Secrets in the Dark

When I woke up the next morning, the early sunlight felt like a cruel joke, highlighting just how little sleep I'd gotten. Still groggy and disoriented, I fumbled for my phone, its screen filled with missed calls and texts from Jake.

Jake Simmons: Eli

Jake Simmons: Are you asleep?

Jake Simmons: I need to talk to you.

Jake Simmons: Okay, you're asleep. I hope we can talk soon.

Last night's events seemed to have pushed Jake to the back of my mind. I rubbed my eyes and tried to shake off the remnants of sleep when my mom's cheerful voice cut through the haze.

"Pack some clothes for three days and two nights," she said, beaming as if she had a delightful secret.

"Why?" I mumbled, barely able to keep my eyes open.

"You'll find out when we get to Grandpa's. We're staying there again," she replied, her grin widening.

I quickly threw together a bag and showered, eager to get to Grandpa's and catch up on sleep. But as we arrived, I spotted Jake standing by the gate, his anxious gaze fixed on me. My heart skipped a beat, and I pulled my hoodie tighter around me, avoiding his eyes as I walked past.

"Eli, wait!" Jake's voice was filled with desperation as he grabbed my arm gently, pulling me to the side. "We need to talk."

"About what, Jake?" I shot back, frustration simmering into my voice. "There's nothing to talk about. Just go inside—Caroline is probably looking for you." I shook off his hand and walked briskly into the house.

He let go, but his eyes remained on me, full of unspoken words. I walked inside, my emotions tangled between frustration and something softer that I didn't want to admit.

Inside, Uncle Rick was bursting with excitement. He gathered everyone—my sister, my parents, Grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins—in the living room.

"We're all going to Cevesta!" he announced, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

A wave of excitement washed over us. "Yayyyyy!" my sister, cousins, and I chorused.

"When, Uncle?" Florence asked eagerly.

"Tomorrow at dawn," Uncle Rick said. "We'll head to the airport then. Are your bags packed? Because if you're not ready, we'll leave you behind. We are not going to wait for you." He teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The excitement was palpable. It would be our first time flying to Cevesta, a city renowned for its stunning beaches and vibrant culture, promised to be an unforgettable adventure. I could hardly contain my joy as we made plans and celebrated. As we celebrated, I overheard Caroline and Jake discussing the trip. Jake would be joining us, and since Uncle Rick was covering the costs, it was just us cousins, Uncle Rick and Grandpa. Our parents would stay behind, making it a special trip for us—and Jake.

As I tried to eavesdrop on their conversation, Robin yanked on my shirt, his face pale.

"I saw Peter," he said, his voice shaky.

For a moment, the mention of Peter broke my fixation on Jake, again, and I felt a rush of anxiety.

"Where did you see him?" I asked, my tone incessant.

"By the glass door," Robin said, pointing towards it. "I saw his hands, all scrawled across the glass."

He was visibly shaken, trying to cover his eyes as if the sight was too much to bear, while Mico snickered, clearly enjoying the drama.

I turned to the glass door, my pulse quickening. "There's nothing on the door," I said, peering closely. The glass was clear and unmarked.

"Are you sure?" Robin's voice was strained.

Mico stopped laughing and stepped closer, his expression shifting to concern. "You are just imagining it again, Robin," he suggested.

I scanned the door again, but Robin's fear was starting to get to me but that's when Mico ended up telling the truth.

"Okay enough," Mico said as he continued laughing. "There's no ghost—just a prank."

Robin stared in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Mico chuckled. "I am Peter. I set up the questions, answers, and the spooky stuff. Just trying to scare you."

Robin blinked in disbelief. "You mean—?"

"Yep," Mico confirmed, trying to suppress his laughter. "Peter Answers' been playing the role of the perfect virtual tarot to keep us on our toes."

Robin's relief was short-lived. "But what about the hand on the door?" he asked, still bewildered.

Mico burst into laughter. "Oh, you're just paranoid."

Robin stared at the door, his anxiety spiking. "Seriously? I saw a hand there."

Despite Robin being a scaredy-cat, we all ended up laughing, the tension melting away. It seemed like Mico had managed to pull off his prank perfectly, leaving us with a mix of relief and amusement. Robin, however, was still clinging to his spooky hand, not quite ready to let go.

As night fell, my excitement kept me awake. I retreated to the balcony, hoping to catch a glimpse of the coming dawn. The night was serene, broken only by the chirping of crickets. My phone dinged, and I saw Jake's message.

Jake Simmons: I see you're still up, huh?

I left it on read and shifted to the far side of the balcony, only to find Jake standing there, waving at me from the gate. He welcomed himself and went inside. I moved to the opposite side of the balcony, determined to ignore him. I bet Caroline was still downstairs waiting for him then.

I stared into the darkness, lost in my thoughts while Chris Medina's song "What Are Words" played softly in the background. When the song ended, I turned toward the door, ready to finally catch some sleep. I turned around to find Jake standing directly behind me. Our faces were inches apart, and his intense gaze locked with mine. My breath caught in my throat, and I was too stunned to even blink. In that moment, everything I'd been trying to ignore about him—about us—seemed to surface.

Jake, with his close proximity and that smoldering look seemed to materialize out of thin air as if he had been waiting for this very moment. I couldn't help but think—he really needs to stop appearing out of nowhere like this.

"Eli," he whispered, his breath warm against my cheek.

Before I could respond and start to avoid him, the distance between us vanished as he pushed me against the wall-trapping me in with his hands. His hands pressed against the wall on either side of me, creating a cocoon of warmth and intensity that made it hard to breathe. His eyes, dark and searching, bore into mine, seeking something—answers, maybe, or perhaps reassurance.

"Please talk to me, Eli." he pleaded, his voice soft but desperate.

I struggled to find my voice. "Jake, this—this isn't right," I said, my words faltering. "We're about to go on this trip. We need all need to enjoy, especially you and Caroline, not—"

"Not us?" Jake interrupted, his face shifting from desperation to something softer, more vulnerable.

I tried to push him away, my mind racing with the image of Caroline's if she found out. But Jake's grip tightened, and he kept my back against the wall. The heat from his body, and the intensity of his leer, made my heart race. I struggled and managed to walk away, Jake grabbed my hands and pinned me, again. The space between us closed as I felt his chest press gently against mine, and his warm breath mingled with my own. My mind raced, torn between pushing him away and giving in to the undeniable pull that had been growing between us.

"Jake, this isn't right," I said once more, my voice shaking despite my efforts to stay calm. "What about Caroline?" I managed to ask, my heart pounding as I tried to maintain some distance. "What if she finds out?"

"Let's not think about that right now," Jake said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm thinking about you and me. I can't keep pretending this isn't real. It's driving me crazy."

All I can do is close my eyes, hoping that if I could just block out the moment, it would disappear. But instead, I felt his lips brush against mine. The kiss was gentle at first, a tentative exploration of everything we'd been trying to deny. His lips were warm and soft, and the sensation sent a shiver through me that made me want to kiss him and made him continue.

As the kiss deepened, his hands moved to cradle my face, pulling me closer. I was caught between the thrill of the moment and the fear of what this could mean. As he pressed his body even more, the heat from his body seemed like it wanted more. I felt something hard and bulging from below his torso and this sent a different sensation throughout my body, making a part of me throb voluntarily. This feeling was new, tempting, exciting, and scary. 

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless and flushed. Jake's eyes were filled with a mix of relief and uncertainty. "I know this is complicated," he said quietly, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "But I can't ignore what I feel anymore. We need to figure this out, even if it's messy."

I looked into his eyes, seeing the same confusion and longing reflected back at me. "I don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice trembling. "This is all so overwhelming."

Jake took a deep breath and nodded. "Neither do I. But we're in this together, okay? We'll face whatever comes next, side by side."

As the heat of the moment intensified, Jake's hands on the wall slackened just enough for me to wriggle free. I stepped away, my movements unsteady as I retreated inside, my mind a whirlpool of conflicting emotions. I fled inside, desperate for clarity. My heart raced with confusion—torn between the intense desire I felt for him and the undeniable guilt over Caroline. The kiss had ignited something deep within me, awakening a feeling—an all-consuming mix of love and lust that I wasn't prepared to confront.