Jaren wanted to slam his phone against the wall but he refrained from it. Weeks of not a word. If she ever left the flat she had music in so loud world war three could pass with no notice or she was on a call. Something at work always kept her busy. John was trying but he didn't want to ruin anything.

"Dude. What if I just talk to her face to face like adults? You spoke to her a few hours ago and that was fine." John raised his brows and Smii7y stopped his attempts. Knowing that John was right, unfortunately for him.

"John. I just want to hear her real voice and not the one in my dreams. I sound like some desperate fangirl but I need to do something." Smii7y eventually sat on the table edge just behind him. Suddenly, knock after knock filled the flat. John answered it and seemed happy to do so. Octavia was busy barking but Smii7y held her back and stroked her.

"Hey, John. Sorry to be disturbing you at all but my post came and they have given me a letter for this number. Bye John." The door almost closed when Jaren shouted up.

"Hey. Thia, I was wondering if you would be interested in going out with us today. I mean we can get chilli squid if you want." The not so cold silence seemed to give him his real answer before she had even spoken.

"I must be off. Bye." She couldn't have even spoken to him. Her eyes filled with emotion when she went to and her voice was a little weaker when finally words were spoken by her.

"Aletheia. I am going out. You and Jaren will need to talk eventually." John just left. Not a moment to delay and before she could even realise what was going on she had been put or pushed into Jaren's flat. An awkward and uncomfortable smile came to her face.

"Why did the boy pull the girl's ponytail?" To begin with Aletheia seemed unsure of how to respond but eventually, she did that and it seemed odd. Not as warm as Jaren had grown accustomed to.

"To get her attention. But in the meantime, she has had her hair pulled before and soon it begins to hurt." Jaren could see her point and stepped so that they were closer than a mile apart.

"But he did it because he was too scared to just talk to her. Because he didn't know how to act or what to say." Aletheia looked at her neighbour. He was so kind and loving. It had hurt so much to leave him and not fight it at all. But, she did it because that way, he would have been able to deal with it better than if she had fought him on it.

"Fear. A stupid word and yet you seem to be blaming it for all of your actions. I mean, if there is anything I can say about you it is that you take no prisoners." Jaren opened his mouth to speak but then he stopped for a long moment.

"That's it. I did and do love you. I still keep on remembering our time on the beach and after. I still think you suit my tops better than you suit other clothing." His comment made Aletheia want to cave and kiss him. To give in to all of her desires. "I think I'm trying to say sorry." Jaren finally let out in a breath.

"And I have already forgiven you. But, there are two types of forgiveness. One where all is forgotten and nothing is done to change and the other is where all is forgotten but a change is made. I can't let things go back to how they were before." Jaren went to ask a question when he realised what she was saying to him.

"You don't want to be with me?" Aletheia couldn't bring herself to nod because all she wanted was to be with him. To sleep in his arms again.

"Jaren, I think you know what my answer meant and why I gave it. Now, I need to go before John gets back." Aletheia walked towards the door again but Jaren was eager, to be honest with her and get an honest answer.

"Can you look at me and tell me that we are over and you don't want to see me?" Aletheia turned with a look in her eye. A look that filled him with fear. It was the look she gave in court.

"Jaren Daniel Smith. I Aletheia Sybil Octavia want the best for you and hope that you find a woman with no flaws that loves you to the level you seem to need." She had pussied out of it and they both knew.

"What if you are the best for me?" Aletheia shook her head and turned around but he got in the way. Her face was calm and well kept together.

"Please." Was all she could manage to say to him. Nothing more and with that Jaren had won. She couldn't say no. Right?

"Why are you so scared to get into any form of relationship with me? Is it my face? Or is it your past luck?" His eyes made her stop to think and still she could only come up with the same response.

"Because it is stupid to keep letting people hurt you." Jaren sighed and walked right up to her and engulfed her in a hug. A laugh and a smile were seen and heard as the air lightened. They just hugged until Aletheia relaxed enough for Smii7y's liking.

"John is a dick," Aletheia commented and a laugh showed that Jaren had heard her say it. His chin rested on her head and the pair stood holding each other tightly. Hands were gripping tightly around each other.

"He disappeared last night. I found his bed empty. I say bed. I mean the small bed type thing in my study. Anyway, he gets up to some shit." Jaren began to rub circles on her back as she took deep breaths in.

"Last week when he went missing we slept in my bed. Half two he calls to tell me we will be talking. That shit waited until I had woken up." The pair pulled apart and they stayed at arm's length as eyes met and refused to move. They moved to the sofa and Jaren sat on it allowing Aletheia to sit between his legs. Her back resting on his slanted and warm chest.