All Chapters of BENEATH THE SURFACE : When fire meets ice : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Jason was sprawled out on Bella’s couch watching TV, his legs raised up on a pillow as usual, this has been much of his life lately. Recovering at home was so much better than at the hospital, but he still felt a bit lonely and restless. Vincent was not around and Bella had left a note indicating that she's off to buy groceries they would use at Tracy's, leaving him alone to his thoughts. He smiled as he thought about Vincent. Their relationship had shifted so much in the past weeks. It was still surprising to think that Vincent Maloney, the man who once seemed so distant and cold, was now his boyfriend. The sound of a key turning in the lock pulled Jason back from his thoughts. He sat up, excited when Vincent stepped inside holding a bag in one hand and a small bouquet of flowers in the other. “Vincent?” Jason asked, his voice warm with surprise. “Hey,” Vincent said, his tone soft as he walked over. I thought you could need some company. Bella let me in. Jason smiled. “You broug

The evening breeze was cool as it drifted through the apartment, together with the sweet aroma of Bella’s cooking. Jason was balled up on the couch, flipping through a magazine he was reading, while Vincent sat next to him, scrolling through his phone. Bella roamed about in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared dinner.The peaceful atmosphere was disrupted when Bella’s voice called out from the kitchen.“Jason,” she began, her tone teasing, “what do you think about Lucas?”Jason froze mid-page, then slowly looked up toward the kitchen. “What do you mean?” “Why do you ask?”Bella poked her head out, raising an eyebrow. “You know what I mean. He was here earlier. He’s been coming around a lot lately.”Jason smirked, closing the magazine. “Why? Do you like him or something?”Bella scoffed, though her flushed cheeks gave her away. “I’m just saying he’s… nice.”Vincent looked between the two, clearly intrigued but staying silent.Jason chuckled, leaning back on the couch. “Nice, huh?

The hospital buzzed with its usual energy, but Bella felt out of sync. Her thoughts roaming like a storm, replaying the kiss yesterday with Lucas. She had not been able to focus all day, and Jason’s unusually lively aura since morning only made things worse. It was as if he knew something was up, though she hadn’t told him a thing.Carrying a stack of files into the break room, Bella hoped for a moment of peace. But as soon as she stepped inside, Tracy’s sharp eyes locked into her.“Bella,” Tracy greeted, her tone carrying an edge of mischief. She closed the magazine she’d been pretending to read and leaned forward. “You look...distracted.”Bella froze for a second before forcing a smile. “Just tired, that’s all.”Tracy arched an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Tired, huh? Does this have anything to do with Lucas?”Bella nearly dropped the files. “What? No! Why would you say that?”Tracy smirked, crossing her arms. “Oh, come on. I’m not blind. The way he looked at you yesterday was s

The tension between Jason and Vincent had been building for a while after the sleepover. It wasn’t just the usual distance between them anymore, it was something more palpable, something that seemed to hang in the air. Jason had always been able to joke around with Vincent, but now, every little interaction felt charged. It wasn’t just Vincent’s usual coldness anymore. It felt like he was pulling away in a way that Jason didn’t understand. And to make things even more complicated, Chris, a male colleague, had been around a lot more lately.Chris had always been friendly, a bit of a jokester, but recently, it felt like he was lingering a little too much at Jason’s station. He’d find an excuse to start a conversation, talking about things that didn’t really matter just to keep Jason engaged. But Jason started to notice that it wasn’t just idle chatter anymore. Chris would stand just a little too close, his voice a little softer, his glances a little longer than necessary.It was startin

As the other guests finally left, the atmosphere in the room became light. It was just Jason, Bella, Tracy, and Vincent now, relaxing comfortably as the music played softly in the background. Vincent was still there, sitting in his usual silence, but Jason noticed his shoulders weren’t as tense as before. Maybe it was the company, or the fact that he had reassured him earlier.Bella leaned over to Jason, a smile on her lips. “So,” she started, loud enough for the group to hear, “Chris asked you out, huh?”Tracy immediately looked up, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Oh, we’re definitely talking about this! What was that about, Jason? Poor guy looked crushed when you turned him down.”Jason groaned, leaning further into his seat. “I knew you two wouldn’t let this go.”“Oh, we’re not letting it go,” Bella replied. “And don’t even think about avoiding it. Spill everything, what was running through your mind when Chris made his grand declaration?”Jason rubbed the back of his neck, his chee