Entangled: YOU, ME AND THEM

Confessions

Third person's P.O.V

(At Jayden's place)

The silence was deafening as Riley and Jayden sat down on the sofa in Jayden's apartment and stared blankly into space. They couldn't really believe what just happened.

The only thing running in Riley's head was that she just screwed up 13 years of friendship in a snap. Feeling guilty, tears started streaming down her eyes, "What did I do Jay? Shit, I started this. Damn it man, why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut? Wow, all this fight for them interrupting my non-existent kiss with you which was probably in the heat of the moment. I am sorry Jay..." She started rambling.

"Shhh..it's ok RiRi, calm down. None of that was your fault. It was just bad timing. People do lose their shit sometimes. It happens Riley. You didn't ruin anything." Jayden pulled her in for a hug but was hurt deep down because he knew it too damn well that the kiss was never going to happen and to be honest he wasn't even expecting it at the back of his mind.

After all according to Riley, it just happened in the heat of the moment.

Why did he even bother? One way or another, he always got disrupted. He never was able to tell Riley how he actually felt about her. 13 years and he still hadn't confessed to her.

It was now or never. He wasn't going to let this just be a heat of the moment thing.

This was probably the worst timing ever, but hey. He always had bad timings. Maybe he might be able to give her some comfort and just pray that she returned the feelings. It seemed like she did.

Riley wiped her tears and decided herself that she was going to set this right. Jayden caressed her hand and not long after asked, "Riley, can I tell you something? I know I should have done it earlier but I am a coward. Please don't shut me out."

"Heyyy Jay, come on. I will always be by your side. You have been a good friend to me all these years. You were with me through my ups and downs. How can I just shut you out? Relax, now tell me." Riley extended her hand and petted his shoulder to let him know that he can rely on her.

"Riley, I don't just want you as a friend. I need something more between us. In conclusion, I really like you", he said, his eyes staring a hole into the floor under his feet. He couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes. "I never told you because I didn't want to spoil the friendship between us.

And besides, we already had so much on our plate with Scarlett and Carter. I have liked you since 8th grade but I realised it in 12th grade because obviously, I was a dick and too stupid to realise that what I felt when I first saw you was love."

The room fell silent. Jayden could only hear his heartbeat thundering in his ears.

Riley could not believe her ears. Everything she thought was just the spur of the moment but it was actually because Jayden really loved her. And it hit her like a truck—it was like she had been leading him all along. And somewhere within her she felt her inner voice whisper, 'You like him too right?'

Riley shook her head. No. Jayden deserved better. Not the mess of the person she was and it didn't matter that maybe she loved him too. She couldn't let her past cloud his perfect and beautiful life. She was better off as a friend. Not too close, but not too far either. He wouldn't have to ever worry about her then.

"Jay...I...uh..don't think I am the right one for you. My life is shit and I really don't want to drag you into my mess and make your life shit as well. Jay, you are better without me. Trust me. See, right now if I love you back or not, that is secondary. I just don't want your life to be ruined because of me. I have lost almost everyone. I can't bear to lose you as well."