Chapter 9 : Drowned in Lies
(Narrator : Josh)
I couldn’t avoid Jessica for long. The moment our eyes meet, I know something’s wrong. She has that look—annoyed, a mix of anger and embarrassment—and suddenly, I feel cornered. She doesn’t take her eyes off me. The tension is thick, almost suffocating.
Without a word, she grabs my arm and pulls me outside, away from everyone else, away from prying eyes and curious questions. We slip out quietly, finding a secluded spot behind the house. The air between us is heavy, and I know this isn’t going to be an easy conversation.
- Jessica (bluntly): “What happened last night, Josh?”
Of course, she gets straight to the point. I sigh inwardly. I knew this moment was coming, but I didn’t think it would hit so hard. Her gaze is piercing, and I can feel the tension building inside me. I need to choose my words carefully.
- Josh (uncomfortable): “You were drunk, Jess. I just helped you to bed, and you passed out.”
She stares at me, trying to read between the lines. I do my best to sidestep the awkward details, to avoid mentioning that she was practically naked. She seems to catch onto that omission but doesn’t press. We both know it was an alcohol-fueled accident—nothing more. Yet, the air between us is still heavy, awkward.
- Jessica (crossing her arms): “You… saw me, didn’t you?”
I lower my gaze, unable to lie.
- Josh (hesitant): “Yeah… but I covered you up and took the armchair. That’s it.”
She stays silent for a moment, and I realize this situation is even messier than we thought. There are too many unspoken things, too much tension between us for everything to go back to normal. But what can we do now? The game we’ve chosen to play is only making things worse.
The silence between us grows heavier, like an impenetrable wall. I know we need to talk about this, to clear the air, but I don’t know where to start. Thankfully, Jessica takes the lead.
- Jessica (bitterly): “This whole… game we’re playing… it’s gotten out of hand. I hate that we have to keep pretending like this.”
I nod, sharing her discomfort. The situation has obviously spiraled, and after last night’s kiss, everything has become even more complicated. My thoughts keep circling around this charade we’re forced to keep up, but the longer it goes on, the more unbearable it becomes.
- Josh (sighing): “I know. I wish we could end this too. But if we tell them the truth now… especially after the kiss… it’s going to be even harder to explain.”
Jessica sighs as well, clearly drained by all of this. We’re stuck, and the thought of keeping up this act weighs heavier on me with every passing moment. I hate lying, but there’s no easy way out.
- Jessica (frustrated): “And now, with this whole roommate situation… it’s only going to get worse.”
She’s right. The idea of moving in with her only makes things more complicated. Our friends will have expectations, suspicions, and every move, every word, will be under scrutiny. How are we supposed to keep pretending for that long?
- Josh (resigned): “Yeah… it’s going to be messy. But we just need to hold out—at least until tonight. Maybe after that, we can find an excuse to end it all.”
- Jessica (biting her lip): “I hate this situation. I feel like I’m trapped in something completely out of my control.”
All I can do is nod. The tension between us is undeniable, and this conversation has only highlighted how stuck we really are. There’s no good way out of this mess—not right now, at least. So, we decide to do what we’ve been doing best since the start: keep playing the game and hope everything blows over by the end of the weekend.
The afternoon is nearly here, and after that tense conversation with Jessica, all I want is to try and relax a little. But of course, this weekend seems hellbent on pushing me to my limits.
Everyone has decided to spend the last day gathered around the pool. The vibe is a lot more laid-back than this morning—at least on the surface. I head to the bedroom to change into swim trunks, trying to shake off the lingering awkwardness that’s been piling up since yesterday.
Once I’m ready, I join the others by the pool. The bursts of laughter and lively conversations offer a brief respite. Maybe—just maybe—this day will pass without any more incidents.
But of course, my friends have other plans.
- Paul (noticing me): “Hey, look who’s here! Took your sweet time, huh, Josh? We thought you were staying locked up with your girl!”
I force a smile, but inside, I’m already uncomfortable. They just won’t let it go, always dropping hints and making jokes, and it’s getting harder and harder to handle. The lie we started weaving now feels like a web that’s trapping me tighter with every passing moment.
- Brice (whistling as he eyes Jessica by the pool): “Look at that… Jess is stunning in that swimsuit, huh, Josh? What do you think?”
I tense up immediately. Jessica is standing there at the edge of the pool. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, aware that my friends are waiting for me to react.
- Josh (forced to play along): “Yeah, she’s… not bad.”
I say it lightly, but my heart is pounding. This is a game I hate playing, but I don’t have a choice. If I don’t say anything, they’ll find it even more suspicious. I despise this situation. Every second spent in this role weighs heavier on me.
- Brice (laughing): “Yeah, right, ‘not bad’!”
I settle into a lounge chair, trying to blend into the background, to relax despite the stares and endless comments. My friends keep joking about Jessica’s swimsuit, and I do my best to keep my cool. But with every joke, every remark, the weight of this lie feels like it’s crushing us a little more.
(Narrator : Jessica)
The afternoon unfolds with everyone gathered around the pool. The sun is shining, the water sparkles, and the mood is light. Yet, I can’t seem to relax. My thoughts have been spiraling all morning. Josh and I tried to talk, but things feel more tangled than ever. And now, sitting here with my friends, the pressure is only building.
Harper takes a seat next to me, sneaking a quick glance toward Josh on the other side of the pool.
- Harper (teasing): “So, Jess, are you going to tell us or not? Did something happen with Josh last night?”
I frown, my heart beating a little faster. Of course, they weren’t going to let this slide. I shake my head, trying to seem casual.
Jessica (awkward): “No, nothing at all. We just slept. That’s it.”
Lily (disappointed): “Seriously? Nothing? With a guy like him in your room, I don’t know how you manage to resist.”
I blush, feeling even more uncomfortable. I hate these conversations, especially now that everything in my head is such a mess. I can’t tell them the truth—they’d never stop pestering me about it.
- Chloe (with a mischievous grin): “So… what do you think of his… size?”
I nearly choke on my own breath. His what?! I shoot Chloe a scandalized look, and she bursts out laughing at my reaction.
Jessica (protesting): “What is wrong with you? You’re all insane.”
Harper (laughing): “Oh, come on, Jess. We know you’ve looked. With a body like that, how could you not?”
My cheeks burn. I look away, trying not to glance at Josh for too long. But despite myself, my eyes drift toward him—his abs, his muscular arms… My mind wanders for a split second, and the image of him naked flashes through my thoughts, unbidden. It’s mortifying.
But I can’t push the image away, and my friends notice right away. Chloe nudges my shoulder with a knowing wink.
Chloe (laughing): “Look at her, she’s totally checking him out!”
Harper (teasing): “Oh my God, Jess, you’re practically drooling!”
Jessica (protesting): “That’s ridiculous…”
The conversation is getting tougher by the minute. My friends refuse to let it go, and now every topic circles back to Josh and me. At one point, Chloe fixes me with that mischievous look of hers, and I can tell something embarrassing is coming.
- Chloe (smiling): “So, Jess, when are you and Josh officially moving in together?”
I can feel my pulse pounding. The whole roommate thing… It’s been making me uneasy lately. I have no clue how it’ll play out, but my friends can’t stop digging.
- Lily (teasing): “Sounds like fun, right? You’ll finally split the rent, and… who knows, maybe share more than that?”
She winks at me, and my cheeks go red-hot. I’m cornered. Telling them the truth is impossible. Things have spiraled so much that there’s no going back now. I bite my lip, trying to find an answer, but nothing comes to mind.
- Jessica (awkwardly): “Yes… uh, he’s moving in next week.”
I hate this situation, but I can’t see another way out. My friends exchange conspiratorial glances, clearly convinced there’s something far more intimate behind this roommate deal. I rush to explain, even though I feel like each word only digs me in deeper.
- Jessica (trying to justify herself): “But… nothing’s going to happen between us. Josh is just a friend, nothing more. We’re just… sharing a place.”
They don’t look convinced, and I can feel it. Their knowing smiles, their conspiratorial glances… it all makes me even more uncomfortable. They nod, but I know they don’t believe me for a second.
- Harper (with a mischievous smile): “Yeah, sure… We believe you.”
The tension inside me is building. I feel cornered, and the idea of living with Josh after all this feels more and more unbearable. How are we going to handle this without raising even more suspicion? I feel trapped in this lie that’s getting bigger by the day.
I take a deep breath, trying to maintain control. But deep down, I know the situation is only going to get worse, especially with this roommate deal looming.