First Uploaded: March 2014 Dates updated: January or February 2018; October 31, 2019; Jan. 27, 2020 2PM)
"I don't I understand." Kylie whimpers as tears stream down here cheeks as she's leaning against the edge of the cave pool on Moanie Island. She rubs her eyes to see clearer. She looks around the cave admiring its beauty, trying to distract herself from what has her mind preoccupied. Two weeks ago Finn asked her out. Kylie said no that time because she was still heartbroken over Jacob. Now it's about 2 and a half weeks later and she wants to say yes. Thats what she was on her way to the the Crab Shack to do. Until she saw Finn talking to another girl. And they looked friendly. "I thought he liked me." She continues to cry. She and Finn have become good friends since she moved to Sydney. He's been giving her surfing lessons and she's been helping him with his Marine Biology homework. He started the class a bit late and she's been helping him catch up. They've been spending a lot of time together and she knows there has been chemistry between them. "If he really liked me, why would he kiss me and then days after talk to another girl." Kylie asks herself.
Jakobe slowly walks in through the tunnel entrance approaching Kylie cautiously. "You alright Kylie?" He asks concerned.
Kylie whips her head up at sees Jakobe standing a few feet away from the cave pool. She wipes her eyes and turns her head. "Yeah. I'm fine. It's nothing." She lies and sniffs back her sobs. Jakobe walks closer. "I didn't mean to overhear, but I heard you mention something about Finn. And I can tell you're crying. What's wrong?" Jakobe says concerned. A little bit of anger rising up on him thinking about Finn hurting his friend. Kylie looks at Jakobe, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "I went to tell Finn I wanted to go on a date with him since he asked me 2 and a half weeks ago, and I saw him with another girl." Kylie says plainly. Jakobe's eyebrows rise. "Are you sure it was what you think? Because I overheard that he's crazy about you." Kylie flinches. "What. I thought you hated him. Why do you want him to be with me? And yes, they looked pretty familiar with each other." She says sadly. Jakobe says. "Because I see how much you like him. And I like to see my friends happy." Kylie smiles.
"Thanks. That means a lot. But it looked like they were having a nice talk. They were laughing. And he hugged her. They looked..." She trails off. "Comfy together." Jakobe sighs. "What did she look like?" Kylie looks confused. "Why?" Jakobe says. "Just curious." Kylie explains what she looks like. Jakobe nods. "She was probably Mia." "Who's Mia?" She says curious. "His ex." Kylie squeals worried. Jakobe chuckles. "Don't worry. They aren't getting back together. Mia has a kid and.." "What?!" Kylie interrupts Jakobe and shrieks. Jakobe jumps back. Jakobe starts to say something, but Kylie rants. "He never told me he had a kid! That means he's not..." Jakobe interrupts her. "He doesn't have a kid." "Before she and Finn got together, she was in a relationship and that guy got her pregnant." "When she got with Finn, she was already 4 months pregnant and Finn was alright with it at first, until he found out who the guy was. Then he wasn't sure if he could help raise a baby that wasn't his. He wanted to try at first. But his rivalry with this guy was strong." Kylie looks at him confused. "How do you know all this Jakobe?" Kylie asks. Jakobe heavily sighs. He sits down in front of Kylie. "Because I'm the child's father." Kylie stares at him blankly. "What?! So you're Mias ex. Is that why you and Finn hate each other? Because you dated her first?" Jakobe shakes his head. "That made it worse. But it wasn't the beginning." He plays with the sand. "It started when I was 12 and he was 13. He and I had a crush on Mia the moment she arrived at our school. We were best friends at the time. We both tried to woo her for 2 years. When she and I were 14 1/2, Finn just turned 16. Finns aunt was acting weirder than usual and he was even more competitive at everything. Including getting Mia. Mia didn't like it. When she and I turned 16 and he was 17, she was tired of Finns competitiveness; so she chose me. At a party we had our first drinks and got drunk and things got out of hand and I got her pregnant. I didn't mean to let it go that far, and neither did she. But we weren't thinking clearly." Jakobe sighs. "She went to Finn months after we broke up. We didn't click. And that's when Finn was turning his life around. After his aunt walked out on him at 17." "But they didn't click either. So they ended things pretty quickly. They still talk occasionally." Jakobe finishes. "Finn had a few dates with some one else a few months later. But I'm not sure who it was with. Believe me, they definitely aren't getting back together."
Kylie looks around the cave not sure how to react by this information. "Wow." Jakobe nods. "Did he not tell you any of this?" He asks. Kylie shakes her head. "Only about his aunt and that you two had a long and complicated history." Jakobe laughs sarcastically. "You mean a messy history." Kylie nods. "Yeah. I don't know why he didn't tell me any of that." Jakobe looks at her. "Maybe he doesn't want to get you involved in our problems." Kylie sarcastically laughs. "Are you kidding. I'm already involved. I had to break up fights between you two and get us all out of detention remember?" Kylie says annoyed. Finn thanked her multiple times. But Jakobe hasn't yet. It's been several weeks. Jakobe looks at her. "I'm sorry about that. I haven't properly thanked you. I really appreciate it. You helped us out a lot. And I think Mr. Sanders looks at Finn and I a little different since then. I think he believes we care about something else other than ourselves for once." Kylie smiles. "Your welcome. I didn't want to see you guys get suspended or kicked out of school. And I couldn't get detention because I had stuff after school." Jakobe nods. "You're like a perfect student aren't you? You're probably like Mrs. Goody Tooshus." He jokes, hoping to get her to talk more about herself. He doesn't know that much about her. He knows more about her brother. Kylie splashes him annoyed. "No I'm not. Why does everyone think that." She rolls her eyes. "Just because I go to church and bible study and get good grades doesn't mean I'm perfect." "I spend hours studying each week to keep my grades up and it's hard when I have this stupid secret to keep." She vents pointing at her tail. Jakobe flinches. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I was just joking." "Nobody is perfect." "It was my way of trying to tell you that I admire that you don't let being a teenager control you." Kylie looks at him confused. "What?" Jakobe laughs. "I honestly thought you'd get it." He stands up and walks around the cave kicking the sand. "I think it's admirable that you don't throw yourself at guys like most of the girls at our school." Kylie chuckles. Jakobe looks at her. He smirks. "It wasn't a joke. I've seen several dumb guys try to flirt with you and you just push them to the side. Some of them were the best looking athletes of our school. And even with Finn you don't let him get to you." Kylie laughs. "That's almost true. It may look like I don't let Finn get to me, but he does." Jakobe's eyes widen. "He made a pass at You?!" He yells angrily. Kylie flinches. "No!" "He didn't! I meant that...I really really like him and it's hard not to think about him. Why would you think that?" Kylie looks at Jakobe, her face flushed. Jakobe stays silent. He turns around, not making eye contact with Kylie. Kylie speaks up. "I'm sorry. I'll stop talking about him." Jakobe shakes his head. "It's fine. I'm sorry I made things awkward. I didn't mean to embarrass you. I assumed that Finn and you...." He pauses. "Couldn't control your hormones and that's what I meant when I said he got to you. And what I meant when I said I admired you not letting being a teenager control you." Kylie laughs nervously. "Oh. I feel stupid now." She says. Smacking her head. "I don't know why I didn't get that you were talking about stupid teenage hormones." Kylie awkwardly laughs.
Jakobe turns around. "Yeah. I thought you'd understand what I meant because you're pretty smart. But I guess you are only 15, so you probably don't have that much experience with hormones yet." Kylie laughs loudly. Jakobe looks at her confused. "I'm okay." "Sorry. It's funny cause you're underestimating my past." Jakobe nods. "Jacob?" He questions her. Kylie nods. "Yeah. That's one of the many reasons we broke up. He pressured me too much. And...." Jakobe looks at her curiously. "And what?" Kylie shakes her head. "And nothing." "Sorry. I didn't mean to pressure you for more information." Kylie smiles. "It's okay. Jacob also thought I was cheating on him with Finn. I definitely wasn't. Jacob was the one who was cheating. No matter how many times I tell him I wasn't cheating on him with Finn, he never believed me." She sighs. Jakobe smirks. "Maybe because you and Finn have a connection that you need to stop ignoring. He really likes you. I can tell. I've never seen him this happy around anyone. And it's funny how he gets nervous around you. He never gets nervous around girls. That may mean he really really likes you." Kylie smiles. "Really?" Jakobe nods. "Yeah. He's never had a serious girlfriend. You could be his first. I think you'd be great for him. You need to tell him how you feel before it's too late Kylie. I know he and I haven't seen eye to eye for a while, but I've seen him work his ass off trying to change his life around and I think you've helped since he's met you." Kylie smiles. "That means a lot Jakobe. It really does." Jakobe smiles. "I honestly feel like I can tell you more things than I can tell Brian. I don't know why. Maybe because you are more mature about things than he is." Kylie smiles. "Thanks. I wish you could tell him everything though. What can you not tell him?" Jakobe's face slightly reddens. "That I have a huge crush on that new girl Lonnie. But I asked her if she'd like to study after school and she shot me down. She didn't tell me why." Kylie smiles. She laughs. "Awww. You have a crush and you're embarrassed." She says. Jakobe flicks water on her face. "Stop making fun of me. This is serious. I've never felt this way about anyone before." He smiles. "I met her brother Matt and briefly met her after the dinner with my dad and their parents a few days ago. But she couldn't make it because she had wrestling training. Maybe that's why she couldn't study with you." Jakobe nods. "Maybe. So could you put in a good word for me?" Kylie nods. "Yeah. I don't know her that well though. But I guess I could." Jakobe reaches for her hand. He looks at her. "Thank you so much. I owe you a lot. I don't think I can ever repay you Kylie. You're awesome." He still holds her hand and he's staring off into the cave pool. She looks down. Jakobe takes his hand off. "Sorry. I must have spaced." Kylie nods. Kylies looks up at the tunnel entrance her eyes wide with shock. Jakobe looks up. Her heart races. She can't believe he came here. After talking to another girl? Maybe Jakobe was right about it being over between them. His face stricken with betrayal. "Finn!! Wait!!" She pleads as Finn runs out of the cave upset. Kylie looks at Jakobe. Her face full of sadness. Jakobe nods. "I'll go get him." He says assuring, as he runs out of the cave.