𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝙾𝚏 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚢𝚜 | 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝚃𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝙷𝚒𝚕𝚕 |

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘊𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘴𝘵

It had been a long night for Jordan. Between taking care of Jenni, his cousins' upcoming wedding, and the brutal realization that he hadn't even cracked open his chemistry textbook for the test today, his mind was scattered.

He sat in the courtyard during a break between classes, scribbling down notes and trying to catch up. The exhaustion tugged at his focus, but he had no choice but to keep going.

Just as he was starting to make some headway on his homework, he spotted Peyton walking toward him out of the corner of his eye. He sighed inwardly.

It wasn't that he didn't want to talk to her—well, actually, maybe that was exactly it. After hearing the rumors about her sneaking around with Lucas, things had changed.

Jordan had harbored feelings for her, something that had simmered quietly ever since their kiss at that party a few months ago. But now, after what she did to Brooke, it was all tangled up in frustration and disappointment.

Peyton reached him and stood there awkwardly for a second before trying to initiate a conversation. "Hey," she said, her voice hesitant. "What's up?"

Jordan barely looked up from his notebook. "Hey," he muttered, his tone distant as he quickly gathered his stuff, hoping to make a polite exit before this turned into something he wasn't ready to deal with. "I gotta get to class."

Peyton frowned, sensing his unease. She gently grabbed his arm as he started to move past her. "Wait, Jordan. Why are you mad at me? It's not like you're Brooke, and honestly, this whole thing... it isn't even your issue."

Jordan froze, her words striking a nerve. Slowly, he turned back to face her, his expression calm but clearly frustrated. "Look, Peyton, I didn't get any sleep last night. Jenni kept me up, I've been working nonstop, and on top of that, I forgot to study for a chemistry test I have in like—" he glanced at his watch, "ten minutes. So, yeah, I'm tired."

Peyton softened slightly, seeing the exhaustion in his eyes. "I'm sorry about that, really," she said, her voice more apologetic now. "But it feels like you've been distant. You're barely even around anymore, and I don't get why. The thing with Lucas—this isn't even your fight. I don't know why you're letting it get to you."

Jordan let out a small, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "You don't get it, Peyton. It is my issue."

Peyton blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Jordan met her gaze, his expression serious. "What you did wasn't right. Sneaking behind Brooke's back, with her boyfriend, no less—that's messed up. And Brooke, she's my friend too. She's been there for me, and watching you do this to her, it doesn't sit right with me. So yeah, I'm mad. I'm mad because what you did to her isn't okay."

There was more he wanted to say—how he liked her, how the kiss they'd shared at that party had meant something to him. But the whole situation with Lucas had left him too frustrated and hurt to bring it up. He couldn't deal with all of it, not right now.

"Look, I'm late to class," Jordan said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "I gotta go."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and determined.

—————-

Deb knocked softly on Jayden's bedroom door, the morning light seeping in through the blinds. "Jayden, honey, it's time to get up," she called gently before pushing the door open. She stepped inside, her smile warm and a little too enthusiastic for the early hour.

Jayden stirred under his blankets, squinting up at her. "Mom?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "It's early."

"I know," Deb said, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "But I made breakfast. Your favorite, pancakes and bacon." Her tone was overly sweet, a touch of something almost too eager in her voice.