What's Enough?

Chapter 172

During lunch, I stand in line waiting, slowly moving forward as the line moves up. Everything is exactly the same; everyone is exactly the same. They were so upset at not being able to do anything to remember Jessica, but yet they seem to have forgotten all about her. I haven't seen Ashely. I wasn't looking for her, but it's not too hard to notice when the Queen isn't here.

James comes up beside me. "Jayda,"

"Hey," It feels like I haven't seen him in forever.

"Your back," he smiles.

"Yup,"

The line moves forward, "I'm sorry about Jessica, I didn't get a chance to tell you at the funeral," he says.

I don't remember much about the funeral; the only moment that's vivid is when Makayla came up to me and handed me Jess's necklace, I grasp the charm around my neck at the thought. I never take it off. I haven't taken it off since that day, even when I shot myself up with heroin and passed out in the tub.

The line moves forward. "So uhm, the new girl-"

"Mia,"

I look up at him, wondering how he knew I was going to say her. "She is the only new girl," He smiles, playing it off that he knew I was asking because of Ryder. "I haven't talked to her much, I have like one class with her, but from the brief encounters we've had, I learned that her dad is in the military, she moved around alot, he recently got stationed out of the country, so she had to come live here in Crossland with her grandmother and guess who her grandmother is?"

"Who?"

"Ms.Kelly,"

"My Boss!?"

"Mhm," Well, great now, I have to quit. I can't believe this. "Don't worry too much about her, though; she was just Ryder's coping mechanism with you being gone,"

That may have been true initially, but from Ryder and I's conversation the other day, that coping mechanism has turned into more; it turned into him actually falling for her.

He says that he'll see me later and to call if I need anything before walking away. I search the cafe, trying to find a place for me. What a waste of time; there's no place for me here; never have never will be.

I'm about to take a seat at the only empty table, but it just so happens to be too close near Ryder and Mia; I desperately look around trying to find somewhere else to sit, and then I spot Robert at a table all alone. I decided to sit with him; he seems shocked when I take a seat across from him. Looking around and then back to me, he says, "You don't have to sit with me,"

"I know," I open my bag of chips and place one in my mouth. Robert and I start up a nice conversation about Harry Potter; I tell him that I have yet to read the books or watch the movies; he then gives me at least 20 reasons as to why I need to read the books. I have never been a fantasy person; the only fantasy show I have ever been interested in was Game of Thrones, I loved the show, but I wouldn't read the book. But I should put it on my bucket list as something I should try.

"So why are you sitting alone? Are your friends not here?" I search the cafeteria for the group of boys he used to hang with; they were the guys at the diner that day discussing marvel and who the strongest avenger was.

He says, "We aren't friends anymore,"

"What, why not?"

He looks down, almost embarrassed or ashamed, "Some of the 'elite' have been giving them a hard time, and they think it's because of me,"

"It's not because of you," I tell him. "They're just crazy; trust me, it has nothing to do with you,"

He gives me a small smile, but then that smile instantly fades, and he puts his head back down; a chilling presence alerts my senses; it isn't Ryder I know, I wouldn't feel like this if he was this close to me. When the arm comes around me, I know it really isn't him; the tattoos are different.