Our Way Home

Chapter 9

Saturday

"So who do you think is telling the truth?" Zoey says.

"I don't know! That's what bothers me! Whoever I believe could potentially hurt me in the end. Tell me what I should do!"

She looks at me wide-eyed. "Girl you're on your own with this one."

I groan. "This is exactly why I would never survive love triangles."
It's raining even though the forecast said sunny.
Not entirely surprised though.
We both jolt at the screeching sound in front of our house.

Surprisingly, it was Jared riding his jet-black motorcycle. This is the fourth time we've met up for tutoring. We've exchanged numbers and decided to go to the library today.

After grabbing my bag I quickly get my raincoat and storm out to see him. His leather jacket is soaking wet while his helmet is completely fogged up.

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking you to the library?" He says as he tosses me an extra helmet.

"I mean how did you even know where I live?"

He bites his lip, "I'm gonna let you figure that out."

"WOAH HOLD UP THAT'S NOT FAIR! You can't just say something like that and dodge the question."

"Sorry, my lips are sealed." His laugh is annoying yet cute.

"I hate you."

"Hate you too loser."

"Oh shut up." I'm glad he couldn't see my redness when he called me a loser.
I put on the helmet and hopped onto the bike wrapping my arms around his stomach. At that moment Olive opens the door with Sailor and Annelise behind her.

"Miley! Who is that?" Olive asks.

"Get back inside guys or else you'll catch a cold!"

"There's more of you?!" Jared raises his eyebrows.

"I wanna ride the bike!" Sailor whines.

"Oh my gosh! If y'all don't get in that house right now I swear I will make you regret it by the time I get back!"
Luckily Zoey drags the kids back in before I went ballistic.

"Dang Miley you didn't have to go off that hard."
Jared tenses up.

"Just drive already."

"Yes ma'am."

I grip his jacket tighter as he drives faster.

****

He sets down a can of coffee on the table and sits across from me. "Drink it. You look like you haven't slept for three days."

I take it willingly. "Thanks." He shakes his head.

"Don't mention it. Like seriously don't."

"Pfft. Anyways are you going on the field trip?"

"Only if you sit next to me on the bus. Then it's bearable." My face turns into a tomato.

"Oh ho ho you are good."

He smirks, "What more can I say? I'm a total chick magnet."

"A chick magnet with a full-on tsundere resting biscuit face." He hits my shoulder.

"Like you could do it any better. You're just a softball of energy who thinks the world is rainbows and fairytales!"

I quickly close my math book. "Fine, I'll prove it."

"Ten seconds no emotions no redos. Go!" A whole ten seconds sounds easy enough but with Jared, it's like a whole other level. His resting face is almost intimidating for me.
I crack a smile just four seconds in.

"DANG IT!" I try not to be so loud cause we're still in a library.

"Winner winner chicken dinner." He says as he drinks his coffee.

"I let you win."

"Uh-huh, I believe you." We laugh it off.

"Miley?" I look behind Jared.

"T-Tyler?" Jared's face goes pale.

"Why didn't you answer any of my texts? And why are you with him? I told you to stay away from this weirdo." Jared scoffs and stands up.

"I'm the weirdo? What about the guy who bullied a helpless girl back in the seventh grade? You're full of bullcrap." Tyler gives him a cold stare.

"Screw you, Jared." I grab both their arms.

"Guys let's take this outside before we all get in trouble."

After they cooled off a bit I break the silence.
"What is this? Some kind of staring contest? Whatever happened between you two?"

"Ask him," Jared says before he walks to his motorcycle.

"Tyler?" He doesn't look me in the eye.

"Just go, Miley. If you're mad at me for whatever reason I'll understand."

"I'm not mad. I'm just frustrated at myself for not talking to you and working things out. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jared but he's been a huge help to me. I can't just toss him aside like he meant nothing to me." He turns toward me.

"So he means a lot to you?" Why am I so torn between these two? Why did I get myself caught up in this in the first place?

"Yes."

"Do you like him?"

"He's my friend of course I like him." He clicks his tongue.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"I...I don't know." He sighs.

"He's waiting for you. I'll see ya in the city."

"Tyler." He's already gone. What do I do to fix this? What can I do?

Jared doesn't say another word to me even after he drops me off at home. It's not raining as hard as it was this morning.
"Thank you for everything you've done so far for me. My grades are looking better thanks to you." He looks down.

"That's great. I'm glad it's paying off."

"Do you wanna come inside to talk? Or we could just stay outside if you want."

"Not right now." He says without hesitation.

"Oh okay, another time then."

"Tomorrow."

"What?"

"It's the only time we have before the trip. I'd rather do it before then."

"Yeah! I'll see you tomorrow. Not early cause we're busy before noon but after is fine."

"Ah, I get it."
Why did it suddenly get awkward?

"Well be careful on your way home!" I start to walk away but just as I do Jared wraps his arms around my shoulders and gently lays his head on me. He has that men's cologne scent which makes me internally scream.

"See you Miles." There he goes again.
I feel like my heart is about to burst. The second he lets go of me I run into the house like lightning. I can't even describe how red my face is.
I caught a terrible cold that day but it was all worth it because it was Jared.

a/n

The tea is brewing...
Also the first time I hit more than 1000 words!🥳