CHAPTER ELEVEN: 𝓃obody’s 𝒻ooled.
🥽/🍁 SUMMARY ✶ Nobody’s fooled when you and Jason say you’re “just friends”. Clips between the two of you keep going viral constantly and more people seem to suspect you two are dating.
🥽/🍁 DISCLAIMERS & WARNINGS ✶ swearing. kissing. not proofread, may be misspellings.
🥽/🍁 TAGLIST ✶ @httpjoints @i8wruby @whimsical-bubble33 @hollymurdock @sofloveswbb @leahbeahhh @moonzsh @gsalcedo
🥽/🍁 NOTE FROM VAL ✶ This chapter is boring I couldn’t think of anything. But, the Tarayummy party is coming up !!
THE INTERNET had apparently decided that you and Jason were dating. Not officially, not publicly, not even according to either of you. But apparently, that didn’t matter.
By nine the next morning, your phone was already vibrating across your nightstand. You reached for it without opening your eyes.
Big mistake. Notifications covered the screen from every single social media platform possible. You unlocked your phone and immediately regretted it.
Someone had made a compilation from yesterday’s shopping stream. The title read: jason and the girl next door being TERRIBLE at hiding their relationship.
You stared at it. “You’re kidding.” The video had millions of views already. You watched, first was Jason buying your top. Then him refusing to let you carry one of the shopping bags.
Then the moment he’d said, you like me.
The barbecue, the porch, and the last clip was only a few seconds long. You and Jason sitting beside each other under the lights. He’d been looking at you while you talked, you hadn’t even noticed.
The comments were ruthless.
THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HER
they’re not slick
JUST DATE ALREADY
“we’re friends” PLEASE
the entire core house knows
You locked your phone, “Absolutely not.”
A knock came from your door, “You awake?” Jason.
You sat up. “Yes, you can come in.”
The door opened, Jason walked in holding his phone. He looked at you, you looked at him.
“You’ve seen it?”
He held up his phone, “Unfortunately.”
You laughed. “How bad?”
He walked over sitting next to you and showed you, his screen displayed the same compilation. You watched it again, this time beside him.
Neither of you spoke until the porch clip appeared. Jason glanced at you. You glanced at him, then the comments started flying.
HE’S STARING AT HER
HELLO???
JASON BLINK TWICE
You covered your face, “Oh my God.”
Jason laughed. “They’re observant.”
“They’re insane.”
“Both can be true.”
You lowered your hands, “You were staring at me.”
“I was listening.”
“With your eyes?”
“That’s usually how it works.” You laughed as he watched you, smiling.
For a second, neither of you looked away. The teasing faded. There was something different about the silence now. Not awkward, just noticeable.
You looked down first, “Anyway.”
“Anyway.”
By lunchtime, everyone was downstairs. You were sitting at the kitchen island eating cereal when Ron walked in, took one look at you, and immediately started laughing. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Why are you laughing?”
He pulled out his phone, “Look.” You didn’t want to, he showed you anyway. Another edit.
You groaned, “I hate all of you.”
Jason walked in behind him. “What are we looking at?”
“Your wedding.”
Jason stopped, “Our what?”
Ron burst out laughing. “You heard me.”
“Bro.” The kitchen erupted.
You shook your head, “You guys are all twelve.”
Laiys leaned against the counter, “Honestly, I’m just impressed you two are still calling yourselves friends.”
You looked at Jason, he looked at you. “We are friends.”
“Sure.”
“We are.”
“Okay.” Laiys sighed, walking upstairs.
You pointed at everyone, “Why are you all like this?”
Ron shrugged. “Because we’ve seen the way you two act.”
Jason grabbed a bottle of water. “We’re not dating.”
“Yet,” Silky added.
You nearly choked on your cereal. “Can everyone stop saying that?”
Jason laughed, “Deadass, bro.”
Ron looked between you. “So when are you two actually going to figure it out?”
The room went quieter. You hadn’t expected the question to hit differently.
You glanced at Jason. He was already looking at you. Nobody laughed this time.
You shrugged, “I don’t know.”
Jason nodded, “Yeah.”
Ron raised his eyebrows. “That’s the first honest answer you’ve given.”
“Shut up.”
Everyone laughed again, and the conversation moved on.
But the question stayed with you. When are you two actually going to figure it out? You didn’t know. And that bothered you more than it should have.
That afternoon, you went live.
You sat at your desk editing a vlog while your chat moved faster than usual. The first few minutes were normal. Then someone mentioned Jason. Then someone else did.
Then suddenly the whole chat was going crazy.
ARE YOU AND JASON TOGETHER
GIRL WE KNOW
YOU TWO ARE SO OBVIOUS
You laughed, “Can you guys please find something else to talk about?”
More comments.
You shook your head. “Jay and I are good.” You paused, “We like each other. You guys already know that.” That alone sent the chat flying.
You smiled, “But we’re figuring things out privately.” It was the most honest answer you’d given. And somehow, it felt better than lying.
Jason watched the clip later. He found you in the kitchen after his stream. “You handled that well.”
You looked up, “Thanks.”
He leaned against the island. “I liked what you said.”
“What?”
“That we’re figuring things out.”
You smiled. “I meant it.”
“I know.” He looked down at the counter. “Me too.”
A quiet moment passed, then his phone buzzed. He checked it. “Tara’s party is in less than two weeks.”
You groaned, “Already?”
“Yep.”
“You going?”
“Obviously.”
He looked at you, “You’re coming. With me.”
“Was that a question?”
“No.”
You laughed, “Okay bossy.”
“You’re coming.”
“Fine.”
He smiled. “Good.”
That evening, you found yourself on the upstairs balcony. The sunset was setting beyond the house. You leaned against the railing, looking down at the backyard.
Footsteps sounded behind you. You didn’t have to turn around. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Jason came to stand beside you.
For a while, neither of you said anything. The house below was still loud. Music, laughter. Adapt yelling about a video game. But up there, everything felt quieter.
“You thinking about New York?”
You nodded, “A little.”
“Three weeks.”
“I know.”
He leaned against the railing. “That’s coming up fast.”
“Way too fast.”
He glanced at you, “You don’t want to go?”
“I do.” You looked down. “New York is home.”
“I know.”
“But…” You hesitated.
“But what?”
You sighed, “I don’t want this to suddenly disappear when I leave.”
Jason didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked out at the sun setting. “It won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
You turned toward him, “How?”
“Because I don’t want it to.”
The answer was so simple that it made your chest tighten. You looked away. “That doesn’t always mean things work.”
“No.” He paused, “But it means we try.”
You nodded, “I’ve never really done this.”
“Done what?”
“Liked someone this quickly.”
He smiled slightly. “Neither have I.”
“You seem pretty calm about it.”
“Trust me, I’m not.” You looked at him, he laughed. “I just hide it better.”
“You do.”
“You just make me nervous.”
You blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
He shrugged, “Because I actually care what you think.”
You smiled. “That’s cute.”
“Don’t call it cute.”
“Why?”
“Ruins my reputation.”
You laughed. He smiled.
The moment settled again, then he looked at you. “So…”
“So?”
“Do you want this to be something?” You knew exactly what he meant.
You looked at him for a few seconds. “Yeah.”
His expression softened, “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded. “Me too.”
Neither of you moved. The distance between you suddenly felt much smaller. You smiled nervously. “You’re staring again.”
“I’m listening.”
“You love that excuse.”
“It works.” You laughed.
Then he leaned slightly closer. He paused, giving you plenty of time to move away, you didn’t.
The kiss was long and soft. Nothing dramatic, just enough to make everything you’d both been avoiding suddenly feel real. You moved closer to him, putting your hands on his neck as he moved his to your waist.
When you pulled back, you both smiled. Jason shook his head quietly. “What?” You said smiling.
“Nothing.”
“You look like you’re about to say something.”
He smiled, “I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“Everyone downstairs is going to be unbearable.”
You laughed. “They’re going to know.”
“Definitely.”
You looked toward the balcony door, “Should we tell them?”
Jason smiled. “Absolutely not.”
You laughed, “Good.”
He held the door open. “After you.”
You walked inside, “Oo such a gentlemen.”
Neither of you said anything else, you didn’t need to.
For the first time, there wasn’t really anything left to figure out. Everyone had been right. Nobody was fooled. And, finally, neither were you.