Jayden drove them away from the city, not towards the familiar beaches teeming with weekend crowds, but to a secluded cove nestled amidst rocky cliffs.
It was a place Louisa had never seen before, the air filled with the salty tang of the ocean and the cries of distant gulls. A narrow, winding path led down to a small stretch of sand where the waves gently lapped the shore.
"It's peaceful here… and calm," Jayden said as they stepped out of the car, the sound of the crashing waves a soothing balm to the city's relentless hum.
"Yeah. So surreal," Louisa murmured, taking in the secluded beauty of the place. Then, remembering the reason for this unexpected detour, she asked, "Oh, so what did you wanna talk about that you brought me… here?"
"Relax, Wren." Jayden's tone was surprisingly gentle. "Why don't you try some of the flavors I got? Who knows, you might finally discover your favorite."
He gently took the nylon bag from her lap and opened a cup of pistachio ice cream, offering it to her.
Louisa narrowed her eyes at him, a mix of suspicion and reluctant curiosity. She took the cup. "I think we should talk about it and let me go. My friends are waiting for me."
"Have a taste of it, Wren." Jayden sat down on the sand, not too far from the water's edge, and gestured for her to do the same.
"To be honest… I just wanted to spend some time with you." He surprised himself with the admission. "Your friends are safe with Ashtray and Jason. They have their own cars, remember? They'll be fine."
Louisa's eyes widened slightly at his statement, mirroring the surprise that bloomed on her taste buds as she took a spoonful of the ice cream. "Mmmmm. This is good."
Jayden watched the genuine pleasure on her face. "You like it?"
Louisa nodded, savoring the creamy, nutty flavor.
Jayden breathed out a small sigh of relief. "I'll take care of Cassia. You don't need to worry about paying her back."
Louisa stopped abruptly, her spoon halfway to her mouth. "But why are you doing all this?"
"Consider it… damage control. Less drama for everyone," he repeated, the casual tone not quite masking something deeper.
"What did you offer her exactly?" Louisa pressed, her gaze searching his.
"A limited edition shoe, maybe a bag. Or another dress," he said, his eyes flicking away for a moment.
Louisa stared at him, trying to decipher his motives. "Why?"
Jayden finally met her gaze, and the carefully constructed indifference flickered again, replaced by a raw intensity. "Because I don't like seeing you… bothered."
The emotion was quickly masked, his tone turning casual once more. "Just… stay out of trouble, Wren. And maybe… keep your distance from certain people."
His gaze flickered towards the direction of the city, a silent implication of Mateo.
Louisa took another spoonful of ice cream, her brow furrowed. "Like who?"
"Mateo Williams," Jayden said, his gaze unwavering. "If I see you two together, I'm going to be really mad."
Louisa looked at him, a hint of innocence in her eyes. "We aren't friends, to start with. And you too… shouldn't I keep my distance from you too?"
"Why is that?" Jayden mused, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Because you are Jayden King Walton. You offered to pay Cassia back, so it seems I am owing you now," Louisa said, a sense of unease creeping in. She didn't like being indebted to him.
Jayden's smile widened slightly. "You could pay me back… in something different."
When Louisa's expression turned questioning, he added, "Go out with me, Wren. On a date. I'll pick the date."
Louisa's eyes widened in shock, and she almost choked on her ice cream.
She tried to change the subject. "Do you… want some ice cream?"
Jayden's eyes lingered on her lips. He noticed a smudge of pistachio ice cream at the corner of her mouth.
He leaned forward, his gaze never leaving hers, and gently licked it off. "There. I already had some."
Louisa's eyes went wide, her face flushing crimson.
The unexpected intimacy of the gesture sent a jolt through her, leaving her speechless and even more confused about Jayden King Walton and his perplexing interest in her.
...
Ellie and Scarlett paced anxiously by the school gates, their eyes scanning the street for any sign of Jayden's Bentley. Every passing luxury car sent a fresh wave of worry through them.
Finally, they spotted the sleek, dark vehicle pulling up a short distance away. Louisa stepped out, her expression a confusing mix of shock and a strange, almost dazed quality.
Jayden didn't get out, simply watching her in the rearview mirror before the Bentley smoothly accelerated and disappeared into the evening traffic.
Ellie rushed to Louisa, her hands gripping her arms tightly. "Louisa! Are you okay? What did he do? What did he want?" Scarlett was right behind her, her gaze sharp and assessing.
Louisa blinked, her eyes unfocused for a moment. "He… he took me somewhere."
"Somewhere? Where?" Scarlett demanded, her voice laced with suspicion.
"Just… by the water," Louisa said vaguely, avoiding their direct gazes. She hugged herself tightly, a shiver running down her spine despite the warm evening air.
"And? What did he say?" Ellie pressed, her concern growing at Louisa's detached demeanor.
Louisa hesitated, the memory of the ice cream, the unexpected intimacy, and the shocking date offer swirling in her mind. How could she possibly explain any of that? It sounded insane, even to her own ears.
"He… he said he took care of Cassia," she said finally, focusing on the one concrete piece of information she could share. "I don't have to worry about paying her back."
Ellie and Scarlett exchanged disbelieving glances. "Just like that?" Scarlett asked skeptically. "No strings attached?"
Louisa shrugged, still feeling the lingering ghost of Jayden's touch on her lip. "He said… less drama for everyone."
"And that's it?" Ellie pressed, noticing Louisa's evasiveness. "He just drove you to some random place by the water to tell you that?"
Louisa nodded slowly, still unable to meet their eyes. "Yeah. That's… pretty much it."
She knew they didn't believe her, and honestly, she barely believed it herself. The whole encounter felt surreal, like a strange dream she couldn't quite grasp.
Scarlett's gaze remained fixed on Louisa, her suspicion deepening. "There's something you're not telling us, Louisa."
Louisa forced a weak smile. "I'm just… tired. Can we just go home?" The need to escape the scrutiny and process the whirlwind of emotions on her own was overwhelming.
Ellie and Scarlett exchanged another worried look but relented. They knew Louisa well enough to recognize when she needed space, even if they didn't trust the circumstances.
Arm in arm, the three friends walked away from the school gates, leaving the mystery of Jayden King Walton and his strange actions hanging heavy in the evening air.