Chapter 23: Chapter 23

I gasp in excitement as Jake drops the burger box into my lap. I open it up and take it out, my mouth drooling. A piece of lettuce falls from the burger, landing in my lap.

"Emily, baby, I love you but please don't wreck my car." Jake says, glancing over at me and my disastrous eating habits. I roll my eyes, taking a huge bite of the burger.

"Oh my god, this is better than sex." I groan, my craving finally being satisfied. Jake raises his brow at me before turning his eyes back to the road.

"Sex with me is better than that burger Muffin, admit it."

"Sorry Jake but the burger wins," I smirk, taking another caveman sized bite. From the corner of my eye Jake scowls, his man pride taking a serious beating.

"Can I have a bite and see if you're right?" Jake asks me, opening his mouth wide and leaning towards me. I shake my head, holding the burger close to my heart —

"Jake, baby, I love you but I love the burger more."

Jake shakes his head but can't contain his smile from spreading into a full blown grin. He stops at a red light, taking the chance to lean over and kiss me, his tongue immediately wanting access to my mouth.

"You taste like burger and chips," he whispers, his tongue flicking out to lick my bottom lip.

"Yum, lucky you." I grin, feeling happiness settle inside my stomach. Jake smiles before turning his attention to the road. I stare aimlessly out of the window, sitting up a little straighter as I notice someone familiar on the other side of the street.

Short and petite with dark hair.

"Is that Jane?" I ask Jake, narrowing my eyes to inspect the girl closer. She's leaning against a wall with her phone in her hand and she seems to be waiting for someone.

"Yeah, it is." Jake comments, confirming my thoughts.

"What is she doing out here alone? I hope she's okay." I speak out loud, signalling for Jake to pull up on the other side of the road. Seconds before I call out to her, Jane waves at someone down the street, a smile spreading across her face. My eyes travel in the direction she's smiling and land on a male figure heading her way.

"That's definitely not Tobias..." Jake drifts off, his frown deepening further. I frown in confusion, watching as the figure walks directly towards Jane and stands in front of her.

"It could be a friend of hers." I say quickly, watching in shock as the boy holds his arms out towards Jane. She immediately embraces him in a hug, clutching on to him tightly. The male figure leans down, kissing Jane.

I gasp in shock, slapping a hand over my mouth. That's definitely not Jane's friend.

"Since when does friends greet each other with a kiss?" Jake says icily, pushing his driver door open and stepping out.

"I don't have a good feeling about this..." I groan, following as Jake storms up to Jane and her mystery boy.

"Jane!" Jake yells out confrontationally, his voice booming through the empty streets. Jane and her friend instantly freeze before turning and coming face to face with an angry looking Jake.

Jane's eyes widen in fear and she glances around, no doubt for help. I wonder whether her look is down to pure guilt . . .

"Who is this?" Jane's friend asks her, his eyes narrowing as Jake. He's not half as broad or tall as Jake and looks even smaller when standing in front of him. He squares his shoulders up defensively, attempting to make himself stand taller. Jake's reaction is to scoff, raising one eyebrow at him —

"You're not scaring anyone, far from it."

I take a step forward, placing a hand on Jake's forearm for a reminder to stay calm. His eyes briefly flicker over to my hand on him and he nods subtly, letting me know he understands.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" I ask Jane who's stood frozen to the spot. Her eyes are wide with fear as she glances between all three of us like a deer caught in the headlights of a car.

"Who is this Jane?" I ask louder this time, my eyebrow raised. Guilt and sadness begins to bubble inside of me as I think about Tobias and how crushed he'll be when he finds out.

"This is Dylan," Jane mutters, her eyes drifting to the floor. I hear Jake's breathing increase beside me as he struggles to remain calm. I don't blame him, I'm also angry and saddened for Tobias.

"Do you want to tell me what you're doing with my cousins girlfriend, Dylan?" Jake asks, staring directly into Dylan's eyes.

"She never told me she had a boyfriend." Dylan replies gruffly, glancing at Jane briefly. Jane's cheek heats up in complete embarrassment.

"Are you seriously cheating on Tobias?" I snap in Jane's direction. I guess Violet isn't the only person trying to ruin a relationship tonight. . .

"Tobias doesn't want me anyway!" Jane snapped back her hand reaching out to grip onto Dylan's. Dylan instantly clutched onto Jane's hand in return.

What the actual?

"Are you guys serious right now?" Jake scoffed in disbelief. I nodded loving how Jake was basically mirroring my exact thoughts.

"What the hell Jane?" I added glaring at her my face full of confusion. I genuinely thought she loved Tobias... Heck I knew he loves her. I knew how much this would hurt him and the anger inside of me increased.

"I didn't mean for it to happen like this!" Jane yelled taking a step back. Dylan immediately put an arm around her shoulders protectively glaring at me and Jake as if we were the bad ones.

"You can save the protective act. I'm not going to hurt either of you although I can't speak for Jake." I tell them both truthfully. I glance at Jake, noticing a slight smirk on his face from my words.

"How long has this been going on then?" Jake asks, his eyes darkening up towards Jane. She swallows the lump in her throat, portraying her nervousness.

"I don't need to answer myself to you two, especially not you." Jane spits in my direction, completely taking me by surprise.

"What the hell have I done?" I ask her, my voice rising higher from the sudden shock. Jane is usually such a laid back girl but tonight I'm seeing a completely new side to her. Jane scoffs at me, her little frame standing up tall. She turns towards Jake, giving him a sympathetic look —

"You really shouldn't trust your girlfriend."

My mouth hangs open in shock and I quickly shut it again.

"What the hell have I done?" I screech repeatedly, in complete disbelief. Jane is the person who's guilty in all of this so why is she throwing the blame on me?

"Yeah. . . What has Emily done? What has this got to do with you cheating on Tobias?" Jake snaps, his face settled into a permanent scowl. I still can't work out what Jane is insinuating and it begins to bother me intensely —

"Like I said, Tobias doesn't want me." Jane responds to Jake, her eyes suddenly becoming full of emotion. I frown deeper, feeling completely out of the loop here.

What happened between Tobias and Jane?

"So why didn't you break up with him instead of going behind his back?" I question. Jane's eyes briefly glance over at me before she scowls further, hatred burning in her eyes.

"I'm not talking to you Emily!" She snaps at me, almost spitting her words. I pause briefly in shock, my eyes fluttering closed for a second as I try to understand her reaction towards me.

Well hello to the real Jane.

"Can you tell me what's really going on here instead of looking at me like a spoilt little Jack Russell who wants to bite my ankles." I respond, my brow raised high.

Jane inhales deeply, holding the bridge of her nose as if she's the main actor in a drama series. I struggle to contain myself from bursting out with laughter even though nothing about this situation is funny.

"Seriously Emily, stop playing dumb. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Jane yells, her hands flying out. I take a step back as one of them narrowly miss my face by inches.

"I think you should back up a little Jane." Jake snaps bluntly, his voice low and protective as he nudges Jane away from me.

"Get your hands off her!" Dylan snaps, his mouth turning up into a snarl. He immediately grips onto Jake's arm, attempting to pull him off Jane.

Jake's entire posture stiffens up as soon as Dylan lays his hands on him. He slowly turns his head in Dylan's direction, his voice low and dangerous —

"You've got five seconds to get your filthy hands off me."

Dylan narrows his eyes at Jake however I don't miss the look of fear that flash in them for a second. He swallows nervously, his eyes flickering to the floor as his confidence crumbles.

"I just don't want you hurting her man!" Dylan responds pathetically, taking a step back and removing his hands off Jake.

"You seriously think I'd hurt a girl?" Jake asks him, shaking his head in disbelief. Dylan glances nervously between Jake and Jane, his eyes flickering between the two constantly.

"No?" He answers, his voice wavering as he notices the fire burning in Jake's eyes.

"Good boy, run along now Dylan." Jake smirks, signalling for Dylan to leave in the opposite direction down the road with a simple nod of his head.

"I'm not leaving her." Dylan says hysterically, his voice rising in panic. I roll my eyes at his reaction —

"We just want to ask her a few questions, that's all." I respond firmly, staring at Jane who's giving me complete side eye. . . If only looks could kill.

"Go. Now." Jake warns Dylan, taking a step towards him threateningly. Dylan immediately turns and scurries down the road, not even taking a second glance at Jane. I scoff, letting out a chuckle —

"Nice replacement you got there," I laugh, humour lining my voice. Jane shuffles awkwardly on her feet, her cheeks heating up from her new boyfriend leaving her stranded.

"Whatever." Jane mumbles.

"What the hell is going on here Jane?" Jake asks her impatiently, getting straight to the point.

"I don't want to be with him anymore okay!" Jane responds, her eyes widening and her voice rising in a high pitched chipmunk like squeal.

"So why not tell him that before you got with Mr Protective Boyfriend of the Year?" Jake snaps, the anger in his voice directed at her.

"I was scared!" Jane yells back, her eyes widening. I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest.

"You were scared? Great excuse." I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes at her bullshit excuse.

"This is all your fault anyway Emily!" Jane yells all of a sudden, standing on her tip toes and pointing her finger directly in my face. I narrow my eyes at her, feeling completely confused —

"What have I done?!" I yell back at her, my patience completely running out. Jane glares at me, clearly thinking my act of obliviousness is fake and staged. Her eyes blaze with fury as she stares me down.

"Because. . .Tobias is in love with you!"