Jakes pov

I found a note on the kitchen counter when I returned home. Curious, I picked up the note, and after reading it, I groaned.

My parents had made a last-minute decision to stay at a hotel downtown for the night.

While I was reading the note, James came up from behind and snatched it from my hands, asking "Oh, what is it?" in a playful tone.

I was already irritated with James because I had a feeling something had definitely happened between him and Sarah and I was suspicious of  them because she seemed horrified after coming back from the restroom.

Without even talking to him, I went straight to my room to freshen up. After laying on my bed and scrolling through Instagram, I had a sudden urge to check on Sarah.

"Hey, how are you? You looked pretty today and I just wanted to check on you. Are you alright?" I messaged her.

I waited for a few minutes before dozing off to sleep.

My eyes shot open from the ping and vibration of my phone. I checked the time, it was 5:30 am. From the notification, I could see it was Sarah's text.

I quickly checked and my heart raced a little when I saw that she had responded.

Good, morning.. Thanks, I'm all right Jake ..

I felt a jolt of fortune when I saw my name.

"Good to know that you're doing fine! I'll see you at school" I texted back.

Despite having little time before school, I decided to go for a run. I knew that getting some exercise, it would help me feel energised and focused for the day ahead.

As I ran, I enjoyed the fresh air and the feeling of my heart pumping.

After I finished ,I headed home feeling invigorated and ready to start my day.

When I walked in the door, I was greeted by the delicious aroma of breakfast that Annie had prepared. She had gone above and beyond to make us feel cared for and nourished.

After my invigorating run, I went upstairs to take a refreshing shower before settling down to enjoy the delicious breakfast.

The warm water felt soothing as it cascaded over my skin, washing away the sweat and grime from  the run. After my shower, I felt clean and refreshed, ready to savor each bite of the meal.

When I went downstairs, I saw that James was also sitting there. Even though I didn't feel like socializing, I was able to focus on the delicious meal she had prepared. Every bite was a delight, and I felt grateful for the care that she had put into it.

Annie has always been a special person in my life, and I feel lucky to have her. After my mother, she is the person who is closest to me.

After saying my goodbyes, I got into my car and drove off to school. I was excited to see Sarah.As I drove, I listened to my favorite music and took in the sights around me. Despite the traffic and other obstacles, I felt a sense of joy and anticipation for what the day would bring.

As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that Sarah was also arriving at the same time and parking her car nearby. I felt a sense of comfort looking at her. After turning off the engine, I took a deep breath and gathered my things before stepping out of the car. The sun was shining and the air was crisp, and I felt a surge of energy and excitement for the day ahead. I wondered if Sarah was feeling the same way.

Upon seeing Sarah, I walked over to her and greeted her warmly before we both headed towards the college entrance.

"I heard that the trip is considered a curriculum activity. Do you have any plans to attend? It could be a great opportunity to learn and explore new things." I asked keen to know if she would come.

"To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll be able to attend the trip because I haven't had a chance to ask my dad about it yet. I have a feeling that he might say no, but Uzma has offered to help me talk to him and make a case for why I should go."

"Ohh!! I can understand why you might be hesitant to attend the trip if you haven't talked to your dad about it yet. However, it's great that Uzma is willing to help you have that conversation. I hope that your dad agrees to let you go, especially if you feel that it's important for you to earn a good GPA." I do my best to encourage her and keep her hopes up.

"I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that he'll agree, especially since I really want to earn a 10 for my GPA. It would be an amazing accomplishment and I'm willing to put in the effort to make it happen. I'm trying to stay positive and keep an open mind, but I also know that it's important to respect my dad's decision and not push too hard if he's not comfortable with the idea." She seemed to be a little down while saying

As  we were  walking towards the locker room, I noticed Rabecca coming towards me and she looked absolutely furious. Her face was twisted into a scowl and her eyes were flashing with anger. I could tell that she was really upset  and she was struggling to keep her emotions in check.  I took a deep breath and prepared to approach her, hoping that she doesn't create any other drama

She approached us and pushed Sarah a bit while asking, 'What are you doing with Jake?'

Her tone was accusatory and hostile, and I could feel the tension in the air. I was taken aback by her sudden aggression

I was outraged when I saw Sarah being pushed. It's never okay to use physical force to resolve a conflict.

"How dare you push her ,I don't believe anyone has the right to tell her who she can or can't hang out with, and I don't have any control over your feelings towards me"

"You're just mine Jake" she says furiously.

"I want to make it clear that we're not dating. But even if we do who the hell are you to know or even tell us what to do and don't you dare accuse her of anything without any evidence."

"If you continue to treat and accuse her unfairly, you'll see a side of me that you won't be able to handle. Let's try to work through this together and find a solution that works for everyone."

I hoped that my words would help her see reason and calm down, but I wasn't sure if they would have any effect."

"Forget it Jakeeee lets goo please "sarah says having tears in her eyes she pulls my hand to stop me .

I was kind of shocked and felt butterflies too but also wanted to focus on the situation.

"And the last thing I wanted to say is I know you are pursuing me romantically, but I want to make it clear that I'm not interested. It's important to communicate our feelings honestly and respectfully. It's not fair to make assumptions about someone's character or label them unfairly"

After pushing Rebecca away, I walked past her while holding Sarah's hand. I noticed that a small crowd had gathered, and it seemed like many people had heard what I said. I could tell that Sarah was feeling uncomfortable because so many people were watching us.

"Are you ok Sarah"I asked her if she was okay, and reassured her that Rebecca needed to have her dose this time.

"I'm sorry for the drama that had occurred"
I glanced down at our hands, which were intertwined.

She was still holding my hand tightly, and I didn't want to let go, but we had to go to class.

I cleared my throat and asked her which class she had.

She  suddenly realized she was still holding my hand and quickly pulled away, looking embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, I felt uncomfortable because others were looking at us". she apologised.

"It's understandable to feel self-conscious or uneasy when we think others are judging us, but it's important to focus on our own feelings and not let others' opinions affect us too much". I make her understand.

After grabbing our books from our lockers, Sarah and I headed to our respective classes. Once I settled into my seat at the back of the room, I noticed James walking into the classroom as well.

"What happened in the corridor" he asks with a stern look .

"All the  people are talking about you and Sarah you told me let  her choose between us and now you are letting people assume you two have a fucking thing going on" he says while banging the bench with both his hands.

"Wait first let me ask you what happened on the bowling ally, I know something definitely happened so don't even try to deny anything." I retorted.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to, could you clarify?" He says making an irritated face.

"James don't play games just tell me what happened what you said to sarah I know you're holding back. She looked really upset when she came from the restroom" I stood while saying.

James raised his voice and blurted out that
"I asked Sarah to go out with me"
His admission hung in the air like a heavy weight, and I could tell that he was feeling very emotional. Suddenly, the teacher walked into the room and we all quickly took our seats.

As the teacher began the lesson, James fidgeted in his seat and kept glancing over at Sarah. I could tell that he was struggling to focus, and I wondered if he regretted asking her out. Meanwhile, the rest of us tried our best to pay attention, but it was difficult with James so obviously distracted. The minutes ticked by slowly, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next.

Obviously I was being crushed inside to see james and Sarah together ,even thinking of them made me sick ,so tried my best to hide my feelings. I knew that if I let my jealousy show, it would only make things more awkward for everyone. So, I did my best to focus on the lesson and tune out the tension in the room. But every time I looked over at James and Sarah, I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. It was hard to even think about them being together and know that I could try my best to have what I wanted.

After the class i try to catch up with James, hoping to get a chance to talk to him about what happened. But as soon as the bell rang, he practically sprinted out of the room. I felt a pang of disappointment and wondered if he was avoiding me on purpose. Maybe he didn't want to talk about what had happened, or maybe he was just so caught up in his feelings for Sarah that he didn't have time for anyone else. Whatever the reason, I knew that I needed to find a way to move on from what happened and start focusing on other things.

As I was heading out of the classroom, I saw Sarah walking down the hallway. I took a deep breath and decided to approach her.

"Hey, Sarah," I said, trying to sound casual. "What class do you have next?"

Sarah turned to me with a smile. "Oh, hey! I have Ap economics. You?"

"Same here," I said, relieved that we had something in common. "Maybe we can walk together?"

"Sure, that sounds great," Sarah said, falling into step beside me. As we walked down the hallway together, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe things would be okay after all.

As we walked to our next class, I started to feel more comfortable around Sarah. We chatted about our favorite books and movies, and I found myself laughing at her jokes. It was nice to have someone to talk to who wasn't caught up in all the drama with James. When we finally arrived at our English Lit class, I felt a little bit sad that our conversation had to end. But I also felt hopeful that maybe this was the start of a new friendship. As we took our seats in the classroom, I smiled at Sarah and felt a sense of excitement for what the future might hold.

As the class began ,I found my self being lost in the discussion.

After class, I approached Mrs. Johnson and asked if she could split us into pairs for the team project.

"Hi, Mrs. Johnson," I said. "I was wondering if it would be possible to split us into pairs for the team project? I think it would be a great way to get to know some of the other students in the class." I was hoping for Sarah to be pared with me so I can know her better.

Mrs. Johnson smiled at me. "Of course, that's a great idea. I'll make sure to split you all up into pairs by next class."

"Thank you so much," I said, feeling relieved that I wouldn't have to work alone.

"I really appreciate it."

"No problem at all," Mrs. Johnson said, patting me on the back. "I'm always happy to help my students."

As I walked out of the classroom, I felt a sense of excitement for what was to come. Maybe this project would be the start of something new and exciting.

As I walked into the cafeteria, I noticed a group of people gathered and heard James shouting. It sounded like he was upset about something. I made my way over to the group and saw that James was accusing Sarah of sharing some information about him with me. Sarah looked uncomfortable and upset, and Jake was standing nearby with a scowl on his face.

"James, calm down," I said, trying to defuse the situation. "What's going on?"

"Sarah told you something about me, didn't she?" James demanded. "I trusted her, and she went behind my back."

"I didn't mean to hurt you, James,and you weren't being appropriate " Sarah said, her voice shaking. " I just thought to talk to someone about what I'm going through but I didn't even get a chance to talk about it to Jake."

"That's not the point," James said, his face turning red. "You had no right to share my personal information without my consent."

"It's not even personal, you were blocking my way in the restroom and had the nerve to ask me go out with you . Is this appropriate Jake." Sarah says with a sob, turning towards him.

Jake  stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "James, you're making Sarah uncomfortable," he said. "You need to apologize and back off."

"I don't have to apologize for anything," James said, taking a step forward. "Sarah betrayed my trust, and I won't stand for it."

I could see that the situation was escalating, and I knew that I needed to act fast. "Everyone, please calm down," I said, my voice firm. "Let's take a step back and talk about this calmly."

Slowly, the group began to disperse, with James and Sarah storming off in opposite directions.

"A look of frustration on his face. "I can't believe James would act like that, He's always been so paranoid about people talking about him."

"I know," Sarah says , shaking her head"

"But I think we need to talk to him and let him know that his behavior is hurting you."

She  nodded, her expression serious. "I'll talk to him don't worry , But I don't know if he'll listen."

As James walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. This conflict had opened up a whole new set of problems, and I wasn't sure how we were going to solve them. But I knew that we had to try, for the sake of Sarah .

I noticed that Sarah looked pale and upset, so I quickly offered her a seat and a glass of water. "Here, sit down," I said, guiding her to the nearest table. "Are you okay?"

Sarah nodded, but I could see that she was still shaken up. "Do you want anything else?" I asked. "Juice, maybe?"

Sarah shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I could tell that she didn't want to talk about what had just happened, so I decided to give her some space. "Okay, well, if you need anything, just let me know," I said, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Thanks," Sarah said, giving me a small smile in return.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. This conflict had hurt all three of us , and I knew that it was going to take a lot of work to repair our relationship. But I was determined to do whatever I could to help , even if it meant stepping out of my comfort zone.

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"Hey lovelies ! Hope you're doing well. Did you'll like  the chapter and please guys keep voting .Have you seen the new reel? And what are your thoughts on James and Jake's controversy?"

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