Calidity : A Summer Camp Story

25 May the most petty win

"Hey, Jake," I greeted, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. "Mind if I join you?"

Jake glanced up, surprise flickering in his eyes at my sudden appearance. "Uh, sure, Scarlet. What's up?" he asked, making room for me on the bench.

Taking a deep breath, I settled beside him, my hands fidgeting nervously in my lap. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened with Daphne," I began, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jake's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone guarded.

I hesitated for a moment before plunging ahead. "Daphne told me that you broke up with her because of me," I confessed, my heart pounding in my chest. "She made it seem like I was the reason for your breakup."

Jake's eyes widened in surprise, and he shook his head vehemently. "No, that's not true," he insisted. "I mean, I did mention how you were less clingy with Max over who he hung out with, but it wasn't about you, Scarlet."

Relief washed over me at his words, mingled with a surge of indignation towards Daphne for manipulating the situation.

"So, how do you feel about being used like that?" I asked, my voice quiet but firm.

Jake's expression darkened, and he sighed heavily. "I don't really want to talk about it," he replied evasively, avoiding my gaze.

My heart ached for him, knowing he deserved better than to be treated as a pawn in Daphne's games.

"Okay," I said softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand in a gesture of support. "Just know that you didn't deserve to be treated like that, Jake. No one does."

Jake's laughter cut through the tension like a knife, cold and mocking. "Think about that when you talk to Max," he echoed, his voice dripping with bitterness.

I bristled at his words, feeling a surge of frustration bubbling up inside me. "What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded, my tone sharper than intended.

Jake's expression softened slightly, a hint of sympathy flashing in his eyes. "Sorry, Scarlet. I didn't mean it like that," he apologized, his voice more subdued now.

I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my temper. "It's fine," I muttered, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"So, what did Daphne say happened?" Jake asked, his tone gentler now as he reached out to brush a strand of hair from my face.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a rush of discomfort at the memory of Daphne's words. "She said... she said that you wanted me instead," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jake's expression hardened at the revelation, his jaw clenching with anger. "That's bullshit," he muttered, his gaze flickering with frustration.

I nodded in silent agreement, feeling a surge of sympathy for Jake in that moment. He didn't deserve to be dragged into Daphne's web of lies.

Before I could say anything else, Jake leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Well, she's not exactly wrong," he whispered, a hint of mischief in his tone.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation. I glanced up at Jake, meeting his gaze with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

"Jake, I..." I began, but he cut me off with a crooked smile, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Come on, Scarlet," he teased, leaning back with a playful grin. "Don't tell me you've never thought about it."

I smile at him awkwardly, who does he think he is? How could he flirt so shamelessly with me, knowing Max is just a few feet away?

I try to hide my discomfort as Jake continues to speak, his words feeling like daggers piercing through my defences. The doubt planted by Daphne's accusations begins to take root in my mind, casting a shadow of uncertainty over everything. Maybe Daphne wasn't lying about him. I cannot keep up with everyone's lies.