ADRENALINE — CHAPTER 29
boyfriend

29th november 2023
phoebe's point of view

my flight back to LA is tonight, i know jacob's on a flight tomorrow morning, he's getting a friend to drive his car back.

dylan and i are lounging in the hotel room, another episode of gilmore girls coming up on the tv, we only started watching it 2 days ago but we're already on season 3.

he informed me last night he got a job offer in LA and he's taking it, 2 years ago, hell, even 1 year ago i would've done anything for an opportunity for him to be close like this, but now it's complicated, and i don't think i want him in my life if it's jeopardising my relationship with jacob.

dylan hasn't left my side for 2 days, we've been doing what we always used to do when we had time off while we were dating, order room service, lounge in pyjamas and watch the newest tv show we've gotten ourselves hooked on.

only this time it's minus the sex.

it feels wrong to have an ex boyfriend help me get over jacob, but over the last few days i can't help but remember all the reasons i fell in love with dylan in the first place.

we're lying in the bed, the empty room service table sitting idly at the small sofa at the end of the bed.

dylan's arm is flung around me, to any outsider it would look like we were a couple in love, at first it all felt platonic, but now i'm seeing it in a different light.

my thoughts are interrupted when a knock fills the room, dylan presses pause on the episode and moves his arm so i can get up.

i walk across the carpeted floor of the room until i reach the door, unlocking it to open it.

there he stands, his tall frame, my eyes flick up to him, his brown eyes returning the action.

"hey" i breathe out, "hey" he responds.

before i can say anything else he speaks "look im sorry, i shouldn't of overreacted... im sure there's a really reasonable explanation why you were having coffee with him i just... i got this weird call from my manager and i was a coward... but pheebs we can work through this, i mean there's something here right, something more than just general attraction, i'm not the only one feeling that right?"

he talks more than i've ever heard him talk, he opens his mouth to say something else when an american accent fills the room "pheebs? who's at the door?"

jacob's face snaps from hope to cold within a second "is that?" he doesn't even need to finish his sentence for me to know who he's talking about.

"yeah" i say quietly, before i can explain myself he walks away, back into his room and slamming the door behind him.

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jacob's point of view

the door slams behind me, my hands instantly go towards my phone, dialling barry's number.

the phone rings a few times "hello?" his groggy irish accent comes in from the other line.

"she's sleeping with dylan" i say, not wanting to believe it myself.

"what?" he yawns.

"she's sleeping with dylan!" i repeat "i did what you said, i went over there and i poured my fucking heart out, and he was there! god! i booked her that room! they fucked in a room i payed for!"

"jacob calm down" barry says, his accent heavier when he's tired. "maybe he's just there to comfort her, you were pretty mean to her the other day".

i pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

"she answered the door in basically underwear and he was in the bed, barry".

i hear a woman's light voice on the other line "tell jacob to stop being a pussy, phoebe wouldn't get with dylan right after breaking up with you" i hear sabrina's familiar voice.

"and even if she did don't forget less than like 3 days ago you told her she was free to be with dylan" barry chimes in unhelpfully.

"you guys are a great help" i respond sarcastically.

"it's too early for this shit go away" sabrina groans.

"we'll see you when you're back in LA, ok? i'm sure you and phoebe will work it out" barry reassures me.

"yeah okay, bye guys" i say before the line hangs up, every inch of me wants to go into the other room and beat the shit out of dylan, but phoebe would never talk to me again.

i grab the bag phoebe left in my room and start picking up anything she left, clothes, underwear, makeup, toothbrushes.

as i pick up her handbag to throw it in with the rest of the stuff i find an old napkin, i go to throw it in the trash when i see words written in all caps with what looks to be a black sharpie.

"...ready for it?"

i know i should just leave it in with her stuff but something inside of me is telling me to keep it, maybe it's the way the ... is written on the wrong side, or the slide wobble in the 'r' or maybe it's the last piece i have a woman i cared about - a woman i loved even.

i fold up the napkin and leave it in my back pocket, taking the rest of the bag out to the hallway.

i leave the bag in front of her door, knocking on it again, i can't face her again so i just turn back into my room, leaving her stuff for her to find.

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30th november 2023
phoebe's point of view

dylan's car drives down the smooth roads of LA, it's a refreshing change from jacob's driving, he's cute but he cannot drive.

it's over, it's really over, he left a bag of my stuff, he never wants to see me again.

the car turns into my familiar neighbourhood, i turn to look at dylan and give him a soft smile which he returns.

"thank you... for doing this, for dealing with me" i say gently.

"pheebs... don't be like that, come on, no matter what happens between us i'm always gonna be there for you" he reassures me, putting a comforting hand on my thigh as he drives.

it's an action that once bought me butterflies, but compared to jacob's hand it's nothing, he's got hands that make hell seem cold.

the car turns into my driveway "home sweet home" dylan smiles.

we get out the car and pull out my suitcases, bringing them up to the front door.

"hey do you wanna... come in for a night cap?" i ask gently, im not ready to be alone right now.

a look of almost relief rushes through dylan's face "yeah actually, i would love that".

i smile as i open the door, we pull the suitcases into the house.

"looks the same" dylan smiles as he looks around at all the photos, the only difference is any photos i had with him have been switched to friends or family "almost the same".

"maverick home?" he asks, i shake my head "he's with auntie izzy, i'll pick him up tomorrow".

he nods as we walk down the hallway into my kitchen "you still like vodka cokes?" i ask as i pull out 2 glasses.

"of course" he grins as he sits at the counter, i pour out 4 measures, 2 for each glass.

i pass him the glass and sit at the table with him.

before he even takes a sip he takes me hand, "pheebs" he says gently, my mind races to the millions of times he's called me that before.

"yeah" i almost whisper back.

"let's make this work this time, ok?" he says gently, his thumb rubbing over my hand.

"okay" i agree softly.

a year ago i would've killed to be in this position, but now there's a pit in my gut in the shape of jacob.

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t's notes
i am so so so sorry for this chapter... it's gonna get worse but then it's gonna get better i swearrrrrrr, anyway i have the chicken pox which has not been demure and not been mindful, but i've been writing like crazy and ive finally gotten the first few chapters of the book ive been wanting to write since may !!

the book is another jacob fic & it's called nepotism, the book follows the love story between the daughter of sofia coppola and thomas mars, vienna mars (played by lila moss) and jacob elordi. i've been planning this book for so long, and i'm so excited, if you'd like to read the first chapter is up !!