#### **Valentina's P.O.V**
We simultaneously take a step apart from each other.
"That's weird"
But, we suddenly cannot get the stirring look off our eyes as we lustfully stalk each other to pulp without muttering a word and he strolls back steeping his legs and toes a couple of odd times till he hits his head on the wall.
Dum!!! It felt like the wall cracked.
Ouch!!
I dumb-fully laugh with a grin on my face.
He laughs too although he didn't find that really funny because he was hurt.
I used to love the name "Jaxie."
It rolled off my tongue like a song, something familiar and safe. It was Jaxon in his purest form—before the broad shoulders and sharp jawline, before the quiet arrogance that settled in his smirks. Before he decided that "Jaxie" was a relic of childhood he no longer wanted.
*I'm a man now,* he had said once, brushing off my teasing. *Call me Jax.*
But he'd still be Jaxie to me.
I just come to realize I'm still in my towel from the bathroom, I hurriedly rush to my closet to change into my underwear's.
He's now standing there—leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with that same knowing look.
"You're still here?" I arch an eyebrow.
He shrugs. "Didn't feel like leaving."
Would you excuse me, I want to change into my underpants and find something suitable to wear.
Okay, miss. He shifts standing aside.
I get into my closet and I bolt the door, I wasn't coordinating for another form of romanticism.
I spend another 20 minutes figuring what to wear, I finally change to a palazzo and braless red top.
I'm good to go, I unbolt the door and I sigh, rolling my eyes as I push past him into my room. I hear him follow, the door clicking shut behind him.
Wow, you look stunning, he remarked.
as he jumps plopping onto my bed like he owns the place. "Wanna talk about that dream?"
I freeze mid-step, my fingers tightening around my pockets.
"Not particularly," I say, reaching again for my closet.
"Val." His voice is softer now. Serious.
I don't turn around. "It was just a dream."
"It wasn't just a dream," he counters. "You were calling for me."
Jaxie. I had called him Jaxie.
I pretend to be busy rummaging through my drawers, but the memory is already unraveling itself. The past bleeding into the present.
---
#### **Flashback – Age 7**
"Jaxie, you're my bestest friend," I declared, swinging our linked hands between us.
He grinned. "Bestest isn't a word, Val."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Jaxie," I huffed, stopping in my tracks. "You're supposed to agree with me no matter what."
He sighed dramatically, his messy brown hair flopping into his eyes. "Fine. It's a word."
"Good." I beamed, satisfied, and pulled him toward the swings.
We spent hours there, our legs kicking at the air, our laughter blending with the breeze. Jaxie was home. He always had been.
Until he started growing up too fast.
---
#### **Present**
"I used to call you Jaxie all the time," I say quietly, still facing my closet. "You never minded before."
There's silence. Then, the bed creaks as he shifts.
"I didn't mind," he admits. "Not until—"
"Until you decided you were too grown for it," I finish for him, finally turning around.
Jaxon watches me, his expression unreadable. "Val—"
A knock on the door cuts him off.
"Valentina? You in there?"
Reynolds.
Jaxon sighs, rubbing his temples. "Your brother has the worst timing."
I smirk. "He has excellent timing."
Jax groans and flops onto my pillows, arms spread out. "Let's just pretend we're asleep, and maybe he'll leave."
Reynolds knocks again. "Val?"
I cross the room and open the door a crack.
"Hey," I say, stepping out slightly so he doesn't see Jaxon sprawled on my bed. "What's up?"
Reynolds eyes me suspiciously. "Is Jaxon in there?"
I blink innocently. "Why would he be in here?"
"Because I heard screaming, and knowing you two, it was probably something ridiculous."
"Wow. No faith in me." I clutch my chest dramatically.
Okay, that mean he's going to be at home or in neighborhood playing football.
Yh probably. I answered folding my hands on my belly.
Reynolds snorts, but his expression softens. "Look, just checking in. You okay?"
I nod. "I'm fine. Just a nightmare."
His jaw clenches slightly, but he nods back. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."
Ooh Reys, erm!! I say scratching my head, what of Brielle and Xavier?
They headed back home, they said they have plans for the weekend.
By the the way, Brielle said she has this outing coming up and she'll like you to be part of it, he added.
Okay, I'll hit her up. Thank you, I joyfully remarked.
You're welcome, he replied.
I close the door as he walks away, leaning against it with a sigh.
"You're a terrible liar," Jaxon comments lazily.
"And yet, I just saved your ass."
He smirks. "Always looking out for me, huh?"
I roll my eyes but don't deny it.
---
#### **Flashback – Age 13**
"Jaxie," I whined, flopping onto his bed dramatically. "You're ignoring me."
Jaxon sat at his desk, scribbling in a notebook. He didn't look up.
"I'm not ignoring you," he said. "I'm just busy."
"You've been busy all week."
"Val—"
"You're avoiding me," I accused.
He sighed, finally turning around. His face was different now—sharper, older. There was something guarded in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
"I'm not avoiding you," he said.
I narrowed my eyes. "Then why do you flinch every time I call you Jaxie?"
His jaw tightened.
"You're my best friend," I continued. "You don't get to just—just shut me out."
"Val," he said quietly. "I think I need space."
It felt like a slap.
"Space?" I echoed, my throat tightening.
He nodded, looking down. "I just... I need to figure some things out."
Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
"Fine," I said stiffly, standing up. "Take all the space you want, *Jaxon.*"
And I walked out.
---
#### **Present**
I never asked him what he needed space for.
Not back then.
Not even now.
But as I sit on the edge of the bed, staring at him, I wonder if maybe—just maybe—he had been just as lost as I was.
"Jax," I say, testing the name on my tongue. It feels foreign. Lacking.
His eyes flick to mine.
"I miss Jaxie," I admit, voice softer.
His throat bobs as he swallows. "I know."
A beat of silence stretches between us.
Then, he sighs. "Come here, Val."
I hesitate before crawling up beside him, resting my head against his shoulder.
Jax wraps an arm around me, pulling me close.
For the first time in years, he doesn't feel so far away.
We layed down hugging tight for the next five minutes, and he breaks the cordial session with a question.
And why were you dressed like this, you want to pull up somewhere. He said looking me in the eye.
No, I did it just to impress you?
He chuckled, come here princess!!
He said hugging me tighter.
---