5 What Was That For?!

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

- C.S. Lewis

• • •

Clearing my throat, I placed my hands behind my back as I rocked back and forth. "Thanks for walking with me."

"No problem," Jayden replied, I could feel his burning gaze on me, but I didn't dare look up from the floor.

Feeling as if I was suffocating in the awkward silence that enveloped us, I decided to look at him and speak up, "You know you didn't have to walk me all the way 'til here."

Jayden shrugged, "Just making sure you make it alright."

Trying to lighten the mood around us I did the first thing that came into my mind or more like in instinct.

Rolling my eyes, I gave him a deadpanned look, "As if an assassin is going to come out of nowhere and try to kill me, please that only happens in books."

Amusement danced in Jayden eyes at my words, "Well I'm sure your brother isn't too convinced about it."

"Of course he isn't, he once believed an old man was going kidnap me and later on sell me," I rolled my eyes at the memory, "He should really stop reading books."

Jayden let out a breathy laugh, "You know what? I'm going to make your brother a favor and make sure you sleep and wake up well," his hand moved over to take a hold of the doorknob, smacking his hand away he held it against his chest, "What was that for?!"

"You're not going anywhere near my room," I stated, glaring over at him.

"Well it's too late for that, I'm standing outside your rooms door," he grinned over at me.

The ends of my lips tugged up, but I fought the urge to smile. Jayden took notice and poke at my cheek, "You can smile you know."

Glaring over at him, he put his hands up in surrender, "Alright, alright," shoving his hands into his front pockets he continued, "It's getting pretty late. Goodnight, Kingston."

"Goodnight, Anderson."

Turning on his heels, he started his way over to the elevator. As soon as the elevators doors closed, I let a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

Opening my door, I made my way over to my bed. Throwing myself at it, I fell face down as I let out a groan.

Rethinking tonight's happenings, I internally facepalmed myself.

What was I thinking? That he was going to kiss me? Please, he would probably rather throw himself off a cliff before doing such a thing.

Okay maybe I'm exaggerating just a tad bit. But am I that ugly, is that the reason for him not kissing me? Or is it just because he still sees me as my brother's little sister?

Lifting my fist up in the air I punched at my duvet, my body still positioned in the same manner as I let out a muffled scream.

• • •

Last night was a total disaster as I couldn't exactly sleep, after all I couldn't stop thinking of all the different scenarios or the reasons of why Blake didn't want to kiss me.

I mean there were many thoughts lingering around my head and I just couldn't stop myself from overthinking.

Explains how I got to school so early and I'm also paying for not sleeping at all, my eyes felt droopy as I looked around my surroundings.

They immediately stopped at the sight of Jayden, he stood tall. His mop of brown hair was disheveled as always -I mean I didn't have a problem with it, it actually looked pretty damn good that way- some stray hairs fell over to his blue eyes and I watched intently as he raised one of his hands, and ran it over his hair, pushing it back. The other hand was resting inside one of his pockets.

He was dressed in a pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt that clung to his body like a second skin. A bag hung over his shoulder.

His eyes were directed towards someone as he talked, and that's where I saw it, saw her. He was talking to a girl and I felt as my heart sunk at the sight.

She was gorgeous, her fiery red hair stood out against everybody in the room, it contemplated with her pale skin as well as her hazel green like eyes. A flowy white dress that was paired with a belt accentuating her curvy body covered her petite frame, although she was wearing some three inched heels she was quite small compared to Jayden.

I wouldn't doubt for a second that she had captured his eyes I mean she was more than beautiful and probably from his same grade, I couldn't compete with her.

Either way it's not like I had a chance in the first place.

"What am I thinking?" I whispered under my breath as I huffed.

"I don't know, but don't you think you've been staring for too long," a voice stated, startling me for its suddenness.

"You scared the crap out of me!" I turned over to look at the black haired girl with blue highlights just to find her dark brown eyes staring at me as she smirked,

"You almost gave me a heart attack."

Placing a hand over my chest I tried to calm down my rapidly beating heart.

"Oh please if anything you're just embarrassed that you were caught in the art of stalking," Willow's smirk remained on her face as she spoke,

"So Jayden huh," she nudged me on my side with her pointy elbow.

Smacking her arm away from me I immediately denied it, "No," I started, "Can't a girl take in the art that is presented in this building I mean I was just staring at the portrait behind them."

Willow gave me a devious smile, "Definitely looking his way," she noted more to herself.

Punching her lightly on her shoulder blade I said, "Hey! I'm serious, I wasn't staring at him."

"Mhm, you're in denial. A three year old can make out the fact that you are head over heels for the guy, I mean you are practically sending him googly eyes from where you're standing," Willow claimed, winking my way.

Rolling my eyes, I fixated them on her, staring her down, "I am not in denial."

"You so are," she assured tauntingly close to me before she pulled back, away from my flying hand that almost made contact with her naked arm.

Facing their way, her face suddenly brightened as if an idea had come to her mind. She turned fast to face me, "I know that look in your eyes, you're jealous."

"Why would I be jealous?" I questioned her acting oblivious.

"Oh please don't pull that act on me, 'I don't know what you're talking about' or the 'you're delusional'," she pointed her finger my way.

"But you are delusional," I butted in, a smirk of my own making its way onto my face.

A glare my way made my smirk disappear as she continued, "You're jealous of the short red head girl with him, I mean I've seen that look on many people even my own so I can assure you that, that was exactly the same look you were sporting as you stared."

"Short red head girl," I snorted at the new nickname placed on the gorgeous girl that stood next to the Greek God.

In response Willow rolled her eyes, "Is that all you got from what I just said?"

"Pretty much."

Saying incoherent words under her breath, she quickly placed a smirk on her face, "Well, if you want to keep on seeing him and his beautiful body," sighing in content with the thought she continued,

"I suggest you go to the pools after school."

Raising an eyebrow I gave her a questioning look, "Huh?"

"Seriously for someone who stalks the boy it seems you don't know much about him," Willow deadpanned, giving me a glare.

Returning the glare I said, "I do not stalk him."

"Whatever," she disclosed, running a hand through her face in exasperation she finally looked me in the eyes while saying, "He's a swimming coach. Meaning the girls take advantage of that and pay him visits."

"By visits you mean they enter his lessons?"

"You could say that," she nodded her head, "Or they just simply spend their day there while he's on his shift."

"Yeah well, I don't want to be those girls so I prefer to stay away from the pools."

"I mean, it's worth your while if you go," Willow shrugged.

• • •

I've been thinking about what Willow had told me.

I mean, would it be bad to just go to the pools and enjoy the view just like the other girls?

It wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Looking ahead of me, I took in the sight of the sky. Red and oranges mixed together as the sun stood in the middle of the beautiful creation of colors.

My attention returned to the things that are around me as I felt the bench move underneath pressure.

Looking over my shoulder I caught Daniela already looking at me with a huge smile decorating her rich dark skin,

"Do you have any plans for today?"

Her voice came out in an excited tone.

I sat in silence before an idea popped up and a smile took over my features, "Yes," I replied.

Daniela's smile slowly disappeared at my answer, but came back when I said, "Im spending my day with you."

"Great!" She chirped, "Willow is going to tag along. We could maybe watch some movies over at her place? How does that sound?"

"I guess it's a plan," I told her.

"Great then let's go!" Standing up from the bench with a jump, she waited for me to stand up as well.

Just as I was standing up a phone pinged, making Daniela take out her phone from her front pocket.

I watched as her amber eyes took in the screen and then connected with my own.

"Change of plans," she said pointing over to her phone, "Willow just texted and told me to meet her at the park."

"The park?"

"Yeah, it's a couple streets down from the campus," Daniela explained, "Come on."

Motioning with her hand she started to walk towards the sidewalk with me following silently.

Matching her pace we walked in a comfortable silence, enjoying the serenity that came from the walk.

The rustling of leaves was heard as the wind blew by making some of my black hair fly over my shoulder.

The air slightly tugging at my hair as I walked, the sound of our footsteps ricocheting against the flooring.

The sound of laughs and screaming told me that we were close to the park. Looking ahead of me, I saw how children ran around without a care in the world.

Some were chasing others smiling brightly and laughing as others slid through the slide or were swinging on the monkey bars.

The sound of screeching made my head snap in the direction of the noise, two out of six of the swings were occupied.

The two kids who were going back and forth seemed to be enjoying the breeze with smiles just as big as my own just at the sight.

"Come!" I screamed over my shoulder at Daniela as I ran over to one of the vacant swings without waiting for an answer.

Sitting on the swing I put my feet against the ground before pushing myself back and letting the swing rock back and forth. Wanting to go higher, I started swinging my feet.

Smiling I turned to see Daniela having the time of her life as well as the swing grew higher each time.

Oh how I missed this.

Closing my eyes I kept up my pace on the swing, but just enjoyed the way the air played with my hair.

Sometimes I thought back to when I was younger, when everything was much easier.

The day of my high school graduation I was beyond nervous, I mean it meant that I was growing up, leaving the place where I grew up in, the place I called home.

Although I may enjoy being independent I still missed the good old days. The days where I would come home from school with Elijah and I would find my mom in the kitchen, dad helping her with anything she needed whenever he could.

The days where I would spend my day with my family just talking about everything and nothing.

Home. Where I had so many memories, where Elijah and I used to always chase each other, where we pulled pranks on each other.

But the day of my graduation I also knew that it was time I grew up and faced life. Growing is meant to happen.

As children we are handed everything and we see life as nothing more, but easy, in reality it's much harder than one makes it look like.

It's quite scary going out in the real world without your parents, but you have to learn how to live without them, they won't always be there when you need them.

I am very much grateful for having such great parents, without them I wouldn't be the person I am today.

As well as Elijah, he has been with me every step of the way.

Sighing to myself, I breathed in the fresh air.

"Hey girls!" Someone shouted from below as I was high up. As the swing went back I opened my eyes, to look at a waving Willow.

"Hey!" Both Daniela and I exclaimed at the same time making me laugh.

Jumping off the swing efficiently after doing it multiple times in the past, I landed on my feet.

"So what is it that we're going to do now?" Daniela came to stand next to me as we faced Willow.

"I have an idea," Willow smirked, looking at me specifically.

Raising a questioning eyebrow her way, I looked at her skeptically, "Are you planning on telling us or?"

Skipping away from us she looked over her shoulder shouting, "You'll have to wait and see!"