Chapter 44: Chapter forty four

Drayton

I laid on the bed, my hands clasped behind my head as I replayed the events of the day in my head. But my thoughts only circled back on one person. Jack fucking Sinclair.

I had forgotten our little bet at Caleb's party last week, but now, it was the only thing I could think of. That stupid decision kept replaying itself in my head like a broken jukebox and I've never been more frustrated.

I was the biggest fucking idiot in the entire world.

I had seen Jack talk to Arielle in school this morning just minutes after she basically asked me to leave. I'd made another stupid decision in that moment and listened on their conversation. A decision I now deeply regret.

I didn't know what pissed me off more. That she didn't have any probably talking to him after he basically dumped her while she was sick, but was so freaked out about being seen with me because of what people would say.

I guess it's true what they say that feelings don't die easily. Sinclair had succeeded in getting her to agree to go on a date with him after all. Even if it was the dumbest idea ever.

I mean, who takes an ex girlfriend to get coffee these days? Definitely, a guy with absolutely no knowledge about women.

I scoffed at the thought.

I turned to my side, my guts churning at the thought of seeing Jack and Arielle together. Snippets of their relationship before she got hospitalized fluttered into my mind but I quickly pushed the thought back.

I was NOT going to be feeling bitter about their relationship. It's none of my fucking business if they're together or not. They deserved each other. Mr Betrayer and Ms annoying-but-hot-as-hell.

Christ, I'm so fucked in the head.

Maybe I should go smash Jack's head till his brains leak out. That will definitely make me feel better. And she can't exactly go out with him if his brains leak out. Right?

But she might. What if their story becomes one of those cliche rom-coms and she stayed with him because she loves him so much despite his leaked brain matter?

My imagination was going wild tonight. I needed something strong to flush out my memories. This was one of the moments I wished Penny kept alcohol in the house. Now I have to settle for the second cousin.

My lips tilted up as memories of the last time I went down for a midnight coffee rushed into my mind. I'd stayed up all night helping Frozen prepare for her interview at Chuck's.

It felt like a lifetime ago and not few days back. It's surprising how much can change in a short time.

The image of her terrified face from this morning when we were about to enter the hall together, and when Laura showed up at Chuck's collided in my head, ruining the perfect memories I'd conjured.

Fucking hell.

I pushed up from the bed and headed for the door. I didn't care that it was almost midnight or that it was a school night, I needed a strong drink and I was getting it. I just hoped Penny wasn't working late, and no one was awake. Especially not a silver blonde lady.

But as I twisted the door knob and flung the door open, I saw the same person that had terrorized my mind all day.

My eyes traveled over her in a quick sweep before I asked roughly,

“What do you want?”

My tone might have been a little harsh, but I was just about to flush all thoughts of her out of my system, then she shows up in small pajama shorts and crop top, her hair packed in a messy but beautiful bun, baring her neck and–

I cut myself from finishing that line of thought. I had no business noticing every single piece of her clothing. So I kept my gaze firmly on her face which was set in a scowl.

“Do you have to be such an asshole every time?” She sneered.

“Only when people are disrupting my sleep.” I sniped back.

“You were just about to step out of your room, and I'm disrupting your sleep?” Her eyebrows shot up and she folded her arms.

I didn't have any snarky reply for her. She was right. I'd opened the door before she even knocked.

“It's almost midnight. Why are you here?”

Arielle's eyes darted around and she subtly chew on her lower lip. Those were clear signs she was nervous about something.

“You're not even going to invite me in. How rude of you.” She smirked. It was obvious she was stalling whatever she wanted to say.

It was my turn to arch my brows. She dropped her hands and sighed.

“I just want to talk, okay? Can you let me in?”

I chuckled.

“If I invite you into my room, the last thing we would do is talk.”

The joke fell flat and the air between us grew tensed. It wasn't the first time I'd made such a flirtatious comment, but this one felt so close to the truth I'd harboured in my chest for years now. I didn't like it.

Arielle's eyes widened slightly and her lips parted. My gaze fell on them and my mind immediately went haywire. What would it feel like to have a taste of those lips?

She was standing just few feet away. If I took just two steps forward, I could grab her around the waist and find out the answer to the question burning in me.

“I'm sorry,” Arielle blurted out, breaking the temporary spell that bound us.

“What?” I asked in confusion.

“I came to apologize for what happened this morning and this afternoon with Laura. I asked us to be friends but I pushed you away and did some really mean things. I understand if you want to end our tentative agreement, but I think it would be better if we remain friends. We're currently living in the same house and we'll be neighbors soon anyway. It doesn't matter what anyone at school thinks…” she continued rambling on but I couldn't hear a word.

Arielle only rambles when she was super nervous. Which meant I wasn't the only one who felt the intensity of that moment. The fact that she was avoiding my gaze was the extra confirmation I needed. I didn't know why that made me so happy.

“Are you even listening to me?”

I blinked out of my thoughts and immediately noticed the frown etched between her brows.

“Uhm, yeah! Sounds cool.” I said absentmindedly.

“I asked if there was something else bothering you today. I didn't want to just assume it was because of my shitty comment.”

“No, it's not you.” It's the mother fucker I made a bet with and he'd successfully gotten you to agree on a date with him.

But I didn't say that. Instead, I said the only thing I knew wouldn't get her to ask anymore questions.

“It's Chuck's.”

I proceeded to tell her everything Chuck had told me about the coffee shop. I'd told Chuck we were all going to help him and Arielle was also his employee now. She would know eventually.

But I still hadn't told Brett and Suzie yet. I'd been so pissed about what happened with Laura that I didn't remember to.

“Oh my God, that's so terrible. How can we help him?” She asked, concern written all over her face.

“I have no idea.” I sighed, feeling defeated.

Now that the thought of Chuck's fate was back on my mind, I felt defeated for not having a solution for him.

“Maybe we can ask the others tomorrow.” I added.

“Yeah, maybe.” She nodded her head thoughtfully.

“Anyway, I gotta get to bed. We'll figure out how to help Chuck in the morning. He won't lose the place, I promise.” She added softly.

I bidded her goodnight and she walked away. I watched her disappear into her room before shutting my door. I slumped on the bed my mind whirling back to Chuck. How the hell are we supposed to raise that much money before the deadline by just selling coffee?

I was still pondering on the thought when I heard a knock on my door. I went to open it and saw Arielle panting.

“What happened? Are you okay?” I immediately moved closer to her, examining he body for injuries. I found none.

“I’m fine.” She said before smiling widely. “I've got just the perfect idea to help Chuck.”