69Chapter Sixteen – Regret
Tiana's Point of View
I hated the way I was feeling right this instance… I've been crying for goodness knows how long and it's gotten to the point where there's no more tears to cry. Madison has tried contacting me, but I never could muster the courage to pick up the phone and talk to her. I was scared of what she'd say to me, afraid that she'd make me feel like a bigger idiot than I already was.
I didn't know what to do anymore. I lost my direction, and to be precise, I was lacking a lot of motivation. It's gotten to the point where I'm beginning to worry my grandma and mother and it's irritating to have them fret over me, considering my grandma's age and my mother's frailness.
So here I was, finally out of the house and facing the world again. After the party (which was two weeks ago), I had hurried back home and avoided any contact with my friends. I had been in hiding, not letting myself come into any human contact with the exception of family. Somehow, the moment I went to visit mum the next day after the party, I had managed to blurt out all that had happened throughout a puddle of tears.
"You can't keep doing this you know Tia," mum remarked, her eyes fixated on me.
I smiled weakly at her and she shook her head at me.
"Go and talk things out with him," she advised. "It's going to be hard, but once it's off your chest, I'm sure you'll feel better. Running away from your problems doesn't solve them."
Sighing, I nodded my head. I knew that mum was right… But the thing was, I didn't know what to say to him let alone approach him. Shuffling to the door, I looked back at my mother.
"I'll be back later," I informed, and with those last few words I left.
Breathing in, I finally marched up the driveway, leading to the Tyler's residence. It had taken me exactly three hours of procrastination, and a whole lot of pacing up and down a nearby park before I could summon the nerve to come here. And there he was...
My breath caught in my throat as I comprehended the sight before me. The entire monologue I had mentally prepared disappeared from my mind as I took in what I was seeing. With his car boot open, and a few bags as well as a large suitcase resting beside the car, waiting to be packed, I finally realized that Jaiden Jarl Tyler was finally moving on without me. He was busy stuffing his belongings into his trunk, and I felt my heart fall. I guess it was a little too late on my part to initiate a change…
Turning around, I decided to return home, the guts I had mustered a moment ago had completely vanished.
Jaiden's Point of View
Packing yet another bag of Alana's clothes, I turned to grab the suitcase when a girl in a green hoodie caught my eye. She was slowly heading back down my driveway, and it was then that I knew who the figure was…
"Tia!" I called, and she halted before hesitantly turning to face me.
I had to admit that my heart was still aching from her decline two weeks ago, the events still fresh in my mind. I hadn't planned for things to turn out the way it did, but what was surprising now, was the fact that Tiana Addison was standing at my driveway facing me. Never in a million years would I have imagined her to come and find me.
Approaching her, it was evident that she was close to tears as her gaze settled onto the floor.
Tiana's Point of View
I couldn't meet his eyes otherwise there was no doubt that I'd start bursting into tears. Breathing in deeply, I tried to get my emotions under control. I hadn't expected to be seen leaving, and now that I was discovered, I decided that it would be best to confess all that I felt for him before he left. That way it will make things easier on my part to know that at least I did try to do something.
"Why are you here?" I heard him ask, his tone was frosty and I took a step back.
It hurt to hear that tone from him, but I wasn't expecting anything less considering I had damaged his pride twice. Biting my lip, I could feel myself cower away from having to confess my feelings to him… It was either now or never…
"I'm sorry," I managed, finally lifting my eyes to his. "I decided that I either tell you now or never tell you at all…" I explained and released my pent up breath at the unreadable expression on his face. "I was scared of getting hurt by you, and in my mind I felt that we were just too different to even start a relationship."
By now I was beginning to muster some courage to continue, "What I'm trying to say is that I've finally gotten over all that fear about being hurt by you, and that I like you a lot. I'm an idiot I know, and I'm a bigger idiot for taking forever to finally come and confront you… I was just hoping that I wasn't too late to tell you how I really feel," able to see his packed trunk, I felt a bit of pain in my heart. "But I guess it doesn't matter anymore, you're leaving now and – hang on let me finish," I demanded able to see him just about to cut in and speak. "I'm sure you'll be happy wherever you're moving, and that there'll be many more girls that will be better for you. And you'll marry one of them and live happily ever after, and I'll be happy for you." I mumbled, waiting for him to say something.
There was still a hint of hope in my heart that maybe he would take me back and make things better again. However the hope had died when the silence between us began to pierce my ears, making me realize that he had nothing more to say to me.
"Well…" I drifted, unable to comprehend that this really was the end. I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly gone dry upon realizing that I would never see Jaiden again. "Y-you take care of yourself," I managed, my throat tightening from the emotions that were overtaking my body. "I guess this is goodbye," I whispered, reality dawning on me. With my eyes focused on his chest, I didn't even look at his face one last time before turning around to leave.
By now I could feel the tears swelling in my eyes. Flashbacks of the many times I had spent with Jaiden flickered through my head, the laughter, and the hurt I endured with him… But most importantly, the love that I was now feeling was bubbling through my chest, and it overwhelmed me to know that I couldn't do anything about it.
I had taken barely three steps before I felt Jaiden's grip on my wrist.
"Tiana," he said, and my heart jumped at the use of my full name.
I turned around to face him, staring directly at him with my tear stained cheeks. I've seriously become a walking fountain for the past few weeks.
"I'm not going anywhere," he explained and all I could do was stare at him blankly for a few moments.
Blinking, I finally managed to find my voice again, "But you have all that luggage in your car,"
He smiled at me, "Alana's going over to England, that's her luggage."
As his words began to sink in, I found myself rubbing at my cheeks and he chuckled softly at me, his hand moving from my wrist to hold my hand.
"Not funny," I stated, half glaring at him, "You just had to wait until I'm crying before telling me all this."
By now, I had stopped crying and Jaiden was still smiling which irritated me.
"You wouldn't let me talk,"
"Yes I did!" I half shouted, and I could feel his thumb rubbing my hand affectionately.
"Tia please, you're ruining the mood." He informed.
Lowering my voice just a notch, I continued to give him a blank look.
"So you're really not leaving?" I queried, and he shook his head at me. "Not even to go and find other girls and marry them and live happily ever after?"
Grinning, a devilish glint crossed his eyes. "Well if you put it that way, I just mig-"
I hit his arm before he could finish his sentence.
"You jerk!" I called, as he released my hand from his hold. I was just about to say something else when suddenly Jaiden's lips came crashing down onto mine.
Jaiden's Point of View
Sweet… The first thing that came to mind the moment I kissed her was the word 'sweet'. It had been unexpected for her, but for me, I had wanted to kiss those soft, pouty lips of hers for a while now. Watching as her emerald green eyes closed, I framed her face with my hands, lifting her mouth a little more as my tongue traced her lips before she opened her mouth for me.
Pulling away, her eyes fluttered open, to reveal her smoldering green orbs. It was then that she said the most peculiar thing to me.
"Babies," she whispered and all I could do was stare. She blinked a few times, before continuing. "We could have just made a baby then," she breathed and she laughed at the horrified expression on my face. "Didn't you know that kissing makes babies?" She asked, "Well at least that's what people back then thought."
Smiling at her, I found myself holding her gently around the waist.
"I know another way of making babies," I stated and she pushed at me.
"And why doesn't it surprise me that I knew you'd say something like that?" Before I could even reply to that she placed a hand up to halt me. "No, don't respond to that. Knowing you, you'd say something that will make me want to hurt you," she said.
"I'm glad you love me so,"
She arched a brow at me before standing on her toes, and wrapping her arms around my neck. "Jaiden," she breathed and I could only muster a 'hrmmm' in reply. "Shut up,"
With that last demand her lips were on mine…
And that's the end of 'Two World's Apart'!
To all the reviewers: thanks again and again for your support! I could't have finished this story without you!
And thank you to the readers for reading this!
I have another project up my sleeve, however I'll wait till the story progresses a bit more before posting it up!
Take care!