(Jake's POV)
Jake leaned back against the locker room wall, towel draped over his shoulders, his body still buzzing from the adrenaline of practice. The guys were loud, joking around, some talking about the weekend, but his mind was elsewhere. He smirked to himself, remembering the text from Hazel waiting on his phone, a message that promised a lot more fun than anything Aerith had planned.
*Hazel.* She was bold, confident, and never asked too many questions. She didn't cling to him the way Aerith did, always needing reassurance, always needing him to make her feel like she was the only one. With Hazel, things were simple. She didn't need to hear him say *I love you* or *you're the only one I want*—she knew the game, and she played it well.
He pulled his phone from his locker, scrolling quickly through his messages. Aerith's text from earlier was still there, a faint reminder of the conversation they had in the hallway. She had been on edge, her paranoia flaring up again. Jake had smoothed it over like he always did, giving her the affection she craved and watching her melt back into his arms. It was too easy sometimes.
His finger hovered over her name for a moment, considering whether to text her again. Maybe a quick message to keep her calm, something short and sweet. She'd been waiting for it, no doubt staring at her phone like she always did when he pulled away.
But then Hazel's name flashed across the screen, and Jake's focus shifted. He tapped on the message, feeling the familiar thrill that came with sneaking around, balancing the two worlds he'd created.
*"Park's empty. See you soon?"*
The message was simple, and direct, just like Hazel. She wasn't like Aerith, always tiptoeing around her feelings, always needing to hear exactly what she wanted. Hazel knew what this was—just fun. No strings attached.
Jake typed out a quick reply: *"Be there in 10."* He smiled as he hit send. Hazel never asked for more than he was willing to give, and that was what made her perfect. She didn't complicate things the way Aerith did, didn't make him feel guilty for wanting space, for needing a break from her constant need for attention.
He tossed his phone into his bag and headed for the showers, already planning his evening. Aerith was still on his mind, but she'd have to wait. He knew she was probably sitting in her room, waiting for him to message her again, replaying their conversation in her head and second-guessing everything. She was predictable like that.
And honestly, that was part of the problem. Aerith was sweet, sure, but she was getting harder to manage. The more distant he became, the more she clung to him, her insecurities bubbling to the surface every time they were apart for too long. It was sometimes exhausting to reassure her, to play the part of the doting boyfriend. But then again, it worked in his favour. As long as he kept her convinced that she was the one he cared about, she wouldn't dig too deep. She wouldn't ask too many questions.
*She's gullible,* Jake thought as he scrubbed his face under the warm water. *Too trusting.*
He didn't feel guilty about it, not really. It wasn't like he was doing anything wrong—at least, not in a way that mattered. Hazel was just... *different*. And Aerith? Well, she'd always be there. As long as he played his cards right, he could have both. He just had to keep things balanced.
Jake dried off quickly, pulling on his clothes and heading out of the locker room. His mates were still hanging around, but he made some excuse about needing to head home early. He didn't like to be too obvious about leaving to meet Hazel, even though none of them would suspect anything. They all thought he and Aerith were solid, the perfect couple. And he liked it that way. It gave him cover and kept people from asking too many questions.
As he walked toward the park, his phone buzzed again. He expected it to be Hazel, but when he glanced at the screen, it was Aerith.
*"That's fine. I get it. Talk tomorrow :)"*
The message was polite, but Jake could sense the underlying disappointment. She was trying not to sound needy, trying not to make him feel guilty for cancelling on her. But she didn't need to say it for him to know she was upset. He could picture her now, curled up on her bed, waiting for him to send another message, something to reassure her that he wasn't slipping away.
He could give her that if he wanted. A quick text, something sweet to keep her satisfied for the night. But as he neared the park, Jake felt the pull of the evening shift his priorities. Aerith could wait.
Jake shoved the phone into his pocket, his thoughts turning back to Hazel. The air was cool, the streetlights casting long shadows as he walked through the quiet neighbourhood. The park was empty, just like Hazel had promised, and he spotted her leaning against the fence, her arms crossed, her smile teasing.
She looked up as he approached, her eyes flickering with something that made his heart race in a way Aerith never did. With Hazel, it was simple. There was no drama, no questions, just the thrill of being together when no one else was watching.
Jake smiled back, feeling that familiar rush of excitement as he closed the distance between them. Tonight was for Hazel. Tomorrow, he'd send Aerith the message she wanted. Tomorrow, he'd play the part of the sweet, caring boyfriend again.
But tonight? Tonight was his.