Surrounded

Chapter 9

All I could feel better was the awkward tension between us all.

"What brings you here, Jayden?" Brooklyn mumbled. He looked at her as if she said the most oblivious thing on the planet.

"I'm here to see if Tyler is alright. What's it to you?" he scoffed.

She simply shrugged and sat back in her armchair. For the first time in those five minutes, Jayden actually looked at me and tried to hide the grin flashing on his mouth. I smiled back like the Mona Lisa and nodded my head slightly for greetings.

"Well ... Are you alright? Arielle was really worried about you," Jayden patted his shoulder. He sat himself next to me on Tyler's bed. Entwining our fingers together, we held hands in an adorable manner that only he could act.

Tyler chuckled sarcastically, "Oh I'm awesome man. Like seriously, it helped a lot by saying just that."

Jayden rolled his eyes but said nothing. Although how much hatred he had towards Tyler, he tried hard enough to be there for him as much as possible and seeing him act this way made me feel beyond happy just because I knew that he was controlling himself for me. He knew how much it meant for me to stay smooth for once. It was a confusing yet a cute sight to observe.

“You changed. I like that.” Brooklyn blurted out, eyeing him all the way through.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” He glared at her whilst his fist clenched themselves making the knuckles white as snow.

Brooklyn said nothing and returned to her book, brighter than her hair. I couldn’t believe she was flirting with him when I was in the same room as them. But then again, neither Brooklyn nor Tyler knew about our encounters meaning the date and the kisses, and to be truly honest – I didn’t want them to know. The situation would have made our friendship even weirder than it already was, am I right? I didn’t want that and I wanted that thought out of my messed up mind. To think of it though, what was my business was my business.

“So, what are you here for exactly?” Jayden’s words came out filled with such disgust that it actually made all of us frown. His words felt so uncomfortably vicious that it made the completely awkward situation go to GET-ME-OUT-OF-THIS-NOW land. It was not directed to me and I still felt instantly hurt – imagine Brooklyn’s feelings. I bet they flushed themselves away along with her pride. She slowly lowered her book down and huffed.

“Firstly, what’s up with you? Are your hormones doing you a hell lot of fun? Well rain check, some people are trying to have a good day. Oh and to answer your pretty question, I came here because I had to. I am going to be here for the next year and a half. Get yourself ready because this time, there will be no interruptions,” She grinned at him as if the world didn’t actually matter.

I was about to lose it. This was beyond screwed the hell up. How dare he sit there next to me and say nothing? I excused myself and stormed out of the room. Sitting down on the corridor floor, I made sure nobody saw me and then, I eavesdropped on the conversation.

“What did I do now?” Brooklyn sighed.

“Well, I’m dating her. I’m planning to ask her out again, Brooks. I like her – I like her a lot actually, and I’m not going to do that with you alright? You were so mean.”

I could hear her gasp, “What? Oh, crap. I am so sorry. I had no idea, Jay. I just thought…”

“You just thought you’d have another go with me. It’s a no.” He sighed heavily.

“God damn it, Jay. I’d watch that mouth of yours if I were you. You’re being an ass,” Tyler spat.

“What?! I’m being an ass? Did you hear yourself just now?” He raised his voice at him.