When you got to your room you started scrolling through tiktok to distract yourself. The first thing you saw was a video Chase posted after you left.
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You couldn’t help but smile as you scrolled to the next video. It was a video Josh posted riding in his car. You rolled your eyes and was about to scroll past when you noticed that someone was in the passenger seat. You couldn’t make out who it was so you decided to facetime him to see if he mentioned it.
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Josh: “Hey, babe. Whatcha been up to?”
You: “Just had tons of studying to do, I’m sorry.”
Josh started laughing, distracted and it was obvious someone was with him still.
You: “What about you? What’d you do today?”
Josh: “Eh the normal. Hung with Jaden all night.”
You could feel your chest tighten and you couldn’t bring yourself to confront him so you made an excuse to hang up but he didn’t even seem to notice.
Josh: “Alright, well talk to you later then.”
You: “I love yo-”
He’d already hung up before you finished your sentence much less responding.
You went into Mads room to see if she was home yet and just walked in like usual. You jumped when you saw her full on making out with Jaden.
Mads: “Please don’t tell Mom or she won’t let me have a boy up here again.”
You: “Y- Your secret is safe with me.”
Mads changed gears, fast the moment she noticed you were fighting to hold back tears: “What did Josh do now?”
You: *lying* “I don’t think he’s going to ask me to the dance.”
Jaden: “Maybe he assumes since you’ve been together so long? Do you want me to talk to him?”
You: “NO! No- I- Uh- Please don’t.”
Jaden nodded and kissed Mads on the cheek before showing himself out as soon as he realized you probably needed time with your sister.
Mads: “Maybe Jaden was right. You should ask him.”
You: “I don’t want to make him mad. Maybe I’ll just go with friends. Are you even going?”
Mads: “Yeah… Jaden took me to get ice cream and spelled out dance in sprinkles over my sundae. It was so cute.”
Hearing how sweet he’d made that for her unleashed the waterfall of tears you’d been fighting back but you couldn’t bring yourself to tell her what was really bothering you even more.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The following scene hints to some TRIGGER WARNING subjects that I want to warn about before you scroll. In the scene Jaden finds Nessa waiting for a bus late at night and gives her a ride. She is extremely jumpy and finally admits that a guy friend gave her a ride earlier and made a move on her and when she rejected him he got pushy. When she still didn't give in, he got angry and kicked her out of the car on the side of the road. It's important for all my young readers to see this type of moment depicted in literature and to understand it really does happen... far too often!!! It's not ok and girls who feel so pressured or scared and just give in that this IS assault still and even if you never choose to report it you should still cope with it. Even though she got out before being assaulted, Nessa doesn't cope and it only enhances her spiraling. She has a lotshe's going throughthat's led her to be the cold person she is. I can'twait to have you all heal with her and see her finally being her true self and HAPPY in chapters to come. As always my DMs here and on tiktok are always open. ❤
*JADEN’S POV*
He was driving home and noticed a girl sitting alone at the bus stop. As he pulled closer, he realized he knew her. He immediately pulled over.
Jaden: “Ness? What are you doing out here this late at night?”
Nessa: *in tears* “It’s just been a bad night. Can you drive me home? I think I missed the last bus.”
Jaden: *pushing the passenger door open* “Of course. Hop in.”
She sat looking out the window, completely broken. He decided to pull off into the parking lot ahead to see if she would talk to him.
Nessa turned around looking almost panicked as he reached across her to grab a napkin from the glovebox. She recoiled back as far as she could in the tight space.
Jaden: “Hey, hey. Talk to me. What is going on? Look… Nessa, look at me. It’s just a napkin.”
Nessa opened her eyes and reached for the napkin cautiously: “I’m sorry. I just got a ride home with a friend tonight and he made a move on me and I said no and- Just- You know how that works.”
Jaden: “Uh no tf I don’t. Did he hurt you? Who tf was it?”
Nessa started crying harder: “No he didn’t hurt me, he just got mad and made me get out of the car in the middle of the street and I’ve been waiting for the bus ever since.”
Jaden: “Is there anything I can do?”
Nessa: “I just want to go home. J- I really appreciate the ride.”
