CHAPTER SIX — MIXED SIGNALS
1505 Words
Monday came too early.
Ella was jolted awake by her alarm blaring as if it despised her.
Her phone vibrated more but this time not, from the alarm. It was Jayden.
> Jayden: Morning, sunshine ☀️
Ready to inspire the world again?
She grinned drowsily.
Ella: Hardly. I require coffee prior to motivation.
Jayden: I'm on it. Look out for a knock on your door in 10 minutes.
She knitted her brow puzzled.
Ten minutes later, a knock.
She unlocked the door.. Right there stood: a mug of her beloved caramel coffee still hot accompanied by a note.
> “For the world’s most stubborn Love Coach — from your No.1 student.”
Ella chuckled, nodding her head. "He’s incredible.”
She messaged him away.
Ella: Did you really bring the coffee?
Jayden: I told you. I trust in work. 😉
She grinned intensely until her cheeks ached.
---
🎥 Later That Day — On Set
They were filming a YouTube episode jointly. "Signs You’re Developing Feelings, for Someone.”
Jayden arranged the camera feigning concentration. His gaze continually drifted to Ella.
She sat on the sofa going through her notes, her hair loosely gathered in a bun.
“Are you ready?" she inquired, glancing up.
“Yeah " he replied swiftly, attempting to avoid appearing conspicuous.
The camera began filming.
“Hey everyone " Ella greeted happily "welcome again to a new edition of Love Lessons, with Ella! Today we’re discussing indications that you could be developing feelings—”
"Like grinning at someone's messages " Jayden cut in with a teasing tone.
She gave him a glance. ". Someone who constantly comes up with reasons to stay near you.”
“Or a person who brings coffee without any reason, " he commented.
The crowd ( hypothetical) would have been shouting loudly.
Ella made an effort to keep her cheeks from reddening. "In any case " she went on "those are an indications that you could require—”
“Confess that you like them, " Jayden remarked.
She scowled. "You’re messing up my video.”
He grinned. ". Turning it into reality.”
Once they were done recording Ella hurled a pillow in his direction.
“You really enjoy the disorder don’t you?”
Jayden grabbed the pillow. Grinned. "Just when it’s about you.”
She glanced upwards. Her grin was unmistakable.
---
💬 The Message That Shifted the Atmosphere
That night Ella shared a snippet from their video.
Comments began flooding in within moments.
“You both share such a vibe omg 😭💞”
“Are they seeing each other or something???”
“That dude really likes you for 😭😭”
Initially Ella brushed it aside with a laugh. Until a specific remark caught her eye.
“Jayden is adorable. Didn’t he previously date that model, Vanessa? 👀”
She scowled.
Vanessa. The name struck like water.
She accessed his profile.. Indeed a quick scroll up revealed past photos of him, with Vanessa: grinning, embracing, appearing flawless.
Her heart sank.
---
📱 The Call
That evening Jayden rang, his typically upbeat tone audible, on the phone.
“Hey Love Coach. You shared the video clip didn’t you? It’s already going viral.”
“Yeah " she replied briefly.
He stopped. "You seem… different. What’s the matter?”
She paused. "Who is Vanessa?”
Silence.
Then a quiet sigh. "I was wishing that wouldn’t be mentioned now.”
“Is that really the case?”
"Yeah, " he murmured softly. "We were together. It finished months prior to me meeting you."
“Why were you silent, with me?”
“Since you didn’t inquire.. Due to its complexity.”
“Complicated how?”
He paused. "She sought fame. I wanted something. It ended badly.”
Ella reclined on her bed a pang, in her chest. "So am I your latest diversion?”
“Don’t put it that way " Jayden responded firmly. "You’re completely different from her. You genuinely inspire me to improve myself.”
Her tone became gentler. "So why keep it a secret?”
He exhaled more. "It was because I didn’t want you to view me as someone carrying baggage."
She remained silent for quite a while. "Jayden… I’m not sure what to make of this at the moment.”
“I comprehend, " he replied softly. "No rush.”
---
💭 Ella’s Thoughts
Ella was unable to fall that night.
She continued to revisit every moment. Their chuckles, their texts, his grin.
Was she responding excessively?
Perhaps she was descending rapidly for a person she scarcely recognized?
She took hold of her journal. Began to write:
“I teach about love daily. I don’t fully grasp it myself.
Why does a single secret seem like a betrayal?
Perhaps I’m frightened. Afraid that he’ll abandon me well just like the rest.”
Tears clouded her sight. She shut the book. Murmured "Why does this pain feel so deep?”
---
🌤️ The Next Day — The Awkward Encounter
In the morning they encountered each other once more at the studio.
The air was weird. Heavy.
Jayden entered carrying two coffees, as usual.
He set one down on her desk silently.
She glanced upward. "That wasn’t necessary.”
“I intended to, " he murmured softly. "I dislike it when things aren’t okay, between us.”
She exhaled softly. "I’m not angry Jayden. Just… puzzled."
“I understand, " he said as he took a seat. ". May I ask you something?”
“What?”
He gazed directly at her. "Would it affect your feelings toward me if I said I occasionally still speak with Vanessa?"
Her chest was constricted. "You said what?”
“It’s not a deal " he stated promptly. "She just checks in nothing ”
Ella chuckled. Though it wasn’t amusing. "You sure have a way of making a girl feel important.”
Jayden scowled. "That isn’t fair.”
“It’s not discovering your crush continues to message his ex " she retorted.
He rose. "Ella, I care about you. You’re aware of that. However, I can't change what’s behind me.”
“And I can’t overlook it, " she whispered softly.
They gazed at each other. Pulses racing, each unwilling to break the silence.
In the end Jayden grabbed his camera bag.
“I’ll leave you room " he whispered gently then exited.
The door shut. The quiet was overwhelming.
---
💔 Time Gone By…
Ella immersed herself in work. Cutting videos answering comments acting like it didn’t affect her.
However she longed for him.
The coffee humor. The spontaneous messages. The manner in which he gazed at her as if she were important.
One night she noticed him upload a picture:
“Returning to creation. At times quietness imparts lessons, then speech.”
Her spirits sank.
Has he already started moving ?
She wrote a message. Then erased it.
Typed again. Deleted again.
In the end she dispatched:
Ella: I noticed your post. Are you alright?
He responded after a few minutes.
Jayden: I wish we could talk again.
She pressed her lips together.
Ella: So why did you vanish?
Jayden: Since I believed you required some time.
Ella: Perhaps what I truly required was you.
Silence.
Then —
Jayden: Could we have a conversation? Face to face.
Her pulse faltered.
> Ella: When?
> Jayden: Tonight. Same café.
---
☕ The Talk
The café seemed altered, more silent, denser as if it recalled their laughter and awaited their return to mend it.
Jayden was present early nervously playing with his cup.
The moment Ella entered he immediately rose to his feet.
“You arrived, " he whispered gently.
“I promised I would.”
They remained seated. Quiet.
Jayden was the first to talk.
“I don’t want to jeopardize what we share because of my history, " he said. "Vanessa is no longer in my life. You are. You’re the one I think of in the morning, the person who gives me hope that happiness is possible again.”
Ella glanced downward, her eyes flickering quickly. "Do you truly mean it?"
He gave a nod. "Sure.. I’ll get it if you’re not prepared.”
She gave a smile. "You do realize you speak excessively don't you?"
He chuckled softly. "So is that a yes or no?”
She moved in nearer. "Perhaps.... It’s preferable to quiet.”
He smiled broadly, a wave of relief spreading across his expression. "I’ll go with maybe.”
They both chuckled. Not due to all being resolved. Because it was authentic.
The type of reality that simultaneously caused pain mended and supported them all together.
---
🌙 That Night
Afterwards while Ella was resting in bed her phone vibrated more.
> Jayden: Thanks for giving me another chance.
Ella: Don’t throw it away.
> Jayden: Never. Goodnight, Love Coach.
She grinned, typing at a pace.
> Ella: Goodnight, Camera Boy.
This time, as she slept. She experienced no dreams of bewilderment.
She dreamed of hope.
- Writer
