Jenalyn: A Splitting Personality (#2) [Complete]

Chapter 50: Hayden

Thursday, 10:04 A.M.

"Who do you even make all of this food for?" I laugh, watching Gage move three different bowls full of breakfast foods from the counter to the island in the center of their kitchen. I take half of a serving of everything, which barely even makes a dent in the actual amount he'd made. "Like- what would you have done if Ty wasn't home, and I wasn't here?" 

Gage plucks a piece of bacon from the bowl and pops it into his mouth with a smile. He proceeds to grab another and toss it on the floor. 

"Well-" he begins only to be interrupted by the sound of nails clicking against the kitchen floor, and then the crunch of the bacon he had just tossed. "Pup really likes food. Probably more than me. So..." he laughs.

I laugh with him again, watching their dog, Pup beg for more bacon.

I wish that I could just fall back into being Hayden with ease after everything I went through in Pennsylvania. I wish that things were normal in my mind, and that I didn't have to fight off the darkness still threatening it.

"What'd your sister beat you up for?" Gage asks after a few seconds of silence, eyeballing me a little too closely for my liking as I raise the fork to my lips. "Looks like she did a number on you... is my niece or nephew good in there?"

I'm confused, only for a second, before I remember that I told Gage that my sister did this to me.

I nod my head as I chew, ignoring the new anxieties my mind finds because of the food. "The baby is good," I tell him assuringly. "It wasn't nearly as bad as it looks- I bruise worse than a banana."

Gage let's out another small laugh as he halfmindedly picks at the food surrounding him. I can tell by the way he trails off, both with his voice and eyes, that he's got something he wants to say to me- but just doesn't know how to approach it.

I probably shouldn't ask...

My mind is already glitching because of everything that's happened in the past 24 hours, and I know that if Gage has got something to say, and he's reluctant to do so? It's probably because he knows it'd stress me out in one way or another.

I don't want or need that right now.

I guess the connection from my brain to my mouth is shorting out as well though, because before I know it- I'm asking.

"What's up, Gage?" I ask, nibbling on the edge of the fried egg still sitting on my fork. "What's on your mind?" 

Gage looks at me, his face surprised. He straightens up to clear his throat and respond. "Uhm- nothing! I'm still just thinking about the other night," he admits. "I acted... pretty out of pocket."

I should've known it'd be along those lines. I never responded when he'd texted me an apology for blowing up when he found out about the baby.

"Oh!" I exclaim, throwing down my fork as if to come to the realization only now. "I meant to respond to your text! It totally just slipped my mind- I'm sorry! Typical me though, right? I'd forget my head if it wasn't attached!"

I laugh, attempting a joke again because I know how fast Gage is to laugh at anything he thinks he's supposed to with me.

He doesn't though, he just nods his head understandingly, and clears his throat again. "Yeah... about the Sophie thing?" he asks, "I don't mean to pester you about my brother- I love him to death! I just want you to think about this, because you deserve so much m-" 

"I think Tyler feels differently about me than he did with Sophie." I interrupt without any predisposition of it. "I appreciate you looking out for me, Gage- but Ty makes mistakes just like the rest of us."

Gage nods again, though I can see his jaw clench with frustration behind it. I know that he's got more to say- probably continuing on about how he doesn't think I should be with Ty.

I can tell he's also feeling defeated because he knows my mind is set though.

"You love him, Hayden?" he asks, his tone troubled. "-You feel it in your heart, that he loves you too? That's all I care about. That's all I want for you. For you to feel how much love you're capable of making someone feel for you..."

I nod my head, only reluctantly because I know it'll probably on break his heart more.

"You're sweet, Gage..." I tell him, smiling in a way he'll know shows how much I appreciate to have him in my life. "Why do you even care so much? Most guys would be like, 'okay, bitch- fuck you!'"

He laughs, and runs his hand through his hair as he assumingly contemplates his next words. He lowers his head for a moment, only to raise it back up to look at me wearing a face like he's about to tell a secret. 

"Honestly... ever since that night at the afterparty in Philadelphia-" he says after a few seconds. "At first, I thought you were just some horny groupie, I'm not going to lie. But, then I was like, with you... and I'm not saying I like you so much because of the sex! Honestly it was just... who you are that reeled me in. I just- I can't explain the attraction to you, because it doesn't even make sense to me!"

It takes a few moments for my mind to process everything he's saying in his confession- but once it catches up to the rest my mind, I can only seem to focus on one thing.

The sex?

"-I thought about 'that girl from Philadelphia' a lot after that night, Hayden. I really did." Gage is continuing as my mind plays back what little memory I even have from that night. The sex? "-and then you showed up at that dinner for Harlee, months and months and months later. Do you know how crazy that is? To have that happen? I got to know you a lot since then... and I honestly thought some crazy shit like... 'oh, maybe this was supposed to be! Maybe that's why I'm over here fawning over some fan from Philadelphia!' But then there was this- you and Ty happened, and like... every part of it just seems wrong to me! I've... I've dreamt about that Philadelphia girl. I wanted you, and it's weird because I didn't even know you. I do now though..." Gage finishes. I can feel his eyes on me as he awaits a response.

I'm so... confused though. In shock. The connection from my head to my mouth is completely shot- I couldn't manage to form any words even if I wanted. 

I remember Gage telling me that he knew my real name the night I first met Harlee, and got to hang out with the Robson brothers. I was confused because I didn't remember really hanging out with Gage the night of the afterparty, just Ty.

Was it really Gage this whole time...?

"That was you...?" I mutter in confusion.