fourteen | can't two people reconnect?

ALI KIND OF JUST STOOD AT HIS FRONT DOOR FOR ALMOST TEN MINUTES—MENTALLY PREPARING HERSELF, TOO SCARED TO KNOCK. Talking with a shrink had definitely helped her clear a lot of things out her mind however, in doing that, it made room for more things. For someone who'd clearly wanted a real relationship with her, he'd not wasted any time in falling into the next girl (not that it was her place to be jealous, she guesses). She knew she had a lot to say and apologise for but she didn't think he was so innocent.

Just as she lifted her hand to knock, the door flew open. "Oh—you're here," he said, a bag of rubbish in free hand.

"Uh, yeah. . ." She nodded, stepping out of his way. She awkwardly fiddled with her rings as he forced the overfilled bag down the trash chute.

Once inside, they sat on opposite ends of his black leather couch. Ali's legs were crossed over and her posture was unnaturally straight. "So. . ." She tried to break the ice.

"How've you been?" He asked, trying to make eye contact but she refused.

"Getting there," she admitted. "You?"

"Yeah, pretty good. . . seasons going well and shit," he mumbled, twirling his tv remote between his fingers.

Ali decided she had to just bite the bullet. She didn't know how much small talk she'd be capable of before spontaneously combusting. "Look, I'm sorry—" They both said at the same time. "You go first—" They said, again, at the same time.

"I'm sorry, I know I've. . . not been the easiest person to know. . ." she started, staring down at her lap. "There's just a lot of things that happened in my last relationship that. . . well, traumatised me—which is why our whole situation was so hard for me to embrace. I've been through the whole public relationship thing—the most toxic one imaginable and, it completely destroyed me in the end."

Jordan watched her, his face was an open book of emotions. "I wish you'd talk to me more about it—we could've. . . I don't know. . ."

"It's not easy for me to open up about," she admitted. Ali wiped her eyes and inhaled deeply. "That night, at the creators dinner. . . when I went to the bathroom, Myles he—he found me and had me against a wall and was saying all these things. I felt like I was that eighteen-year-old who couldn't get out again. It threw me right back into that mental space. . ."

Jordan didn't say anything, he just nodded.

"And that night, when we. . . your hands, it just brought me back to that moment and I freaked out." She shuddered.

"Ali. . ."

"I shouldn't have been so mean to you—"

Jordan stood up and knelt in front of her. He gently tilted her head up to look at him and took her hands. "No man should ever put his hands on a woman—in that way. . . if I ever see him, I—"

Ali pulled her hands away but didn't break eye contact. "I don't need anyone to fight for my honour, Jordan."

He moved onto the spot next to her, their thighs touching. He sighed. "I want you to know, that girl didn't mean anything to me."

"It wouldn't matter if she did," Ali replied. "We're not together."

Jordan swallowed and nodded. "I know but still, it didn't feel right." He paused. "I understand you're not ready and that's okay but. . . I'm a patient guy, I don't mind waiting."

"Jordan. . ."

He shook his head. "We're friends, right?"

"Yeah."

"That's enough for now."

Ali meant her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her. They didn't say much from then on, just relishing in the moment. He was right, she wasn't ready for the real thing. She knew if she kept down the path she was heading down, she'd learn to be ready.

💌

(@aliannagreer via snapchat stories!)

☀️ KK SPEAKS!
a little stuck with where to go after here. this feels like a closing chapter but i know that'd be super underwhelming for you guys if that was how it ends lol.