Three Shots || Jaden Hossler

45. Florida

Rye's Point of View

Today I was supposed to meet with Jaden somewhere but he texted me earlier that he can come over instead. I still don't know what's going to happen but I'm hoping for the best knowing that the worst might yet to come.

I leave for Florida at three in the morning, just a couple of hours from now so I'm packing while I wait for Jaden. I'll only be there for three days but I always over pack since I'm so indecisive with the outfits I'm going to wear. The trip was intended to last longer but I asked them to shorten it out.

"Come in!" I call out from my room after I heard a knock on my front door.

"Hey." Jaden says walking into my bedroom. "Hi." I reply trying to sound as calm as possible.

"I want to show you something, it won't take much time..." He pulls out his phone and sat on my bed and I stood in front of him without saying a word.

A song began to play from his phone's speaker and I immediately recognize the lyrics. The music is rock? Yeah, it's rock. Not what I was expecting at all. The lyrics belong to a sad melody but Jaden and his friends are talented and managed to make it a rock song. I'm impressed, really.

"I know it isn't the type of music you like but I felt like you should listen to it, you were the inspiration for it."Jaden says once the song was finished. I smile at him. "I love it."

"Thank you." He stood up.

"You're leaving so soon?" I ask and he nodded. "I only came for that." Jaden replies. He's doing the same thing I did to him when I went to tell him about getting accepted to collage.

"We could at least talk." I suggest. "I want to know where we stand."

"Rye, I didn't come here for that."

"You still need more time?" I question with a bit of a complaining tone. "I'm driving myself crazy here and you're taking all the time in the world... it's not fair."

"How is it not fair?"

"Because I would never do this to you! I forgave you over and over again, so many fucking times, and this is how you repay me? I understand you have your own issues but dammit! I'm suffering and you don't even care." I rant and then took a deep breathe. "Why can't you forgive me so we can be together, happy, how we were."

"We weren't happy Rye, don't lie to yourself. We'd fight all the time. So no, if it's to go back how we were I don't want it."

"Then let's change this time."

"How?"

"I already told you, move in with me." I say. "Not this again." He mumbles. "Why not?"

"Everything will be easier. Think about it, next semester; We wake up next to each other, get ready and then go to class. I'll have a normal life for once and so will you.  The only way to fix this is to be together."

"I'll think about it." He sighs. "Look I don't want you to think that I don't love you, because I do! I love you. But-"

"I love you too."

"Do you need help packing?" He asks after a couple of silent seconds. "I'm almost done don't worry."

"Oscar was going to text you, about the your plane ticket. Did you guys talk?"

"Rye I never said I could go."

"Really?"

"Tomorrow we have to present the project and I know it isn't the same day but I won't get to Florida on Time."