Jace's POV

"Yikes," is all Alex says as we stand staring at my destroyed car.

He texted me, ready to rip my head of thinking I slept with Yasmin, but I told him to come over and let me explain.

"Yeah," I mumble.

Alex chuckles. "Fiery little Yasmin."

"Glad you find this amusing."

"What'd you do?"

I sigh and sit down on the front porch step. "I fucked up, man."

"The usual then."

"You don't gotta be a dick, Alex."

"I'm sorry dude, but this is my sister we're talking about. I told you to stay away and you clearly didn't."

I'm silent, looking down at the floor while Alex takes out a cigarette packet and hands me one. He lights his own then throws the lighter and I catch it.

While I light mine, he sits down on the step beside me and watches me, waiting for an answer.

"I... I told her I love her." I hold my breath while waiting for his response.

"Jesus."

"Obviously I woke up and realised it was a mistake, and may have said some things that hurt her, which resulted in her taking a fuckin' sledgehammer to my car."

"Fair reaction," Alex says sarcastically.

"Girl's psycho," I manage a laugh. "It's part of why I love her though."

I regret what I said as soon as it's came out of my mouth, because now it's not just I love her as a friend, now he knows it's more than that.

"You really love her?" Alex asks after a moments silence.

I take a drag of my cigarette and look away. "I don't know. How are you meant to know that shit? How do you know you love Amelia?"

Alex shrugs. "You just know. I guess I knew I loved Amelia 'cause of how much I cared about her. Like I'd do anything for her. It's like finally finding a purpose in life and feeling like if you lost her you'd die."

I think for a moment about how I feel about Yasmin. I've always known I'd do anything for her. I'd take a bullet for her. She's like the light in my life and when she stopped talking to me, I felt the shittiest I'd felt in a long time. Everyday is pain knowing she isn't mine, yet it's also exciting. And when she's not around, the world is dull. Everything is just better when she's there.

Gross.

"I can't love her," I shake my head, trying to get rid of all the thoughts I just thought. "She'll never let me in. And you, I'd lose you if anything happened with us."

"Yeah, you'd lose me if you hurt her again like before. We both know you're not ready for anything serious and wouldn't be able to handle it. That's why I keep warning you to stay away. You'll break her heart."

"But what if I was ready? What if I knew I wouldn't hurt her, and I knew she was the one?"

He thinks for a minute, then looks back into my eyes. "I'd say, you better know for sure. And that you got a lot of work ahead of you to get her back."

I blow out smoke and stare ahead. How the fuck are you supposed to know what's right and what's wrong? Why can't their be a sign that tells you what to do?

"What do you want, Jace? I mean, say Yasmin did want to be with you too, would you want a relationship? Would you wanna give up all the random hookups and the shit that you call fun?"

I dodge his question. "I thought I didn't have a choice in this anyway? What happened to your constant threats about being careful what I do? I thought she was completely off limits? You're literally in the back of my head every time I'm with her, fucking annoyance."

"Because I know you, dude. And I don't want you to confuse her. She doesn't need that shit."

"I wouldn't be confusing her if I could just-" I cut myself off and take a drag. "She deserves better than me anyway. I know that. She's just got bad taste in guys."

"If you really liked her, you'd wanna be the guy she deserves. But all your doing is sitting on your ass feeling sorry for yourself." He pats my back and stands up.

I look up at him and furrow my eyebrows. "Is this you giving me permission?"

He shrugs. "You gotta figure out what you want, bro. But if you hurt her again, I will kill you."

"Of course."

He turns around and walks back to his car. "Hasta luego."

I almost call out for him to wait, wanting to go to his house and make things right with Yasmin. To tell her how I feel, but I decide against it.

+++

Yasmin's POV

"We should order pizza," Val says while looking in the freezer.

"If you pay." I hop up onto the kitchen counter and swing my legs, kicking them off of the cupboards.

"I'm savin' up for a motorcycle."

"No you're not."

"Yeah I am. Cars are boring."

"They're dangerous."

"Okay, Mom." Val sits up on the island across from me and starts swinging his legs too. "I'm bored."

"Why don't you ask Montana to come over and play?"

"She's workin'." He lays back on the island and his head knocks over some containers. "You could tell me the drams with you and Jace to fill our time?"

"Orrr we could go find our old board games. Let's play Monopoly!"

Carlos and Ray walk into the kitchen – the two people who don't like Valentino right now. Carlos because of him sleeping with Naomi, and Ray because – well, Ray just has a problem with everything and Val likes to wind him up a lot.

"You guys wanna play Monopoly with me and Val?" I ask, cheerfully.

"Absolutely not," Ray says.

"Nah, I'm good," Carlos says while pouring a glass of water from the tap.

Ah well, I tried.

"I'm goin' out, so won't be here for dinner," Carlos tells me, still not having looked at Val since walking in. Val just continues to swing his legs while staring at the ceiling.

"Where you going?"

"Just out with this girl I've been talking to."

"Ooh, look at you moving on," I tease.

"Yeah, feeling kinda better I guess."

"I'm proud of you, bro. Is she nice?"

"Yeah, she's super sweet. But I really gotta go or I'm gonna be late." He puts his glass into the dishwasher and heads to the door, calling bye and I'm the only one who says it back.

"Still feeling guilty, Val?" Ray says.

"I mean, I think I did him a solid. Now he's got someone better. It was meant to be."

Ray snorts. "Oh yeah, I'm sure he's real grateful for what you did."

"Give it a rest, dude. Shouldn't you be out beating someone up with all that teen angst inside you?"

"Shouldn't you be out taking drugs?"

"Wow, that's cute, Ray."

"Both of you shut up," I snap.

"What we eating? I'm hungry," Ray says.

"Might order pizza. But you're only allowed to eat it if you play monopoly."

"That's just cruel."

"He knows I'll beat his ass," Val smiles at him innocently.

"I'll fuckin' beat your ass up in a minute."

"Ooh, scary," Val laughs, winding him up even more.

"Will one of you just go ask Marco, Max and Santiago what they want?" I'd do it myself but I don't really want to leave them alone together.

"I'll do it." Val sits up and jumps down from the island. While walking past Ray, he makes a pouty face while Ray scowls.

"Where's Alex?" Ray asks once Val's gone.

"On a date with Amelia."

"Ah. No dates for you tonight?"

"Nope."

"Nice." He nods with curiosity in his eyes, but he doesn't bother to ask any questions about Wes or Jace, and i'm glad. Ray isn't the type to pry into people's lives, and that's the kind of people I need right now.

When the pizza's arrive, we all sit in the living room and eat while playing monopoly. Santiago didn't want to but he gave in once I gave him the puppy dog eyes. Ray is still refusing but every time it's his shot we force him to play.

"Buying it," Santiago announces.

"Ugh, you cunt," Max complains as Santiago stopped him from getting a set.

"The insults are out, people," Val says. I giggle and take a bite out of my pepperoni pizza. My mind is taken off of Jace and for the first time in a while I feel warm inside. Like a comfortable feeling.

"Ya know, this is the most wholesome we've been in a while," I point out.

"Por favor no," Ray mumbles. "You'll make me uncomfortable and I'll leave."

"Jeez. Just saying. We should do this more."

Santiago, Ray and Max all share looks with each other.

"Um, sure, Yas," Santiago agrees unenthusiastically.

"I think I'm busy that day," Ray says.

"What day?"

"The day you guys do this again."

I scowl and the doorbell goes off. "You're all assholes," I call while walking over to the door.

"I ain't!" Val shouts.

"Yeah, you're good."

"Want a straw to help you suck up her ass?" Ray says.

I laugh and open the door, only to be shocked and have my good mood destroyed. 

The first thing I see is a large bouquet of flowers containing red roses and lilies. Then I see Jace's handsome face above them, staring at me with pleading eyes.

"Hey," he says in a quiet low voice and gulps. "I wanted to talk to you. I'm really really sor-"

The door slams in his face before he can continue. Was I not fucking clear when I told him never to speak to me again? Could he not tell how much I hated him by me smashing his car with a damn sledgehammer?

And how dare he bring my flowers? He really thought he could bring me my favourite flowers and I'd forgive him? Dickhead.

"Who's turn is it?" I say while sitting back down on the floor.

No one answers me and when I look up I see them all looking at me.

"Uh, what was that?" Max asks.

"We're not friends anymore. Next."

"Go off, sis," Val clicks his fingers.

"What happened?"

"He's just an ass."

"I wouldn't be bringing flowers to a girl if she hit my car with a sledgehammer," Val says.

"You did not," Max says in disbelief and Marco laughs, suddenly interested.

"I can get him a discount at the garage I'm working at to get it fixed," Ray says.

"Who's side are you on? And when did you get a job?"

"I'm not on his side, but like, gonna cost him a lot just 'cause he pissed you off."

"Sounds like you're on his side."

"Yes, it does," Val chips in.

"I'm not on no ones side, I'm just saying-"

"So you're not on my side?"

He groans. "Yes, I'm on your side. Jace is a dick. No discount for him."

"Gracias."

He rolls his eyes.

"Can we pleaaase get back to the game?" Marco asks, bored.

"Sí."

Santiago rolls the dice while I try to wipe the frown off my face. I won't let him ruin my night; I'm stronger than that. Fuck him.

+++

hey babes, how's everyone enjoying their corona summer?

teaser: it's prom day for Alex, Amelia and Jace

vote, comment, follow

ly
-e