} the boy next door

[Gabriella Rivera]

No, no! Of course not! You're perfect! It's just that...well, it's been a month and...don't you want to date someone for real?

[Jayden Flynn]

Oh. Um... do you? Have you--found someone? Because if you have, then we should just call it off. I don't want the bloke to think you're taken if you... if you like him.

[Gabriella Rivera]

What? No, of course I haven't found someone, haha. I just figured that maybe you would want to find someone! Because the whole point of this was because I wanted my aunt to be happy for me but now we're in school and everything and it's been a month, so you don't have to keep being my pretend boyfriend. You know?

[Jayden Flynn]

Oh, of course! Well, I...no, I don't really have anyone else. I mean. Just anyone at all. But you're right, we're in school, so... I guess we could call it off... if you wanted?

[Gabriella Rivera]

Well, I...I don't know. I don't really know what I want? I just. I don't know.

[Jayden Flynn]

Jayden bit at his lower lip nervously as he looked at Gabby's last note, kind of refusing to look sideways and properly meet her eye as he furrowed his brow and considered everything. It really wasn't that big of a deal; they were pretend-dating, and they'd agreed they would have to pretend-break up at some point, right? A month really was very much enough. Sometimes relationships lasted even less than that. He was certain it'd be believable. There was no real reason for them to still be pretend-together? And yet, he wasn't telling Gabby they should break it off. He was being vague. On purpose? She said she didn't know what she wanted; did that mean... well, it probably meant she still wanted to keep up the appearance of a boyfriend, in some way? Maybe just not with him, or right now? He sighed.

Well, I--whatever you want, we'll do that. (:

[Gabriella Rivera]

Gabby frowned at his note and then bit her lip consideringly. She'd meant it when she said she didn't know what she wanted, because she honestly didn't. Her conversation with Gideon had got her thinking, but she still hadn't managed to examine her feelings about this...pretend-relationship with Jayden. She knew that she liked being in a relationship, and she liked the perks that came with it, but she didn't know if she felt that way about Jayden. The problem was, she didn't know if she didn't feel "that way" about Jayden, either. She just knew that them continuing to pretend to date wouldn't help her figure this out at all.

Maybe...maybe we should go back to being friends, then? Or maybe

[Jayden Flynn]

Why did this feel like he was honest-to-God breaking up with him, when they weren't even legitimately dating? It stung, a little, and he sighed, rolling his eyes at himself a little. It shouldn't sting, it wasn't anything personal. Gabby wasn't breaking up with him. She was ending a pretend relationship. They didn't even like each other that way.

If that's what you want, then okay. We can be just friends. Or, well, just not...pretend-together.

[Gabriella Rivera]

Trying not to appear too upset (because, really, why should she be upset, wasn't this the right thing to do?), Gabby offered him a little smile that was, to be honest, slightly forced and then ducked her head again, inwardly frowning at the fact that she wasn't entirely happy with her idea.

I...guess that's that, then. We're still doing the picnic though, right?

[Jayden Flynn]

He turned to smile at her in return, lips pressed together and nodded. Right. So that was that. They would just go back...to how they were...before everything? Before Christmas. And the ball. When they'd kissed. Jayden blushed a little and pushed those thoughts away. It was just because he'd been spending time thinking of Gabby as his girlfriend.

Yes, of course! I still want to spend time with you. We'll just not... hold hands.

[Gabriella Rivera]

Okay, that's good!! Because yeah I still want to be best friends you know?

[Jayden Flynn]

Definitely. We'll always be best friends. (:

[Gabriella Rivera]

Good. I'm glad.