Different Sides To The Same Story

Chapter eleven - Lilith Pearson

I asked Seth to take me to Jason's when he went to drop off the truck. He did, before he walked back to his house. Now I'm just standing at his door worried. He ran away, was it because of something I said?

I knock on his door and hear movement inside within a few seconds. A very distressed Jason answers the door. His hair is damp and messy, he's wearing sweats and a black longsleeve and his eyes are red. None of this stops his calm demeanor. "Sup." he greets, leaning against the door.

"Are you mad about something? Why did you run away? Was it because of something I said?" I rush out all the words.

His calm act slips for a second as he looks panicked before he answers, "No, I told you I had to babysit Carrie's kids." He tells me.

I peer around him, "Then where are they?" I ask, knowing the answer.

He quickly answers, "I mixed up dates, I'm watching them tomorrow not today." He lies.

"So you're not mad?" I question. He shakes his head and I exhale, feeling much better there must just be other reasons for him acting weird. "Good, because I was so worried it was something I said and I-" He cuts me off before I can continue.

"I don't think we should keep fake dating." He blurts out. Scratching his neck as I look at him shocked.

"Okay..." I trail, "As long as we can still be friends." I tell him, watching him wince a bit at my words.

"We're not friends Lilith." He says, using my full name. I didn't realize how much I hated hearing him use my full name. "It was all because of that stupid project, if it wasn't for that then we would never have fake dated, you would never have met my friends and you wouldn't hang out with them." He tells me.

"I've heard of friendships starting weirder ways." I joke, trying to lighten the mood, when his grimace doesn't change I continue, "Why are you doing this?"

"It seems like time Lilith, I pissed off your parents and you got Emily off my back." He states simply. "Sorry." He tells me, closing the door.

The tears start spilling after the door gets closed in my face, "I think I love you." I whisper to no one. After standing on his small porch for a few more seconds, I turn, walking away. I don't know where. I just fucking can't be here.

---

I sit on the curb as a black car pulls up, I didn't know where I was, they had to track my phone. I stand up, leaning through the open window. "You were right." I tell him.

"I warned you." Miles reminds me as I enter the car.

"I should have listened." I tell him, as he pulls me into a hug.

I let the tears stream down my face again. I should have listened, maybe what they say about him is true.