreams ~
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~ Chapter Twenty Four ~
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~ Secrets ~
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~ Nineteen-Years-Old ~
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~ Jake's POV ~
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Music radiates in the background of the common room, with groups of people and the swim team bunching on the couches with notebooks and laptops sprawled out throughout the room. A spike of weed reeks through my nostrils as a trail leads its way through the room doors descending from the hallways. Smells like someone is having fun.

"Bro, there are so many hot chicks to bang, and I've got my eye on this one girl," Weston discusses with Ethan as I tune into their conversation midway.

"But how do you get the girl's attention?" Ethan asks Weston as he leans in towards the conversation to hear a better perspective.

"Sometimes you just have to take what isn't yours in order to get what you want," Weston said with a smirk, glancing in my direction but his eyes gluing on to something next to me.

"Why can't guys have a casual platonic conversation about females? You know us females have feelings too, right?" Brooklyn says with hurt present in her light blue eyes as Weston shrugs his shoulders still observing in my direction.

I peer over my shoulder where Weston's stares land upon Chanel sitting next to me writing an essay on fashion. I wonder what that is about? What does Weston mean by 'take what isn't yours? Is he talking about Chanel? I would know about it, would I? Would I be mad? I know I do not love her but what is holding me back from loving her? I was forced to be with her by my mother's influence but I should love Chanel should I?

I shake the uneasy thoughts roaming through my head as I continue with my essay writing about sports. However, a message from Ash on my phone distracts me, as I read his message on the screen.

Ash: Yo, I need your help with something, dude. I smirk at Ash's text and send a text back.

Jake: Are you having girl problems too? As soon as I sent the text my smile appears into a wide grin.

I peer from my phone and notice Ash signalling me from the other side of the room. My smile never fades as I rise to my feet, leaving my notebook on the cushion and slipping my phone into the jeans of my pocket. I halt in front of Ash, but there is a sudden hand pulling on mine. I glance over my shoulder to see Chanel peering up at me with a frown.

"Babe, I'm bored and I want to leave. Are you joining me or not?" Chanel said gazing at her phone for the millionth time today.

"Later, I'm helping out Ash with something. Can it wait, Nell?" I said, smile disappearing as I glance at Ash and he raises his eyebrows.

"Can it wait?" Chanel scoffs, paying less attention to her phone, "I guess our relationship can wait too?" Chanel releases my hand with a force of anger and stomps through the doors and into the hallways.

I sigh, rolling my eyes as I glance in Ash's direction again. He shrugs his shoulders wearing an innocent expression.

"Don't look at me for girl trouble. I'm already having girl troubles and I don't even have a girl," Ash said to himself trailing off in thought.

"Good one, bud," Weston said from behind me with a slap on my back, "That's not how you treat a woman. I'll go see if she's okay." Weston left without asking for permission. I think he has not been asking for permission for quite some time now...

"What was that about? I think you're having more girl problems than me now, dude." Ash omits, slapping my back.

I send a glare in Ash's direction as Ash disregards my stares and continues to slap my broad back with a smirk plastered on his mouth.

"Ash, slapping my back is not helping right now, but I will take what I can get." Ash discontinues his hand movements and he crosses his arms and acts normal. "Why the sudden mood change, Ash? Did something or someone embarrassed you?" I tease Ash.

"Shut up, Brooklyn is looking at me and I have to look good for her," Ash said still posing.

"Wow, you definitely need my help. You need to swallow your wimpy, man pride, no offense—" I said with a pause.

"None taken, dude. Continue," Ash said as he stops posing.

"—And go ask her out," I said signaling my hands towards Brooklyn's direction, "Or are you 'chicken'?"

"I'm not a 'chicken'. Those were very harsh words, Jake," Ash pretends he is hurt and stares at Brooklyn.

"Well, that is what a 'chicken' would say," I tease Ash again.

"Fine, I'll prove you wrong tough guy," Ash's words trail off as he folds up the sleeves of his sweater and his feet make their way towards Brooklyn. Midway through Ash's journey, he hesitates and rushes back towards me.

"Okay, your right. I'm a 'chicken'," Ash said as his gaze drops to the carpet of the community room.

"Sorry man, you're not a 'chicken'. You're just super nervous, but don't worry, I will do it for you," I said, turning my body and aimlessly walking towards Brooklyn.

"Wait, no. Jake, Get back here. I'm gonna kill you..." Ash says in a panic whisper trying to grab me.

I dodge Ash's hands and proceed towards my journey, halting in front of Brooklyn as she notices my presence and stares at me with a smile. "What's up, Jake?"

"Hey Brooklyn, so I didn't get a chance to say that I agree with you about guys not obtaining a casual platonic conversation when it comes to women," I said rubbing the back of my neck.

"Okay, thank you. I'm glad someone agrees. Most people don't even agree with me," Brooklyn says, her thoughts travelling somewhere else.

"Anyway, my mate over there," I point towards Ash and step out of Brooklyn's preferable vision as Brooklyn notices him (if not for the first time) and Ash strikes his pose again. "You see, he has a massive crush on you and I think it's adorable, and look at that face of his..." Both Brooklyn and I study Ash's face as he becomes consumed with embarrassment. "And he's not one of those guys who you speak of, he's a nice guy and he wants to know if you will go out with him?"

"Tell this nice guy you speak of, I will consider his offer only if he himself asks me in person," Brooklyn smiles sending a quick wink in Ash's way. "Anyway, I'm off to find my sister."

"Wait, umm... one more thing. What has been up with Chanel lately?" I ask in a serious tone.

"Sorry Jake, I'm not the person who you should be asking about that," Brooklyn's expression becomes sympathetic. "How about you confront Chanel and I'm sure she can shed a light about how she feels."

"I've already tried talking to her, but she doesn't listen to me," I said with a sigh, "And she makes every single conversation and situation about herself."

"Jake look, I know Chanel can be difficult most times, believe me I know," Brooklyn's eyes travel to her hands, lost in thought, "Hell, I've lived with her my entire life and all I learned is that you need to give her time and space when her thoughts get the better of her, but I'm sure she will come around."

"Okay thanks, and sorry for bothering you," I said backing away.

"Don't worry about it, it's fine," Brooklyn smiles and steals a glance at Ash. "Anyway, I'm going to see if Chanel is okay."

"Okay, and please don't tell her I asked and told you anything," my eyes plea.

"Sure, but you should talk to her soon before it's too late. Bye Jake." Brooklyn steals another glance at Ash and spins on her heels and walks through the community room doors. What does Brooklyn mean 'before it's too late'?

"Yo Jake, so what did Brooklyn say?" Ash questions from behind me.

"She told me she will consider your offer if you ask her in person," I said as I shake off the fuzzy thoughts roaming through my head from the conversation with Brooklyn.

"Oh shi—" Ash mutters to himself, "Are you serious," Ash's eyes widened as he rests his arms above his head and paces within the crowded room.

Once Ash comes to his senses he asks me, "When do you think is the right time to ask her out?"

"Honestly, like now. Let's get out of here and go find your woman," I laugh to myself as Ash sends a glare my way.

Ash and I gather our belongings and head towards our dorm room, where we drop all of our stuff. We begin walking towards my girlfriend's dorm room and during our journey through the narrow hallways we hear a commotion spiralling at the end of the corridor.

Ash and I jog towards the commotion of a couple against the wall but she seems uncomfortable underneath the guy's weight.

"Is there a problem here," I said as I notice Summer pinned to the wall, "What's happened, Summer?"

"There was just a misunderstanding, that's all," Summer said, gazing into my eyes, but not long before she glances away and adjusts her sweater and skirt jeans.

"I was just leaving anyway," Ethan said escaping for the exit. Once Ethan is out of sight I study Summer and make sure she is not hurt. Summer gazes into my eyes again and tears away from her eye contact

"We have to stop meeting like this," I said with a smile playing on his lips, "Oh, and this is my best friend, Ash."

Summer bites her lower lip and half-wave in Ash's direction, "Hi—" Summer bitting her lip is cute. But where have I seen that before? Reminding me of someone I once knew.

"It's nice to finally be acquainted with you," Ash said with a goofy grin and cutting Summer's words short, "I've heard so little about you because of this one," Ash playfully elbows me in his arm, "Jake doesn't tell me about his private lessons."

"Well, what's the point in calling them private lessons if they aren't private," I said with sarcasm shaking my head.

"True," Ash says and changes the subject, "So, how was the lesson last week?"

"Umm... it went really well—"

"She got a concussion, "I intervene with the truth.

"Really? I guess I underestimated your teaching skills, Jake," Ash said staring at me with his dark brown eyes.

"No, his teaching skills are fine, it was my fault. I'm clumsy, I guess..." Summer trails off, studying the wooden floor and sighing to herself.

"Well, it was nice to finally meet you, but I have an exam to study for and a girl to chase after. I'll catch you later, Jake," Ash said, slapping the back of my shoulder and waving goodbye as he walks away, leaving me and Summer alone in the corridor. I know Ash is not going to study, he is going to pace around the room thinking about what he is going to ask Brooklyn.

"So, will you be up for swimming practice this afternoon because my weekends are now crazy busy," I said, breaking the ice as I rub the back of my neck. This girl makes me crazy nervous.

"Umm... I'm not sure. I feel like I'm causing a wedge between you and Chanel and I don't want to make things worse for you two," Summer said, deep in thought.

"Don't worry about us, Chanel needs to understand that it's just a job. Being a coach requires teaching lessons which is part of the gig."

"Okay, it makes a lot of sense when you explain it like that," Summer said, avoiding eye contact and fiddling with the tips of her fingers.

"So..." I trail off, rubbing the back of my neck again, "...is that a yes on the lessons because my mother's the Chancellor and if she finds out I'm not coaching everyone who signed up, I will get into trouble."

"Oh... I had no idea," Summer said, her gaze dropping to the ground, "Well, let me drop off my bag and I'll meet you at the pool afterwards."

"Alright, I'll see you soon," I said backing away still facing Summer, "And I promise, I won't let you drown again," I spin on my shoes and jog in the opposite direction towards my dorm room as I completely forgot to talk to Chanel.

It will be fine. I need to give Chanel some time and space. But how long is enough time to give her? Do I even care? No, I do care, my mother made sure of that. But the question is do I love her? I do not think I have ever loved Chanel. I have only ever loved one girl and that was a long time ago. I do not have time to worry about Chanel and my feelings, I have work to worry about.

I rid the endless thoughts from my brain and proceed towards my dorm room to grab my swim gear. Once in the room, there was no sign of Ash so maybe he manned up and asked out Brooklyn. I change into my lifeguard uniform and pack a bag with a spare set of clothes and a towel. I amble out the door and begin my journey throughout the narrow hallways. The arena doors are within my preferable visions as I push the door ajar, walking towards the indoor shed and set down my bag on the stone of the ground and begin pulling out swimming gear to save Summer's life just in case I cannot save her again...

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~ Cheers ~
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Please, tell me in the comments what you thought about Chapter Twenty Four? 🙈 I'll be greatly appreciated, thank you, you very kind soul!
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~ Chapter Twenty Four ~
~ Dedications ~
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HeliiBoh
DebMorey
PeterPetruzzella
CaitlinWoodward9
DaniJones_14
ChloeMayerhofer
savvvy1998
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You guys should totally check out PeterPetruzzella short story! Lighthouse. It's amazing!
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You guys should totally check out ChloeMayerhofer story! Fallen! It's awesome!
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C.Morey 🥕 xoxo
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