Hey guys,
It's been a while hasn't it?
Well, actually well over a month…
Sorry about all that, I just had major deadlines for University, but thankfully now I have finished, so hopefully there will finally be some time for me to do this story!
I don't know how regular updates will be, but I'll try to stick to it as best as possible.
Favourite and follow for more updates, reviews are welcome, especially given how long it's been.
I'm sure nobody needs to be reminded of what happened in the chapter, if not then make sure to go back and read it…
This chapter is heavy…
There also won't be an outro to this chapter…
But you'll understand why…
Enjoy chapter 20…
Buckle up and enjoy the ride,
Writey x
Alexis's POV
I'm not the kind of person to regret my actions.
I see everything as a learning curve, or a lesson.
But, something inside me told me that this was something I was going to regret straight away…
I didn't a get chance to say anything before Jaden disappeared into the crowd of people at our party.
I stood frozen for a minute, just trying to register what had happened…
Zane had kissed me…
At first, I had been shocked, then I didn't mind it, then I felt anger.
I looked at him.
He had also noticed Jaden, but hadn't really had a reaction to it, something I wasn't pleased with.
Why'd he done that?
I'd clearly told him how I felt, but he still went and did it anyway…
As much as I was angry at him, I couldn't stay that way.
I'd almost done the same with Jaden a few times, except, I'd never actually gone through with it.
At least Zane had the nerve to go the full monty and kiss me.
My mind kept swerving back to Jaden.
Why did he have to be there right at that moment?
Obviously, it wasn't his fault, he could go where he wanted and it wasn't like he was intentionally there, but for all the times he was late to stuff, he just had to be there at the perfect moment this time, didn't he.
I realised I had stayed in the same place with Zane for a while, "well…"
Well…
Really…
Was that all you could come up with?
"I think I'm going to go," Zane said as he started to make his way.
Instinctively I reached out a hand to grab him.
"Oh no you don't," I said, turning him to face me, "you're not getting away with it like that."
Once turned, he looked at me and I saw a look I wasn't expecting…
Anger…
"What do you want from me Alexis, huh?"
Stunned, that's how I felt.
"What?"
"You know what I mean, why do you want me here after I pulled something like that," he said, clearly getting angrier.
I hadn't thought of it like that until now.
I smiled at him, "Zane, you're still my closest friend, you know that yeah?"
He nodded slightly, almost hesitant as to what was coming next.
"But that is all, my friend, nothing more, okay?"
This time he paused, before talking, "Jaden?"
I looked slightly confused.
He looked at me a bit longer before exaggerating.
"You like Jaden, don't you?"
There was no point in hiding it anymore, anything with Jaden was basically doomed after that kiss anyway.
I nodded at Zane.
Zane looked down at the ground for a second, before looking up and smiling, "what kind of friend am I having you stand here with me rather than going to find him then?"
As much as I could throttle him for what he did just then, there was no denying that he was always going to do the right thing in the end.
I nodded and started to walk away, but before I turned the corner, I had one last thing I wanted to say.
"Promise you won't leave?"
I meant leave the party, but there was definitely more to it than that, I didn't want to lose him.
"Oh Alexis, I'm not going anywhere," Zane said smiling.
I laughed and then turned around to go and find Jaden.
As I wandered round the shop trying to find him, I realised I hadn't really considered what I was going to say to him.
'Oh, sorry for kissing Zane' didn't sound particularly good.
Neither did, 'did you see me kiss Zane?'
I'd have to think about it that was for sure.
I looked around for a while longer and realised that I couldn't find him, instead only finding his mum.
I didn't really want to have to tell her what had happened, but maybe she had seen him.
"Hey," I said, going over to her, she was stood at the drinks table by herself.
I was actually slightly nervous, like a little kid who had done something wrong and was trying to tell their parent about it.
"Oh," she said, turning around and wiping her hands with a cloth, "hey Alexis, do you want to try one, it's my famous fruit punch?"
"No, it's okay, thank you, have you…."
"Oh, go on, I know you'll love it, it's Jaden favourite," she said, handing me a cup full.
Jaden's favourite, you say?
I took the cup from her and had a sip.
"Oh wow," I said, taking another a few gulps, "that is really good."
Susan smiled at me, "oh," she said, as if remembering something, "what was it you wanted to ask me?"
"Oh yeah," I said finishing off the cup of punch I had, "have you seen Jaden?"
Susan filled another cup full of punch and handed it to me.
She stood thinking for a second, "oh actually yes," she said, looking over towards the door, "he came over to get himself some punch, he actually drank like four cups and then went over that way with another two."
Well…
At least he was taking things well…
To be fair, he may have just wanted a drink, but I couldn't help feeling that was partly my fault.
"Thanks Mrs Yu," I said before taking my punch and walking over in the direction she had pointed.
As predicted, I found him just past another group of people, but what I wasn't expecting to see him talking to a girl, especially the one he was talking too.
"Oh, hey Sabrina," I said, looking at the two of them.
I felt jealously flow through me. They were both in the corner of the room, close to each other and they both had these smiles on their faces, laughing at each other.
"Oh, hey Alexis," Sabrina said, "I see you found this punch."
She held up her glass to show me.
"Indeed, I did."
I looked at Jaden, he hadn't even made eye contact with me once.
"What were you guys talking about?"
"Oh, nothing much," Sabrina said after a momentary pause. She looked as though she was waiting for Jaden to talk.
"Righttt…"
I mean, Sabrina was quite shy but still this was rather weird.
"Hey, Sab, do you want to go over and talk to mum and dad," Jaden said, still completely ignoring me.
Wait…
Since when did he call her 'Sab?'
"Why? We can stay and talk to Alexis," she said back, smiling at me.
At least Sabrina was being a good person right now, but I couldn't really say the same for Jaden.
Jaden stayed quiet whilst Sabrina and I talked for a while longer, but I was really getting frustrated. Like, why was he being so annoying. I get I was the one in the wrong…
But then it occurred to me, had I actually done anything wrong?
"Are you done ignoring me yet?"
I hadn't meant to say it so brashly…
No screw that…
I did mean to say it like that…
He stayed silent…
"Oh okay, being immature now?"
Silence again…
"Guys let's just calm down," Sabrina said, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"No, it's okay Sabrina," I said, moving her hand away.
She flinched and I felt guilty immediately.
I felt a little sorry for her actually, she was only trying to calm the situation down.
I looked at Jaden, but still he didn't register me…
I felt myself getting angrier…
I could feel an argument coming…
Jaden looked at me and smirked, as if he knew what I was thinking…
Oh, this was about to happen…
Jaden's POV
Remember how I said it had been a great start to the weekend?
Yeah, that was about to come to an immediate halt.
I mean, after just realising how you feel about someone, then to have it all torn away is a pretty bad feeling you know…
The alcohol was definitely tasking effect, mum had decided to make her punch, but not just any punch, my favourite punch and it was safe to say it wasn't definitely having an effect on me, I knew that.
I had been talking to Sabrina when Alexis had come over.
My brain had told me it was a good idea…
Try and make Alexis jealous, that was the idea…
But my heart was telling me to stop straight away…
When she came over something kicked in and I just decided to ignore her.
And surprisingly I was actually really good at it…
I shouldn't have been angry, but I was, I mean, she didn't know how I felt, I'd never told her, but something inside me just was just furious.
It didn't help I could hear what she was thinking…
It had taken me a while to realise what was going on with Alexis and being able to hear her…
But then I realised I could hear her thoughts, only some of them, you could almost choose what they hear, but you could definitely hear it that was for sure.
In this situation however, it didn't make much difference.
She was cross, I was cross, and when I realised, she was getting angry, I couldn't help it, I just smirked…
Next thing I know... we were out the front of the shop.
Well, she had dragged me round the side of the shop.
I was glad because it wouldn't have been a good look to customers had the owners started shouting at each other in front of their new shop, before it had even opened.
It wasn't forceful but I didn't appreciate being dragged out of my own party, it was quite embarrassing.
I knew what was coming, but I wasn't sure whether I was ready for it.
I leant up against the wall and Alexis stared at me.
It wasn't that I was scared…
Well actually, I kind of was…
I was terrified of angry Alexis…
"What is your problem, Yuki?"
Yuki?
She never called me, Yuki…
"Nothing," I said.
Obviously, there was, but I didn't tell her that I hated seeing her with Zane.
"Well then, why are you being a complete ass?"
I'm being a complete ass…
Okay, I didn't appreciate that.
"What do you mean, 'I'm being a complete ass,' don't talk to me like that."
I saw the anger start to vent through her…
"Oh, really Jaden, I'll talk to be how I want, you know what, you are being a complete ass, but if you're not then why have you been ignoring me?"
So, I couldn't really say I wasn't…
I was…
On purpose…
But I was hurt, everyone knows how that feels, to be hurt, and we do stupid things.
"Because…"
She stared at me and I knew I was in a bit of a corner…
"Just because…"
That just seemed to make her madder.
"Oh great, so now you can't even give me a straight answer, well you know what forget it, screw you Jaden."
She started to turn as if to leave, but then spun around, "and you know what you can keep the stupid money for the house, I don't want it."
Okay, now I was quite angry, she was basically spitting my gift back at me…
"Fine," I shouted, I realised the argument had gotten to that level, "I won't pay it off then."
She started to walk away…
"Oh, is that it, you just going to walk away again…."
As I said it, she stopped and her posture change, it looked raging.
This boy!
Oh no, that wasn't good…
But I wasn't about to back down…
"You know I can hear that?"
Yes, Jaden I do
Right so she's worked it out as well, great.
She bolted round and came straight up into my face…
"You know Jaden, for someone who is meant to be my friend, you're not acting like one.."
Okay, that stung…
"What do you mean, 'I'm not acting like your friend'…"
I made quote marks with my fingers for emphasis, but really, that one was a real rib jabber…
"Well, what was all this about today, one minute we were fine, laughing together and then the next minute you're off flirting with Sabrina, not even talking to me."
"I… I…"
"That's not what friends do Jaden…"
I could tell there was more to it than that, but she was blocking me out of her thoughts, so I had no idea what it was.
She waited a few seconds for a response, but I had nothing…
"Mm, just as I thought…"
Alexis turned and started to walk away, so I panicked.
"I wasn't flirting with Sabrina…"
Alexis stopped and turned for the second time, but didn't advance towards me…
"Oh, and there we go again, more lying… Jaden, when are you going to quit with all this…"
I was starting to boil again, getting more frustrated.
"Alexis, when are YOU going to start trusting me…"
Alexis looked taken aback, but then again, I hadn't really said that to her.
I had secretly been feeling it, like she didn't fully trust me, but then again, I wasn't sure whether I trusted myself…
"And anyway, don't go act all innocent here, or are we just going to brush under the carpet what happened between you and Zane then, huh, care to explain that little nugget?"
For a second, she looked sad, then her facial expression turned back to angry.
"It was nothing…"
"Oh really, that didn't look like nothing to me, who was the one that just said to 'stop lying.'"
This conversation was starting to bother me.
I didn't really want it to continue any longer, I didn't want to hear the answer to my question…
"It was nothing, but it doesn't matter whether it was or not, Jaden."
Okay, what did that mean?
"Clearly," was all I had in response…
We stood in silence for a little while…
A few people had come to investigate but once they had realised it was us, they quickly headed back inside…
"You know, something is different between us now…"
I looked at her, she was in deep thought, but I knew what she meant, I'd had the same thought, with all these things happening between us, our relationship was different.
It was almost as if since the reunion, I'd had this fake image of how everything was going to be, and with everything that had happened, it felt like a honeymoon period with everyone…
But that was very much crumbling down around me now…
I didn't really want to talk any longer, so I slid myself off the wall and tried to head back inside…
"I don't know if the card shop is a good idea Jaden…"
I paused…
What the….
I looked at her, slowly turning my body…
Was she….
Backing out?
"What do you mean?"
I said it in a slow, methodical way…
Alexis paused and then spoke in a soft tone…
"It's ruining us Jaden, I don't want to argue like this, and it will happen with that shop…"
If you've ever had someone break your heart, then it must have felt something like the experience I was going through now…
"Oh, so now you're bailing on me…"
"No, Jaden," she shouted, this time she was crying, "I'm scared, I'm not losing you again, dam it, I feel like that's all that ever hangs over us."
She was crying, all I wanted to do was hold her, make sure she was okay.
But I couldn't…
I was still so mad…
"Dam it Alexis, stop!"
I saw her jolt and I felt bad, so my tone softened, "why are we arguing then, why drag me out here, if you're so scared of losing me, why start this…"
"Because…."
She paused, as if contemplating her words…
"Because what, huh, anything else?"
She looked up at me, tears still steaming…
"You know what Jaden…"
"What?"
I was asking for a smack,
I deserved one…
Her head dropped back down…
"That's it then..."
As I said it, she raised her head and I motioned to leave once more…
But in one swift moment, Alexis closed the gap between us…
Now.
If I'm correct.
This is where everything gets mushy, all in depth…
But it was nothing like that…
No.
In one quick swift movement, Alexis's lips met my own…
At first, I was surprised…
But then, as if my body was taking over, I returned the kiss…
Yet after merely a second, she stepped back, dropped her head, turned and disappeared inside…
Leaving me standing there…
Angry…
Confused…
And giddy…
Three feelings I definitely shouldn't be feeling at the same time…
But I was…
"Well," DK said, appearing next to me, I gathered he and Dee had been overhearing the argument, "that argument didn't go the way I expected."
I wanted to reply, but I couldn't…
I was just very confused…
We were arguing…
Then she kissed me…
She said she didn't want to be part of the shop…
Then she kissed me…
She kissed Zane…
Then she kissed me…
I felt a hand on my shoulder that didn't belong to Yubel or DK, snapping me out of my thoughts…
"Hey mate."
It was Kyle.
"Everything okay?"
I stayed silent for a second…
"A few people said they heard arguing and then I saw Alexis dart to the back of the shop, crying and then I decided to come find you…"
"Errr…"
Kyle stayed quiet, waiting for me to answer…
"Errr…. yeah, no, I'm good…."
I wasn't….
But I didn't need to broadcast it…
"Okay… well… I'm going around the back to sort out the Barbecue, I'll be there if you need me."
Kyle made his way round the back of the shop, as I stood watching him…
Almost as he turned the corner, I made my way inside…
I had to find Alexis…
I needed an answer…
I needed to know what that was about…
I started to look for her…
Most people didn't pay attention to me and carried on with their conversation…
But others stared…
I looked for a while but, in the end, I had no luck.
I stood to compose myself…
But almost within a second I was ambushed by Amalie…
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?"
It was like she was shouting it, but in a very quiet manner…
"What?"
I had an idea what she meant, but I wanted clarification…
"With Alexis…"
Ahh, there we go…
"I…"
What did I say to her…
It wasn't like it was easy to explain…
'Oh yeah, we had a huge argument and then she left me standing there after kissing me, oh, and she was crying at the same time.'
No…
"Amalie… I don't want to talk about it… where is she?"
"To hell you are…. you're going to tell me right…"
Suddenly, there was a large crash, and I spun to see Syrus on his knees in the doorway…
"JADEN," he shouted picking himself up, "ALEXIS, JADEN!"
Amalie looked at me, then in unison we ran to where Syrus was trying to pick himself up….
"Sy, Sy," I said, helping him, "what is it?"
He looked up at me, clearly out of breath and knackered…
"Fire… Barbecue… Out of control… Don't know what to do…"
He slumped down onto the floor and someone bent down to check on him.
In an instant, Amalie and I were sprinting down the side of the house towards where the barbecue was…
As we got to the back of the house, I could see the smoke…
Or rather the smoke started to stop me from seeing….
As we made our way out into the garden area at the back of the shop, it cleared slightly and I could see what Syrus was talking about…
Where the barbecue once was, there were now flames several feet tall, burning…
I stood in shock for a second but then Amalie snapped me out of it, "Jaden," she shouted, it was almost as if our conversation a few minutes ago was now an old wives' tale.
I looked at her and saw she was pointing…
I looked in that direction and realised that Kyle, Zane and Jesse were already there with buckets and hoses trying to get rid of the flames…
"I'll go help them," she said, grabbing the other hose next to her and joining them.
I wanted to join them as well, but something didn't feel right…
That's a brand-new barbecue…
My brother was suddenly alongside Amalie, helping her as well and that snapped me into action…
I went to grab a bucket, but the clouds were getting thicker and it was getting harder to see...
I finally found one but then a hand was on my shoulder…
"Jaden, Jaden," said the voice of my mother in a panic.
I realised that now there were at least 10 to 12 people working on the fire, with people having followed Amalie and I out here after hearing what Syrus had said…
"Jaden," said my mother again…
"What mum," I said frantically, trying to get her to let go…
The smoke was becoming thicker as the water was being put on it…
"I can't find her; she was out here playing with Joshie, but I can't find her anywhere…"
My emotions were off the scale at this point and I didn't have a clue what my mum was going on about, let alone the time…
I turned and grabbed her by the shoulders, looking her in the eyes, "mum, what are you talking about?"
I thought that would have straightened her up, but it just made her worse…
She started to squirm and look around me as if something bigger than the fire was going on…
I was getting frustrated…
"MUM," I snapped.
I never shouted at her…
She looked at me again, tears streaming down her face…
Dam it, why was everybody crying today…
"It's… It's…." she tried to say, in between stutters…
She collapsed to the ground in front of me…
I quickly dropped the bucket I was holding and fell to her side…
Clearly there was something more pressing going on and I didn't know what it was…
"Mum?"
I was concerned now, almost forgetting about the fire…
My mother looked in my eyes, and I felt my heart clench…
"I can't find her Jaden; she was playing right over there…"
She pointed and I looked, but it was just Josh and Zane throwing more water over the barbecue…
Then…
As if if everything locked into place…
My heart sank and I felt sick…
Now I knew what she meant…
"My little Tessa, she was playing right by those flames…"