Confrontation (Chloe PoV)

Why wasn’t anything getting easier? It felt like things had only gotten harder the past two weeks. Wasn’t time supposed to fix these things? There had been plenty of time to unpack my feelings, only they were more chaotic than ever. I had no idea it was possible to feel such conflicting emotions about someone.

My feelings towards Jake never changed. He was my anchor in an overwhelming world. Someone who cared about me, not for any particular reason, but because he did. The man who accepted me for all my baggage, which was great considering how much I was carrying around. Being with him was comforting and relaxing. Knowing he wouldn’t judge or demand anything from me made him the easiest person to be with. It made everything else so much easier knowing he was there for me whenever I needed him. Sure, the sex was phenomenal on so many levels, but even without that, just being with him was enough.

Alexis though… My feelings about her were complicated and confusing because, in the end, I didn’t know what I thought about her. She was my friend. The first one I’d had in a long, long time. I liked spending time with her. I enjoyed our conversations and teasing. Being around her was exciting because she always seemed to bring something new into my life. There was an energy there when we were together that I didn’t have with anyone else. A connection I couldn’t deny. We had so many shared interests. Shows, trash talking each other while playing games, sense of humor. The best friend someone could hope for.

Then we kissed.

A new door opened, and I wasn’t sure I could handle what was on the other side. Was I attracted to women? No, I... I don’t think so. Or was I? I didn’t hate kissing Alexis and was certainly primed to go... further, but was that what I really wanted, or was it her desires I was feeling? Feelings I wasn’t equipped to deal with, which was a shocking revelation in its own right. I thought I would have some experience considering my relationship with Jake, but nope. Not ready. At. All.

Feeling those things, mixing with my own feelings, it opened my eyes to what has always been missing in my relationships with Jake. I knew he loved me in his unique way, and I was satisfied with that. Yet Alexis’ Gift resonated with something inside me. I could feel how much she wanted me. The care that was deeper than a simple friendship. The desire for something more and yearning for it. It was humbling and exciting and terrifying because I couldn’t be sure I didn’t feel some form of that too.

We needed to talk, but Alexis was being Alexis. My texts went unanswered, calls went to voicemail, she was even avoiding Jake’s place. Two weeks of nothing had only brought a new pain. I couldn’t lose the one friend I managed to make. Yes, I still had Jake and Natalie, even Sophie and Daniel to an extent. They were different sorts of relationships though. Jake was my boyfriend, and Natalie and Sophie were more... older sisters? Alexis got me.

After two weeks of inaction, I decided to do something about it. It was a Sunday morning, and I was at Jake’s apartment. I’d sent him off on errands after having him confirm Alexis was home and that she was alone. I trusted Jake, and knew I had his support, but I wanted privacy for this. His cheat Gift would make that impossible since walls and such didn’t stop it. I had no idea what to expect, but I wanted time to process things before I spoke to him about it.

I took a deep breath as I readied myself for an inevitable confrontation. My hand felt like lead as I rang the doorbell. The sound of my heart thundered as I waited.

And waited.

My brow twitched.

Thump, thump, thump.

“I know you are in there!” I yelled into the door as my fists beat against the door.

Nothing. Fine. We’ll do this the hard way.

Anger burned away the fear and uncertainty as I marched back into Jake’s apartment. Stupid Alexis. Stupid me. Stupid feelings!

One moment, I was out on the balcony, the next, I was climbing the small wall that separated his from the Parker sisters. Sure enough, Alexis was inside, pacing frantically in the kitchen. I slid open the door, wincing slightly as it banged open from the ****. I slammed it shut before marching forward... and froze. The anger drained out of me as our eyes met. All the fear, uncertainty, and doubt rushed back to fill the void the burning emotion left.

Neither of us said anything, rooted in place.

I took a deep breath and slammed my fists onto my hips as I drew upon the embers of the anger that fueled my entrance. “You going to ignore me forever then?”

She flinched. “No. Yes. Maybe? I don’t know.” She ran her hands through her hair as she let out a breath. Her eyes turned sad, flitting away towards the floor. “That’s what I usually do when things get complicated.”

“Fuck you. You are not allowed to run away after—” I let out a breath, the heat in my voice bleeding away as my words softened. “After becoming my friend. How happy that makes me. Being your friend, that is. And—” I sighed, shoulders slumping. “I liked it. A lot. You have no idea how important you are to me. But then you went and ghosted me, over what? A kiss?”

“It was more than a kiss,” she whispered.

“Maybe, but you don’t get to run away from this. I can’t lose my only friend.” I paused. “We need to talk. Please?”

I watched as a host of emotions played across her face. She hugged her arms to her chest. “You’re right, but talking... isn’t easy for me.” She looked at me for a long moment, then let out a resigned breath. “Alright.” She gestured for me to sit at the small dining table. We both sat in silence. Neither of us knew where to start. I felt exhausted already just getting to this point, but I pushed onward. This was too important to give up.

I managed a smile, small as it was. “First off, you are one hell of a kisser.”

That got a snort and an equally small smile in return. A good start. “Damn right I am.”

The flare of humor died out as quickly as it came. Smiles faded and we were left in silence once more.

Alexis took a breath. “I guess I should start.” I said nothing as she began talking about her Gift, absorbing every word. She had mentioned how it had somehow hurt her sister, and now I got the story behind it. She used her Gift and the two somehow got their minds mixed up? Even months after the incident, they were still struggling with the missing pieces and the parts that were not their own. God, and I thought I had it rough sorting through these emotions inside me.

Alexis wasn’t looking at me as she continued, fixated on the can of soda she’d grabbed from the fridge at the start of her story. “These feelings are... new to me. Not in the sense of me feeling them for the first time, but it’s like things have rearranged themselves. I’ve been attracted to plenty of people, but it’s always been surface level. Before, Jake was more of a curiosity than a serious prospect. I would have ran with it had something happened, but I don’t think it would have lasted long. Not with how I was. Now though?”

I reached over and rested my hand on hers. She looked at it, then finally lifted her gaze to meet mine. “I’m sorry, Chloe. Really.”

My hand tightened around hers. “Nothing to—”

She shook her head, interrupting me. “I’m a mess. Relationships... aren’t me. I know this. But ever since the incident with Natalie, things have changed. I’ve changed. I want you in a way I’ve never felt before. But how much of this change is me? How much is Natalie? I have questions. So many questions. What happens if we fix this? Do I go back to being... me? The old me. Fuck, do I even want to go back to being her?

“I don’t even know how you feel, or how you feel about me. I’m not asking you for anything. I know you are with Jake, and I have zero intention of breaking you two up or making a mess of things—well, more than they already are. I’m just telling you this because... you are my friend. It may be selfish of me to tell you and put this all on your shoulders, but this may be the only time I feel like this towards someone.” There was a serious look on her face, determination burning in her eyes as she shifted to face me. “I like you, Chloe. I’ve never felt so connected to someone before. You are smart, sexy, funny, and an overall joy to be around. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before, and you will always be special to me.”

My heart thundered as she finished. I felt overwhelmed, unsure of what to say. The silence was heavy as she finally stopped talking. A pressure hit me as I realized it was my turn. God, it hurt. Her smile was kind, accepting of what needed to be said. I hated it.

Tears escaped as I found my voice. “I’m sorry.”

Alexis almost looked... relieved.

I wiped at my tears, struggling to keep my voice level as the dam broke. “I like you too. I like spending time with you, watching movies, eating all Jake’s junk food, talking shit about stupid characters in shows, laughing at stupid jokes, and so much more.” My hands were wet from tears as I scrubbed at my eyes. “But... I don’t know how I feel about you. Not in the way you do. In the moment, it all felt so right. Now? I have no idea.” I took a shuddering breath before continuing. “And I can’t think about it. I’m with Jake. I... love Jake. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. It’s what I want and I can’t weigh myself down with what-ifs and possibilities. But you... deserve more than that.” I took a steadying breath, trying to compose myself. My voice still wavered when I spoke. “I can’t offer more, no matter how much I might want to.” The tears came again, hotter this time.

I felt the warmth of Alexis’ arms around me as she held me close. It was a different sort of comfort than what I got from Jake. It wasn’t better, nor was it worse. It was just a different sort of comfort that came from a different sort of connection, one I couldn’t deny existed between Alexis and me. I clung to her, needing the contact, the closeness. An emotional blanket of sorts. I needed this, needed her, and it hurt knowing that I couldn’t be what she wanted me to be.

We stayed like that for several minutes. It was a slow transition as the hug ended. We pulled back, and I felt better. Still a bit raw emotionally, but better.

I managed a smile, one she managed to return.

Then she ruffled my hair, earning a squawk of outrage as I fought her hands off.

“Raid Jake’s food?” she asked with a grin.

Mine matched hers. “I sent him off on some errands. He won’t be back for another hour or so.”

Alexis stood. “Then I say we clean him out before he can stop us!”

My stomach growled at the thought of food. “Hell yes.”

I joined her and together we went to pillage his kitchen.