Chapter Ten

"Is everything okay?" she softly asked, not wanting to spook him with her sudden appearance.
He sighed deeply, and she watched as his breath turned to fog in front of him.
"I'm not sure, still trying to figure it out."
He still hadn't looked at her. He just stared at the frozen lake like it could possibly give him answers that he sought. Taking a chance, she cautiously sat down next to him. Together, without a word being said, they stared out at the lake with the setting sun that was making the ice look like tiny crystals.
Soon the ice will be thick enough to skate on. She looked around and envy flooded through her veins. This place was breath taking. Pine trees covered in thick snow. The lake looking so surreal and beautiful. Along the edges houses were covered in snow and frost, lights shining through the windows while thick smoke came out of the chimneys. It was like a Christmas display in a painting.
She absolutely loved it.
Looking over at Jared he continued to stare ahead but not really seeing it. It was obvious something was on his mind. She didn't want to pressure him, so she kept quiet. He wore his thick wool jacket that she secretly loved seeing him in. Being only seventeen he looked way more mature and grown up like. Women fawned over him all the time, didn't matter what age. Babies were drawn to him like he had been there from the first day they were born. Middle aged women couldn't even help being a bit giddy around him. Even the crankiest grandmas became super sweet when he was around.
He just had that natural pull about him. Even Mila had a hard time resisting it and that annoyed her more than anything. She wished she could be immune to his charms, but she wasn't and especially if he didn't stop looking the way he did at that very moment.
Feeling confused she turned away. They sat there for a while. She figured he wasn't going to say anything at all and was preparing to go back inside, since she couldn't feel her limbs anymore, when he finally broke the silence.
"Do you ever wish or hope that nothing can ruin your friendship with my sister?"
The question threw her off for a moment. "Yes, many times. Selena is my best friend, almost like a sister to me. Honestly, I don't think anything could break us apart."
He stared at her for so long that she started to feel uncomfortable.
"What if someone was to get in between you? Someone who can very well destroy that friendship forever?" he asked gently.
She didn't understand any of this. What was going on? Was there someone threatening her and Selena's bond? Was there something that Selena was hiding from her? Was Jared giving her a warning without giving his sister away?
He saw the look in her eyes and suddenly felt stupid. He was going about this all wrong. "Mila, it's nothing like that at all. It's not what you're thinking. I just..."
He looked away back to the lake. "I just wanted an opinion from someone, and I asked you because you and my sister are best friends. I'm not really meaning anything by it."
Relief flooded her. But then she frowned. "But...aren't you?" she asked worriedly.
He looked back at her and saw her concern. He did mean it. This was so important to him. He was so hopelessly in love with her. But he couldn't do anything about it.
Because of what he just found out before he came home.
Before he left Evan's house.
Evan had told him that he had feelings for Mila. That he planned to ask her out. Jared never told his friend how much he cared for the same girl. He had tried so hard to keep it to himself. It would seem weird that all the sudden he wanted to make her his. Evan would just hate him thinking he was doing it out of spite to keep them apart.
Besides, it was obvious there was something there between the two of them. If Mila didn't feel the same way, then where would that leave him? He was powerless to stop whatever they had. He wasn't sure he had it in him to watch it unfold. It would crush him. But he couldn't have her out of his life. He needed her. He just didn't know how to put it to words where it wouldn't scare her away.
He sat there contemplating on what action he should take. If he fought for her what would become the outcome? He had been best friends with Evan since they were nine years old. He couldn't let it be destroyed over a girl. They were stronger than that, better than that.
His decision was finally made up. "Look, sorry I even asked. It's really nothing." He stood up and he saw her disappointment. Holding out his hand to her he thought for just a moment that she was going to refuse it, refuse him.
But she slipped her hand into his making a shiver run up his entire arm. Choosing to ignore it, choosing to let her go as she got to her feet, but she held fast. His eyes snapped up to hers with question.
"Mind if we walked around the lake for a bit?" she asked, her cheeks slightly turning even pinker, since they were already pink form the cold.
She couldn't believe she just asked him to walk with her like they were best of friends. She didn't want him to go just yet. She wanted to stay with him just a little while longer. For once they weren't yelling or arguing with one another. He was being nice at the moment, and she didn't want that feeling to go away. She liked this side of him and wished she could receive more of it.
He smiled at her. A smile that melted her insides like jelly.
"Come on, let's go then."
They dropped hands but stayed close to each other as they started walking down the small slope to the lake. They didn't say much. In fact, the silence was very comforting. That night it was like they had made a silent truce. When they were alone, they became two normal teenagers just enjoying the company of a friend.
Even still, around others they couldn't help but argue and act like they normally would. Not on purpose of course, but Jared seemed to snap back into that overprotective "brother" attitude of his and made her completely insane with anger and annoyance.