AN: This is kind of a filler. I realized that I haven’t really shown much about Jayden and Tilly’s relationship. So here’s some for ya 😉

Blinding light assaults my eyes and I groan, wishing the attack to stop. It doesn’t, so I get up and stumble into the hallway, enjoying the slightly less bright lighting here. My head is pounding and I’m pretty positive I’m still drunk. Gnome, what happened last night? The last thing I remember is…Selena and then…I got a message. ARGHH is was my head so fuzzy; why did Tilly let me drink so much.

Speaking of Tilly, she laughs at me as I make it to the kitchen. Most days her laugh is contagious. The past four months her laugh has at least made my mood slightly better. But today, it beats against my brain like a jackhammer.

“Dear gnome,” I groan, leaning on the counter, “Please, please stop. Why the hell did you let me drink so much last night?”

“What?! Don’t you blame this on me. You’re the one that bailed on me for the night then show up here at four in the morning hanging off a girl. Although, I do have to say Jay, when you’re that drunk you are such a gentleman.”

“What are you even talking about?” I whisper, hoping she’ll take the cue to lower her voice as well. Hanging off a girl? I mean, it could have happened. I have been pretty liberal with myself and any woman who’s wanted me the past couple of weeks since we got here. I always regret it in the morning, but it sates the darkness and in the moment it makes my mind blissfully empty of Selena and that damned mystery girl. Oh…

“Some blondie. She brought you in and you insisted she go home and rest, that it wasn’t gentlemanly of you to take advantage of her. Yadda, yadda, yadda.”

“Ash.” I mumble, suddenly remembering her text and my meeting up with her. I shudder and I honestly can’t tell if it’s because my body is retaliating against me for the amount of alcohol I made it consume or because I can hear her soft laugh in the back of my mind.

“Ahh, so she has a name that you remember.” Tilly smirks. “That’s new. When will I get to meet this girl? If you don’t sleep with her and you remember her name in the morning, should I ask when the wedding is?” I can hear the laughter in her throat, just waiting to be let loose.

“Shut up.” I snap, then take a breath and calm myself, getting a smoothie from the fridge. “I’m sorry. I just…Selena came to my room last night, at the tournament. She was there when I went to change.” The words fall from my lips and I say her name so silently even I barely hear it.

“Uhm, bitch did what?” Tilly asks, crossing her arms.

I just look at her and drink the smoothie. She knew what I had said. I don’t know what Tilly said or did to Selena the day I found her cheating on me and I never asked, but it was enough to keep her away for four months.

“Tilly, why did you let me go out alone last night?” I ask. “What if I had – what if it had taken over? What if I had done something, hurt someone, hurt Ash?”

Tilly’s anger dissipates and she rushes over to me, pressing her foreheard against mine so I have to look her in the eyes. Our breath mingles and I sigh, closing my eyes for a brief moment before opening them again, letting those turquoise depths draw out all my bad thoughts and quell the darkness.

“You are not bad and you are not evil, Jay. I let you go because I trust you. I know that you wouldn’t have done anything. This darkness is all in your head and it’s only been really bad since Selena. Trust yourself, Jay. All this darkness, it’s all just your insecurities. You are the nicest person I know. You need to stop worrying.” She says softly.

I soak in her words and her voice, letting them push back and bury that darkness I can feel brewing within me. She calms it and I take a deep breath, grateful.

“Thank you.” I whisper, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

She smiles and steps back. “It’s true, you know. This won’t last forever. You’ll find the right woman and she’ll make you see everything I’m saying is true.”

“Mhmm.” I roll my eyes and throw back a couple of Tylenol that had been on the counter. Tilly probably set them out earlier this morning.

“I’m serious.” She smirks and that twinkle of mischief lights in her eyes. Shit. “Which is why you should give Ash a call and see how she’s doing.”

“Maybe.” I mumble, taking the rest of my smoothie towards the game room with me, knowing that the windowless room is the only place I’ll get any relief in this damned window covered apartment.