Invisible String

Chapter 34 - Everything Has Changed

I looked back down. My fingers moved over letters on the phone but didn't hit anything. Words. Words... words. What could I say to him? I'm awful. That wasn't true. But why did I want to be truthful with him? I didn't. Did I? Finally, feeling the need to say something, I replied.

Me: Why are you texting me, Jaiden?

He replied within seconds.

Jaiden: Just wanted to see how you were doing. I heard about what happened.

I shook my head, staring at his words. Don't reply. Just don't. But I did. Again, and again. Until finally, he decided he wanted to see me.

Me: Why? So you can hit on me again?

Jaiden: Maybe. But mostly because I like seeing you.

After pestering me endlessly, I told him where I was, and he informed me he'd be there in a half-hour. He still texted me while on his way, and I felt increasingly nervous as he drew closer.

And then he was there, walking towards me. My breathing hitched, and I noticed the change instantly. I mentally slapped myself. I knew what that meant. I wrote romance novels for Christ's sake. I will not let myself feel that way about someone so... so... stupid! I chided myself.

He looked nice, dressed in a black button-down shirt and dark blue jeans that actually had a belt around his hips rather than his ass. He smiled, and I took in a deep breath.

"Hey," he said, offering his hand to me. I smiled back, involuntarily, and took his hand. He kissed the back of it, taking chivalry over the top. "How are you?" He stepped closer as he let go of my hand.

"You already know how I am." The smile faded. "I'm fine."

"Right," he said, the smile still on his face. "Yeah, okay then... what are you doing here?"

"I'm getting out."

"Out of what?" he asked while sliding down against the tree beside me.

"Out of my apartment. Off the computer." I looked at him. He'd found a twig and was twirling it between his pointer finger and thumb, staring at it, rather than at me. "I'm trying to do something normal."

"Yeah, me, too." He looked at me and stopped spinning the small piece of tree. "If I could just figure out exactly what normal was."

I snickered. "I guess that's the problem with what you do. Only the high-life feels normal."

His eyes widened, and he nodded, then looked back to the twig.

I leaned my back against the tree and tilted my head to look at the sky again. "So why'd you come out here, Jaiden?"

"I wanted to see you," he said, not looking up.

"Why?"

"I already told you why." He shook his head.

"I guess what I mean is, what's your deal with me?" I turned toward him, taking my eyes off the bright blue. I turned my body, too, really wanting to face him for this. "What's been your deal with me?"

He sighed, his jaw tightened, and continued to look at the twig. "There's no deal."

"Bullshit. How you've been, it's weird. I mean, like stalker-ish, even. And I don't understand it."

"You invited me here." He still wouldn't look at me.

"Jaiden !" I put my hand over his and pulled the twig away. "Just tell me the truth."

He looked up at me, irritated. "I don't know, okay?" He shook his head, staring into my eyes. "I don't know."

It felt strange to be this close to him. I'd wanted to hate him. I knew I should of. And everyone around me did. Most of the world even. But there he was. Vulnerable, being honest. And I couldn't hate him.