Jess tried her hardest to catch up with Max. "Max, it's not worth it," she tried to call out, but her chest ached as she ran not allowing room for any words. She finally caught up. They were in a hallway very few went through. Max demanded the journal back. Vanessa laughed. "Have you read this?" She leaned her head back and laughed. She opened the journal and began to read. "There are some days I could swear I hear the stars whisper that this is temporary." She looked up, unimpressed. "Really?" She threw the book on the ground. "Here, you can have it back." She left. Jess stood back to the wall and slid down so she sat on the floor. She buried her face in her palms. Her heart sunk to the point it didn't hurt anymore.
(Sorry mine are so long, I can only get on a few times a day so I'm trying to make up for it)
(it's fine)
Max glared at her, snatched the journal, and walked back to Jess who was sitting on the floor. He bent down to her eye-level and handed her the journal. "Are you okay?" He asked, all the hatred in his voice fading away.
His voice brought her heartbeat back. She looked up into his eyes. they were soft and yet so crisp with concern. For some reason, she felt like everything was fine, like she was safe for one moment in her life. "Y-yeah." She took the journal and stood up, realizing she'd made a mess. She looked away. "I'm sorry. I, um. I guess, I have to go to class. I'm. I mean, you're going to be late." She started down the hallway towards her next class.
Jake was walking to his next class when he heard Vanessa talking to Chad, and heard Jessica’s name. He stopped with a furrowed brow, “What are you talking about?”
Vanessa scoffed. "This loser girl." Her and Chad laughed. "She looked so helpless! I mean she had to have her boyfriend come and save her!" They laughed again.
Jake wasn’t laughing, “Hey.” He glared at each of them, “Don’t you dare ever talk about them like that. It’s not helping you or anyone else in anyway, so just quit it,” Jake turned and walked down the wall, feelings a mix of angry, at Vanessa and Chad, sadness, because Jess and Max were together, and concern, because of whatever Vanessa and Chad did to Jess and Max. He finally saw Jess and Max, “Are you two okay?”
"Yeah." Jess kept her eyes down, her heart still beating slowly, trying to force itself to continue trying. This confused her considering your heartbeat normally quickens with things like this. She held her notebook close once again, now knowing not to let go of it for even a split second.
“Are- Are you sure? I just heard Vanessa and Chase talking…” Jake trailed off. What was he supposed to say to make things better? How could he comfort her after that -whatever it was- happened with Vanessa?
Jess still kept her eyes low. "Mhmm." She walked past him, unintentionally brushing his shoulder as she passed . She continued down the hallway. (I've got to sleep now, bye)
Max quietly, and quickly, walked down the hallway to his locker. His mind kept replaying what Chad said about his parents. Everything he said isn't true…..right? I don't even know anything about my parents, yayyyyyy. He thought, opening his locker and taking out the stuff he needed for his next class.
Jake caught up to Jess, and grabbed her shoulders, then brought her into an embrace, “I don’t know what happened, but I can tell it was terrible. I’m sorry, Jess. Vanessa is a jerk.”
Max shut his locker and quietly walked to his classroom. He took a seat in the back and continued on the doodle he started last class.
Jess tightened up at the embrace. To be honest, she's never had a hug. It felt…safe. She stood there as his hands held her close. She held her breath until he let go. When he did, she shook her head. "I'm fine. I'm worried about Max though. Chad said something and he acted like nothing happened."
Max kept doodling on his arm, trying to distract himself from what Chad had said about his parents. He ended up failing so half of his mind was focused on the drawing and the other half was thinking about what Chad had said about his parents.
“I wish I would’ve been here. I would punched the guy,” Jake said, frowning at the ground, “Maybe I can try talking to Chad and Vanessa and try to get them to leave you and your boyfriend alone.”
Jess stepped back, a look of confusion spread across her face. "Boyfriend?"
“Aren’t you and Max together?” Jake furrowed his brow as he asked the question.
"No…" She tilted her head to the side slightly. "Who told you that?"
“Vanessa had said so, but I can see why she’s be an unreliable source,” Jake shrugged, kind of mad he had even believed Vanessa in the slightlest.
I mean, I wouldn't mind it… "Yeah." She looked back down at the ground. What amazing tiles…
“I- I’m sorry, I’m, uh, bothering you, I- Well, I don’t want you to be late for class because of me,” There it was. The stuttering, the struggling for words, the classic Jake. He turned a light shade of red, staring at the floor like Jess hoping to cover it up.
"No, you're totally fine." She looked up hoping to catch his eyes. "Sorry, I'm a bit of a mess right now."
“You? You don’t need to -uh- apologize. I- I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything about those jerks,” Jake said, really wishing he had been there to stop Vanessa and Chad. Jake looked up and met Jess’ eye, his face heating.
"It's okay." She looked up at the class on the wall. They were considerably late. "We're really late to class."
Jake forced a laugh, “We are. I’m- I’m sorry.” Jake shook his head, “Can I walk you to your class or do you want some time alone?”
