Y/N'S POV 🌸🌾
I followED Eric's gaze and sAW a guy standing a few feet away, watching them intently. He's tall and lean, with tousled brown hair and piercing brown eyes that seem to look right through me. My heart skipped a beat as I met his gaze, a shiver running down my spine.
" Who is he? And why is he staring at us like that?" I thought to myself, feeling surprised.
The guy's gaze flicks from me to Eric and back again, his expression unreadable. I felt a sense of unease, as if there's something about him that I can't quite put my finger on.
" He gives me the creeps. I should probably get out of here." I thought to myself, feeling nervous about the whole situation.
I looked away, breaking eye contact with the guy and turning back to Eric, who was watching me closely.
Eric took off towards the guy, a grin spreading across his face, leaving me standing there, puzzled. I hurried after him, trying to make sense of the situation.
" Eric, wait! What's going on?" I called after him.
As I catched up to him, I saw Eric greeting the guy with a warm handshake and a pat on the back.
My confusion deepened as I realized that the guy is someone Eric knows. I approached them .
But I decided not to talk to him.
I watched Eric and Jake,still trying to process the sudden turn of events.
As I stood there , I realized that there's more to Jericho-and to Eric's life-than I initially thought.
Eric's smile faltered slightly as he looked at Jake, a hint of concern in his eyes.
" So, where have you been for the past five years?" Eric asked, looking dead serious.
Jake hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering away before he meets Eric's eyes.
" Oh, you know, here and there. Just trying to find my way." He hesitantly answered.
I watched the exchange, sensing that there's more to Jake's answer than meets the eye.
" "Here and there"? That's a pretty vague answer. What is he hiding?" I thought to myself, feeling a bit skeptical.
Eric seemed to accept Jake's answer, though I could tell that he's still curious.
" Well, it's good to see you back, Jake. Jericho's always been home, no matter where life takes you." Eric smiled.
Jake nodded, a smile playing at his lips, but there's a hint of sadness in his eyes that didn't escape my notice.
" Yeah, it's good to be back. Things have a way of coming full circle, don't they?" Jake smiled.
As Eric and Jake continue their conversation, I couldn't shake the feeling that there's more to Jake's return than he's letting on.
Jake turned towards me, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So, you're the new kid in town, huh? What's your story?" He asked.
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his attitude.
" Just passing through, like everyone else." I lied.
Jake chuckled, leaning against a nearby lamppost.
" Ah, the mysterious stranger. I like it. But let me give you a piece of advice-Jericho may seem small, but it's got a way of getting under your skin. " Jake said in a playful tone.
I crossed my arms, studying Jake intently.
" Is that a warning or a welcome?" I confidently asked.
Jake shrugged, a smirk playing at his lips.
" Take it however you like. Just don't say I didn't warn you when you find yourself tangled up in Jericho's web." He shrugged, making me confused.
With that, Jake gave me a wink, catching me off guard.
Eric cleared his throat, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
" Y/n, I should probably explain. Jake, he's my younger brother. He has a way of... making an entrance." Eric nervously laughed.
My eyes widened in surprise, my gaze shifting between Eric and Jake.
" Your brother? I had no idea." I was amused.
Jake sauntered back over, a smirk on his face.
" Yep, that's me. The black sheep of the Green family." Jake answered, he looked proud of what he just said.
Eric shot Jake a warning look, but Jake just shrugged it off.
" I'm sorry for his... less than pleasant welcome. He's just... Jake." Eric told me, looking sorry.
" Oh, thanks for the heartfelt apology, big brother. I'm sure she's just thrilled to have me around." Jake sarcastically answered.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Jake's remark, sensing that there's more to the story of the Green brothers than meets the eye.
" Well, it's certainly been interesting so far. I'm sure I'll get used to Jake's... charm." I sarcastically answered.
Eric and Jake exchange a knowing glance, and I could tell that there's a deep bond between them, despite-or perhaps because of-their differences.
Jake chuckled, his tone teasing.
" I gotta say, when I saw you two walking together, I thought for sure you were Eric's new girlfriend." Jake giggled.
My smile faded, my expression turning cold.
" No, just a new friend in town." I forcefully smiled.
Eric jumped in, trying to diffuse the tension. Thank God.
" Yeah, just friends. Y/n's new to Jericho, so I've been showing her around." Eric added.
Jake raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Right, just friends. Well, Y/n, if you ever get tired of Eric's company, you know where to find me." Jake winked, making me roll my eyes.
My dislike for Jake grew, sensing his insincerity and the underlying hint of flirtation in his words.
" Thanks, but I think I'll stick with Eric for now." I answered, feeling a bit uneasy around him now.
Eric shot Jake a pointed look, clearly not amused by his brother's antics.
" Jake, come on. Leave Y/n alone." Eric hissed at his brother.
Jake just laughed, walking away with a wave over his shoulder, leaving me feeling irritated and uneasy .
After Jake's departure, I turned to Eric, a hint of frustration in my voice.
"So, is your brother always like that?" I asked him, raising my eyebrows.
Eric sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry about Jake. He... has a way of rubbing people the wrong way."
" Rubbing people the wrong way is an understatement. He's... infuriating." I answered, feeling frustrated.
Eric nodded, understanding my feelings.*
" I get it. He can be a handful. But deep down, he means well. He's just... Jake." He exhaled.
I looked at Eric, seeing the sincerity in his eyes.
" I'm sorry, Eric. I didn't mean to take it out on you. It's just... he caught me off guard." I sighed.
" It's okay. I should have warned you about him. He's not everyone's cup of tea, that's for sure." He chuckled.
smiled, grateful for Eric's understanding.
" Well, consider me warned. But despite Jake's... charm, I'm glad I met you. You've been nothing but kind to me since I arrived." I laughed.
Eric smiled back, a warmth in his eyes.
"I'm glad I met you too, Y/n. Jericho may have its quirks, but it's full of good people. I hope you'll give it a chance." He smiled.
I nodded, feeling reassured by Eric's words.
" I think I will. Thanks, Eric." I smiled.
We continued our walk, the tension from Jake's interruption dissipating as we chatted.
We both waved bye to each other, as I made my way towards the park. Trying to get my mind fresh.
PARK
🌾🌾
I walked into the park, taking in the peaceful surroundings. I spot a girl sitting on a bench, sketching in a notebook. Intrigued, I approached her.
"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?" I asked her.
The girl looked up, surprised by the sudden interruption. She smiled warmly and gestured to the empty space beside her.
" Not at all, go ahead." She smiled.
I sat down, glancing at the girl's sketches with interest.
" Those are really good. Are you an artist?" I surprisingly told her.
" Thanks! I like to think so. I'm just sketching some ideas for a mural in town. " She answered, looking at her sketches.
" That sounds amazing. I'm Y/n, by the way." I answered, a wide smile on my face.
"Heather. Nice to meet you, Y/n." She smiled, making me smile too.
" So, what do you do in Jericho, Heather? Do you work here?" I asked, being curious.
" Actually, I work at the bookstore downtown. It's nothing fancy, but I love being surrounded by books all day." She replied, making me smile.
" That sounds wonderful. I've always loved reading. Maybe I'll have to stop by sometime and say hello." I smiled, I also had love for the books.
" I'd like that. It's always nice to meet a fellow book lover. What about you, Y/n? What brings you to Jericho?" She asked.
" Just needed a change of scenery, I guess. Jericho seemed like the perfect place for a fresh start." I quickly came up with an excuse.
" I know what you mean. There's something about this town that just feels... right, you know?" She replied, looking at the sky.
" Yeah, I think I'm starting to feel that too. Despite the rough start, I have a good feeling about Jericho." I answered.
Heather smiled, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
" I'm glad to hear that. I think you're going to fit in just fine around here, Y/n." She squealed.
I couldn't help but smile at my luck that I found such amazing people, well.... Except Jake.
Speak of the devil.
I noticed Jake in the park, lying down and staring up at the sky. I watched him from a distance, my expressions unreadable.
" Ugh, what is he doing here? Can't a girl catch a break without him showing up?" I thought to myself, feeling irritated.
I watched Jake for a moment longer, a frown forming on my face. Despite my irritation, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about what he's up to.
" What's his deal, anyway? Why is he always around when I least expect it?" I thought to myself.
Shaking my head, I turned away from Jake and rejoined my conversation with Heather, determined not to let his presence ruin my day.
I was still curious about Jake's presence in the park,so I decided to ask Heather if she knows him.
" Hey, do you know that guy over there?" I asked, pointing in his direction.
Heather followed my gaze and her eyes widened in surprise.
" Oh, I didn't know he was back in town. Yes, I know him. We used to study together as kids." She answered, watching him, with surprise.
My curiosity piqued even further.
" What's his story? He seems... interesting." I asked.
" That's one way to put it. Jake's always been a bit of a wild card. He left Jericho a few years ago and no one really knew where he went. I guess he's back now." She smiled.
I nodded, taking in this new piece of information about Jake.
" Well, he definitely knows how to make an entrance." I rolled my eyes.
" That's Jake for you. Always full of surprises." She laughed, but I wasn't convinced.
After Heather revealed that she knows Jake, she looked happy.
" Well, I should go welcome him back. It's been ages since we've seen each other." She said and stood up, ready to make her way towards Jake.
I nodded, smiling faintly, as Heather made her way over to Jake, leaving me sitting alone on the bench.
" Must be nice to have old friends to welcome you back." I scoffed.
As I watched Heather and Jake talk, I couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness, wishing I had someone from my past to reconnect with. I shaked off the feeling, reminding myself that I was here for a fresh start, and that means forging new connections, not dwelling on the past.
A/N: I am really enjoying writing this story too, along with The game of ghostfaces, do check it out too! Much love 💕.