Phoenix

9. The Coquette

Things won't be the same anymore.

"Jason!" He could hear Adam scream from the sitting room. "What's taking you so long?"

Sighing, he returned his focus back to the beverage he was making. He put off the coffee machine and picked up the two mugs and headed out of the kitchen. It was a Saturday morning and Adam had come rushing after Jason had given him the news on the phone.

He scoffed as he saw Adam, sprawled on a chair, with his shoes resting on one side of the sofa. After setting the two mugs on the table, he sank into a seat at Adam's right. "You take your dirty shoes off my chair"

Adam snorted, and finally adjusted his position in the chair. He stretched out to reach for a mug on the center table but as he did so, Jason intentionally pushed the table to the left so Adam would have to stand up. His plan worked and his best friend did. "You know all you gotta do is say it politely"

Jason snapped. "You're in my house fool"

Adam snorted as he slid deeper into the chair, raising the mug to his lips. "So Sienna huh?"

Yeah, Sienna.

"I just don't get it with that girl you know"

"She's a woman now Adam" Jason cut in. "And yeah you're right, she is just incomprehensible"

Adam smiled and chided. "It seems you have a thing for incomprehensible women eh?"

Yeah, Ashley.

"And the funniest thing is that she keeps showing up when everything is going fine for you. The company, Ashley, You're having a great life Jace even if you don't know it yet"

Jason sighed and then moved to place his mug on the table. "Yeah it would seem so, but Ashley and I had to postpone our dinner. I was really looking forward to it Adam"

Adam smiled and then placed his mug back on the table also. "So do you still have feelings for Sienna?"

Hell no!

"Of course not!" Jason barked, his hold tightening on the chairs. "That ended a long time ago Adam"

"I've heard that story before Jas-"

"I don't have feelings for her. I think I should know if such things exist"

"What makes you so sure?" Adam asked narrowing his eyes at him.

Ashley.

"I don't know I just," Jason sighed, and then bit his lip. "I have feelings for Ashley"

Adam suddenly lit up and the furrow on his forehead disappeared totally. He sat up and then braced himself with his both hands on both sides of the chair, turning to Jason. "Finally you admit it"

He couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. He raised his free hand to scratch his dark glistened hair. "Well, I would just be kidding myself I guess"

Adam nodded in satisfaction and then released his hold on the chair so he could sink backwards. "I'm happy to hear that Jace, you deserve to happy. These past few weeks have been very trying for you"

"Yeah man" Jason sighed, wiping a seemingly existing sweat from his fore head. "I just don't have a good feeling about Sienna. I mean anytime she visits, there is always a hidden agenda behind it"

"And has she told you how long she would be visiting?" Adam enquired, clasping his fingers together and crossing his legs.

A haunted and harrowing look worked its way to Jason's facial features. "Except that she won't be visiting"