Chapter 10
I ended up missing my bus the next morning and had to catch the next one alone. While waiting, I sent Jessica a message apologizing for how I had reacted. I wanted her to know the truth and assured her that I would respect her choice. I truly hoped she would change her mind soon.
It was tough not being able to communicate with her. We had been friends for three years, ever since we met one summer while waiting for the bus to the lake.
Since we were both from the same town and had a bit of familiarity, a simple “Hi” quickly turned into a full conversation and eventually blossomed into a friendship.
I felt a strong bond with her, especially because of her upbeat nature.
Her positivity seemed to rub off on me whenever we were together.
When I arrived at the bus stop, I noticed Marco waiting for me.
“Hey, what happened?” he inquired as I stepped off the bus.
“I overslept,” I replied, wrapping my arms around him. His warmth enveloped me, accompanied by a pleasant scent. “Why are you still here? It's late, and you'll miss school,” I said, glancing around.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Yesterday at dinner felt off; I can tell something's bothering you,” Marco said, gently cupping my face with his hands.
“It's nothing, just a long day,” I replied, averting my gaze. I would rather not share what I had experienced or the knowledge I had gained; I still hadn't figured out what to do with it. “Go on now!” I urged him, feeling a pang of worry.
“Actually, my friend over there and I are skipping school today,” he said, gesturing to his classmate standing by the fence, puffing on a cigarette.
“Oh, you know how I feel about that,” I said, disapprovingly. I had never been one to skip school, and I wasn't about to change that, even in my final year.
“Want to join us?” Marco asked, though he already knew my answer.
I shot him a look that said it all. “Alright, I get it,” he chuckled, pulling me close and kissing me.
His morning kiss tasted fresh and sweet, like mint.
I released him and turned to hurry to school.
I was the last one to arrive, quickening my pace to slip into the classroom just before the bell rang.
Spotting Emily, I noticed her glance at me before looking down. I was tired of the situation, so I took a seat beside her.
She remained still, as if afraid someone might notice us talking.
“Em? I know you can't speak to me, but I can talk,” I murmured, avoiding her gaze. “We need to deal with this; I can't bear another seven or eight months of silence. I'll confront Jake—I have to,” I said, pausing to think about needing to talk to Zane as well.
Emily didn't respond or move. But then I caught a faint whisper, “I miss you too.” My heart ached at her words. Just then, the professor entered and began writing on the board, and I lost myself in my thoughts. Again.
Later that day, at lunchtime, I was determined to confront Jake about the chaos surrounding us.
Yet, I didn't catch a glimpse of him or any of them.
By the end of the day, I found myself walking alone after school, heading to the bus stop.
I noticed the Vipers lounging on a bench beneath the tree nearby.
Without a second thought, I made my way over to them.
Clous and V were perched on the bench, both puffing away at cigarettes, while Jake showed something on his phone to Zane.
“We need to talk,” I said to Jake, my voice quivering. I felt like a frightened child, struggling to maintain my composure. He turned to me, an inquisitive look on his face.
“I'm all ears,” he replied, grinning. Clous and V didn't bother to look my way, but Zane’s expression was taut, as if he wished I would just back off.
“I want my friend back. I want Emily to talk to me,” I asserted, my fists clenched tightly. Jake’s grin widened, but he remained silent.
“This is getting boring. It should be more entertaining,” V said, fixing her gaze on me. I was at a loss for words and still confused, even more then than before.
“Let them be; the truth will come out eventually,” Zane remarked, glancing over at V. My mouth fell open; I didn't intend to hurt Emily or expose her in any way. Despite her usual indifference to others' opinions, she feared what her parents might think or do to her.
“Please delete the recording.” I almost pleaded, darting my eyes between V and Jake. Clous was especially quiet, perhaps too intoxicated to engage; he seemed distant and disengaged from the conversation.
“Sorry, but I can't accommodate that request, blondie,” Jake shot back, still smiling as he slipped his hands into his jeans pockets.
I scoffed, frustration bubbling inside me.
Turning my focus to Zane, I said, “I need to talk to you.” He burst out laughing.
“I haven't done anything, and I've got nothing to say,” he replied, crossing his arms defiantly.
“What's happening?” Marco suddenly chimed in from behind me.
“You scared me! It's nothing, just a chat. Let's go,” I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him away.
“Ooooh, a boyfriend! Does your boyfriend enjoy secrets? I bet he does,” V hollered after us. What was she implying? I glanced at Marco; he looked pale.
“Are you okay?” I asked, quickening my pace to put distance between us and the Vipers.
“Yes, I'm fine. So those are the bullies, huh?” Marco inquired.
“Yep. We need to hurry; we're going to miss our bus.”
“Is Jessica still dating that guy?” Marco asked.
“I don't know; I haven't spoken to her since that day at the cinema.”
Emily was in the back seat of the bus, lost in her music.
We settled in the middle, but the entire ride was quiet.
I sensed something was bothering Marco; I could feel the tension radiating off him.
As for me, my mind was fixated on one thing: I needed to talk to Zane, but it was proving to be more challenging than I anticipated.
In the afternoon, I found myself buried in study notes for an upcoming history test. My dad was at work, and as for Mom, I had no idea if she'd make it in time for dinner—and honestly, I didn't care to find out.
Just as the clock struck 5 PM, I heard the doorbell ring.
That day, I hadn't made any plans with Marco, but when I opened the door, I was greeted by two bright-green eyes.
“I come in peace,” Jessica declared, holding up a bag of freshly baked pastries. I was surprised yet relieved that we finally had a chance to talk. I brewed some tea, and we settled down at the kitchen table.
“Listen, I'm sorry if I came off too strong. I was really upset; I thought you should know that I knew,” I said, trying to keep my disapproval of her new boyfriend hidden as I looked at her.
“I get that,” she replied earnestly. “If I were in your position, I'd feel the same way.
But Zane is different from what you think.
Sure, he has some questionable friends, but he's not a bad person.
We've had some deep conversations, and he's starting to open up. I really like him, Lu.” Jessica placed her hand on mine, her eyes searching for my approval.
“I really don't know what to say,” I admitted.
“Just be happy for me,” she urged.
“But…” I started, but she quickly cut me off.
“No buts!”
“I just think it's unfair what they're doing to Emily,” I said, my disappointment evident.
“Who's 'they'? Zane told me about Jake, Clous, and V. It sounds like that girl V has it out for Emily, and she's the one causing the trouble, not Zane,” she said.
“How can you say that? Emily is really struggling…”
“I talk to her every day; we hang out. She's fine,” Jess interjected.
“How can she be fine?” I was bewildered that everyone else seemed to accept this situation as normal, while I felt like I was the only one reacting. Was I overreacting? “I'm not fine. We're not even speaking,” I snapped, frustration bubbling over.
“Just give it some time,” Jessica suggested, her gaze drifting as if she knew something more. Was I the only one who didn't understand what was going on? What could possibly be more complicated? Just then, Jessica’s phone rang.
“Hey, Zane. I'm at Luna's; are you coming today?” I glanced at Jess as she listened intently, then she said goodbye and hung up. I looked at her, expecting her to share, but she remained silent.
“So, like I said, everything will be alright,” Jessica remarked, taking a sip of her tea. “By the way, we're going to a party next Saturday. You should come!” she said, her excitement palpable.
“Whose party?” I asked.
“Oh, it's my classmate, Aurora. She's inviting everyone.”
“But I don't really know her. I've seen her around, but we've never actually talked,” I replied.
“Don't worry about it! She said I could bring friends. Come on, just relax. Everything will work out. I'm not mad at you anymore, and the situation with Emily will sort itself out soon,” she said with a teasing smile.
“I don't know; I'll think about it,” I replied, matching her grin.
“Awesome! Zane just arrived, so I have to head out. But let's catch up soon! You should come over; it's been too long,” she said, standing up and slipping on her coat.
My eyes widened as I caught sight of Zane outside through the window. How did he know where I lived? Jessica hadn't mentioned anything to him during their call.
“Hey, how did he know where I live?” I asked, curious.
“Small town,” she said smiling. I walked her to the door, and we hugged goodbye. I watched as she approached Zane’s car, his intense gaze locking onto mine, making me feel uneasy. I truly disliked the idea of them dating, and deep down, I feared that he would hurt her eventually.
That evening, Mom returned home, and after yet another awkward dinner filled with strained small talk, she knocked on my door.