𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝

chapter 44- Advice from the player ex-boyfriend

thank u angels for wishing me happy birthday, love u lots💖💖

kenzie's p.o.v

Brynn, Lauren and Jake and I were going in the Jacob's jeep while Hayden, Ruby, Annie, and Carson were going in Hayden's car.

I sat down in the passenger's seat next to Jacob. We were waiting for Brynn and Lauren had rushed off to the bathroom, telling us they'd be back in five minutes tops.

Normally it would be awkward sitting in a car with your ex boyfriend who cheated on you and there would be a sort of bitter resentment in the air but it was nothing like that with Jacob.

It was weird at first but over the past few days he had been comforting me and texting me a lot—just as friends of course. I didn't want to be the girl who forgave the guy who cheated on her just like that, but while what he had done hurt at the time, I also realised that I was not that interested in him and was more or less using him as a way to get over Johnny so we were in some ways even.

I told him about Johnny. Maybe over shared a little extra on the phone but it felt nice to talk about it to someone. My platonic relationship with Jacob was somehow more easygoing and natural than our romantic one was. that's why maybe being friends with a person before you date them is ideally the best way to go. I barely knew him yet I jumped right into dating him.

If I can't have you by Shawn mendes was playing softly on the radio in the background and there was a comfortable silence between us before Jacob spoke up,

"I saw you talking to Johnny today. How did it go?"
he stared at me with kind, concerned eyes.

I let out a shaky breath.
"Horrible. He hates me now. You should have heard the way he spoke to me."
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shut out the pain.
He rubbed my arm comfortingly.

"He doesn't hate you. He could never. I've heard the way he talks about you, I've seen the way he looks at you. All of us have."

I shook my head, wiping my eyes.
"It doesn't seem like that anymore."

"Kenzie, trust me I know how much he likes you. Why do you think I was so afraid to tell him we were dating? He told all the guys in our friend group to stay away from you, kind of like he was marking his territory." I stared at him curiously and he let out a small laugh, shaking his head in amusement at the memory.
"In fact 80% of the time he only spoke about you. Obviously when Nadia came his priorities changed a little."
"Oh yeah." I nodded my head, letting out a huff.

"But not entirely. He was with her when he saw us dating and anyone could see the jealousy from a mile away." Jacob said and I could agree to that.
I never let myself believe the fact that he was jealous earlier, but now that Johnny had actually admitted to it, was the only thing related to him that made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

"And somewhere under all his ego and hurt, he really cares." Jacob said seriously.
"There's no point doing anything now Jake. It's too late." I spoke up defeatedly.

Jacob shook his head,"No kenzie it isn't. You need to keep fighting for him, you have to."
I stared at him unsure but the certainty in his eyes was giving me hope.

"But..but he chose Nadia over me." I said quietly, my eyes welling up.

Jacob tipped my chin up delicately with his fingers.
"No Kenz. Give him a chance. We're guys, we're usually slow on the uptake and end up messing things up with the person we want most."

I stared at him, my uncertainty etched onto my face.

"I lost an amazing girl because of my stupidity. I'm not going to let Johnny make the same mistake." He gave me a soft smile and then his mood changed, as he leaned back comfortably.
"What you and Johnny have is special. And he likes you, now you know he does. Don't..don't let Nadia have him."

The words rung in my head.
Jacob's kind of right.
Why should I let Nadia have him when he wanted me?

At that moment Lauren and Brynn entered the car.

"Kenzie I don't want to know if you wanna hear this or not but we just heard Nadia and John arguing about you." Brynn piped up.
Lauren shot her a look which meant she was obviously not supposed to tell me.

My heart dropped and I could feel my knees shaking.

Lauren sensing my discomfort spoke up,
"It's actually kind of good news. She was telling him off for talking to you and he retorted by saying he could talk to whoever the hell he wanted to."

My expression was blank.

"Well?" Brynn edged, for some kind of reaction from me.

"All I can tell from that is that John's in a bad mood." I shrugged.
"No, it means that he's sick of Nadia. This is where you step in and win him back!" Brynn said exasperatedly.

"He was never mine to begin with." I scoffed.

"Look Kenzie, Brynn's right. You haven't seen how miserable Johnny has been without you these past few days. And he wouldn't want me telling you this, but the only reason he's behaving like this is because he's hurt that you gave up so easily. He thinks you don't care which is why he's still with Nadia." Lauren insisted.

"Come on Kenzie, you know you don't want to lose Johnny and nothing will make you happier than to be with him, so what are you so afraid of?" Jacob encouraged.

I took a deep breath before making up my mind.

I had to listen to them.
I had to do it for myself.
For the big part of my heart that just wasn't willing to let him go.

"You guys are right. I'm not giving up on him because life with him is so much better than without. I can't stand the thought of him walking around with Nadia anymore and I can't stand the thought of not talking to him in general any more." I ranted.

"YES!" three of them said in unison, high fiving each other.

I gave them a shaky smile as Jacob started the car and Brynn blasted Still the one by one direction, hope fizzing inside me.

I'm not going to let Nadia have him.
I wasn't going to give up on him just yet.

hehe I'm excited for the next chap ;)

~annie