HIS UNMATCHED AFFECTION

Chapter 1

Eric

The yellowish tinge of the sun penetrates my room giving it a golden touch. I struggle to open my eyes then I sit on my bed. It's a school day. And any minute from now my mum will be shouting my name from the dining room. I walk like a zombie to the bathroom. Jakes room is open I can see he is busy doing push-ups. I splash the cold water on my face and stare myself in the mirror. I wonder why Stacy can't see what am seeing. Anyway I pick up a towel from the stand and hit the shower. Five minutes later Jake comes in with a white towel around his waist.

"Morning dude", He says.

"Morning", I say walking past him.

"Coach just hit me up on a text we have a friendly in the evening carry your kit", Jake says with a pat on my back.

I nod in agreement. He is our team captain. Of course he has to be. Am good but he is better. We meet in the dining room for breakfast. Maryse has prepared the best pancakes a hungry teenager can ask for.

"Mum this are nice", I complement.

"Always.. At least Somemone gives me credit for my cooking in this house", She says.

Dad and jake groan as I smile.

"He is the youngest mama's boy", Dad says.

Dad and Jake do their signature big boys high five to celebrate. I hate being called a kid and they know it. And am also jealous of their signature move I've been trying to get them to teach me without success.

"They're just jealous, here have some more", Maryse says adding more pancakes on my plate.

After breakfast. Jake and I go to pick our bag packs upstairs while dad prepares the car. He is dropping us to school. Seaside Academy is flooding with students, teachers and workers.

"Will you come to watch the game in the evening?" Jake asks.

"You both playin?"

"Yeah"

"It's a date", Dad says happily.

Jake and I walk to class as dad turns the car around. We are walking in the hallway when Stacy and her friends -the five fairest show up. Am not looking at her i want to see Jake's reaction. All information I need is in his behavior how he is going to conduct himself. To my surprise Jake is normal.

"Hey Jake", Stacy says.

Jake nods and walks away.

"Bring it in", she says opening up her arms for a hug.

I feel great. Jake being "heyed" and I get to hug Stacy, feel her bra cap rubbing on my chest makes me happier.

"So how're you?" I ask as we walk to class together.

"Am good you look tense", she says.

"I have a game in the evening", I say.

"Don't worry you'll crush it, besides I will be there cheering you", Stacy says.

When we get to the door Mrs. Miller is already waiting.

Stacy

Eric looks great as usual this morning. He also looks off. We've been friends for long and I can tell when he is not fine. I couldn't help but check out Jake. Every time I see him he reminds me of that day we go stuck in the elevator one thing led to another and before I knew it I was all over his lips. I mean they are kissable I could t resist them even though I thought I was immune to his charms. I can't imagine how James, my boyfriend will feel and Eric. Ooh my God Eric! Has he found it out? I made Jake swear not to tell anyone. I hope it's not the reason behind Eric's saltiness this morning the ‘I have a game in the evening’ thing is just a scapegoat.

"Stacy!" Mrs. Miller calls out.

"Yes... Am sorry Mrs. Miller", I mumble.

She caught me off guard. I was totally not concentrating on whatever she's saying.

"Bring your mind back to class or I'll have to call your mum", she threatens.

"It won't happen again", I promise.

"It better doesn't", she says walking away.

Am feeling embarrassed right now. Am not usually caught in silly mistakes like this ones and everyone is staring at me. Apart from Eric who seems to be lost in a world of his own. I doubt he knows. It can't be the game that's worrying him too much. Am struggling to concentrate but I have to. Mrs. Miller keeps staring at my direction I hate it that she is keeping tabs on me. I deserve it though. No matter how I try my mind can't stop thinking about Jake. He is a ladies magnet and he's the kind of guy who can have any girl he wants at seaside. Am sure he is probably not thinking about the kiss. It looks normal for a girl to throw herself on him. I embarrassed myself and I can't figure out what came over me. Am I in denial? Like I actually don't like James though am with him and all this time I've liked Jake? Normally I'd run to Eric for help but this is way too much for him. I don't want to Hurt his feelings even though One way or another he is going to find out. Or should I just tell him?

The first period bell rings. Mrs. Miller leaves and we have no class until afternoon. I walk to Eric's desk. He is packing his books humming to an inaudible tune.

"Hey where to?" I ask smiling sheepishly.

"The library, you're supposed to be hanging out with the girls", He says avoiding eye contact.

I draw my phone and text Linda a rain check. I have to solve this or else am not gonna think straight the whole day. It's ironical I feel more guilt about Eric not knowing than I feel about James.

"No I actually want to talk to you about something", I say in an inviting tone.

"Our spot?" He asks leading the way.

He is talking about the green lawn behind the chemistry lab. It has a cool breeze and it's less noisy a perfect spot for reading and coming clean about some secrets. I like it how he creates time for us.

"Yeah", I affirm following him up.

When we get to the spot it's all quiet as expected. We take the bench seating opposite each other. Eric takes out his physics textbook while I have a copy of ‘The billionaires baby mama book 1’. I don't know where to start honestly. Am trying to think about his reaction. He usually complains a lot about Jake having everything apart from a friend like me how will he feel when I tell that I might have feelings for Jake? I still remember how paranoid he was when I started going out with James. He did a background check and followed him around secretly. James had to promise he wasn't gonna break my heart before Eric "Sanctioned" our relationship. And when James did break my heart once by kissing another girl, which might explain why I don't feel guilty kissing Jake anyway Eric went nuts and punched him in the face in front of the whole school.

"You wanted to tell me something?" He asks writing equations in his notebook.

"Yeah... Am kinda confused about something", I say.

"Does it have anything to do with Jake?" He asks staring at me.

Am dumbstruck. So he knew all this time and he's been acting salty because I didn't tell him. There's a way to turn this around and blame him.

"So you know that we kissed?" I ask.

Wait! Why does he look so surprised?

"I only know you were stuck in the elevator am hearing about the kissing part for the first time", He says with lack of interest.

God damn it! I just snitched on myself. I gotta do damage control. He looks relaxed it ain't taking a toll on him.

"You knew and yet you haven't asked me?"

"Well I was waiting for you to tell me and now that you did what's the problem? It's not like every girl at seaside doesn't want to kiss my brother?"

"That's all you can say?"

"What do you want me to say? Don't worry James doesn't know about it he's just in the dark like me", He says in a soothing tone.

"I feel terrible about it"

"Which part? The James doesn't know part or the you didn't tell me part?"

"All of them and am so sorry I didn't tell you. It's just that I didn't know how you'd react and everything happened so fast"

"It's okay but you should tell James and apologize", He says packing his books.

He's putting me in a very tight spot right now and he knows it. James is the deputy team captain. They are very good friends with Jake.

"But that will ruin their friendship"

"You should have thought about that before sticking your tongue in his mouth", Eric says walking away.

He's officially mad at me.