Chapter 15

"Don't even tell me," I started. "Another self-proclaimed god of love?"

Drey slowly turned around in his chair, eyeing me.

"God of love?" Xander said and instantly started laughing. "What kind of useless crap is Drey spewing nowadays?"

"How'd you know it was him?" I asked, smiling as I looked back at Drey.

"I couldn't imagine it coming from anyone else's mouth," Xander replied.

"The guy thinks he's Cupid," I told Xander. "Just for giving me a minute alone with Hayden."

"I could do so much better than that," Xander said.

"Why? Why do you even want to help me with this sort of thing?" I asked.

"Well, wouldn't it make life a little more enjoyable if things were to work out between the two of you?" he asked. "Surely, it'd ease some of the pain you're feeling."

"I still don't understand why you're willing to help me," I said.

"Maybe it's because I wish there was someone there for me when I was having a hard time accepting that my parents abandoned me," he answered.

"But I don't need your help," I said. "I don't want to ruin my current relationship with Hayden."

"I understand that," Xander said. "But you never know, even if Hayden has never given a second thought about seeing you in that way, the moment you tell him your true feelings, he's bound to keep thinking about you."

I hadn't thought about it that way before. But if Xander was right, then it seemed like I had nothing to lose.

"You sound like you're experienced in relationships," I said.

Xander was quiet for a moment. "I've had a few."

"And?" I asked.

"Are you interested to know about them?" Xander asked and I knew he was smirking on the other end without even having to see his face.

"I need to see just how skillful you are in relationships if you're going to help me with mine," I said.

"Well," he started. "They were never anything too serious. Just someone to play around with for a little while until one of us ended it. My last relationship was different, however."

"How so?" I asked.

"I really loved her," he said.

"So you didn't love the other ones?" I asked.

"It wasn't the same love that I felt with her," he replied.

"What happened? Why did it end?" I asked.

"Aaand that's enough for now," Xander said, refusing to answer my questions. "But I'm surprised you're willing to have me as your tutor and your relationship coach."

"Relationship coach?" I asked. "That sounds disgusting."

Xander snickered on the other end. "So what's it gonna be? Do you want my assistance or not?"

I pondered on it momentarily and sighed into the phone. "I don't need help from anyone," I decided. "If anything, I'll use you just to get my questions answered."

"Sure," he responded.

"You're being surprisingly considerate," I told him. "It's not like you."

"When am I not considerate?" he asked.

"To me," I corrected. "Like that time when you tried to get me caught. I thought you hated me."

"I thought you hated me," Xander said. "I just like messin' around with you."

"Why though?" I asked, confused.

"I don't know, honestly," Xander said. "You're just interesting. You're not like everyone else."

"Everyone else?"

"You're the first person to express such a strong dislike for me," he said. "And I guess I found myself wanting to change that."

"Not everyone you come across is going to like you," I told him.

"If there's a chance I can change that, then why wouldn't I?" he asked.

"If there's a chance at doing anything, you're just going to take it, huh?" I asked.

"I see you've learned something about me," he replied. "But you're right."

"Admirable," I said. "But not enough to get me to change my opinion of you."

"That's fine," he said. "It'll change soon."

The two of us continued talking about random things and it eventually felt completely normal. He was surprisingly easy to talk to and the conversation naturally continued on for another hour. I hadn't even known that much time had passed until I yawned into the phone and checked the time.

"You tired?" Xander asked.

"A little," I replied. "We've been on the phone for so damn long."

"Oh shit," Xander said. "It's been two hours."

"You didn't know either?" I asked.

"No," he said. "The time flew by."

It felt weird that I had talked to Xander for so long without even realizing it. It seemed like every time we talked we got in an argument or fought. But somehow, tonight, I felt it was nice talking to him. He became the comfort I needed to get over my painful past. I could've never imagined it.

"This is strange," I said. "I actually didn't mind talking to you that much this past hour."

Xander laughed again. "I'm not that dreadful, am I?"

"Don't get cocky now," I said. "You're still just a tutor to me. I've got to be kind to my tutor, you know."

"I didn't mind talking to you, either," Xander said. "It was nice, actually."

"Don't go calling me every night now," I warned. "They're typically reserved for Hayden."

"I'll keep that in mind," Xander said. "But you should get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Don't forget you're tutoring me tomorrow in the library after class," I told him.

"I know, Jasper," he replied. "Goodnight."

Before I could reply, he hung up.

"What the hell was that?" Drey asked as he removed his glasses and walked over to his bed. "You two were at each other's throats for the first hour and then started confessing your love to each other during the second hour."

"Idiot," I said and turned over in my bed, my back to him.

"I feel weird," Drey said.

"Huh?" I asked.

"How did you just talk to Xander like he was your buddy or something?" he asked.

"Just shut up," I said into my pillow. "I don't even know."

Drey snickered and laid down in his bed. "Cupid senses a love triangle."

Slam.

My pillow struck Drey in the face for the second time today.

"What the hell?" he asked, throwing it back at me. I placed it back under my head before replying.

"You never know when to shut that damn mouth of yours," I said, annoyed.

"But Cupid-"

"You're not Cupid, Drey," I said. "I will never call you that again."

"Someone's getting defensive," he said.

"Because Xander will never become part of a love triangle, dumbass," I said.

"Okay," Drey replied. "But I tend to never be wrong about these things."

"There's a first time for everything," I said. "Just go to sleep already."

"Fine, fine," Drey replied and turned over in his bed. "Goodnight, Jasp."

"Goodnight."

I closed my eyes and tried to drift off to sleep. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't fall asleep. An odd feeling just refused to leave me alone as I found myself drifting back to thoughts about Xander. It was strange.

And a part of me didn't mind going to see him tomorrow.

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