Tangled Hearts

004

The tension from the sleepover had already boiled over. Brady and Walker had left after the argument, and I was left picking up the pieces. It still stung—how Brady had exploded like that in front of everyone, yelling at me about Walker. I couldn't even blame Walker for leaving when he did; the whole scene was chaotic.

Messages flooded my phone, mostly from the friends who were at the sleepover. Aryan and Dior had already texted, checking in on me. Ellie had sent me a voice message that I hadn't listened to yet. But honestly, I didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. The argument with Brady had soured the entire night.

I threw my phone down on the couch, deciding I needed a distraction. Maybe some music or a mindless movie could help. Anything to block out the lingering hurt.

But then, in an impulsive moment, I made a mistake.

I had been scrolling through my contacts, looking for someone to talk to. Someone outside of the circle of drama that had consumed my life. And without thinking, I sent a message.

It wasn't until my phone buzzed with a reply that I realized who I had sent it to.

**Jason:** _"Hey, Y/N. It's been a minute! What's up?"_

Jason. My ex. Of all people, why him?

Panic set in immediately. I hadn't talked to Jason in months, not since we broke up. We had ended on relatively good terms, but he was the last person I wanted to deal with right now.

I quickly typed out a response: _"Sorry, that was meant for someone else."_

But Jason was quick to respond, ignoring my apology entirely.

**Jason:** _"No worries! I'm in town. Wanna catch up?"_

I stared at the message in disbelief. The last thing I wanted was to invite more drama into my life, and Jason was a walking magnet for it. But before I could tell him that I wasn't in the mood to catch up, another message came through.

**Jason:** _"I'm nearby. I'll swing by for a bit?"_

My heart sank. Of course, Jason wouldn't take no for an answer. He was already on his way over, and now I was stuck with whatever mess he was about to bring.

Within minutes, the doorbell rang, and I braced myself before opening it.

Jason stood there, with that familiar smirk on his face, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Hey, Y/N," he said, his tone way too casual for my liking.

"Hey," I replied flatly, stepping aside to let him in. "Didn't expect you to actually come over."

"Why wouldn't I?" he grinned, walking into the living room like he owned the place. "We haven't seen each other in ages. Thought it'd be nice to catch up."

Jason made himself comfortable on the couch, looking around the room like nothing had changed. But everything had changed. I wasn't the same girl he had dated, and this was not the reunion I wanted.

I crossed my arms, staying near the door. "I'm kind of in the middle of a mess right now, Jason. I didn't mean to bother you with it."

He shrugged, completely unfazed. "That's cool. I can stick around for a bit. Help you clear your mind."

I could already feel the headache forming. The last thing I needed was for him to 'help.'

Before I could figure out how to get him out of my house politely, there was another knock at the door.

I opened it to find Brady standing there. His expression was tight, clearly still upset from the sleepover. His eyes shifted from me to Jason on the couch, and his jaw clenched.

"Brady..." I started, but his gaze remained locked on Jason.

"Didn't realize you had company," Brady said coldly, his voice dripping with disdain.

Jason, clearly sensing the tension, leaned back on the couch with an amused smile. "Old friends, Brady. Don't worry, I'm just catching up with Y/N."

Brady's glare hardened. "Right. 'Old friends.' I'm sure that's all it is."

The tension in the room was suffocating. I stood there, frozen between the two of them, unsure of what to do or say. This was exactly what I didn't need—more drama, more misunderstandings.

"Brady, it's not what you think," I said quickly, trying to diffuse the situation before it spiraled. "Jason just stopped by, but he's leaving soon."

Jason raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the situation way too much. "Am I?"

"Yes, you are," I snapped, finally fed up with the entire ordeal. "You need to go."

Jason's smirk faltered for a second before he got up from the couch, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get all worked up. I'll head out."

He strolled toward the door, casting one last glance at Brady before turning to me. "See you around, Y/N."

As soon as the door closed behind him, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the room shift.

Brady was still standing there, arms crossed, looking angrier than ever. "Really, Y/N? After everything with Walker, now Jason too?"

"It wasn't like that," I insisted, stepping closer to him. "It was a mistake. I didn't mean to invite him over. He just showed up."

Brady shook his head, frustration clear in his eyes. "You always say that, Y/N. That it's a mistake, that it just 'happens.' But it's like you don't see how all of this affects everyone around you."

His words stung, cutting deeper than I expected. "Brady, that's not fair."

"Maybe not," he shot back. "But neither is constantly being caught in the middle of your mess."

I didn't have a response to that. All I could do was watch as Brady turned and walked out, leaving me alone in the silence that followed.

This was supposed to be a simple night. But now, I was left feeling more isolated than ever.