Chapter 1: Going home

*Meanna*

"We have to go before someone comes looking for us," I say, breathing heavily.

Jake ignores me and continues to kiss my neck. "But I don't want to."

I push on his chest and he groans but lets me go. I stand on my tiptoes and peck his lips.

Jake and I have been sneaking around for the last year. He's my brother's best friend and I have no idea how he is going to react, so I decided to keep us a secret for now.

"Why don't we just tell everyone what's going on," he asks me, picking up my bags and heading towards the door.

"You're Jax's best friend and I'm his sister. He is probably going to feel betrayed," I tell him, grabbing my purse and phone and following behind him.

I lock up the dorm room that I share with my best friend, Jenna.

"He's dating Jenna and she's your best friend. If he got mad that would be kind of hypocritical of him," he says. I ponder his words and he has a point, but this just feels different for some reason.

We meet up with Jaxon, Jenna, Shayla, Elijah, Rodney, and Kennady at our cars to go home.

Our aunt Ariel, who is Shayla's mom, opened a special ops school that we all started at when we were in the ninth grade. It is an eight-year school that helps teenagers and young adults to learn to defend themselves and those around them.

Jaxon, Jacob, Jenna, and I are eighteen. Shayla is seventeen. Kennady, who is Jake's sister, is sixteen. Elijah and Rodney are thirteen.

Jenna is Aunt Justice and Uncle Seth's daughter. Shayla is Auntie Ariel and Uncle Brian's daughter. Elijah is me and Jaxon's younger brother. Rodney is Auntie Beth and Uncle Rico's son.

We're on our way home for Thanksgiving Break and I can't wait to spend time with family away from teachers and homework.

"Finally! Took you guys long enough," Jax says, throwing his hands in the air.

"Sorry, I couldn't find my phone," I tell him, but Jenna gives me a knowing look. I'm pretty sure she knows what's going on with Jake and me, but she has yet to say anything.

"Whatever, let's just go," he says and we all get into our separate cars.

Jax, Eli, and Rodney get into me and Jax's shared car. Jenna, Shayla, and I get into Jenna's car. Jake and Kenz get into Jake's car.

The girls and I are jamming to the Jonas Brothers when she suddenly turns the music down so that it's background noise.

"So Mea, what's going on with you and Jake," she asks me with a quick, knowing look thrown my way.

"What do you mean," I ask with fake ignorance. I can feel heat rise from my neck to my face.

"Oh don't play stupid," Shayla says. "We know you guys have been sneaking around."

"Fine, but you guys can't tell anyone," I warn them.

"Cross our hearts," they say at the same time.

"We kinda got drunk at this party last year and I lost my virginity to him," I tell them then take a deep breath. "We tried to pretend that it didn't happen, but then Charlie tried to make a move on me, and Jake kind of snapped at him. He punched him in the face and told him to never touch me again. We've been secretly dating ever since."

"Aww, how romantic," Shayla says dreamily.

"Why didn't you tell us before," Jen asks me, sounding a little hurt.

"I didn't want to put you in the position of having to lie to anyone," I tell them honestly.

"Oh honey bunch, you know we got your back for life," Shay says with Jen nodding in agreement.

"Thanks, guys," I give a genuine smile.

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*Jaxon*

I feel like something is going on with Jake. He's been acting a little sketchy lately, sneaking off when he thinks I'm not paying attention.

"I'm so excited to be home for a week," Eli says.

"Me too, I'm so over classes," Rodney groans like he's in physical pain.

"Babies," I say rolling my eyes. I pull up on our street and park in the driveway, everyone else's cars following suit.

The girls get out of the car giggling about something and I go up to them to help them get their stuff, catching the end of their conversation.

"-you should really tell him soon," Jen is finishing.

"Tell who what," I ask, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing the top of her head.

"It's nothing," she tells me, turning around and kissing me, while Mea says, "It's girl stuff."

I eye them suspiciously but shrug it off.

"My babies are home," I hear mom yell.

I turn to see all of our mothers come barreling out of the house. Mom runs right up to Eli and kisses him all over his face.

"Mom, stop! You're embarrassing me," he yells, trying to push her away.

We all laugh at them while the rest of the parents come over calmly.

"They're home," Hayden yells as she runs over to her big brother, Rodney.

"Hi Hay, I missed you too," he says, hugging her.

"Jaxy," Xahlia, my little sister, yells.

"Hey short stack," I say, picking her up and swinging her around, making her giggle.

"Come inside everyone, dinner is almost ready," dad says, coming outside and greeting us. We all head inside behind him.

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*Meanna*

I head up to my room to change after dinner and Jake follows, claiming he's going to the bathroom.

"Hey babe," he says, closing my door behind him.

"Hey yourself," I reply with a smile on my face.

He comes over and cups my face, leaning down and capturing my lips with his.

"You've been waiting to do that all evening, haven't you," I ask him, putting my chin on his chest to look up at him.

"Busted," he says, leaning down and kissing my forehead.

I pull away and go into my closet to change, telling him to stay put.

"I think I want to tell Jax soon," I tell him, coming out in just my underwear to grab the hair tie that I left on my bed.

"Are you sure," he asks me.

"Not really but I hate lying to him and I know that you do too," I say.

"Yeah but I feel like I'm going to lose him either way," he says.

I put my long hair in a bun and go back into my closet to finish changing.

"You're his best friend and I'm his twin, he shouldn't be too upset," I tell him. "Not to mention he's dating Jenna, who happens to be my best friend, so that would be pretty hypocritical of him."

"Yeah, I'm just worried I guess."

"Me too, but we've kept this a secret for long enough."

He gives me a nod and heads out of my room to go back downstairs while I go to my bathroom to freshen up a little. I really hope I don't lose my twin over this secret.