Present

    Jamie's blue eyes are looking at me, waiting for me to say something. I can't survive without you. I don't want to survive without you... His words play on repeat in my mind. I'd wanted to hear these words for a while now. I thought he hated me, that I was nothing to him after what I did to him.

    The thought of Jamie never wanting me in his life again broke my heart.

     "I really can't get hurt again, Jamie," I say seriously, letting go of Jamie's hand as I avert my gaze. I was a mess after he cut me out. It was hard enough that we'd broken up, but him not talking to me at all hurt most of all.

    Jamie's hand stays in place on my knee, and my gaze focuses on his clad fingers, unable to look up at him just yet, "I don't want to hurt you, Eden."

    I take in his words, my head rushing. I want to forgive him so badly, to move past this and fix things. I want Jamie Flatters in my life, even if it's just as my best friend. I don't want to survive without him, either.

    "Okay," I nod, finally looking back up at him. A small smile tugs on the corner of my lips as I look at him, making him smile too. God, I missed his smile. "I've always wanted you in my life, Jamie," I say, meaning it. "I know it doesn't seem it, but breaking up with you was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I never wanted a life without you in it."

    "I know," Jamie nods, "I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that."

     "Friends?" I question, holding my hand out for him to shake.

     Jamie laughs at my awkward gesture, shaking his head with amusement as he connects our hands, shaking mine firmly, "Friends."

    "Okay, then, friend," I lean my back against the chair, pulling my knee's up to my chest as I ask, "fill in on the last year and a half. I feel like I've missed a lot."

    And that's what we do for the next hour, the two of us updating one another on absolutely everything that the other missed. Jamie had wrapped his first feature film that he wrote entirely while also playing the lead and producing. He got a new place in the city, one right by the tower of London, just like he'd wanted. I'd won a Grammy and finished touring with the boys of 5sos before proceeding to go on my own tour, which was both exhausting and the most rewarding thing I'd ever done.

    "And now I'm on a break," I say, shrugging my shoulders. He's still sitting on the edge of my pool chair, his body turned to face me. The sun is beginning to hang lower in the sky, and my eyes can't help but linger on his shoulders, glowing in the sunlight. I'm proud to say he's been sitting shirtless in front of me this entire time, and I've only stared at his abs once. "The last album was such a rush. I'm taking my time with this one."

    His shirt feels sticky on my shoulders as the sun beams on us, my long hair heavy against my back. I wish they would've at least locked me up here with a scrunchie or something, "when do I get to hear it?" Before I can answer, he adds, "How many are about me?"

     I roll my eyes, "you're the worst, you know that?"

     Jamie smiles, and my heart leaps out of my chest, "and you missed me."

     I did. I really did.

     "I'm hot," I declare, not bothering to answer his question as I peel his t-shirt off my shoulders, which was beginning to stick to my shoulders with sweat. The still water of the pool looks so inviting, practically begging for me to jump in.

     Jamie's eyes linger on me as he nods, "yeah," he breathes, and oh my god. He's smirking.

    "Friends, Flatters," I throw his t-shirt at him as I stand, moving over to the water, very aware of his eyes on me as I walk away. "You gonna stare the whole time or join me?" I ask him, looking over my shoulder with a smirk.

    Before Jamie can respond, I jump into the water, relief floating through me as the water instantly cools me down. Before I can come up for air, another splash is heard, and a smirking Jamie appears beside me. I push my sopping wet hair out of my face when we come up for air, treading water.

    Jamie's hair is sticking to his forehead, and I have to fight the urge to reach over and brush it away. His blue eyes crinkle slightly in the corner as a smile tug at his lips, one I can tell he's attempting to control. But as soon as our eyes, we both lose it. Loud laughter falls between us, the kind that only grows harder once it starts, going on for so long that you forget why you're laughing in the first place.

   When we finally stopped laughing, my cheeks hurt from smiling, and my stomach performing somersaults. Under the water, he reaches forward, interlocking his fingers through mine.

    I don't even realize I've swam closer until I have to tilt my chin to look up at him. We're so close, lips mere inches apart, as we float in the water. It feels like there's no one else in the world right now, nobody but me and Jamie.

    "I missed this," Jamie says breathlessly, "I missed you, Tr-"

     I cut him off before he could finish speaking, pressing my lips against his. I have to slide my arm around his neck, pulling him closer. The smell of his cologne mixed with the pool chlorine invades my senses, making me feel dizzy.

    Jamie is still for a moment. I immediately wonder if I've read the room wrong. Maybe this is too fast. Maybe he doesn't want me like this anymore, and I've completely ruined everything. Could I play this off as an accident? Would he believe me if I said, "Oops, I was unbalanced in the water and fell on your lips to keep me afloat?"

   But then, he's kissing me back, rings-clad fingers gripping my side, tugging me closer, his lips moving in motion with my own, knowing what to do. I've kissed plenty of guys since the breakup, hopeful with each one that they'd help me move on.

    But no one kisses like Jamie.

    We're close enough to the edge of the pool that I can guide Jamie over the wall without disconnecting our lips, not wanting to waste any second. Taking control, he flips us around so my back is pressed against the cold tile of the pool, my legs moving to wrap around his waist.

    It wasn't until he said my name, whispering it against my lips, that I came back to reality, "Eden."

   "Hmmm?" I hum, opening my eyes, my vision unfocused. I can't help but smile at how close Jamie is. He really is beautiful. "What?"

    He looks sad as his hand moves to my cheek, pulling back slightly to look at me more clearly, "we shouldn't be doing this," he's completely breathless, which only makes me want to lean in more, finding his voice attractive like this. "Friends, don't do this."

    Right, friends...

    "I know," I sigh, wanting to argue. He's right though. Dating doesn't work for us. It's what led to us not speaking for as long as we did. As much as I love making out with Jamie, I love having him in my life even more. We can't risk losing this again, "I'm sorry. I got caught up in the moment."

    Jamie chuckles as I untangle my legs from around his waist, my back still against the tile walls of the pool, "you definitely don't need to apologize for that," his cheeks are flushed pink, and I wish I could reach over and kiss them. "I just don't want to ruin things. I can't lose you again, E."

    I smile sadly, reaching forward to interlock our hands again, "I can't lose you again, either."

🖤

@edenbliss posted a photo dump !

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Liked by lianaliberato, calumhood and 3.1 million others

edenbliss
not a lot going on at the moment❤️

Tagged: @baileybass, @masonthegooding, @melissabarreram, @jennaortega, @lilgibs, @jackchampion, @baileybass, @misstrinitybliss

view more comments...

user1 is that who I think it is in the last photo?!

user2 I think I missed an chapter. I thought he broke our heart??

michaelclifford watch out ash, looks like @jackchampion is coming for your gig.
— ashtonirwin I'm terrified.

calumhood bruh, answer the group chat!
— lukehemmings ^^ what he said.
— edenbliss I'm going, I'm going.

baileybass this photo dump is so chaotic. I love it.
— edenbliss I love you❤️

lilgibs I'm crying over that photo of Jack, he's so freaking cute
— jackchampion I remember trying so hard to impress you on the drums... but I sucked

lilgibs THE LAST PHOTO

lilgibs screaming, crying, throwing up.
— jamieflatters u okay?
— lilgibs I am unwell.

jackchampion you and Lilly went to Disneyland without me?!
— edenbliss I don't know what you're talking about....

masonthegooding happy eden is my favourite eden🥺
— amenahsoares me too❤️

jasminsavoy I- last the photo.
— user3 mood

melissabarreram I literally just gasped out loud. Paco is concerned.

sierradeaton ugh this smile, pretty girl!
— user4 this is her Jamie smile!

crystalleigh you're absolutely radiant, bby girl😭❤️
— michaelclifford our girl❤️

jamieflatters oh hey, I know those people.
— edenbliss oh hey there
— user5 I just screamed
— user6 my family is concerned
— user7 agavqvagwvqwywv

Hehe things are wrapping up soon!! The breakup chapter is next, and that'll be it for the past chapters!!
Hope you enjoyed❤️
This chapter is dedicated to the lovely jami3flatters  who literally begged me for Eden and Jamie to kiss Ahahaha hope it's everything you wanted❤️❤️❤️