Chapter 1: The Fateful Encounter on the High School Playground
Summer 2010. The asphalt track of Westlake High School in California sizzled under the blistering sun, the air thick with the smell of freshly cut grass, sweat, and cherry-flavored popsicles from the vending machine.
Lila Mae Carter hugged a stack of math worksheets to her chest, pacing anxiously under the shade of a palm tree. She'd been roped into running errands by her homeroom teacher at the last minute, but halfway to the faculty lounge, a group of rowdy jocks had barreled into her. The top worksheet scattered across the ground, its corner trampled by a mud-caked cleat.
"Hey! Watch it!" Lila planted her hands on her hips, yelling at the boys' retreating backs. Her voice rang out sharp and clear, turning the heads of the PE class practicing nearby. Heat rushed to her cheeks—she hated drawing attention to herself.
She knelt down, wincing as she brushed dirt off the crumpled paper. Just then, a pair of crisp white sneakers stopped in front of her—scuff-free, a stark contrast to the messy track.
"Need a hand?" A warm, amused voice hovered above her.
Lila looked up, and her breath hitched. The boy standing over her was tall, with sun-bleached brown hair and eyes like honey, crinkled at the corners with a lazy smile. He wore the school's navy blue jersey, the number 12 stitched on the sleeve—Jake Bennett, the star of the baseball team and resident class clown, though everyone knew his grades (especially math) were off the charts.
"Thanks, but I'm fine," Lila mumbled, turning back to the worksheets. She'd heard all about Jake—how he'd hidden the principal's coffee mug in the football field, how he'd drawn caricatures of the teachers on the whiteboard that had the whole school laughing. She wasn't exactly a fan of troublemakers.
Jake didn't move. Instead, he knelt down beside her, his fingers deftly gathering the scattered papers. "C'mon, these are a mess. Let me help." He pulled a pack of wet wipes from his gym bag and gently dabbed at the mud on the trampled worksheet. "There—good as new, mostly."
Lila stared at his hands—calloused from baseball, but gentle as he handled the paper. "Thanks," she said, softer this time.
"Jake," he said, holding out a hand. "Jake Bennett."
"Lila," she replied, taking it. His palm was warm and rough, and her stomach did a tiny flip. "Lila Carter."
"Nice to meet you, Lila Carter," Jake said, his smile widening to reveal a faint dimple. "You're in Mr. Henderson's math class, right? I've seen you sitting in the front row."
Lila nodded, surprised he'd noticed her. She was the quiet girl who always had her nose in a book, not the type to catch the eye of the most popular guy in school.
"Need help carrying these?" Jake nodded at the stack in her arms. "Faculty lounge is on the other side of the gym—I'm heading that way anyway."
Lila hesitated. She hated feeling indebted, but the stack was heavier than it looked. "Sure. Thanks."
Jake took half the worksheets, balancing them easily in one arm. They walked side by side in comfortable silence, the only sounds the distant shouts of the PE class and the crunch of gravel under their shoes.
"So," Jake said, breaking the quiet, "you're a math whiz too? Mr. Henderson never shuts up about your test scores."
Lila's cheeks heated up. "I'm okay, I guess. Math just… makes sense."
"Tell that to me," Jake laughed. "I only pass because I cram the night before. You should tutor me sometime."
Lila blinked. "Really?"
"Yeah," Jake said, glancing at her. "I'd pay you in cherry popsicles. Your favorite, right? I saw you buy one from the vending machine every morning."
Lila's heart skipped a beat. She didn't think anyone noticed things like that. "How'd you…"
"I notice stuff," Jake said, grinning.
By the time they reached the faculty lounge, Lila's nerves had melted away. Jake was funny, sure, but he was also kind—kinder than she'd expected.
"Thanks for the help," she said, taking the worksheets back.
"No problem," Jake replied. He leaned against the doorframe, his hands in his pockets. "Hey, if you ever get stuck on a math problem—though I doubt it—or if you just want a cherry popsicle, find me. I'm usually on the baseball field after school."
Lila nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I will. Thanks, Jake."
He winked. "See you around, Lila."
As she watched him walk away, Lila's chest felt light. She shook her head—Jake Bennett was trouble, she told herself. But for some reason, she couldn't wait to see him again.
Little did she know, that summer afternoon on the track would be the start of a decade-long journey—one filled with inside jokes, late-night study sessions, and a love that took ten years to finally click.
Chapter 2: Chaos and Camaraderie in College Dorms
Late August 2013. The campus of UCLA buzzed with energy, freshmen拖着 suitcases past palm trees and brick buildings, their faces a mix of excitement and nerves.
Lila stood outside the door of her dorm room—302 in Hedrick Hall—staring at the pile of boxes at her feet. She'd worked so hard to get into UCLA's journalism program, and now that she was here, she felt like she was floating.
"Need some help with those?"
Lila turned, and her face broke into a grin. Jake stood there, leaning against the wall, wearing a faded UCLA hoodie and jeans, his hair a little longer than she remembered. He'd grown into his features—his jawline sharper, his smile just as charming.
"Jake! What are you doing here?" Lila asked, shocked. She'd known he was going to UCLA too, but she'd never expected to run into him on move-in day.
"Your mom texted me," Jake said, pushing off the wall. "Said you'd be stubborn and try to carry everything yourself. She was right." He nodded at the boxes. "C'mon, let's get these inside before you break your back."
Lila rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide her smile. "Thanks. You didn't have to do this."
"Hey, what are friends for?" Jake said, picking up two boxes like they weighed nothing.
Inside the dorm, three other girls were already unpacking. When Jake followed Lila in, all eyes turned to him.
"Who's this?" asked Mia, a girl with pink hair and a nose ring, sitting cross-legged on the top bunk.
"This is Jake," Lila said quickly. "We went to high school together. He's helping me move in."
"Friend zone or boyfriend zone?" Mia whispered, wiggling her eyebrows.
Lila's face turned red. "Friend zone! Just friends."
Jake pretended not to hear, setting the boxes down gently. "Nice place. You guys got the good view—mine's facing the parking lot."
Over the next hour, Jake helped Lila unpack, hanging her clothes in the closet, organizing her books on the shelf, and even making her bed (much to her embarrassment). Her roommates watched, exchanging knowing looks.
"Okay, I think that's everything," Jake said, wiping his hands on his jeans. He pulled a bag of cherry popsicles from his backpack and set it on her desk. "For you. Tradition, right?"
Lila laughed. "You remembered."
"Of course I did," Jake said, his gaze softening. "Hey, if you need anything—food, directions, someone to help you avoid the weird cafeteria meat—just text me. I'm in De Neve Hall, like five minutes away."
"I will," Lila said, her heart feeling warm.
As Jake left, Mia leaned over the bunk. "Girl, he is so into you. That 'just friends' act isn't fooling anyone."
"He's not!" Lila insisted, but her stomach fluttered. Jake had always been sweet to her, but could he…? No, she told herself. They were friends. Just friends.
College life fell into a rhythm quickly. Lila spent her days in lecture halls and the journalism lab, chasing stories for the campus newspaper. Jake was busy with baseball practice and computer science classes, but they still found time for each other.
He'd ride his beat-up bike across campus to meet her for breakfast at the dining hall, bringing her a cherry popsicle (even in winter). She'd stay up late with him, helping him study for his math exams while he listened to her rant about difficult sources. They'd walk to the beach on weekends, watching the sunset and talking about everything—their dreams, their fears, the weird things their roommates did.
Everyone around them assumed they were a couple. The baseball team teased Jake about his "girlfriend who's smarter than him." Lila's roommates kept asking when they'd finally "admit it." Even their high school friends would text them, saying things like "It's about time you two got together."
But Lila and Jake just laughed it off. "We're friends," they'd say, in unison.
Jake, though, was lying. He'd been in love with Lila since that day on the high school track. He loved her stubbornness, her passion for journalism, the way she bit her lip when she was focused, the way she laughed so hard she snort-laughed (even though she'd deny it). But he was scared—scared that if he told her how he felt, he'd ruin the best friendship he'd ever had. So he kept quiet, content to be by her side, even if it meant pretending to be just friends.
Lila, for her part, was oblivious. She loved spending time with Jake—he made her feel safe, happy, like she could be herself. But she'd never thought of him as anything more than a friend. He was Jake—her partner in crime, her study buddy, the guy who brought her cherry popsicles. Romance didn't even cross her mind.
That is, until her sophomore year, when a senior on the newspaper staff asked her out.
His name was Ethan, and he was everything Lila thought she wanted—tall, charming, a talented writer. She said yes, nervous but excited.
When she told Jake, he smiled. "That's great, Lila. Ethan's a good guy." But his eyes didn't light up the way they usually did.
The night of the date, Lila spent an hour picking out an outfit—a sundress, her favorite sandals, a little makeup. Jake stopped by her dorm before she left, holding out a cherry popsicle.
"For good luck," he said, his voice flat.
"Thanks," Lila said, taking it. "Wish me luck?"
"Good luck," Jake replied, forcing a smile.
The date was fine. Ethan took her to a nice restaurant, talked about his internships, laughed at her jokes. But something felt off. When Ethan held her hand, she didn't feel that flutter she'd read about in books. When he kissed her cheek goodnight, she didn't feel her heart race.
All she could think about was Jake—how he'd remember her order at the diner, how he'd tease her about her terrible sense of direction, how he'd listen to her talk about her stories for hours.
When she got back to her dorm, she found Jake sitting on the steps outside, his baseball jacket slung over his shoulders.
"Hey," he said, standing up. "How was it?"
"Fine," Lila said, kicking at the ground. "But… I don't think it's going to work out."
Jake's eyebrows shot up. "Really? Why not?"
"I don't know," Lila sighed. "He's great, but… it just didn't feel right. Like, I was having a good time, but I wasn't happy—not the way I am when I'm with you."
Jake's breath caught in his throat. "Lila…"
"I mean, you're my best friend," she said, oblivious to his reaction. "No one makes me laugh like you do. No one gets me like you do."
Jake's heart ached. So close, yet so far. "I'm glad I'm your best friend," he said, his voice soft.
That night, Lila lay in bed, thinking. Why had she compared Ethan to Jake? Why did being with Jake feel more natural than being with someone she was supposed to have a crush on?
She pushed the thoughts aside. Jake was her best friend. That was all.
College graduation came and went in a blur of caps and gowns, tears and laughter. At the graduation party, Lila and Jake stood together, watching their friends dance.
"Can you believe we're done?" Lila said, smiling. "Four years gone just like that."
"Yeah," Jake said, looking at her. The fairy lights twinkled in her hair, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. "What's next for you?"
"I got a job at the Los Angeles Times," Lila said, excited. "As a features writer. What about you?"
"Got an offer from a tech company in LA," Jake said. "Software engineer."
"We're both staying in LA!" Lila said, grinning. "We can still hang out—like old times."
"Like old times," Jake repeated, his heart breaking a little. He'd hoped that after graduation, he'd find the courage to tell her how he felt. But seeing her so happy, so oblivious, he couldn't do it.
That night, Lila got drunk on champagne and cried on Jake's shoulder. "Don't ever leave me," she slurred. "You're my best friend. I need you."
"I'll never leave you," Jake whispered, holding her tight. "I promise."
He meant it. Even if it meant being just friends forever, he'd never leave her.
Chapter 3: Workplace Shenanigans and Late-Night Realizations
Fall 2025. Los Angeles was in the grip of a heatwave, but Lila barely noticed—she was buried under a mountain of work. As a features writer at the LA Times, she'd been assigned to cover a high-profile corruption scandal, and she'd been pulling all-nighters for a week.
"Lila, you look like a zombie," her coworker Maya said, sliding a coffee across her desk. "When was the last time you slept?"
"Who needs sleep?" Lila mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "I just need to finish this article before the deadline."
Her phone buzzed, and she smiled when she saw Jake's name pop up.
Jake: I'm outside. Brought dinner. Cherry popsicles for dessert.
Lila's heart did a little flip. She grabbed her bag and rushed downstairs, ignoring Maya's amused smirk.
Jake was leaning against his silver Tesla—his "big boy job" bonus purchase—holding a paper bag and a cooler. He was wearing a crisp button-down shirt and slacks, his hair styled neatly, and Lila's breath caught. He'd always been handsome, but there was something about him in a suit that made her stomach flutter.
"Hey, zombie," Jake said, grinning. "You look terrible."
"Thanks," Lila said, rolling her eyes. "What'd you bring?"
"Your favorite—chicken teriyaki from that place downtown," Jake said, handing her the bag. "And cherry popsicles, obviously."
Lila's mouth watered. "You're the best. How'd you know I was starving?"
"Because you always forget to eat when you're working," Jake said, opening the car door for her. "C'mon, I'll drive you home. You can eat on the way."
Lila slid into the passenger seat, grateful for the air conditioning. She dug into the teriyaki chicken, moaning happily.
"Slow down," Jake laughed. "You'll choke." He handed her a napkin. "So how's the article going?"
"Terrible," Lila said, between bites. "The sources are being difficult, and I'm pretty sure I've had three breakdowns in the past two days."
Jake's smile faded. "Why didn't you call me? I would've come over."
"I didn't want to bother you," Lila said, picking at her food. "You're busy with your own job."
"You could never bother me," Jake said, his voice soft. "Lila, you know that."
Lila looked at him, and her heart skipped a beat. The way he was looking at her—like she was the most important thing in the world—made her chest feel tight.
They drove in silence for a few minutes, the only sound the hum of the car and Lila's eating.
"Hey, Lila," Jake said, breaking the quiet. "Have you thought about… dating again?"
Lila blinked. "Dating? I don't have time for dating. Between work and… well, work, I barely have time to sleep."
"I know, but…" Jake hesitated. "You deserve to be happy. To have someone who takes care of you."
Lila laughed. "I have you for that."
Jake's jaw tightened. "That's not the same, and you know it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lila asked, frowning.
"Nothing," Jake said, shaking his head. "Forget I said anything."
But Lila couldn't forget. His words lingered in her mind long after he'd dropped her off at her apartment.
What did he mean, it wasn't the same?
Over the next few weeks, Lila couldn't stop thinking about Jake. She thought about how he'd been there for her through everything—her first heartbreak (over a boy in high school who didn't deserve her), her panic attacks before big exams, her excitement when she got her first byline. She thought about how he remembered her favorite food, her coffee order, the fact that she hated thunderstorms. She thought about how he looked at her, how he touched her arm when he laughed, how he always put her first.
And then, one night, it hit her.
She was in her apartment, working late, when a thunderstorm rolled in. The lights flickered, and Lila froze—she'd been scared of thunder since she was a kid. Before she could even reach for her phone, there was a knock at the door.
It was Jake, holding a flashlight and a bag of her favorite snacks.
"I saw the storm on the news," he said, stepping inside. "Figured you'd be scared."
Lila stared at him, her eyes filling with tears. "How did you know?"
"Because I know you," Jake said, softly. He pulled her into a hug, and she melted into his arms.
In that moment, everything clicked.
The way her heart raced when he smiled. The way she felt safe when he was around. The way she compared every guy she dated to him. The way she'd been lying to herself for years, saying they were just friends.
She loved him.
She'd loved him for years.
"Lila?" Jake pulled back, noticing her tears. "Are you okay?"
Lila looked up at him, her voice trembling. "Jake, I… I think I'm in love with you."
Jake froze. His eyes widened, and he stared at her like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What?"
"I'm sorry it took me so long," Lila said, tears streaming down her face. "I've been so stupid. I thought we were just friends, but… I love you. I've loved you for years."
Jake's breath hitched. He reached up, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Lila, are you sure?"
"I'm sure," she said, nodding. "I'm so sure."
Jake's face broke into the biggest smile she'd ever seen. He pulled her back into his arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.
"I love you too," he said, his voice muffled against her hair. "God, Lila, I've loved you since that day on the track. Ten years. I've loved you for ten years."
Lila laughed through her tears. "Ten years? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was scared," Jake said, setting her down. "Scared I'd ruin our friendship. Scared you didn't feel the same way."
"I'm sorry I took so long," Lila said, touching his face.
"Better late than never," Jake said, leaning in.
Their lips met, and it was like everything fell into place. The kiss was soft, sweet, and years in the making. When they pulled apart, they were both smiling like idiots.
"I can't believe we've been idiots for ten years," Lila said.
"Speak for yourself," Jake joked. "I've been a hopeless romantic for ten years. You're the idiot who just figured it out."
Lila laughed, hitting his arm. "Shut up."
He kissed her again, deeper this time. "I love you, Lila Carter."
"I love you too, Jake Bennett."
Chapter 4: Chaos and Sweetness in Love
Dating Jake was like breathing—easy, natural, and long overdue. They'd been best friends for so long that they already knew everything about each other, but now there was a new layer—kisses, hand-holding, late-night dates that felt both familiar and exciting.
Lila quickly learned that Jake was a hopeless romantic, even if he tried to play it cool. He'd leave sticky notes with cheesy quotes on her mirror, bring her cherry popsicles to work "just because," and plan surprise dates to her favorite spots.
Jake learned that Lila was still the same stubborn, loving girl he'd fallen for—she hated being late, she cried at sad movies (even the cheesy ones), and she had the worst sense of direction.
Case in point: their first official date.
Jake had planned a picnic at Griffith Observatory, with a view of the city lights. He'd packed all her favorite foods—chicken teriyaki, fruit