Three Shots || Jaden Hossler

14. Bleed

Jaden's Point of View

"Not now." Rye sighs.

I watch her closely act like she knows how to deal with a bloody nose. Whatever she's doing on my face is working because I feel less light headed. That must be the small ice pack she has on my nose right now.

"I'm sorry we ruined your night." I tell her. She's so close to me, I wish I could kiss her. "It's not your fault, they started." She says.

She looks frustrated. So much has happened these past days, I'd be the same if I were her. I made things worse with the shit I did this morning, I'm an ass.

"It's not bleeding anymore." She states putting down the ice and grabbing a wet small towel she prepared earlier and slightly tapped my nose area with it.

"You're good to go." Rye sighs again.

"Can we talk now?" I ask. Her hazel eyes connect with mine and I could sense her sadness. "What do want to talk about? There's nothing to say." She sounds so done with me. I'm the only one to blame for that. I've made her doubt about me many times even when I promised myself that I was going to change and make her mine.

"I want things to be normal between you and I, I don't want to lose our friendship." I say and she chuckles.

"I don't want to be your friend Jaden, I can't."

"What? Why not?"

"Because I like you, we've been over this." She explains. "You like Olivia and I respect that. I can figure myself out with Joshua..."

"I think it's better if we part our ways." She says.

"No." I blurt. Rye frowns confused backing herself from me, crossing her arms. "I don't like Olivia."

"The last thing I need is for you to lie to me. You've already messed me up, isn't that enough?"

"Rye I'm not lying." I hopped off the kitchen counter I was sitting on. "And what do you mean by isn't that enough? You really think I do shit on purpose?"

"Actually, I don't know why you do them in the first place." Rye looks hurt. I've never seen her like this. "I don't want to deal with more crap J, I'm tired." J? I'm hoping that's a new nickname for me and not what she calls Joshua.

"Do you know how shitty I felt after what I did with Joshua today? All because of you." My stomach turned when she mentioned that. The mental picture of someone else touching her is absolutely disgusting. Then again, she feels the same way about Olivia.

"The things I'm willing to do for you and your fucking attention..." She mumbles. "Which is why I can't be your friend and hook up."

Rye is being honest and blunt. I don't blame it on the drinks she's had tonight, or the odd behavior she's been having since her mother died, I blame in on the hurt and overwhelm of having so many problems all at once. I can't keep being one of them.

"We don't have to hook up if you don't want to." I tell her. "I'll show you can trust me for now on, no Olivia, no secrets." I say, meaning it.

"I can't say the same thing about Joshua."

Of course not.

"I can't cut things off with him for no reason. We're only going to be friends at the end of the day." She says. I friend-zoned her so many times, she can't stop rubbing it on my face now. I'm such an idiot.

"Fine." I state.

She yawns while covering her mouth. She must be very tired. I'm sure she has barely slept these last days. I don't think it could be physically possible for me to sleep peacefully if I was going through all this shit she is. I admire Rye for somehow carrying on and being strong.