The next afternoon, Lisa strolled along the rocky path by the cliffs, hoping the ocean air would clear her mind. Thoughts of Liam had clouded her day, but a nagging unease lingered at the edges—Jake had been acting strangely ever since he returned, and now, she felt as if his eyes were on her even when he wasn't around.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a quick, sharp rustling in the bushes. She spun around, heart pounding, only to see Jake emerging from the shadows, his expression intense. For a brief second, she felt a surge of relief at seeing him. But that relief quickly faded as she noticed the look in his eyes—a coldness she had never seen before.
"Lisa," he began, his voice tight, barely masking the storm beneath. "We need to talk."
Lisa stiffened. She had seen him in every shade of emotion, but never like this. His eyes, usually warm, were dark, and he stood just a little too close, his presence tense.
"Jake," she managed, "what's going on?"
"What's going on?" he repeated bitterly. "I think that's my question, don't you?" He looked her up and down, his jaw clenched. "You've changed, Lisa. Ever since… ever since he came along."
Lisa's eyes narrowed. "Liam?" she asked cautiously, trying to read his expression, but he gave nothing away. "What are you even talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," he replied, his voice laced with frustration. "You used to be different. Real. Now it's like…" He paused, his voice dropping, "it's like you're someone else."
A wave of irritation surged through her. "Jake, that's unfair. You've been gone for weeks without a word, and suddenly you're back and telling me I've changed? Maybe you're the one who's different."
He scoffed, his expression twisting with a mixture of hurt and anger. "I left because I thought… I thought you cared. And then I come back, and there's him." The word hung in the air between them, thick with accusation. "Don't you see it, Lisa? He's not who you think he is. Liam—he's dangerous."
Lisa's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "You don't even know him, Jake. And you think you can just come back and tell me who to trust?"
Jake stepped closer, his gaze intense and unwavering. "I know enough. I know that he's hiding something. There are rumors, whispers about the things he's done."
"Rumors," she scoffed. "Since when do you listen to rumors?"
"Since they're about someone getting close to you," he shot back, voice rising. "I'm only trying to protect you, Lisa! He's…" He hesitated, as if searching for the right words, "…he's not like us. I don't trust him. And I don't understand why you can't see that."
Lisa looked away, his words stirring an unexpected mix of doubt and anger within her. Part of her wanted to believe that Jake was looking out for her, that he was still the friend she had always known. But another part—the part that had come alive since meeting Liam—felt as if Jake's words were laced with jealousy rather than genuine concern.
She turned back to him, her gaze hard. "This isn't about Liam. This is about you. I don't owe you an explanation for the choices I make."
He winced, but the determination in his eyes only deepened. "You're right, you don't," he replied quietly. "But I know who you are, Lisa. And I know that the real you wouldn't fall for someone like him. He's… he's changed you."
"Maybe I've changed because I needed to, Jake," she said, her voice laced with a sudden defiance. "Maybe I don't need protecting—not from him, and definitely not from you."
For a moment, they stood there in tense silence, neither willing to back down. But Lisa could see the hurt flickering in Jake's eyes, a vulnerability that almost made her want to reach out, to reassure him that some part of her still cared.
But before she could say anything, Jake spoke, his voice a mix of anger and pleading. "I just don't want to see you get hurt, Lisa. He's hiding something. And I'm going to prove it."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, torn between loyalty to her past and a future she couldn't yet define.