Chapter Eleven

Jason stared at his phone screen, his fingers hovering over Bella’s contact. After the fallout earlier in the week, the weight of it all was starting to hit him harder than before. Their friendship had always been easy and uncomplicated but recently, he had let things slip up.

His family situation had gotten out of hand, and he had not been able to hide it. But no matter what, he couldn’t let Bella slip away too. The thought alone made his chest tighten.

He was already pacing the living room of Bella’s apartment when he sent the message: “We need to talk. Can you come out to the living room for a minute?”

Bella and Tracy had insisted that he moved in, after the argument with his family had made it hard for him to stay anywhere else.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough. He didn’t want to waste any more time, things needed to be fixed.

Bella appeared in the living room moments later, her eyes scanning Jason’s face before she spoke.

“Okay, what’s going on?” she asked, her tone calm but pointed.

Jason exhaled with relief, a sense of comfort settling into his chest. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it was a step forward.

“Talk to me,” she said softly as she dropped herself onto the couch.

Jason stood by the kitchen counter, unsure how to begin. But before he could say anything, Bella spoke again.

“Why did you let it go this far?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. I didn’t mean to push you away. It’s just… everything at home, and then this health thing I’m dealing with. I didn’t want to burden you with any of it.”

Bella’s expression softened. “Jason, you know I’m here for you. You don’t have to go through everything alone.”

Jason sighed, relief flooding his chest. “I know. I’m sorry, Bella. I messed up.”

She smiled and nodded. “It’s alright. We all mess up sometimes. But don’t do it again, okay?

Jason smiled, the tension between them easing. “No promises, but I’ll try.”

They exchanged a few more words, easing back into their old dynamic, before Jason made his next move.

“Let’s go out. You, me, and Tracy. We could all use some fun. Dinner, drinks, whatever.

Bella raised an eyebrow. “You? wanting to go out? Something’s definitely wrong.”

Jason laughed. “What can I say? It’s been a tough week. I could use some drinks and friendship.”

Twenty minutes later, Tracy joined them, and they headed out to a local restaurant. The laughter and chatter flowed easily, reminding Jason of old times. For a few hours, he forgot about the weight of everything else on his mind. They caught up, joked about old work stories, and just let themselves enjoy the night.

But as the dinner went down and the restaurant began to empty, Jason found himself feeling restless. Bella and Tracy insisted on leaving first, so Jason stayed behind to pay the bill, lost in thought. The world around him felt distant, and it was only when he stepped outside that he realized he wasn’t alone.

Vincent appeared from the shadows, looking slightly out of place in the quiet evening air.

“Well, well. What’s the good doctor doing here?” Jason asked, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Vincent raised an eyebrow but kept his expression unreadable. “Just happened to be in the area.”

Jason crossed his arms, eyeing him with suspicion. “Uh-huh. You sure about that?”

Vincent only shrugged. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, Miller.”

Jason grinned, a challenge in his tone. “Oh, I think you do.”

Vincent was silent for a moment, but Jason could feel the tension building between them. The air was thick with unspoken words, but Jason didn’t care. He was too tired to care anymore. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the fact that he’d been walking around in a haze for days, but tonight, he felt different.

“So..., Jason started, casually leaning against the brick wall of the restaurant. “What’s really going on with you, Vincent? You have been so… distant lately.”

Vincent’s gaze flickered to Jason, narrowing slightly. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Jason’s smirk deepened. “Oh, you’re good at playing that part. The ‘I’m just doing my job’ act. But I see through it, you know. You’ve been avoiding me.”

Vincent’s posture stiffened, and Jason immediately regretted pushing him too hard. He wasn’t trying to start a fight. Well, not really.

“It’s been a tough week,” Jason added, his tone softening, as if to make peace with the little crack in the air. “And I don’t know why, but I have been… thinking about you. About us. It’s been a long time since we just talked.”

Vincent hesitated, and Jason could see the internal conflict in his eyes. Jason pressed on, his words slow but playful.

“And that kiss,” Jason continued, the mischievous glint in his eye returning. “I didn’t expect that. Where did that come from?”

Vincent looked away, his expression a mixture of discomfort and something deeper. “That was… a mistake.”

Jason’s heart skipped, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he laughed, stepping closer. “A mistake? Maybe. But I don’t think you’re upset about it. You wouldn’t be this tense if you were.”

Vincent opened his mouth to reply, but then he paused. After a moment, he exhaled sharply, as if giving in to the inevitable.

“You’re right,” Vincent said quietly, his voice hoarse. “It wasn’t a mistake.

Jason grinned, leaning in just a little closer. “Well, I’m glad you think so.”

There was a long silence before Vincent shifted, clearly trying to decide something. His eyes flickered over Jason before settling on the ground.

“What’s going on with you, Jason? Really. I have seen you pull away the last few days. If you need more than just your family, I am… I am here. You know that, right?”

Jason’s heart clenched. He hadn’t expected Vincent to be this... genuine. For a moment, he was lost in the depth of Vincent’s words. But he shook his head, snapping himself back into the present.

“It’s complicated,” Jason said quietly. “But I don’t want to talk about it here.”

Vincent raised an eyebrow. “Where, then?”

Jason took a deep breath. “My place. Bella’s not home tonight. She’s with Tracy.”

Vincent hesitated, glancing at the apartment building in the distance. “I don’t know...”

“Come on,” Jason urged. “Just for a drink. We can talk or not. Whatever you want.

Vincent stood still for a moment longer before nodding once. “Alright.”

---

Author’s Note:

Jason and Bella's relationship is finally on the mend, Do you think Jason is opening up enough, or will his past still haunt him? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. And don't forget to leave a vote if you enjoyed the chapter—your support means the world to me.