Page 121 of Withered

He clears his throat. “It’s getting late. C’mon, I’ll walk you home.”

Jake walks me home hand in hand, and this night couldn’t get more perfect. I finally let go of his hand on my doorstep and turn to face him.

“Good night. Uh- Bye.” I go on my toes and plant a kiss on his cheek.

“I was expecting more,” Jake chuckles, “but I’ll live with that.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough for today?”

He suddenly grabs my wrist and pulls me close, his arms tightly wrapping around my waist. “I can never get tired of your kisses.”

“Maybe save some for tomorrow?” I ask him with a thoughtful face.

“Fine.” He lets me go. “Good night. Go have a dream about me.”

I wave goodbye and enter my house quietly. In my room, I tuck myself under the covers and turn onto my side, facing my window, whose curtains I’ve left open. I keep staring into his dark room, thinking of all the events that happened in that room and in that house. A burst of giddiness rushes through my body, and I fling off the blankets and dance around my room.

I have a boyfriend. I have a boyfriend. Jake is my boyfriend. Yeah.

I waltz around my room, then swing my hips and throw my arms in the air, pausing only to catch a breath. The lights in the opposite room turn on, and Jake is leaning against his window. I straighten up, and a blush makes its way to my face.I run back into the covers. Did he see me? He must think I’m insane.

I lift my cover and peer in his direction. He watches me with amusement while typing something on his phone. When my phone pings, I quickly check the text.

Jake:Make sure to call me next time when you put on a show like that for me.

I look at Jake, who winks back, and my eyes widen in embarrassment. So, he did see me.

I grumble and pull the cover over my face before wandering off to land with only one boy, who happens to have the most beautiful forest-green eyes.

Kristy is already at her locker when I reach school fifteen minutes early. I wander over to her and say, “You’re early today.”

“Yeah. I’m waiting for Tyler.” She closes her locker.

I smiled at her. “Are you guys a thing now?”

She nods. “Yeah, but I’m not going to repeat my mistakes.”

“Don’t worry. Tyler is a keeper. And if he does something wrong, I’ll hire a personal killer for him,`” I say, and we walk to my locker.

As I take my books out, Kristy leans against the locker next to mine, and then we hear footsteps. We gaze at the intruders and see Tyler and Jake approaching us, the whole team behind them. They both stop as the other boys walk away.

“Morning girls,” Tyler says cheerfully, throwing his arm around Kristy’s shoulder.

“Aren’t you such a happy little bird?” Kristy cracks a joke at Tyler.

I shake my head and shut my locker. Suddenly, an arm wraps around my waist, and I’m on Jake’s side. He nuzzles his head into my neck and kisses me tenderly, making me blush. It’s not that we are in the hallway; it’s because we are in front of Kristy, and I haven’t told her anything yet.

Tyler and Kristy stop talking and turn their gazes at us. They glance from Jake to me and to his arm, which is firmly placed on my waist.

Kristy raises an eyebrow at me and asks, “Am I missing out on something?”

Tyler, who had confusion all over his face, looks amused and smirks at Jake. “Is that why you’re in such a good mood today?”

Kristy looks at Tyler, then at me. “Are you guys a thing now?” She repeats the same question I asked her a few minutes ago.

I was afraid of this moment. “Uh-Uhm. Yeah,” I tell them.

“What!?” Tyler and Kristy both yell at the same time.

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