I'm fishing too, even though I already know. And I'm stupid enough to hope he'll deny it.
Jacob doesn't even hesitate. His voice crackles through the headset, clear as day. "Yeah. I am. Always had a thing for Care. Since last year."
The words land like a cross-check straight to the ribs.
My grip on the controller goes tight enough I swear the plastic's about to crack. Heat spikes in my chest, sharp and sudden, like someone just lit a blowtorch inside me.
Heat spikes through me, restless and jagged, crawling under my skin like a swarm of hornets. My jaw locks, my teeth grind, and I can practically feel the boards rattling in my head, the same buzz I get right before a fight breaks out on the ice.
"I mean it, man. I've been wanting to ask her out for months. Just never found the right time. She's different, you know? Not like the other girls here. She's... I don't know. Real."
My controller vibrates in my hands, but I'm not even seeing the screen anymore. My jaw ticks, the muscle grinding so hard it hurts.
Jacob laughs nervously, filling the silence. "You think she'd say yes if I did? I mean, she's not dating anyone, right? She hasn't been seeing anyone?"
I force a chuckle, dry and flat. "Dude, trust me, you don't want to tap someone like Caroline."
"Why? Why would you say that?"
I scramble, heart hammering, brain reaching for anything, anything but the truth. "Because, man... you don't really know her. Like, sure, she's all sweet and quiet in public, but when you actually hang with her? She's scary. Like, full-on terrifying. She's got this temper that'll cut you in half. One wrong word and—boom—you're dead. She'll chew you up, spit you out, and not even blink."
I let out a sharp laugh, adding fuel. "And don't get me started on how clingy she can be. Once she latches on, she's everywhere. Texts nonstop, shows up when you're trying to hang with the boys, always wanting more of your time. It's... a lot."
I hear Jacob scoffs. "Bullshit. That's just you trying to scare me off."
Well, he's not wrong about that.
"I don't care what you say, Zach. I like her. I should at least try, right?"
The words are out before I can stop them, sharp and defensive, tumbling past my lips in a rush. "She's way too out of your league. I mean, come on... she's not worth your time."
The second it leaves my mouth, my stomach bottoms out.
Feels like I just slashed my own tires mid-race. I don't mean it — not a word of it — but the lie sits there, sour and heavy.
There's a pause on the other end, just static and the faint sound of Jacob's TV humming through his mic. Then his laugh crackles in my headset, low and smug.
"Damn, man. You sound like you're gatekeeping her. What's the deal? You like her or something? Don't want anyone else asking her out?"
My grip tightens on the controller, shoulders stiff.
Jacob keeps going, playful, needling. "I mean, it's kinda obvious, isn't it? You don't like seeing Care with anyone else. That's why you jumped the gun and told everybody she was going to prom with you. Beat me to it before I could even ask her properly."
My pulse spikes, panic clawing at my throat. And instead of admitting anything — instead of telling him the truth — I double down on the lie.
"No, man, I don't swing that way. She's just my friend. Nothing more in there. I'm only going to prom with her because it's... expected, you know? Our parents want the whole 'last high school dance together' thing. And, come on, she didn't really have anyone else asking. Well—besides you, I guess. But that was already too late."
Jacob chuckles into the mic, the sound breaking up through static. "Man, you're full of shit. You don't just drag your best friend to prom unless there's something there. Don't give me that 'parents made us' crap. You could've asked literally any girl in school, but you didn't. You picked her."
I force out a laugh, rough and hollow, like it's stuck in my throat. My chest tightens, heat crawling up my neck, because he's pressing too close to the truth I can't let slip.
"You act like it's nothing, but I see it. The way you look at her? You're not fooling anyone, bro. Just admit it—you don't want anyone else near her because you want her for yourself."
Instead of manning up—saying the truth, the thing clawing at my chest—I go full coward.
I don't know what the hell is wrong with me.
I've never wanted to punch myself in the face this badly.
