Tmf Oneshots, take two!

?You First?

Her hands paused on the zipper of the case.

Something in his voice was too serious.

Too not-Jake.

"I thought you didn't do serious," she said, quieter than she meant to.

"I do, sometimes," he said. "When it matters."

They stared at each other for a second too long.

Then he grinned—cocky again, hiding whatever that moment was. "You'll tell me who it's about eventually."

She rolled her eyes, pushing past him. "You wish."

The Game Started Two Days Later.

It was Milly who called it first. Loudly. Publicly. In the middle of lunch in the quad.

"You two are so obviously in love, it's painful. Just kiss already."

Choking. Eye rolls. Scandalized looks.

Hailey nearly dropped her lunch. "Milly!"

Jake laughed too loudly. "Please. She's obsessed with me."

"I'm obsessed with throwing you into traffic," Hailey snapped.

Daisy giggled. "Aww. They're in denial."

Lia leaned in, ever the chaos enabler. "Okay then—who's gonna confess first?"

Jake raised a brow. "You think we're that cliché?"

"You are that cliché," Luke said, grinning between bites. "Music club's own will-they-won't-they."

Zander smirked. "It's getting old, honestly."

Hailey narrowed her eyes. "We're just friends."

Jake leaned close again, his voice low and smug. "Scared I'd win?"

Hailey blinked. "Win what?"

"This little game they're making. You or me. Who breaks first. Who confesses."

She raised an eyebrow, her sarcasm automatic. "You're seriously entertaining this?"

Jake grinned. "Unless you're scared I'll beat you to it."

She hated how her heart skipped.

She hated even more that she didn't answer.

One Week Later.

It was subtle. Barely there. But it was happening.

He sat closer at rehearsals.

She held eye contact a little longer.

He walked her to class even when it wasn't his hallway.

She waited for him after soccer practice, saying it was "by accident."

They weren't doing anything different.

But everything felt different.

Friday Night.

Hailey sat on her porch with her guitar, fingers plucking at strings while Bethany braided her hair and asked too many questions.

"Do you like him?"

Hailey blinked. "Who?"

"Duh. Jake. Everyone says you're gonna get married."

Hailey laughed—sharp and startled. "I'm seventeen. That's ridiculous."

"But you like him," Bethany insisted, eyes wide and annoyingly intuitive.

Hailey didn't answer.

When Bethy ran back inside, Hailey kept playing. Softly. Hesitantly. A song she hadn't shown anyone.

She heard footsteps.

Of course.

Jake leaned against the porch rail, all easy charm and knowing smiles. "Hey."

"You're stalking me now?"

"Just walking by," he said, but he had that look. The I-knew-you'd-be-here look.

She didn't ask why he came.

He didn't ask what she was playing.

They sat in silence for a while.

Then he said, quietly, "Why haven't you said it?"

She looked at him.

Dead in the eyes.

"Why haven't you?"

His smile faltered for the first time. Not gone—just... different. Soft. Real.

And then he laughed. "You're impossible."

"Same to you."

He stood, walked over, and took the guitar gently from her lap. Set it down. Looked at her like she was the only thing on Earth.

"Hailey."

"Jake."

"You first."

She blinked.

Then, without breaking his gaze, she said:

"Nope."

He groaned, flopping onto the step beside her, face in his hands. "We're gonna die this way."

She grinned. "Probably."

And then, quietly:

"I like you."

Jake froze.

Turned his head slowly.

"Wait, what—"

"You didn't say I had to confess first," she smirked. "Just speak first."

He stared at her.

Then grinned.

"I hate you."

"Liar."

He leaned closer.

"Okay. Fine. I'm in love with you."

Her breath caught.

And then he kissed her.

Not a dramatic, movie-scene kiss.

Just soft. Familiar. Like finally.

As their lips met, everything clicked into place. The months of playful banter, the endless teasing, the long, drawn-out silences filled only by the sound of their music, and those lingering glances that said more than words ever could—all of it led to this moment. And it felt like a relief.

For the first time in a long while, Hailey felt like she could breathe, completely at ease. She pulled back, meeting his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "Well," she said with a smirk, "that wasn't so bad."

Jake chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that."

She raised an eyebrow. "A whole week of this nonsense?"

"Maybe longer," he said, his voice quieter, more serious now. "But it was worth it."

Hailey couldn't help but laugh, the sound light and free. "We're ridiculous."

He shrugged, leaning in to kiss her again. "I think we're perfect."

And for the first time, Hailey agreed.