Jake's POV:
"KIDS BREAKFAST" Mom yelled from downstairs
I was starving and knew if I wanted what smelled like pancakes, I better beat Sam down there. That kid ate like he had a tapeworm, I thought shaking my head. I rolled out of bed and made my way down stairs. Josh was the only one in the kitchen so far and was just sitting down after fixing his plate. I got my coffee, fixed my plate, and sat down. Danny was the next one to enter and then while he was fixing his plate Sloan and Sam walked in. She looked slightly pained at whatever Sam was bothering her about, but my eyes followed her as she walked by. Even with that pained face, and no makeup she still looked beautiful. She was wearing her hair down and that seemed odd, usually the mornings when she stayed the night she'd wear it in a messy bun. What was happening, why do I even know that detail about her, I thought to myself. I knew after last night I was starting to feel things for her but maybe I had feelings before and just didn't know, or maybe I did and just ignored them, I wasn't entirely sure. She walked over and started fixing a plate for her and Sam.
" Looks like someone had fun last night," Danny said, "Who gave you that?"
I looked up from my coffee to see Josh inspecting her neck, I must have given her a hickey and didn't realize it. I bit my lip. This should be interesting. I hadn't told anyone what happened and I assumed she hadn't either.
"So, Sloan, who is this mystery man?" Josh asked
Sloan didn't say anything and just stayed facing the window, fixing her plate. I could tell she was nervous and I just couldn't help myself,
"Yes Sloan, who is this mystery man" I said smiling, she didn't move, just looked up from her plate and out the window.
"No one special thats for sure." She said in a snarky tone as she turned around and shot me a devilish look. Did I just see that right? My face grew more serious as I tried to read her.
"I mean honestly I don't even remember much so it must not have been that great." She said plainly, taking a bite of her pancakes.
I stood up to get myself more coffee and also to keep myself from prying for more information. I couldn't tell if she was just trying to mess with me, or if she was serious. Maybe she didn't remember, or maybe she didn't want to. How could she not remember? I was wasted and I remembered, hell I couldn't get her out of my head. I got more coffee and sat back down to finish breakfast as we talked about the party the night before, and planned our hike for later that day. I stayed quiet most of the time just sipping on my coffee and occasionally nodding. Sloan originally didn't want to go camping but a nagging Josh and Sam finally convinced her. I was glad.
"Took you long enough!" Josh yelled as Sam and Sloan finally made their way to the trail. Sloan made some remark about Sam being a diva that made you laugh and say, "Typical."
We made our way down to the campsite we all loved, it was quite a walk and it was just getting dark when we got there. We all got our tents set up and started a fire. We sat by the fire, everyone having their own conversations, in between taking drinks and drags from the joints Sam had brought. Once again I stayed pretty quiet strumming away on my guitar. My mind was focused on what Sloan had said this morning and I couldn't decide what to think.
"Oh no, the fire is going out" I heard, breaking my concentration
Sloan volunteered to go get firewood because Josh couldn't even stand. I watched as she slowly made her way to the woods, the soft glow of the fire illuminating her face. She gave a slight smile as she walked past, laughing at Josh's attempt to stand. Maybe I would try to talk to her when she got back. Josh began to stand and fell over on me, usually I would laugh but I was a little on edge, still thinking about my feelings and Sloan's snarky remark this morning.
"Josh! Get off of me," I said annoyed, pushing him back over into his chair, "No more for you," I took his beer.
"Oh come on, whats your deal today, you're normally the one most excited for camping and you've been in a shit mood all day," Josh said, slurring his words and pointing at me.
"I'm just tired, why don't we head to bed before you drink yourself into a coma" I said to josh, wrapping his arm over my shoulder and leading him to the tent. He didn't argue. So much for talking to Sloan, I thought, maybe we can talk tomorrow.
"Have fun with that." Sam said, laughing as he watched me struggle to get Josh to the tent
I put Josh on his sleeping bag and he passed out immediately. I turned him on his side facing away from me, just in case he woke up and puked. I got inside my sleeping bag and stared at the roof. I tried my best to fall asleep but I couldn't quiet my mind.
"Sloan are you alive?" I heard Danny yell, obviously drunk, "Oh no I'm gonna puke"
"EW get away go puke over there!" Sam said, I shook my head and laughed quietly
I heard Sloan come back and have a conversation with Sam, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Finally, I heard her say goodnight to the guys. I waited for a while till things got quiet. I couldn't wait till tomorrow to ask her about the night before. I carefully got up and unzipped my tent trying not to wake josh, he didn't budge. I peeked my head out to make sure everyone else had gone to sleep. I made my way to her tent and start to unzip it. It took everything in me not to laugh when I saw her reaction, I had obviously scared her a bit. She was holding up a flashlight ready to assault whatever was entering her tent.
"Jake!" she hissed at me, "What the hell is with you scaring the shit out of me in the woods!" This time I couldn't contain my laugh, I quietly sat down beside her. I got a little nervous which felt foreign to me, it was just Sloan, I talked to her all the time.
"I just needed to come ask you something."
"Oh, ok? what is it?" she said with a perplexed tone and face to match
I could tell she wasn't expecting me to come talk to her and that she was nervous, she was picking her nails and she always did that when she was nervous. Again, why did I know that.
"Do you really not remember last night?" I finally asked, looking up at her to see her reaction. Her cheeks got red and she looked down.
"Jake, of course I remember last night, I just didn't know what to make of it."
I smiled at her response, I was glad she remembered and had been thinking about me too.
"What do you mean?" I asked
She proceeded to explain that I had been wasted and she didn't know if I had kissed her only cause of that, and how since I hadn't talked to her all day, she assumed it was a one-time thing.
"I didn't say anything because you said you didn't remember, and as far as me being wasted, yes it was just a heat of the moment thing at first, but I really haven't been able to get you out of my mind since. I think I may have feelings for you." I said putting my hand on hers
She started blushing again, looking at me with curious eyes, like she was trying to decipher my words.
"Really?" she said shyly
"Yes really." I said looking at her. I wanted to kiss her again so badly. I reached up tucking hair behind her ear and then I pulled her into a kiss. It felt like electricity, but was it just because this was new, or was this a feeling that would last.
"I don't want to rush into whatever this is." She said pulling away. I smiled and thought for a second, she was right, what was this.
"Well, what do you want this to be?" I asked taking her hand again. I couldn't seem to keep my hands off her, even just touching her hand made me feel at ease.
"I don't know Jake, you've barely said 5 words to me since you've been back and now you randomly like me?" she said looking back to the ground. She wasn't wrong about me quiet, I had just been thinking a lot, she was wrong about the random feelings, but I wasn't going to tell her that.
"What can I say, I know what I want." I said bluntly. Her face shot up at me in surprise of what I had just said, "So now that you know where I stand," I said standing up and leaning down to kiss her cheek, " You let me know when you decide what you want." I didn't want to make her make a decision now so I left it at that and made my way back to my tent. I didn't know if I wanted to know her answer, what if she didn't feel the same.