I Choose You by Kemi Adejumo (classic novels for teens txt) 📗

Chapter Four

We all finally arrived at the palace for the after party.  All graduants and their families were invited.  The decorations are really beautiful and there are different foods. The palace servants did a great job.  I am currently sitting with my friends and everyone is having fun but all I can think of is what Luke said to me two hours ago in his car.  Back at school when we were about to go to the palace,  Luke insisted that I go with him in his car.  It was really surprising because if Luke has a crush on me, it will be really awkward. He insisted and said that as his date, it is his job to take me.  I had no choice but to accept. The car ride was so silent and I was just curious on why Luke was doing this. 

"Uhm... Luke?"  I called.

"Yeah? "he replied  focused on the road.

"Why are you doing all this? I asked.

"Doing what? Luke replied obliviously.

"I am serious Luke, asking me to be your  date, offering to take me home, why the sudden affection? " I asked again getting a little frustrated. 

"Hey!!  What do you mean sudden affection? You are one of my best friends, can't I be nice to my friend?" Luke said trying to avoid answering my questions.

"Luke stop!! I am serious" I replied completely frustrated. 

"OK fine" Luke said smirking. "I just wanted to help " he said getting a little serious. 

"Help with what" I asked still clueless. 

"You and Christian, I know you've liked him for a long time now "he said

I was shocked because I didn't think he would find out. "Buh..but how did you know?"i asked stammering. 

"C'mon Jess,  you couldn't be more obvious.  The way you look at him,  the way you care for him,  you will literally die for him" Luke exaggerated.

"Oh... "I replied skeptically as my heart was pounding  "how many of you know ?"

"Well everybody"he said making me gasp. 

"Christian too... "I shouted making the most horrible face. Luke was just laughing, which was not helping by the way.  

"Christian doesn't know... I think " he said unsure. 

"what do you mean you think? " I asked again. 

"Look Jess,  Christian is so dumb to not see the most perfect girl for him right beside him...and sincerely I am your friend and I'm scared that you will end up getting hurt"He warned making me lower my head in sadness.

"I can't help it Luke... I like him to the extent that it hurts" I replied sadly

"Then tell him... What if he likes you back ?" he asked making me snap my head at him. 

"what... No... Never... I would rather not tell him than get a rejection from him.  C'mon Luke  I can't do that because I will not only be rejected, but I will also loose my best friend " I said dreading the imagination of the situation in my head.

"OK but what if he likes you back.. " Luke said trying to give me hope 

"Well,  he doesn't.. So.. " I said trying to hide my pain. 

"Well that not what I saw today" Luke said smirking. Ugh I hate that look.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously. 

"C'mon Jess I can't believe you didn't see it,  he was so Jealous today. When he first saw you, you should have seen his face. He went like "Dang" but then tried to hide it " Luke exaggerated. 

"Stop making up stories Luke,  that not true"i said trying not to believe him. 

"Well that is what I saw.  When I asked you to be my date,  he was low key trying not to act annoyed " he said 

"Well maybe he was just acting like that as a best friend.  You know Christian can be overprotective sometimes " I said trying to defend my heart because I don't want to get my hopes up. 

"Okay fine...but you do know that he can't stay single forever. Won't you regret never telling him about your feelings in the future?" Luke asked before facing the road. That is all I could think about while at this after party.  I have been stealing glances at Christian  contemplating whether to tell him or not. 

Ugh common Jessica Lohan ,  you can do this.  If you don't tell him now that he is single,  it will hurt more if he gets another girlfriend. If he rejects me,  then I will handle it... Right?  Ugh.. I don't know, I don't want to loose my best friend.  But just try Jess...when he finally rejects you,  you can tell him it is a joke and laugh about it.  Yes, that is what I am going to do.  I signalled Molly from across the table that I wanted to talk to her.  She got my signal  so we moved to a quiet place.

"What is it? and why are you blushing " she said laughing "you are like so red right now" she said still  laughing. I just rolled my eyes at her  and pulled up the courage to tell her before confessing to Christian.  

"I am going to confess to Christian...today... Now" I said and watched Molly freeze for a second like she was hearing wrong. 

"REALLY???"  Molly screamed so loud that I had to cover her mouth before someone hears us. "Oh... My... Goodness finally... But what changed your mind? "she asked.

"Luke... I guess"

"Luke? " She asked surprised "wait,  he knows? "

"Yeah" I replied. 

"That's why he was acting weird this morning,  he was trying to make Christian jealous right?"  She asked

"Yeah... "I nodded. 

"Do you think he was jealous though?" She asked again. 

"Luke said he was, but  I don't know" I replied trying to not loose the little courage that I have. 

"I don't know either because I was focused on Jake the whole time " 

"Yeah... So let go... I have to do this now" I said determined. 

"Yeah let's do this " she replied rubbing my back as if I am preparing for a wrestling match. 

We got to the table, I sat  down for about two minutes to slow down my erratically beating heart and then I stood up and went to Christian. I bent down to whisper into his ears.  From my side view,  I could see Molly, Jake and Luke looking at me to see how the whole situation unravels.  "Can I talk to you privately?" I whispered 

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