remedy [ jackden ]

0 4 ✧ months later

Jack hadn't been able to talk to the boys and Sophia in months. He'd been doing so much filming and he didn't want to focus on the group chat mostly because he felt guilty for still having feelings while being with Ellie. Ellie was a great girl and he thought she deserved all his attention.

But things were different today. Today, it was Jaeden's birthday and not only that but they were going to celebrate with Lilia there. He didn't think he could handle seeing them together. The thought that he wouldn't be able to handle it only made him feel even more guilty.

He invited Ellie to the party but she didn't want to come with for the simple reason that she wasn't invited by Jaeden himself. Without Ellie there, things would only be harder for him.

When he arrived to the Jaeden's house, Lilia's face was the first one he saw. She'd opened the door with a big smile after he'd knocked and let him in.

"Hey! Jaeden is still getting ready, I think." She thought for a while, a cute expression on her face. "Actually, I don't know but Wyatt is here! He's in the living room. Come on!"

Jack shouldn't have been annoyed, really. She was being welcoming and sweet. But something about her cheeriness annoyed him. He'd been to Jaeden's house before, he didn't need her to tour him.

He followed after her anyways, trying his best to be friendly. It was difficult, since all he wanted was to be in her place. Immediately, he scolded himself in his head. You're with Ellie. She doesn't deserve for you to be thinking of someone else while with her.

It took a while for Jaeden to come out, or maybe it just seemed that way for Jack, who was anxious to see him. He hadn't seen him for months and the first time since then he'd have to see him share every kiss except his first with a girl that Jack hardly knew.

She was sweet though, if Jack would put his jealousy aside he'd admit it. He could see why Jaeden liked her, but that didn't take away the fact that he liked Jaeden.

There are those thoughts again. Quit it.

He sighed and walked over to hug Jaeden. "Happy birthday, dude!"

Dude. The word made him cringe so bad internally.

"Thanks." Jaeden smiled warmly, hugging back. As soon as they pulled away from the hug, everyone flooded him, wishing him a happy birthday and Jack made it to the kitchen to get a drink of water.

"Hello, again!" Lilia came in, waving a little.

That was the first time Jack had genuinely smiled around her. Her awkwardness was adorable. Yet another thing Jaeden sees in her.

"Hey."

"I'm Lilia. Jaeden's girlfriend. I don't know if you know that yet." Oh I certainly do, he thought as she continued with a laugh. "I just introduced myself to Wyatt, I wanted to introduce myself to you too."

"Well I'm Jack, but you already know that as well, I assume."

"Oh, I do. Jaeden tells me a lot about you." Jack's heart skipped a beat and he thinks his expression must've changed because she added, "Just like he talks about the rest of his cast mates."

Cast mates?

Before he could, very bitterly, added that they were friends as well the next words came out of her mouth, "He told me about what you did to encourage him to kiss Sophia."

Jack spat out his water followed by a coughing fit of him choking on some.

"Woah!" She gasped, carefully walking over to pat him on the back. "You okay?"

Jack nodded, his breathing soon back to normal. "Yeah, I'm good. Sorry I just.. swallowed wrong."

Great excuse.

He sighed and went over to clean up the mess he made.

Lilia helped him. "Sorry- I didn't mean to make you choke."

Jack shook his head. "Nah, it's all good."

Lilia nodded, not saying anything. Her cheeks were a soft pink though, he assumed she was still embarrassed.

He got up after they finished, throwing the wet rags in a laundry basket.

She turned to him again, "As I was saying, I think what you did was really sweet."

"It's okay, we don't have to talk about it." Jack said, feeling as though it'd be awkward to talk about the kiss to her.

"Yeah.. But just the fact that talked to him to calm his nerves and even had to get him to do it by giving him twenty dollars- It's really funny but nice." She smiled, watching his face intently.

Oh. She doesn't know about the kiss. If he actually thought about it, no one knew about the kiss. It was between Jaeden and Jack. Everyone else thought that Sophia was his first kiss.

"Yeah, I lost twenty bucks but hey, it was for a good cause." He shrugged.

Lilia's permanent smile came right back. "Exactly! He's really lucky to have a good friend like you by his side."

"Yeah, truly.."

Lilia looked behind her, out the door and she gasped. "Oh! They're starting to serve food. I'm going to go help. See you later."

And just like that she was gone. She was gone along with her voice and all her perfection that Jaeden obviously saw in her.

Good friend.

That's all he was to Jaeden. Cast mate and friend. He didn't know which one hurt more.