NOT WHAT IT SEEMS

Riele And Jace

I stepped in and lost my breath completely. She sat on her bed close to the window. Her back to me, the sunset casting a helo,  making her seem unaproachable, and to be honest, at the moment she kinda is.

"Talk or walk Norman "

"I... " Ok this is more difficult than I thought and her attitude is not helping any, not that I blame her.

"You what?"

"I- "

"Can't speak now, huh? "

"I just - "

"Cuz you sure had plenty to say yesterday"

"Ok will you let me speak!" maybe that was not a smart move because she was suddenly off the bed and walking towards me, murder on her face.

"You, don't get to yell at me!" she was now in front of me.

"Yes ma'am"

"You've got no right"

"Absolutely agree"

Silence as she observed me so intently - I've never seen her this intimidating, I felt like squirming.  

"Good. Now talk" she said.

"I know what I did was wrong" he began, pacing my room. This is the most agitated I've seen him, but I don't care. He definitely crossed the line.

"I have no excuse" he stopped to watch me, "And I don't wanna make any. I just want to say, am really sorry. Please forgive me"

"Why did you even do it Jace?" How could I explain something to her that I can't understand myself?

Jace bit his lip nervously staring at me in some way. "I'm really sorry Riele" he finally says earnestly. 

"Heard your sorry, now tell me why".

Taking a step towards me, he hesitates before stepping back. "I don't know".

"Jace! "

"I was- I mean - you and Sean have been- you know, doing stuff more...together and I don't know-maybe I felt left out".

"Jace - "

"Riele, we're all friends but you've both been ignoring me".

"We haven't "

"Yes you have. You just don't realise it"

"How? "

"How?" Ok this boy did not just use that tone with me.

"Let's see,"  he walked over to sit on the couch directly facing me,  "maybe it's cuz of the number of times you cut me off during a conversation cuz Sean's calling, or maybe it's when you blow me off to text Sean and when you're both finally around, it's like I don't even exist!"

My mouth must be hanging open now "You could have just said something!"

"What do I say, ' plz guys stop, don't move in together already...?' "

I ignored the sarcastic idiot, "And we only did that just cuz we were trying to give you your space"

"I never asked for any!"

She walked over to where I sat and smacked me upside the head
"Aaaww! What did you do that for?"

"For being clueless, and a jerk"

Dragging me over to her bed, she sat me down facing her.

Since when did close proximity with Riele become a nerve wrecker for me? Maybe it's her eyes, they're just so - It's like honey but mixed with chocolate. How did I never notice how-

Ok you need to get it together Jason!

"Think back", she was saying, "to when you started dating Isabella, we almost didn't exist for you-"

"That's not tr-"

"- the only time we ever got to hang out was onset. And even then, half the time she's there taking all your attention. Ella and I were upset but Sean was there. He made us realise how much she meant to you, how important she was for you- being your first love and all. He said we needed to support you cuz that's what friends do"

Man, now I felt even worse. They were willing to compromise for me and I - I acted like a complete jerk. I couldn't control my emotions and made her look like a bad person in front of everyone at the table read.

Why is she even talking to me?

I know.

Is cuz she's Riele. She's just too good.

"Jace you didn't have to - oh" I hesitated a moment before hugging him back.

"Am truly sorry," with his face buried in my hair, his words came out muffled "lettin my jealousy get the best of me was stupid".

"You're telling me" I snicker

"Please say you'll forgive me? I'll do anything". That did not sound bad. Jace Norman at my beck and call is not something you see everyday.

"Let's hang out tomorrow. I'll buy whatever treat you want". 

Her hair smelt like heaven - so fluffy, I couldn't help burying my face more in it.

"Well - " the beeping of my phone interrupts me and I pulled away from Jace to grab it. I facepalm myself at the sight of messages from Sean. How could I forget we were texting?

"It's him again, right?" feeling a sudden loss at her withdrawal.

"You're doing it again Jace" what is the matter with this boy?

"No you are" the anger and frustration was back again.

"Are we still hanging?"

"Well you see-" I can't take this, might regret it later, but I just couldn't stand it any longer.  "Enjoy your date" I cut her off walking out.

"Apology not accepted and I better not see you back here Jace Norman!" she yelled behind me.

Whew! I did it! Ok the confrontation was not easy to write yknw, I had to make sure they sounded like their personalities in real life, at the same time giving it a bit of edge. And after all the deleting and including, am done. Hope you like.
Thank you!