Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows novel Chapter 43

Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

Inside, I was a whirlwind of emotions, but on the outside, I just seemed a bit quieter than usual. In this silent battle of a secret crush, I'm left to fight solo.

Noticing my silence, Jonah jumped to conclusions, assuming my quietness meant agreement. He took a deep breath, his face getting more serious. "Lana, you're just a junior. Who said you could start dating?"

"Was it the guy who walked home with you today, or the one who waved at you by the school gates a couple of weeks back? Or maybe the one who shared his umbrella with you when it rained three Fridays ago?"

I stared at him, amazed at how well he remembered these little details.

Frustrated, he went on, "Don't tell me it was the guy who slipped a love note into your desk during the last parent-teacher meeting?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "None of them. I'm not dating anyone."

Just secretly crushing on someone.

Our eyes locked, his gaze was piercing, as if trying to read the truth in my words. I met his stare with calmness. Time seemed to stretch out between us.

Eventually, his expression softened, and he said, "No dating."

I asked, "So seventeen's too young, what about eighteen?"

Outwardly, I went back to being the same old Lana. I seemed normal again, but now Jonah was acting odd. Even though I reassured him multiple times that I wasn't dating, Jonah still couldn't chill.

Whenever he drove me home, his eyes were like radar, scanning everyone who got close to me.

I told Marie funny stories from school. Jonah used to tune out, saying it wasn't his business to hear. But now, he would put down his work, casually sit on the couch nearby, openly eavesdropping, and even throwing in his two cents now and then.

"Today, the homeroom teacher brought in some successful alumni to share their experiences. One of them stopped mid-speech, looking around until he spotted a classmate napping at his desk. He politely apologized, then went over and woke the guy up with a bang. The sleeper's known for having a bit of a temper."

Marie gasped, "Oh no, didn't that start a fight?"