Let's be friends again

Khloe's apartment.

"She's literally avoiding me. Although I pretend like it's fine, it isn't.... I'm hurt." Jayden said with his head bowed.

"You shouldn't expect her to treat you well, after what you did to her. You betrayed her trust." Khloe said quietly.

Her eyes contained a look of pity.

She also felt guilty. After all, she also played a part in what happened that night... She felt like she had to bring them back together.

Even if they remained friends, and not lovers....

"I can't get over her, Khloe.... I can't..." He sniffled.

Khloe was silent for a while. She felt there was nothing she could say to console him.

"Care for a drink?" She was already on her way to her mini bar.

She came back with a bottle of wine, and two glasses.

She poured the wine into the two glasses, and handed one to Jayden,

"Drink up." She said.

He nodded and gulped it down. He cleared his throat at the spicy taste at the back of his throat.

"Another." He handed the glass over to her.

"She loathes me, Khloe. I hate that feeling. I hate the feeling I get whenever we cross paths." Jayden gulped his wine down.

They were strangers to each other.... Typical strangers...

............

"Hey, come over and pick Jayden. He's at my place." Khloe said over a phonecall.

"And so? You can take him home. Do you want what happened eight years ago to repeat itself?" A lady's calm voice floated over the line.

"He's dead drunk though, and he's insisting he wants to drive." Khloe continued as if she didn't hear what she had said.

"I don't care." The lady said again.

"Really? Are you that heartless Arianna?" Khloe deliberately hardened her voice a little.

There was silence at the other end of the line. Arianna sighed.

"I'm coming over."

Before Khloe could say another word, she heard the beep sound from the other end. She had already hung up!

"Whatever... I did a good job." She applauded herself, as she turned to Jayden who was looking at her with clear eyes.

"It's up to you to act well. This is the last time I will help you." Khloe said and went over to sit down opposite him.

Jayden nodded.

......................

Arianna barged in after an hour. She looked like someone who had run a mile.

'Did she race here?' Khloe wondered to herself, but she said nothing.

She gestured at Jayden who was sprawled on the sofa.

"Why did you let him drink so much, when you knew he was going to drive?" Arianna asked as she moved towards him.

She scrunched up her nose, when the odor of strong alcohol hit her.

"And you let him drink so much?! For Pete's sake his whole body is reeking of alcohol." Arianna groaned.

"Are you concerned about him?" Khloe decided to try her luck.

"Concern? Of course I'm concerned!" Arianna groaned in frustration.

Khloe looked at her in surprise. She was concerned?

But Arianna's next words dashed her hopes.

"Yes... I'm concerned about the fact that I have to drag a grown up man home. A drunk one for that matter." Arianna sighed.

"I understand what you are trying to do, Khloe. And I know Jayden isn't drunk. So please, don't make things difficult than it already is." Saying those words, she turned towards the door.

"Ari... Do you really hate me? Don't you even have a little bit of feeling for me?" Jayden asked as he slowly sat up on the sofa.

Arianna paused in her movements. She slowly turned to face him squarely.

"Feeling? The only feeling I have for you right now is hate. I hate the fact that you betrayed my trust." Arianna said as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Come off it, Ari. I was ready to take responsibility... What happened that night was not intentional. I love you, Ari. I'm not even shirking from the responsibility. Yet, you don't want to give me a chance. Even after all this while?" Jayden's voice cracked as he spoke.

He looked at her hopefully. However, her next words broke his heart,

"Stay away from me, Jayden." She walked out of the apartment without another word.

After she left, Jayden bowed his head and his tears flowed fast.

Khloe went over to sit beside him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her.

"She has rejected you again. What do you want to do now?" She asked calmly.

Jayden raised his reddened eyes and fixed them on her face,

"I can't keep running away. She only told me to stay away from her. She didn't say she didn't love me. I believe if I continue trying, I may be successful." He shook his head.

"How did she know that you weren't drunk?" Khloe was surprised.

"Haha... Ari had always been an observant person. She noticed..." Even Jayden wasn't sure when he said that.

He had made sure to act well, so how did she notice?

He got up slowly,

"You've tried for me, Khloe. I won't forget your kind gesture. However, I have to pack out of the apartment where I'm currently living." He divulged.

"Why?" Khloe was confused. Wasn't he the one who said he wanted to pursue Arianna fervently? Was he giving up now?

Jayden saw the sincere confusion on Khloe's face and laughed.

"Well... Deep down, I feel that Arianna likes me too. However, I think there is a trauma she needs to overcome. I have my own plans... I'm going to get to the root of it all, however it won't be now." He said calmly.

"Alright... I believe you know what you are doing. And I wish you luck." Khloe said as she walked him to the door.

"Drive safely..." She waved at him.

He nodded and entered his Lamborghini. Then he zoomed off.

Khloe sighed immediately he drove off.

'What a complicated love story.'

She went back inside, and calmly bolted her door.