Chapter Twenty-seven

Luke's P.O.V

What the actual fuck, Luke? You say something as obvious and stupid as that? What the hell is wrong with you? Do you want Chloe to find out that you like her?

"W-what?" she stammered, her face becoming red.

"I meant that I like how you challenge yourself. You're the smartest, hardest working girl I know. I wish I could be more like you," I said quickly, hoping to save my ass. "Unlike you, I don't challenge myself and I procrastinate," I laughed nervously.

"Oh," she sighed.

Thank goodness she bought it.

"You might procrastinate a little, but you're extremely smart, no doubt about that," she smiled with humor in her beautiful brown eyes.

A compliment like that coming from Chloe Claire made me feel lighter than a cloud. "Anyway, I really need your help in pretty much everything about writing this play," I said, returning my gaze to my blank word document. "I don't even know where to start."

"And this is why I'm here," Chloe smiled and began to help me.

We finished writing our plays in the span of two hours–most of it being Chloe helping me. It was amazing at how patient she was, never getting frustrated with me when I asked questions–which happened more than twenty times at least. I thanked her profusely at the end of it and she of course said it was no problem and that I would do the same for her.

On her way out, I couldn't help the urge to want to go after her and tell her to stay. I used to be okay being alone until I met her. Then I really felt alone when I was alone.

There was a part of me that wished that I had confessed that I liked her right then and there, but the other part of me screamed at me that after the shower incident it wasn't the right time. It would have made things awkward.

I sighed and put my laptop back into my room, not knowing what to do with myself afterward. All I could think about was my crush on Chloe Claire. It was inevitable that I admitted my feelings for her. I had to. I couldn't let her slip away from me twice.

"I'm baaack!" Jacob said as I heard the dorm room door open.

I walked out of my bedroom to see Jacob with a wicked grin on his face.

It was his wicked grin that said it all. He left without saying anything earlier, probably telling Chloe to just chill as she waited on me. He took the brush I was looking for and caused me to amble into the living room asking where he put it when I saw Chloe standing near the tv with frightened eyes. He had set me up.

"How was your little date with Chloe Claire?" he said as he tossed his car keys and wallet on the kitchen island.

"I know what you did, Jacob," I lowered my tone and folded my arms. "And it was pretty fucking terrible of you."

"What was terrible of me?" he asked innocently with a mischievous grin, his cold eyes boring into mine.

"You set me up earlier," I walked toward him angrily. "You took my brush and didn't even bother to warn me that Chloe was in our dorm room. That was fucking embarrassing, Jacob. My towel even dropped right in front of her!"

Jacob snorted and started laughing uncontrollably, reeling over. "Dude, that is fucking hilarious."

Anger took over me. I wanted to shove Jacob and punch him in his gut, but I held myself back. There was no point in fighting. It was out of character for me. "No, it wasn't," I said through gritted teeth, clenching my fists until they were pale white.

Jacob cocked his eyebrow, finished laughing. "So what if I did, Luke? She was bound to see it someday."

She was bound to see it someday? What the hell? "What do you mean?" I was clearly confused.

"Dude you can stop with the pretending. Game's over, Luke. I already know everything," Jacob said while walking to the fridge. He pulled out a cold water and gulped part of it down.

My heart started pounding and my mind started racing. Game's over? What did Jacob know?

"You can't be fucking serious," Jacob widened his eyes in disbelief while leaning against the counter. He ran his hand over his perfectly gelled hair.

"I seriously have no idea," I said carefully while thinking of the possibilities.

"So you can piece together what happened earlier, but you have no clue what I mean? Well isn't that rich," he said and gurgled his water.

I couldn't help but feel a little grossed out by watching him gurgling his water.

"I know that you like Chloe Claire, Luke," Jacob stated matter-of-factly. "You always have. You can't hide anything from me. We are best friends for a reason," he smiled slightly.

My jaw dropped. "Y-you do?" This was coming as a huge surprise. I really thought he didn't know. There wasn't even a point in hiding it now. "For how long have you known?"

"Since the fifth grade," he said and finished down his water. "It took me a while to figure it out, but after I asked Chloe Marshall out for you and you had no response, I realized it was Chloe Claire."

"If you knew, why didn't you tell me back then?"

"Because I wanted you to tell me yourself, but as you can see that never happened. Plus, I thought you would get over her," he laughed slightly. "I've always been the one who encouraged you to date other people because I never wanted you to end up with her."

"Why tell me now? Why did you make me embarrass myself in front of her today?" I asked as I slowly sat down in the arm chair, rubbing my hands together in thought.

Jacob sighed and plopped himself carelessly on the couch, propping his feet on the coffee table. "I was trying to push you two into ruining your renowned friendship. I don't like her, Luke. I think she's a bitch."

"But she isn't a bitch," I defended her. "I just don't think she likes you."

"And that is what makes her a bitch," he grinned sheepishly. "But at the same time I don't blame her. I've always been pretty rude to her because of you."

I smiled slightly. "Yes you have."

"I've just been thinking lately that I shouldn't be such an ass. She might not be my cup of tea, but if you like her that's all that matters. Although it's obvious to me, it isn't to everyone else. I also want you to happy my man. Plus, I think she may like you, too."

"Really?" My heart skipped a beat. "What makes you think that she may like me?"

"You really are oblivious, Luke," Jacob laughed, resting his arm on the top of the couch and rested his foot on his knee. "I kept seeing you two together when I was walking to class or eating at the cafeteria. I saw you two eating together one night and I was about to interrupt it all except I saw how much you enjoyed spending time with her."

I could feel my face flush. I did really enjoy spending time with her.

"But seriously man, you carry her pink backpack for her? What are you a wimp? I would've just made her tote the damn thing herself," Jacob said while shaking his head.

"Her backpack hurts her, Jacob. I wasn't going to watch her in pain when I could do something about it."

"You were always the more chivalrous one," he said and we both laughed.

"But seriously, you think that Chloe might like me?" I asked while leaning forward in the armchair.

"Yeah, man. I see the way she looks at you, too."

My heart felt lighter and I wanted to break out into a happy dance. Jacob thought that she liked me! This was Jacob I was talking about.

"So when should I tell her that I like her?" I asked quickly, revved up like I would be at a football game.

He shrugged. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to this Halloween frat party with me, but I guess you can invite her, too. You can tell her then."

"But you do know that I would have to invite everyone else if I invited her," I said, remembering back to when I had to pick her up at the club. "She would be uncomfortable there without Hailee."

"Then do what you gotta do. Invite the whole damn pizza party crew if you have to," Jacob laughed.

I smiled and nodded. "Should I go ahead and send out the text now?"

Jacob nodded and so I sent out a text to everyone that they were invited to go to a Halloween frat party.

I looked over at Jacob and it was the first time I fully appreciated him. He was a true friend, and even though he didn't necessarily support Chloe and me as a couple, he was good enough to tell me to go for it.