HOW TO MAKE DIAMONDS

FIVE

[a lighter chapter because we deserve it]

Jade slipped away quietly, making her way upstairs to the guest bedroom. It was a small, sparsely furnished room with little more than a bed and a dresser. She closed the door behind her and sank onto the bed, lying back with her arms folded over her eyes. The quiet was a relief, the stillness wrapping around her like a protective cocoon.

She wasn't there long before the door creaked open again. Jade tensed, preparing herself to tell whoever it was to leave, but paused when she saw Kyle. He stood there for a moment, eyes locking with hers before flicking around the room. Without a word, he closed the door behind him and walked over, dropping onto the bed beside her. He lay back, staring up at the ceiling.

"What are you doing here?" she muttered, not bothering to mask her irritation.

"Hiding," he replied simply. "They keep talking about past relationships and I'm done with people asking about my ex."

Jade turned her head to glance at him. His expression was guarded, but slightly angry as well. She knew the feeling all too well—people digging into parts of your life you wanted to keep buried. She said nothing, just turned her gaze back to the ceiling, letting the silence stretch between them.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the quiet. She pulled it out, seeing Ty's name pop up with a FaceTime request. She hesitated for a moment, aware of Kyle's presence beside her. He didn't say anything, just lay there, but she could feel his curiosity hanging in the air.

"You're not going to leave, are you?" she asked, turning her head slightly toward him.

"Nope," he replied, a hint of a challenge in his tone.

With a sigh, Jade swiped to accept the call, Ty's face filling the screen. His dark eyes lit up with a mischievous glint as he saw her lying down. "Well, well," he drawled. "You look like you're having a blast."

"Oh yeah, it's a real party," Jade muttered, trying to keep her tone light. "You caught me taking a break."

"Alone?" Ty asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly catching something in her tone.

Jade glanced at Kyle. "Not exactly."

Ty's eyes widened, and a wicked smile spread across his face. "Is that who I think it is? The mysterious 'Kyle' you've been complaining about?"

She groaned internally. "Ty, don't."

"Oh, come on!" Ty protested, his voice dropping to a teasing lilt. "I just want to know if he's as hot as I pictured from your description."

Kyle raised an eyebrow, still staring at the ceiling. "I can hear everything you're saying, you know."

Ty's laugh echoed through the phone. "Perfect. Saves me the trouble of having to ask you later, Jade."

Jade shot a glare at her phone, but Ty only looked more amused. He leaned closer to the camera, his voice turning more serious. "You doing okay, though? I know this whole neighborhood barbecue stuff isn't exactly your favorite thing."

"I'm managing," Jade replied, her voice softer now. "You know how it is."

"Yeah," Ty said knowingly. "Well, I just wanted to check in. David says hi too."

Jade's chest tightened. She missed Ty, missed the simplicity they used to have before things got complicated. "Tell him I said hi," she muttered.

Ty studied her for a moment before his expression turned sly again. "You know," he began casually, "you really need to find a new partner for.. how do I put this... your hobby."

"Ty," Jade warned, already knowing where this was headed.

"Come on," Ty grinned, glancing at the screen with a gleam in his eyes. "You've got Kyle right there. Seems like a decent candidate to help you blow off some steam."

Jade felt the heat rise to her cheeks, more out of irritation than embarrassment. "You're unbelievable."

Kyle finally glanced over at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Is that how you deal with things? Find someone to, what was it, 'blow off steam'?"

She shot him a look, annoyed. "Don't start."

Ty laughed, clearly enjoying this. "Hey, I'm just saying, a little fun never hurt anyone. You're in a different state now, and let's be real, you're a disaster without a good distraction."

Kyle let out a soft laugh, still looking at the ceiling. "Sounds like you have a very healthy way of dealing with life," he teased.

Jade rolled her eyes, feeling the need to defend herself but not really wanting to engage. "It's none of your business."

"True," Kyle conceded, still smirking. "But it's interesting to know what makes you tick."

Ty grinned on the screen, looking far too pleased with himself. "I'll leave you two to sort that out," he said, giving Jade a final wink. "Just remember, babe, riding someone is way more delicious than riding your fingers."

"I can't deal with you," Jade muttered, ending the call with a flick of her finger. The silence that followed wasn't heavy or awkward. It was... something. But Kyle wasn't leaning into it, wasn't pushing. He was simply lying there. "Don't take him seriously," Jade said after a moment, staring back at the ceiling. "He just thinks he's helping me by pointing out everyone he thinks is available."

Kyle shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. But," he added with a teasing lilt, "I'm not sure you could handle me."

Jade turned her head to look at him, finding a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Is that supposed to be some kind of offer?"

He met her gaze evenly. "Maybe it's a warning."

She snorted softly, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."

"Hey," Kyle said, turning his eyes back to the ceiling, the teasing and joking tone still in his voice. "I'm just saying. I'm allowed to acknowledge my talents."

Jade let out a scof, the tension easing into something lighter, more bearable. For now, this was enough—a moment where they could tease each other, keep things at the surface, and avoid the deeper issues lurking beneath.

It was also nice seeing a different side of both of them. Maybe Maya was right, if she tried just a tiny bit, she might be able to make this situation liveable.

Jade and Kyle lay in the guest bedroom a while longer, the air between them gradually settling into a manageable calm. The barbecue continued downstairs, the muffled sounds of laughter and conversation reminding them that the world outside this room kept spinning, no matter how chaotic their lives felt.

Eventually, they both knew they couldn't hide up there forever. Jade was the first to move, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up, brushing off the awkwardness that lingered between them. Kyle followed suit, his eyes briefly meeting hers with an expression that was hard to read—half teasing, half... something else.

They went downstairs without saying much, falling back into the rhythm of the barbecue. But in the back of her mind, Jade couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Not enough to change everything, but enough to make her wonder.