"You look a mess," Jax mumbled, looking at me from head to toe.

"WTF, are you doing here?" I growled, ignoring his comment.

"I'm here to talk." He said, jamming his hands in his pocket.

"There's nothing left for us to talk about, Jax." I fumed, closing the door in his face, but was stopped when he stuck his foot.

"There's a lot we need to talk about after what happened, Lexi." He said looking serious. "And you know it."

My eyes roamed over his face. There were still bruises because of the fight, and his always sparkling blue eyes looked dull.

"Fine." I huffed, giving him space to enter. "But hurry, I have other things to do." I closed the door as he entered.

"Of course." He gave me an amused look. "Listening to sad songs and cry over your love life."

"Don't push my buttons, Jax, or I'll kick you out," I growled. He put his hands in surrender and went to the lounge with me trailing behind him. I glanced in the mirror on my way and scrunched my face in disgust after seeing myself. He was right, I look a mess.

My eyes were bloodshot and puffy from all the crying, and my nose and cheeks were red as a joker. I glanced at my hair, which I didn't wash in days, sticking everywhere.

I plopped on the couch, and Jax sat on the opposite looking around. "Everything is same here-"

"Get to the point." I cut him off.

He heaved a sigh. "Fine." He gulped, looking straight into my eyes. "I'm here to apologize."

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You what?"

"I'm sorry for whatever happened." He mumbled, running a hand through his hair. "I realize it was my fault for asking you that and-"

"You're not the only one to blame." I sunk in my seat.

"But I came up with the offer."

"And I was the one who said yes."

"If I wouldn't have been obsessed over Ivy, this wouldn't have happened."

"And if I wasn't obsessed with you, this wouldn't have happened."

"It was a really stupid thing to do."

"It was." I agreed with him.

"I guess it was both of ours fault?" Jax hesitated, and I nodded my head and sighed. We went silent after that.

I glanced at him, and a laugh escaped my lips. He looked at me in confusion. "Even with all the drama and shit, you still didn't get the girl."

"I didn't." He chuckled. "I wanted to date her so bad that I thought whatever I was doing was right."

"I was with you and did all those things and now here I am, with a broken heart getting punished for it." I let out a dry laugh. "You know what I learned from all of this."

"What?"

"Desperation isn't good for health."

"You are right." We gave each other a sad smile, then my eyes went to his buries.

"Noah did a number on you."

"Yeah." He mumbled, rubbing his jaw. "He was furious and again it was my fault."

"What do you mean?" I crossed my legs, sitting on the sofa.

"I knew he liked you." My eyes grew enormous, and he quickly added. "I mean when we were kids... I didn't know that he wasn't over you."

"It doesn't matter now," I mumbled, looking at my hands.

"You didn't tell him you like him." He pointed out.

"You were there and heard what he said. Do you still expected me to blurt my guts?"

"You should have." I opened my mouth, but he continued. "I mean, look at me... Even though Ivy rejected me, I was still after her."

"And see how it went for you." I retorted.

"But you should at least told him."

"There's no use." I shook my head.

"Things can still work out."

"Seriously?"

"You never know."

"Why are you here really, Jax?"

"I'm here to help you."

"Why?"

"Because you helped me."

"It didn't work out"

"I'm not offering a fake date again." He chuckled. "I'm here to give you a... pep talk."

I blinked my eyes. "You? And pep talk?"

"I have lost my friends because of my stupidity and you..." He gulped. "I was having fun and was happy to get my friend back but... I messed up again." He glanced at me. "And I'm sorry about it."

"I'm sorry too." His forehead creased in confusion. "To put you in such a situation." I bit my lip and recall Kevin's confession. "Now I know how you must have felt...you don't know how to react when you find that your best friend likes you..."

I always blamed Jax that he didn't like me, but it wasn't his fault. You can't force someone to like you, and now after Kevin, I had firsthand experience of his feelings.

"And besides." He gave me his charming smile, lightening the mood. "We were stupid kids back then."

"We still are stupid." We laughed and remembered the day he asked me the fake date for him and when I said yes coming with a contract.

"I think I should go now," Jax said, getting up.

"Thanks for coming." I smiled. "Even though there wasn't any need." He chuckled and stumbled to his feet. I burst out laughing at his untie shoelaces. "You still don't know how to tie a knot!"

"I do." He mumbled, tying his shoe. I went ahead of him.

Opening the door, I said. "Hurry, I need to get back to my-" My words caught in my throat when I saw Noah on the other side. His hand was in the air like he was about to knock.

"Noah..." I gawked.

He put his hand down and shifted in his place. "I- uh was about to knock."

"O...K..." I blinked my eyes to clear my head.

I am not imagining him, right?

"I'm-" He paused when his eyes went behind me and his face hardened.

Uh-oh

"What is he doing here?" Noah growled and pushed past me, stalking towards Jax.

"I was here to talk-" Jax said, backing away.

"Really?" Noah grabbed his collar, but I put my hand on his arm and pulled him back.

"He's telling the truth, Noah," I said, boring my eyes in his. "He was here to apologize."

He looked between him and me with a clenched jaw and let him go. "If he's done, ask him to leave-"

"Why is your door open, Lexi?" We turned around and saw Kevin entering. He paused in his steps when he saw us. "The f**k are they doing here?!" He yelled, and he strode towards us with paper bags in his hands.

The sight of food made my stomach growl, and I was glad that they couldn't hear it as they were all busy bickering.

"Guys..." I said getting their attention, but they continued. My head started aching, I haven't been able to sleep properly for the last few days, neither I got to eat. "Guys!" I scream in frustration and that got their attention.

I looked at boys standing in front of me together. My eyes roamed over them one by one.

The guy who I was obsessed with.

The guy who unconsciously broke my heart.

And the guy who confessed his feelings to me.

All standing in one place.

"Out," I mumbled, massaging my head.

"What?" They asked simultaneously, looking dumbfounded.

"I said out..." I repeated, a louder this time. "All of you."

He started saying in synchronization, making my headache. "Enough!" Out all of you now!" I glared that made them stop and without another word they left.

I closed the door and leaned to it, sliding down, I heaved a sigh.

What a mess have I created.

"What should I do now mom?" I leaned my head back and groaned.

My stomach grumbled, and an idea came to my mind. I stood from my place, grabbing my hoodie and car key, I left my house.

The bell chimed as I entered my mom's favorite cafe. After ordering pancakes and milkshakes, I went to the booth we used to sit all the time.

I glanced around the small but cozy cafe which was filled with greenery. I looked out the window to my left and watched as people walked by. The memories of me and my parents flashed back.

This was the cafe where my parents first met, my mom used to work here. They went to the same school but were in different grades, so they never got the chance to meet. This was the same place my dad asked her to marry.

A familiar voice cut my train of thoughts off. "Mind if I join you, Miss Wolf?"

I glanced up and saw my blonde teacher standing in casual clothes.

"Of course, Miss Maddox." I gave her my best smile.

"You don't have to force a smile, Miss Wolf." She said getting a seat in front. "You look constipated." The smile wiped away, and I gave her a scowl. She ignored my expressions and continued. "I haven't seen you in school."

"Aw..." I gave her a sly smirk. "Did you miss me?"

"No." She shook her head, taking a sip of her coffee. "I was just curious, and now that I look at you..." She gave me a once-over. "You look sick... more precisely... lovesick."

"I didn't know you were a love expert." I chuckled, but she gave a blank face. Clearing my throat, I sat straight and don't know why, but I told her everything, from the beginning.

* * * * *

A/N
One more to go 😬