Chapter 19

Jake’s sloppy, self-satisfied grin was still in place plastered across his face. The porch light caught in his short, messy brown hair, giving him that careless frat-boy halo appearance he had cultivated. At six foot two, broad-shouldered and comfortably smug, he was used to the world tilting for him, girls wanting to be with him, guys wanting to be him, doors opening for him . Everything was simple when you were Jake McGraff.

Tonight after spending an evening with a cute girl that he liked more than he was willing to admit, her blowing him and now potentially about to hook up with Tammy's taller and hotter friend Jake was riding high.

Elaine, stood a few steps away beneath the porch light, not impressed at all with the asshole in front of her. At five foot ten, she wasn’t small, not even close the height difference between them wasn’t nearly enough for Jake to loom over her the way he was used to. Her posture was straight, still, and entirely more stand off ish than he could understand. The uneven lines of her dirty blonde bob framed a face carved in cool angles. Her brown eyes, darker than Jake’s warm, readable ones, watched him with the patience of someone who’d already decided how the night would end.

Her lack of reaction was the first thing that made Jake’s confidence flicker. Causing him to glance behind him to double check the door was closed and to see if any one was spying on him in a window.

He hid his unease with an uneasy laugh.

“Man, you show up here with that pic ready to go, you must’ve been real eager.” He tapped the glossy photo she’d shown him like it was all a joke. “You Tri-Sigs are wild.”

Elaine didn’t smile. Not really. Her mouth turned up just enough to show she had teeth, but it wasn’t friendly. It was like a cat looking at its prey.“That what you think this is?” she asked, voice soft enough to feel like a challenge.

Jake shrugged, shifting his weight onto one foot. His warm brown eyes scanned her up and down once more, , slower this time, registering details he hadn’t bothered with earlier the deliberate slant of her haircut, the tension in her shoulders, the way she held herself like she didn’t have to prove anything to anyone and yet he couldn't help picturing peeling off her tight jeans.

‘She wants me just like her cute shy friend just playing hard to get and I will get what I want from her.’ Jake told himself.

“You’re here at my house,” he said, giving her his best lazy grin. claiming the frat house as his own. “Middle of the night. You got that look like you’ve got thoughts.” He winked. “Never known a Tri-Sig who didn’t.”

Elaine’s gaze almost didn't waver but she couldn't keep herself from rolling her eyes at the insult to her sorority. Him acting as if he was God's gift to woman made her blood boil.

“Funny,” she said quietly, “I was just thinking the same thing about you.”

Jake’s grin tightened a fraction. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you talk too much and not enough of it’s true.”

Jake let out a laugh that sounded a little too sharp. “You come all the way here to accuse me of lying? About what, exactly?”

“You tell me.” Elaine stepped a little closer not enough to be in his personal space, but close enough she could reach out and touch him. Her shoulders nearly aligned with his now as she squared up to him like there was going to be a fight. She wasn’t small. Elaine wasn't some tiny thing like Sarah but she didn't fool herself into believing a physical confrontation was a good idea, even if she wanted to punch him in his smug face.

“You bragged,” she continued, tone never rising. “Loudly. Repeatedly. About how you handled Tammy. About how she warmed up. About how she wanted you.”

Jake stiffened. “I didn’t brag. I told the truth.”

“Mm.” Elaine’s eyes flicked over his face, watching every micro-expression like a hawk. “You are so full of shit you could convince yourself a cis man likes you because he waved and said hi.”

Jake’s jaw ticked. “I’m not trying to convince anyone and I'm not some homophobe, I can't help it if a gay dude likes what he sees in me. Gay or not, at least he would have good taste.”

“You are not listening, spend less time talking and thinking of yourself, maybe more time listening. I said you are lying to yourself.”

Jake scoffed, but his chest felt tight for some reason. “You don’t know crap about me.”

“Oh, Jake.” Elaine tilted her head, hair shifting in uneven angles. “You’re an open book. A loud one. Specifically one that won't shut up.”

She stepped a half-step closer, close enough now that Jake actually had to look slightly downward to meet her eyes; it was close enough that it gave him a sense of unease. When girls were this close in his experience things were about to get intimate but wth this chick i was like she was trying to stare him down.

“Everything about you,” Elaine said, “is about being seen. Liked. Admired. And when that doesn’t go perfectly, you scramble. You brag and lie. You bark like a small dog wanting every one to think your big. You try to own the room so no one notices you’re worried. Here is the thing though Jakey. I see you, i see the real you.”

Jake swallowed hard.

He hated that she was reading him this easily.

“You think I’m worried?” he scoffed, lifting his chin. “I had a better night than anyone inside that house. You are just some bitch…. I mean your hot as fuck but you just jealous of Tammy.”

Elaine smiled again, holding his gaze. ‘He isn't even pretending to be nice.’ she thought n

“That’s what’s interesting,” she said softly. “You keep saying that. Like you’re trying to drown out the part that knows you didn’t. I'm not jealous of something that is fake.”

Jake’s warm brown eyes flashed an irritated part of him feeling exposed and ****. ‘What does this bitch know?’ He couldn’t hide emotion the way Elaine could. His face telegraphed everything to her, and Elaine was dissecting or so it felt.“I don’t know what game you’re playing,” Jake muttered, straightening, “but I’m not in the mood.”

“I’m not playing,” Elaine said. “I already won.”

Jake blinked. “Won what?”

Elaine’s voice dropped. Becoming colder but still full of her own natural confidence.

“You vs me, I won. You lose now you can go fall apart.”

Jake felt a cold jolt run down his spine, like the night air itself shifted.

“You think you’re the predator here,” she said. “But you’re not, Jake. Not tonight.”

The porch felt smaller somehow to Jake, The night felt quieter.

All while he could swear he could hear his own heartbeat. He watched the girl with model looks closely feeling anger bubble up from deep in himself not at her and her audacity to come at him like this but at himself for feeling like he couldn't meet her gaze.

“And the best part?” she murmured. “You haven’t even realized why yet.” Elaine punctuated her comment by poking him in the chest with her index finger.

Jake’s stomach knotted even as he opened his mouth.”We are done here. Offer is off the table, I'm not sticking my dick in crazy and you are way too crazy.”

Elaine didn’t withdraw her hand when she took in his bravado riddled insult, only shaking her head. If anything, her finger pressed a fraction harder into the center of Jake’s chest right over where his heart was hammering. Her brown eyes held him like she was trying to pin him to a board like a specimen with her will alone.

Jake tried to glare back, but his warm brown eyes flicked away, just once toward the closed door behind him. Not to flee. Just checking again that no one could see him being cornered.

Elaine saw his weakness and wasn't going to just let it pass. Her smile sharpened. “Oh, Jakey,” she murmured, “we’re nowhere near done.”

Jake opened his mouth anger ready, insults lined up but before he could say a word Elaine spoke not just first but over anything that he started to say.

“Before I teach you something important,” she said, tone almost sweet, “you’re going to do one thing for me.”

Her finger slid off his chest and down, not teasing just controlling landing above his sternum before she let her hand fall away entirely.

“I’m not doing shit for you,” he snapped.

Elaine ignored his childish rebuttal

“Describe Tammy for me.”

Jake blinked. “Whyt?”

“Describe Tammy,” Elaine repeated, slow and precise. “Tell me exactly what she was to you. Every detail. Every little thing you liked.”

Jake scoffed. “Seriously? Why the hell would I—”

“Because,” Elaine said, leaning in closer voice soft, breath steady, eyes much softer than when she was glaring at him.“I want to hear the fairytale you’re telling yourself before I tear it apart.”

Jake’s pulse jumped.But his ego couldn’t resist the “I got the girl” narrative. Couldn’t resist performing. Couldn’t resist proving himself. He had been with many sexual conquests, but the truth was he had never actually had a real relationship and part of him that he didn't want to consider wanted that with Tammy, too afraid. His old man boasted about his own encounters yet he was alone and deep down Jake was afraid that would be his own future.He lifted his chin.

“Fine,” he said. “But don’t get jealous. More than you are nowI mean.”

Elaine’s laugh was small, sharp, the narrative that she was jealous, seeming pitiful.

Jake pushed on.

“Tammy’s… cute,” he started. thinking of her bashful smile and the way she had a hard time looking him in the eye. “Real cute. She’s got that shy thing going. Quiet voice. Big eyes. That kinda soft look that makes me want to hold and protect her.”

Elaine’s eyebrows lifted, encouraging him.

Jake continued.

“She warms up fast. You just gotta know how to talk to her. When she laughs” His expression softened without him realizing. “It’s real, not something fake. The way she reacts to others around her, she lifts you up. The type of person that brightens not just the room she is in but your heart, making worries seem less important. Sweet. I liked it.”

Elaine didn’t hide the way she noticed that shift in his face all while she gave him an odd look as he described the **** feminized young man.

Jake swallowed and kept talking, tone dipping lower, almost confessional.

“She looked at me like… like I mattered. Made me feel like she trusted me.”

He snorted quickly, trying to cover his own openness. “Not that it matters now.”

Elaine didn’t blink. "What else?”

Jake frowned. “That’s enough.”

“No,” Elaine said. “It’s not.” her voice growing sterner. “Tell me what Tammy made you feel.”

Jake’s jaw worked, defensive, not really sure what she was getting at.. “I don’t…It’s not…I don’t feel things like that.”

Elaine cocked her head to the side as she put her left hand on her hip.

“You do,” she whispered. “Jakey, you have feelings, you're an asshole not a monster..”

Jake let out a long breath as he shook his own head.

Elaine, wanting the cocky young man to feel off balance started walking around him, each step slow and deliberate so she stayed within arms reach. “Now listen carefully, Jake McGraff.” Her voice dipped with mock sweetness.

“You’re about to find out something… hilarious.”

Twisting his neck to watch Elaine prowl about he felt very done with her shit .”Great tell your joke then you can leave. As the song says it’s closing time, you don’t have to go home but you can't stay here.”

Elaine leaned in until her lips were nearly at his ear as her hand lightly landed on the back of his shoulder, the moment was upon her and it took more than a little effort to not just blurt it out just to break him..

“Tammy,” she said, the name as if she was not just tasting the letters but savoring them, sweet, shy…cute Tammy… they aren't who you think they are.”

Jake pulled away from the touch and spun around. ”Shitty joke so far, if you are thinking of being a comedian, rethink it.”

Elaine glowered at him, his barbs felt like an attempt for him to regain control and she wasn't going to let that happen. "Jakey," she said quietly, "I am not joking."

Jake scoffed again, louder than before, the sound too sharp to be real confidence. "Yeah, right. Tammy isn't who I think she is. What does that even mean? What, she is secretly married? Has a second identity? Allergic to common sense?" He shook his head once. "Your material is garbage."

Elaine did not rise to the bait. She watched him with the patience of someone who already had the answer and was only waiting for him to walk into it.

"Describe her again," Elaine said.

Jake blinked. "Why would I do that?"

Elaine stepped close enough that Jake could feel the warmth of her body in the cold night air. ‘She just wants me and to be told she is pretty’ He told himself.

"Because I want to hear every pretty word you believe. I want you to remind yourself exactly what you said. Then I am going to show you what is real."

"Fine. You want details, you get details. Tammy is cute. And by that I mean cuter than you spare me your jealousy. You had the chance to have my dick but your crazy ruined that.” Jake thought about how looked at him as if he was the only other person around, the only one that mattered, while Elaine acted as if she just wanted to fuck with him.

Snapping finger, the unexpected action and sound gave Elaine the moment she needed to push on. "Jake. Listen to me." Inhaling once, steady and controlled, then she spoke the truth.

"Tammy is not Tammy. Tammy is Timothy Thompson, you should know him well. The cute girl you are so in love with is one of your own pledges. You sent him to steal our panties, all I did was send him back panties and outfit to complete the look."

Jake went still. His expression did not shift at first. It simply froze, like the words had hit something deep inside him that shut everything down. ‘Timothy Thompson.’ the name ran through his mind and how the overly eager freshman introduced himself with his full name.

Elaine watched the moment the name sank in. Jake's warm brown eyes widened, then dropped, then widened again. His mouth opened slightly, no sound coming out. His breathing hitched. So to push the arrogant ass harder she repeated the name pulling out the photo she had shown of their activities in the car. “Timothy Thompson.”

"No. No, that is wrong. Tammy is a girl. Tammy is not a guy. Tammy acted like the perfect girl."Jake said in denial thoughts of Tammy's adorable laugh making Elaine's claim sound so wrong.

"Acted," Elaine repeated his words calmly. "You fell for the act."

Jake's face went red, then pale. His breathing turned fast and shallow. He looked like he might be sick.

Elaine watched it all with the slow, satisfied expression of someone who had set a trap perfectly and was now watching it snap shut. "You did not fall for Tammy," she said. "You fell for a boy named Timothy Thompson."

Jake's voice cracked on the first word. "Stop. Please stop."

Elaine smiled, feeling a thrill as a rush ran through her as he pleaded. “Tell me again how good your night was."

Jake didn't answer, he just looked out into the night, his mind reeling. ‘I kissed him... I let a dude give me a blow job and I liked it,,,’

“No answer, well...How would your so-called friends react to this news?” Elaine asked, twisting the knife.

Feeling backed into a corner and afraid of the answer to the question Jake tried to defend himself “I'm not gay! But even if I was, no one would care that is why they are called friends. He wasn't sure how true that was, but was pretty sure his dad would disown him.

“Oh?” Elaine said, speaking as if she actually cared about Jake. “ Then there is no problem with me going inside right now to share, right?”

Stepping backwards and to the side, Jake stood between the girl and the door, “How about we don't and do that never. And by we I mean you.”

The trap had been set and sprung far as Elaine was concerned, now she just needed to leverage it into control, “Tell you what Jakey, this can stay between us but for a price.”

Feeling beaten down and if he lost something precious Jake answered in a monotone voice. “ What do I have to do?

Knowing exactly what she wanted him to do Elaine shrugged her shoulders. “Well you see my sorority is keeping Tammy. Cute girl with a positive attitude that is always eager to help, she is to fit in great and actually be appreciated. Tammy will be treated like family. I thought… well the house needs some attention, cleaning and that is where you fit in, We will even give you a uniform.

Jake imagined wearing a jump suit like a janitor while pressure washing the sorority house, “Clean the place up and you shut the fuck up?”

“Crude, but yes,” Elaine crossed her arms as she spoke.