Chapter 35: Consequences and Conflicts

Samantha's kiss, full of passion and desperation, set Jack on fire like wildfire. Her hands, firm on his face, pulled him closer as their bodies tangled in a frantic embrace. Sam's legs entwined with his, the water of the pool intensifying the heat emanating from her. The wet bikini clinging to her body revealed the curves that Jack had so desired, and excitement overcame him, threatening to break the fragile control he had left. 

Sam, lost in the moment, didn't care about anything else. Alcohol and frustration released her deepest desires, the need to feel loved, desired, complete. She wanted Jack, right there, right now, without reservations, without regrets. 

But Jack, despite the intoxication and passion that consumed him, remembered Moon. The image of his girlfriend's radiant smile, of the happiness they had shared, invaded his mind like a bucket of cold water. He could not betray Moon, could not destroy the trust she placed in him. 

With a superhuman effort, Jack pulled away from Sam, breaking the kiss. "Sam, we can't do this," he said, his voice hoarse and hesitant. "I... I have a girlfriend." 

Sam looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears and frustration. "So what?" she replied, her voice cracking. "You don't want me? I do, I can't hide it anymore..." 

Jack felt his heart break when he saw the pain in Sam's eyes. He wanted to hug her, comfort her, tell her he liked her too. But the memory of his mother, of the nights he spent listening to her with other men, haunted him. He couldn't be like Martha, he couldn't betray Moon's trust. 

"Sam, I... I can't," he said, his voice thick with guilt. 

Meanwhile, Moon, who had gone out to get some fresh air, watched everything from the kitchen window. The scene of Jack and Sam kissing in the pool hit her like a lightning bolt. Tears welled up in her eyes, and the pain of betrayal choked her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Jack, the man she loved, the man who had sworn to love her, was cheating on her with her friend. 

Moon ran through the party, her face covered in tears, seeking refuge in her room. Tory, who saw her run past, followed her, worried. 

"Moon, what happened?" she asked, her voice full of compassion. 

Moon, between sobs, told what she had seen. Tory, furious, felt her blood boil in her veins. She could not believe that Jack had betrayed Moon, and on top of that with Samantha LaRusso, the girl she despised the most. 

"That bastard!" she exclaimed angrily. "I'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget." 

Tory went in search of Jack, determined to confront him. She found him near the pool, still dazed from Sam's kiss and guilt. 

"Jack, what the hell is this?" she asked, her voice icy. "You cheated on Moon with this... this..." 

Jack, shocked to learn that Moon had witnessed the scene, was at a loss for words to defend himself. He felt guilt eat away at him, shame burn his face. 

"I... I don't..." he stuttered, unable to form a complete sentence. 

Tory, disgusted by Jack's cowardice, pushed him hard and slapped him across the face. "You're an idiot!" she yelled. "Go explain yourself to Moon, if you dare." 

Jack, with his tail between his legs, headed to Moon's room. He knocked on the door, his heart in his hand. 

"Moon, please let me explain," he begged, his voice shaking. 

Moon opened the door, her face bathed in tears, her eyes full of hurt and disappointment. 

"Get out of here, Jack," she said, her voice cold and sharp. "It's over. It's over between us." 

Jack tried to argue, but Moon wouldn't listen. She yelled at him, pouring out all her anger and frustration. She couldn't stand being jealous anymore, she couldn't stand feeling insecure anymore. And now, with his betrayal, she didn't see a future for their relationship. 

Jack, heartbroken, left Moon's house. He got into his Impala and drove aimlessly, guilt eating away at him. He had messed up, he had lost the girl who trusted him. For his mistake, what would have happened if he hadn't simply gone to help Samantha? If he hadn't let himself get carried away by the moment? 

He felt like complete crap. It was his fault, he knew it. But Sam had his share of responsibility too. She had teased him, she had kissed him, she had seduced him. 

"Why did she do this?" he wondered, his voice thick with anguish. "Why didn't she leave me alone?" 

He drove to the beach, parked the car, and got out onto the sand. The night was dark, the sea rough. Jack sat on the sand, watching the waves crash onto the shore. He needed to think, he needed to find a solution to the problem he had created. 

But how could he fix what he had broken? How could he regain Moon's trust? And how could he deal with the guilt that was consuming him? 

Jack spent the night on the beach, tortured by guilt and uncertainty. He had lost Moon, the girl he had been crushing on. What would he do now? How could he redeem himself? 

The future looked bleak and uncertain, and Jack felt lost in a sea of ​​doubts and regrets.