Chapter 4: Jealousy Begins
Aiden's POV
The next day, I turned up at the park with my camera, steeling myself to get this filming session done. Elias and Jay were already there by the benches near the lake, setting up and laughing over some joke I'd missed. Watching them together, I felt an odd pang in my chest.
I didn't want to feel anything about it. Shouldn't, really. But there was something about the way Elias laughed with Jay so open, so unguarded that struck me. It was like they had a world I wasn't a part of, one where Elias could just be himself without the layers of tension that seemed to crop up whenever he was around me.
Seeing that made me feel, for reasons I couldn't quite name, like an outsider.
Clearing my throat, I walked over. Jay flashed me a quick grin, and Elias gave a nod, his expression neutral, as if last night's strange connection had never happened.
"Ready to start?" he asked, cool and distant, like I was just another stranger passing by.
"Yeah, let's get it over with," I muttered.
Jay, oblivious to the undercurrent between us, clapped his hands. "Alright! Let's make some magic, folks."
We started filming by the water, taking shots of the lake to fit the project's theme. Elias and Jay kept up their light banter, while I hovered nearby, feeling like an outsider watching their friendship from a distance.
Every now and then, Jay would nudge Elias or make a quip, and Elias would laugh in a way that felt startlingly… unfiltered. It was jarring, seeing him that way with someone else. Frustrating, even.
I'd never been the type to care about stuff like this. Other people's friendships, who got along with whom it was all just background noise to me. But seeing Elias and Jay, I felt as if I was witnessing something intimate, a connection I couldn't quite touch. It stung, though I'd never admit that out loud.
At one point, Jay casually asked Elias about his favorite travel destination. Elias talked about a family trip he'd taken years ago, painting a picture of small towns, soft evening lights, and mountains stretching forever.
I stood there, camera in hand, feeling like I was glimpsing a side of Elias that I'd never know firsthand.
"Aiden," Jay called, snapping me out of my thoughts, "what about you? Got any dream travel spots?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… maybe somewhere far from here." I shrugged, trying for indifference. "Never really thought about it."
Jay tilted his head, giving me a look like he could see straight through me. "Everyone has a place they dream of. Even you."
Elias glanced over, his gaze unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned back to adjusting the tripod, shutting down the conversation. The quick dismissal annoyed me. Why was he so open with Jay, yet so closed off with me?
As we moved to a new spot, I found myself getting more irritated. Each time I caught them laughing or exchanging a look, it reminded me that I wasn't part of their circle. And the worst part? I had no idea why it even mattered.
At one point, I lost focus while filming, letting the camera slip off-center. Jay noticed, nudging me with a grin. "Earth to Aiden?"
I snapped back, adjusting the camera. "Yeah, I'm here."
Jay laughed, but for some reason, it grated on me. "You sure? You seem a little spaced out today."
Elias gave me a quick glance, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. Then, just as quickly, he looked away, as though dismissing whatever thought had crossed his mind. I wondered if he thought I was wasting his time or regretted getting paired up with me on this project.
By the time we finished, I was more than ready to leave. Jay said his goodbyes and wandered off, leaving Elias and me by the benches. As I packed up, I tried to think of a way to ask him about Jay without sounding weird. But every time I tried to say something, the words felt wrong.
Finally, Elias looked over, a touch of curiosity in his eyes. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," I muttered, shrugging. "This project's just… more than I expected."
He nodded, looking out over the lake. "It's not easy working with someone you don't really know, I guess."
There was something unguarded in his tone, and for a second, I wondered if he felt the same tension, the same gap that always seemed to sit between us.
"Yeah," I replied softly, barely above a whisper. "Guess we're both stuck."
He didn't respond, but his expression shifted, like he understood exactly what I meant. For a fleeting moment, I thought I'd reached him that maybe, just maybe, he felt the same strange pull. But before I could say anything more, he nodded, adjusting his backpack. "See you next time, Aiden."
As he walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just let something important slip through my fingers.
Elias's POV
I felt Aiden's gaze on me as I walked away, and it lingered longer than I'd expected. There was something about it that weighed on me, like a shadow I couldn't shake. And maybe I was overthinking it or maybe, this project was getting under my skin in ways I hadn't anticipated.
Jay's words from earlier echoed in my head. "Everyone has a place they dream of. Even you, man." Jay's always had this way of reading people, of reaching out and making them feel seen. It was easy with him, almost effortless.
But with Aiden… it felt different. He wasn't open or warm, yet there was something under the surface, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.
When I got home, I dropped my bag by my desk and saw a new message from Jay on my phone.
Jay: Survived another day with Aiden? Impressive.
I chuckled, typing a quick reply.
Elias: Barely. Not sure which one of us is gonna crack first.
Jay: Just give it time. Some people need more time to open up. You should know that better than anyone.
I didn't bother responding to that. Jay knew me well enough to guess what was on my mind, and it annoyed me that he'd already read into things. Why should I care if Aiden opened up or not? We were just doing a project.
But even as I told myself that, I couldn't shake the memory of Aiden's distracted expression, the way he seemed almost… lost.
For some reason, that vulnerability stuck with me. Beneath his guarded exterior, I could sense there was more to him something real, something he worked hard to keep hidden. And, stubborn as I was, I wanted to understand what lay beneath that wall.
Aiden's POV
The drive home was a blur of frustration. Jay's easy smile, Elias's laughter, the effortless way they seemed to share something unspoken—it all grated on me. Why should it bother me? Elias wasn't part of my world, and neither was Jay.
But the thought lingered, scratching at the back of my mind. Seeing them together, so at ease, had sparked a feeling I couldn't shake. It was like they had something I'd never allowed myself to crave. Acceptance. Belonging.
Once I got home, I ignored everyone, heading straight to my room and collapsing on the bed. The usual comfort of solitude felt empty tonight, like the walls were closing in around me.
I picked up my phone, absently scrolling through the photos from today's shoot, pausing on one of Elias caught mid-laugh.
He looked… happy. It was such a stark contrast to my world of formality and rigid expectations. In that moment, I found myself wondering what would it be like to share that kind of laughter? To let my guard down, even if just for a moment?
With a sigh, I tossed my phone aside, determined to shake off these thoughts. But somewhere deep down, I knew it was too late. Elias had already stirred something in me. Something I couldn't define, but that refused to let me go.