Torn

Chapter 14: Mind Games

*Ariana's POV*

-1 A.M. in the morning-

By this time, I was panicking.

Jai isn't back and it's one in the morning. He said he would be back soon, but I should've known better.

I know he's out partying and who knows what else.

He does this often when he's upset or just overwhelmed and he says it helps. For me it's torture because I'm always the one to put up with his crazy side afterwards.

A few minutes later I hear loud banging on the door, which makes me sit up quickly and Justin's eyes shoot open.

"You think it's-"

"Jai," I cut Justin off knowingly, "I'm positive." I confirm and we both get out of bed, then make our way downstairs to the front door.

Justin opens the door and we see Jai sitting on the ground pulling grass with his back faced to us.

"Uh, Jai?" I say and step closer to him, but not too close.

"Ariiiiiii," He turns to me and exclaims a little too loud with a drunken smile on his face.

I sigh and help him get up from the ground while walking him inside.

"I fell o- on the green st- stuff." Jai said with hiccups interupting him every other word.

"You need to get some rest." I say, not even bothering to put up with him at this time.

"No w- way, what about the p- partyyy?" He slurs out his words with hiccups close to my face, I can smell the stench of alcohol in his breath.

"I think you've done enough partying for now." I say, then Justin and I help him up the stairs and to his room.

"B- but I-"

"Jai, rest." I cut him off and shut the door, then make my way to Justin's room.

"Thanks for helping." I say seriously, then get into bed making myself comfortable.

"You're welcome, I just hope this doesn't happen all week." Justin replies and gets in bed with me so we're laying comfortable in the spooning position.

"Me too." I say with a sigh and close my eyes.

"You can't keep this up forever, you know." Justin says quietly and I turn my head towards him a bit.

"Keep what up?" I ask with a look of confusion.

"This whole 'pretend I love him' act. I don't know if I can take it much longer Ariana." He says looking down.

"Justin, what are you saying?" I ask, slightly scared of his reply.

"I'm saying," he begins with a sigh, "that if you love him, then be with him. If you love me, you should stick with me. I just don't think that this will end well, someone's going to end up hurt." He finishes.

"You're right, you're right. I just..." I pause and mimic his sigh, "it's hard. I don't know, but I can tell Jai is really in love with me. I'm not exactly sure if all my feelings for him are gone yet... but my feelings for you are definitely stronger." I say and look into his eyes.

"So you still love him?"

"But I love you more and-"

"Stop." He cuts me off,

"I really wish you wouldn't mess with my head like this." He says and I can tell he's getting upset.

"I swear I'm not trying to mess with your head Justin, why would I want to?" I speak softly as if it'll prevent him from getting even more upset.

"I don't know, you tell me because it's working." He says and shakes his head.

"Justin, I love you, okay?" I say hoping to drop the whole situation.

"Dammit Ariana," he curses which makes me feel uneasy, "you need to figure out what you want because these mind games are fucking me up." He says and lays on his back no longer cuddling up with me.

"Justin this is hard, I just need time, can you please respect that?" I reply and sit up, then furrow my eyebrows at him.

"I have been this whole time. Don't you think it's been going on long enough? You almost fooled me, Ariana." He says with a bitter chuckle and shakes his head again.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask in the same tone.

"I thought you were pretending, but you clearly still have feelings for him and I don't know how I didn't see it in the first place-"

"Because I just realized it last night, Justin!"

"I wasn't fucking finished. Wait," he paused and a look of confusion crossed his face, "last night? What the fuck happened last night?" He began to raise his voice.

"Nothing happened Justin. He told me how he really felt and it just felt right, like we belonged together..." I confess while looking down at the comforter.

"Yeah, I'm sure you guys fucked or something because he's so special that he gets it before I do. Maybe you should just be with him if I'm going to have to put up with all this shit." He yells and his words hit me like bricks.

How could he say something like that?

"Justin... stop." I began to weep unexpectedly. "We did nothing! And I want to be with you Justin, can't you tell?" I pour out, mentally begging him to believe me because that's the honest to God truth.

"I know I got a little carried away, but... I'm not sorry." He says and turns away from me laying on his side.

I suck in a deep breath, but decide to leave him be since he's just going to ignore me the rest of the night anyways.

I turn to the opposite side of Justin and close my eyes, I can't help but think about the situation. Truthfully, I know Justin is right and that's what makes it harder. Knowing that I'll be the one who's going to cause the hurt and knowing I hurt someone, will hurt me.

Either way, someone's going to get hurt and 'someone' is myself.

If I tell Jai that I can't be with him, I know I'll miss him, but Justin... I know that we belong together rather than Jai and I.

Maybe it's best to move on...

But am I ready?

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This chapter seems longer, but you guys deserve it. (:

I hope you all like this update because it took me forever.

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What do you think Ariana's going to do? (comment)

ily guys.