Overwhelmed

I walked inside his house, having the key.
It was easier that way because I spent alot of
time with him when he was home.

"Jared?"
I called out.

I started searching the house for him, calling out his name
every now and then.
When I arrived at his bedroom I knocked softly
and then opened the door.

Peaking in I rolled my eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Next to Jared was a blonde girl in deep
sleep.

She didn't seem to be wearing anything and I snorted.

"Goodmorning, Jared."
I said as I grabbed his foot and squeezed it.

Jared's head shot up and when he saw it was me, he
groaned and turned himself over.

"Wake your ass up!"
I said and squeezed his foot again.

"I am up! Shit, Jen."
he mumbled as a reply.

"Had a nice night?"
I asked with a smirk on my face.

"Mhuh?"
he asked and I pointed at the spot next to him.

He looked at her and then at me.
"I don't even remember her name."

I chuckled.
"You're terrible, Leto. The poor girl probably had the
night of her life and you don't even know what the hell happened."

"I remember what happened just fine."
he said with a smile and a yawn after that.

"What the hell am I sitting on?"
I asked and stood up to find a bra.

I threw it towards him and we both laughed softly
at that.

"Come on, let's get you something to eat."
I said and walked away.
"Put some clothes on, will you? I wouldn't
want to be scarred for life."

"Fuck you."
I heard him say before I walked down the stairs
again.

A few minutes later he walked into the kitchen, his
long dark hair in a knot on the back of his head.

"Figured her name out?"
I asked as I handed him the bread I'd been toasting.

"I wanna say Mandy. But it could also be Shanice."
he said while putting his head in his hands.

I handed him a glass of water and some aspirin.

"You're an angel, Jen."
Jared said before he took the aspirin and gulped
down the water.

"Can't say the same for you."
I mumbled as I refilled his glass.

"You didn't have to come and do this, Jenna, I never asked
you for anything. Besides, this hasn't happened in ages so don't
nag to me about it."
he replied, a little agitated.

"I don't care what you did and who you did it with.
What I do care about is that you and I had a lunch
date and I've waited for you for an hour before coming
here."
I crossed my arms over each other and waited for his
response.

A look of guilt crossed his face.
"What time is it, then?"

"It's amost 1:30 in the afternoon."
I replied shortly.

"Shit, I'm sorry.."
he started but I rolled my eyes.

"Save it, Jared."

"No, really! I'm sorry. I'll take you to dinner."
he said, with his bright blue eyes fixed on my dull
blue-ish, gray ones.

"Can't. Got a date."
I said, shortly.

"Not with that Frank guy?"
he asked, with a weird face.

"What's wrong with him?"
I asked, annoyed.

"He's not right for you. He's too tiny and too.. Bleugh."
Jared replied, while eating.

"What about that girl in your bed right now? I suppose
you'll see her after today because she's perfect for you?"
I asked.

"Don't be stupid, of course not."
Jared replied with a frown on his face.
"I just meant that you deserve better."

I wanted to say something but right then, the blonde
girl came into the kitchen with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Hi. Hey, Jared."
she said, with a sultry look.

I rolled my eyes.
"Hi, nice to meet you, Mandy."

She frowned at me.
"My name's not Mandy, it's Amber."

I smiled.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Jared must've switched your names up
with someone else."

Amber glared at Jared and huffed.
"You're such a douchebag."
She turned around on her heels and walked out
of the door and out of Jared's life.

"You're so mean sometimes."
Jared said with a slight smile.

I shrugged.
"They deserve to know they're just a notch in your bedpost,
nothing more. Anyway, I'm off. Have a nice day."

I wanted to walk away but Jared stopped me.
His eyes looked into mine, pleadingly.
"You know I love you, right?"

My heart stung a bit because he would only use
the 'i love you' card when he knew he'd been an
asshole.

"You've got a weird way of showing. Besides, you don't
owe me an explanation, I'm not your girlfriend. Just.. Be careful,
sleeping around like that. Bye."
I kissed his cheek and walked out the door.

-------

The date I had that night was fine but Jared kept
going through my head.
Frank was nice, yes. He was a goodlooking guy as well
but he just wasn't it for me.

At the end of the date I told him this and he nodded,
saying he felt the same way.
So we hugged and that was that.

Not feeling like going home, I called Jared.

"Hey you."
he answered.

"Hey. So, date's over and I won't be dating with him
anymore. Got anythingto do?"
I asked.

"I was waiting for you to come here, of course."
he joked.

"You're such a great friend, Jared. Honestly, you're the
best ever."
I joked back.

"I know, it's amazing. See you in 15?"
he wanted to know.

"Yeah, 15 sounds pretty accurate. Bye."
I hung up and made my way over to Jared.

When I got out of the car, I walked inside and found
Shannon and Jared on the couch, watching tv.

"Hey, Shan. Long time, no see."
I said and walked over to him,
wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
"You smell nice."

He chuckled.
"Nice to see you, too."

I grabbed myself something to drink and sat down next
to Jared.
"What are we watching?"

"Documentary on sharks."
Jared said, shortly.

"Yay."
I replied, already bored out of my mind.

The documentary lasted for another 45 minutes and I almost
fell asleep during it.
Documentaries on animals were never really my thing.

"Shit, it wasn't that bad."
Jared said when I yanwed and stretched myself out
on the couch.

"You of all people should know that Jenna here doesn't
like documenatries. Even I know that."
Shannon replied and I high fived him.

"See? Shan knows me so much better than you do.
What happened, Jared?"
I asked with a nudge against his arm.

"You woke me up this morning and I did not like that
at all."
he replied, nudging me back.

"Correction; it wasn't morning, it was afternoon already,
you lazy ass."
I replied and stood up.

"Okay little bro, I'm off. See you later, Nana."
Shannon said as he hugged me and kissed my head.

"Bye, Shan-Shan Man."
I replied.

"I hate that nickname."
Shannon said as he frowned.

"Well, I hate Nana so you deserve it."
I replied and winked at him as I walked off to the kitchen to
find myself something to snack.

I'd just sat down when the doorbell rang.

"Expecting someone?"
I asked.

Jared stood up and shook his head.
"No, I have absolutely no idea who that could be."

He sounded sincere so I decided to give him the benefit of
the doubt.

I heard Jared open the door and a high pitched voice
came from behind the door.

I sighed in annoyance.

I heard Jared talk to the girl who'd rang the doorbell
for a while until I decided to see who it was and maybe
have some fun.

As I walked up to them, the girl was standing in the
hallway and Jared was still holding the door.

"No, I told you tonight wasn't going to work."
Jared replied after the brunette had obviously
said something to him.

"But Jared, you know we are a good match once we're
under the sheets.."
she said, flirting with him.

I sighed and decided to let the fun begin.
"Honey, everything okay?"

Jared turned around and nodded.
"Yeah, it's fine."

"Good, I can't wait for what you had planned next."
I said with a wink.

He looked at me, flabberghasted at my remark.

"Eurh.."
he managed to blurt out but the girl looked
at me and then at Jared.

"Who's she?"
the girl wanted to know.

"I'm his girlfriend. Obviously."
I said, as I walked up to Jared and kissed his cheek and
looked at the girl with a smile.

"Jared?"
the girl asked.

"I.. I.."
he stuttered and I smiled.

"Aw, you're lost for words. That's so cute."
I snuggled closer to him and rested my head on his
shoulder.

"I thought you were single?"
the girl asked then.

"I..."
Jared was still trying to reboot his brain so I held out
my hand.

"I'm Jenna, I'm sorry we had to meet like this."
I said, looking apologetic.

She looked at my hand and then shook it.
"Mandy. You're his actual girlfriend?"

"Afraid so."
I replied and ruffled the knot on the back of Jared's
head.

"I don't believe it."
she said, with a frown.

"Hey Jared?"
I asked.

He looked at me, stunned.
I leaned in and kissed just beneath his earlobe.
"You should send her home."
I whispered in his ear.

Jared frowned and looked at me when I'd leaned
away.

He gave me a look that almost made me laugh out loud,
he had no idea what was going on.
I smiled at him before leaning in and pressing my lips
against his.

He froze for a moment until he realized I was kissing him
and then his lips moved against mine.
I slipped my tongue into his mouth and we forgot the girl
who was standing there, watching.

"Okay, you've made your point. I'm out."
Mandy said and when I broke away, she was gone.

I smiled in satisfaction.
"How about a movie?"

I asked and walked off to the couch again.
It took Jared a while to make his way over to me and sit down
as well.

I just put a movie in, Jared was completely silent
until he paused the movie about half way in.

"Hey, I was watching that."
I said and tried to grab he remote from his hand.

"What was that?"
he only asked.

"The movie, dumbass."
I replied, confused.

"No, not the goddamn movie, Jenna. I meant what happened
just now? In the hallway?"
he asked.

"That was just some fun, why?"
I asked.

"I don't.. You've never kissed me before."
he replied.

"I know. Thought it was about that time, you know?"
I asked, trying to get the remote again.

He held it up further.
"No, I don't know. I thought that we were just friends?"

"We are."
I replied and gave up my attempts for the remote.

"Then I have no idea what just happened, still."
Jared stated.

I sighed.
"I just didn't want another girl to break us up for
yet another night. I wanted to hang out with you and
this was the only way I knew how to get your attention."

"I already told her that tonight wasn't a good night."
Jared had the remote still in his hands but had turned his
body towards mine, now.

"But I already saw you caving in when she said something
about you and her between the sheets. I saw your whole
body change so I knew I had to do something. This was the only
thing I could think of to make it clear what I wanted."
I fired back.
"You don't ever think about me anymore, Jared. It's always
you and your needs first when all I want is to be with you
for one night without interruptions from all those pretty,
bigboobed girls."

Jared smiled at my little rant before he kissed my forehead
and hugged me.
"You could've just told me, you know?"

I shrugged him off.
"So many times have I told you but you don't fucking listen.
Maybe this was a bad idea. I'm gonna go and watch the rest of
the movie by myself. Maybe you can call Amber, tell her it was
all a big mistake."

I stood up, grabbed my vest and walked over to the door,
to make my way out when I was turned around and
pushed against the door.

"Jared, what the.."
I started but Jared crashed his lips on mine.

I was soon lost in the moment and the feel of Jared's
tongue against mine.

When he broke away I was slightly gasping and
just looked at him.

"For once, will you just tell me what you want?
I know what I want but I don't know how you feel."
he said, looking into my eyes.

"Whuh?"
was the only thing I could think of.

"Those girls are useless to me. I wanted to get you out of
my head. The more girls I slept with, the more I let go
of you and I thought that was the way to do it. But I soon realized
that you wouldn't leave my head the way I'd hoped. You're the
perfect girl for me, Jenna."
Jared said, with slight fear visible in his eyes.

"I am?"
I asked, completely flabberghasted.

"Yes. You take care of me, you're there whenever I need or want
you to and you don't ask questions. You're beautiful. The most
beautiful girl I've ever met."
he didn't hold any feelings back anymore.

I blushed at his compliment and I was lost for words.
When I didn't say anything, Jared let me go and I swallowed
a big lump in my throat.

"I'm.. I'm a little overwhelmed. I didn't realize that
you.. Felt this way."
I replied, trying to find the right words.
"I'm gonna go and.. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

I turned around and walked out of the door,
leaving a dishevelled Jared behind.

--------

I'd been walking around town for the past few hours,
not realizing how late it had gotten or that it had started raining.

What the hell was I going to do? How exactly did I feel about
Jared and would I even tell him?

I couldn't be a heartless bitch about it if I didn't feel the same
but a small voice in my head kept shouting at me that
this was all I ever wanted.

Which was kind of true but then he started sleeping with all
those girls and I gave up on him ever loving me unconditionally
like I'd wanted him to.
Of course I loved him but was I in love with him, still?

Without seeing where I was going, I'd arrived at Jared's
house again and I stood in front of it for a while before
sitting down on the sidewalk.

"You're gonna get Pneumonia if you stay here like this."
someone said from behind me.

I'd recognize that voice anywhere and I sighed.
"You don't get Pneumonia from sitting outisde in the
rain, Jared."

"I still think you should come inside or go home."
he replied.

I looked up at the sky, allowed the raindrops to fall
on my face for a while until I stood up and turned around.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to come inside with you."
I said in a small voice.

"Of course I don't mind, let's go."
Jared said and grabbed my hand to lead me inside.

When we were inside, I realized I was actually pretty cold
but didn't say anything.
Jared handed me a towel and I dried my hair and face as much
as I could, feeling slightly better after that.

"Where the hell have you been? I was worried sick, I tried
calling you dozens of times and left you the same number of
messages. If you ever do this to me again, I will kick
your ass and hunt you down until the end of time."
Jared said, with his arms crossed and a slightly anxious
but relieved expression on his face.

"I needed time to think and I've been walking around
town, pretty much ever since I left here."
I mumbled.
"Sorry I worried you, I didn't mean to. I just.. Needed
the time."

He exhaled, walked over to me and wrapped his arms
around my neck and shoulders.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and we stood there
for a while until Jared released me.

"Can I get you anything?"
he asked, with a slight frown.

"Hot chocolate would be nice."
I said, as I still stood in the kitchen, dripping with rain.

"You can sit down, you know."
Jared said, as he walked around the kitchen, fixing
me my hot drink.

"I don't want to."
I replied and walked up to him.

"Jared?"
I asked, softly.

"Hm?"
he responded, turning around now.

"I'm sorry I walked off like that when you'd just told me
all those lovely things. I just didn't know how to react."
I explained, taking a step closer to him.

"That's okay. I realize it's alot to take in when someone
tells you something like that."
Jared replied, while looking at his feet.

"I want to tell you something, too."
I stated, then.

I'd made up my mind and I was ready for another adventure.

"What's that?"
he asked, nervousness evident on his face.

I brought my lips to his ear.
"I love you."

I didn't wait for his response but softly pressed my lips against
his and immediatly felt myself heat up from the cold.

Jared gently grabbed my face inbetween his hands and
started kissing me like I was all he ever needed in life.
It was gentle, sweet, passionate and perfect.

I felt the warmth spread from inside and I was completely
lost in the moment when Jared pulled away.

"I love you."
he whispered, against my lips with his eyes fixed on mine.

I smiled as he pecked my lips a few times, enjoying
the feeling he gave me.

"You're not doing this for me, right?"
he asked then, worried.

I shook my head.
"Nope, this is all selfish thinking."

He chuckled.
"It was about time."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him again,
while pulling the rubber band out of his hair, letting
it fall to his shoulders.

I broke away and nodded.
"Yep, I'm a sucker for long haired boys."

Jared laughed before lifting me up.
I wrapped my legs around his waist and he looked
at me in a knowing way.

"You changed the sheets, right?"
I asked, teasing.

He rolled his eyes.
"Of course, what do you take me for."

"Let's not start that discussion."
I replied as he set me on the ground again.

I quickly ran up the stairs to his bedroom and
saw fresh, clean sheets.

I turned when it hit me.

Jared saw it in my eyes and walked over.
"No, you're not like one of them. I promise, you're
not gonna be a notch in my bedpost. You're gonna be
everything they never were."

"How can you be so sure?"
I asked, afraid of what could happen.

"Because I never loved them. I don't want anybody else,
Jenna. You're the only one I'll ever want from now on."
Jared replied and his eyes were as sincere as I'd ever seen them.

"If you ever, ever leave me for some bimbo, I'm.."
I started but was cut off my Jared's lips against mine.

"I won't."
he whispered inbetween kisses.

I decided that I'd just have to see what would happen between us.
After all, he'd opened up to me big time and I'd never
seen that coming.

I fell down on the bed and pulled Jared on top of
me, kissing him passionately and letting him
know I was putting my heart in his hands.

"The only thing I regret is that it took me so long
to tell you."
Jared said, as I'd pulled off his tshirt.

I shrugged.
"We're here now. That's what matters. Now shut up
and kiss me."

He smirked and did as I'd told him to.