"I can't wait to surprise her!" Jem said to his lab partner at college. Noelle just smiled back and when back to putting the chemicals together. "What's wrong?" Jem and Noelle spent a lot of time together they shared 3 classes and they go to her place to watch movies every night. They were best friends.
"Nothing, I'm so glad you're happy, Jem. You deserve to be happy." But am I happy? Jem thought to himself.
"Yes, it'll be great I haven't seen her since school started. It's already January. 4 months, almost 5!"
"Can you stop talking about her for once, Jem?!"
"Why? I thought you were happy I was happy?" She put her chemicals down and slid her gloves off of her hands.
"Jem, I'm in love with you in case you haven't noticed. We've been together for the last 4 months —not literally together, I wish we had been together — And I know that I'm only happy when I'm with you, and you're with me not mentally elsewhere thinking about her." She stops. "Jem, I don't mean to ruin things but the words you say hurt my heart more than just being away from you does." She looks down at her shoes.
"Noelle, I don't know what to say..."
"You don't have to say anything, I know I stepped out of line. I'm sorry."
"Noelle there is no line you're with me. I can say whatever I feel and you can say whatever you feel. I'm glad you told me I just.." he paused. "I don't know what I'm going to do with this information because honestly, I care for you a lot more than I should care for a friend. And I bring Jaela into our conversations so much because I fear caring about you too much, that I love you."
Noelle looked into her partners eyes. She wished they could be partners for real, that they could be together. But he didn't know what he wanted, so she wouldn't try to force him to want something just because she wanted it.
"Let's not overthink things, you and I were fine before I said anything. You can think about it when you want and if you want. But we're fine, we can remain friends." She turned back to her work. Jem grabbed her shoulder and turned her around quickly kissed her deeply.
"I thought about it," he said once he released her lips "I've been so afraid of loving you I didn't realize I already love you."
Jem didn't feel bad. Jaela loved two guys at once, he and Blaine. And she slept with Jem before she broke up with Blaine. He'd live with this secret. He didn't know what he was gonna do, shouldn't he tell her? Shouldn't he break it off so that he can be happy with Noelle? He didn't know yet. He rode the train to Jaela. Back to the city where he grew up and back to the girl he loved. Well one of the girls he loved.
He shook his head at the thought.
He knocked at the door of Jaelas house and no one answered. Knowing that her mum wouldn't be home he just walked in. And went upstairs to her room where the door was cracked open. The room was lit and she was on her bed. As he walked further into the hallway he realized someone else was on her bed as well. He grimaced and as he inched towards the door he heard them laugh. A guy. When they stopped, he saw the guy lean in and Jaela looking at his lips as she reciprocated his movement. He kissed her and she kissed him back. He pushed her back so she was lying on the bed and when she opened her eyes. She saw Jem standing there. She shot back up. She immediately felt bad. Ever since Grayson admitted to wanting to be with her, they're study sessions had been more than just study sessions. She was lonely and missed Jem, but she was sure that was it. She didn't feel for Grayson the way she felt for Blaine or Jem.
"Jem.." she looked into his eyes. Lips freshly red from the pressure of his lips. He looked away disgusted. This is what he had done to her, but it felt worse being done to him. "I can explain?"
"Can you Jaela? Because I don't think he deserves an explanation" Grayson said standing up. He was at least 6 inches taller than Jem, but Jem stood strong. "He left you without a text or call for more than 2 weeks and you haven't even seen him since school started? Your only explanation should be that while he was out doing "more important" things" he did the quotations with his fingers as he said more important. "You fell for someone else." Jaela looked from Jem to Grayson.
"I don't love you, Grayson. Not like I loved or love Jem. I love you because youre my best friend that's it." Grayson's eyes began to water. His mouth closing and his body weakening.
That's when Jem spoke. "Lies, I saw you kissing him back"
"I missed the feeling, I missed feeling loved. You left me, Jem. Not a single text in over a week. I haven't felt you in 4 months. I need confirmation. And Grayson, he loves" she looked over at her best friend. "Or loved me."
"I came here to give you this." He opened a ring case. "It's a promise ring, I've been working over time to be able to buy this. But yesterday,I realized I love someone else. My partner at college. She's great. But I thought maybe my love for you over powered the love I have for her, but I don't think so anymore. I know we said that we were invincible, but I don't believe so anymore. Not when we can't even tell each other how we feel. Maybe we are not meant to end together. Maybe we are just meant to end."
