The Night

Chapter 30: Speaking Up

Hey guys!!! I hope everyone is having a fantastic day. Just wanted to let u all know that today I will be writing 2 chapter!!! So let's start with chapter 30. Enjoy😜

Third POV
"Presentations start on Monday," Ms. Villano instructed. "I added a new spot in our class page where everyone submits their project. I want each of you to submit a copy of the project, even though two people worked on the same project. Both partners get an individual grade on presentations and the work. Since it's Friday and we had a snow day yesterday, there's no point in starting a new discussion or topic. I'll give you guys this class time to work on any missing assignments, the project, or an assignment from another class."

For the first few minutes or so, the students in the class sat in silence, not knowing what to do. After that instant, everyone turned to their friends and began their little small conversations.

"Wasn't home?" Everest whispered to Skye.

"Yeah," she responded. "Neither of them seen him since the last time we went over.

"That was a while ago," Everest thought. "Well...I think. I don't even know my days anymore."

"I know," Skye whisper-shouted. "I don't understand. Whatever is going on, he's acting like nothing is wrong."

"We need to follow him. Has he ever been at your house?"

"No. Not mine, not Zuma's, and not Ella's. What about yours?"

"He hasn't visited," Everest answered. "Let's go now," Everest got up but was quickly pulled back down by her best friend. "What?"

"We're gonna talk to him after school," Skye informed. "We don't want things to get out of hand that you end up forcing him for answers and getting detention or suspended. And Ella isn't here either."

"Fine."

"So, how's it going with Stella?"

"Bad," Everest rolled her eyes.

"What happened?"

"She doesn't stop nagging me to do things," Everest explained. "First, she didn't stop asking me questions about Marshall and me, and then she was offering to talk to him for me. I get she was tryna help and all, but she's getting a little annoying. And I don't want to talk to him."

"You asked her why she wanted to know, right?"

"Yeah. At first, Stella thought I was asking if she wanted to know. After she understood, she was saying, "I just wanna know." Like, what? She was saying stuff like, "Imma ask him why he stares at you." I kept repeating myself but she was saying, "why not?" I was explaining to her that that's random and weird. Stella wasn't convinced and was like "no, I'm just going to ask why he's so interested in you." I continued to ask her why she cared as she "just wanted to know." It was getting really annoying."

"Maybe Stella's just jealous," Skye concluded. "Actually, no. Pretty sure she likes Jackson."

"Maybe it's Maggie," Everest added. "This entire situation is annoying me."

"Has she spoken to you in person?" Skye questioned.

"Nope," Everest shook her head. "I also feel like the "closer" Marshall and I are getting, the creepier he's getting. In fact, I feel like he's staring at me right now."

"He likes you," Skye spoke. Even though everyone has thought of that, no one has really said it out loud. "And I think you like him."

"Yeah, think," Everest laughed. "He's too much of a baby to tell me."

"Maybe he isn't ready," Skye convinced. "Or maybe it isn't time yet."
--
Chase's POV
"Would ya stop creeping on people?" I asked Marshall.

"What?" Marshall responded, snapping out of whatever he was thinking.

"Stop creeping on people," I repeated.

"I'm not creeping on anyone," Marshall denied. "Maybe staring at Everest, but that's all."

"With a creepy face, and you were literally not even blinking."

"I wasn't?" He asked. He pressed his eyelids against each other, and once he opened his eyes, tears came out. "Oh, guess I wasn't," he nervously laughed.

"Awww, is Marshall crying?" Hunter laughed. "Is it 'cuz he got rejected by Everest?"

"Not the time, Hunter," I sighed with annoyance.

"That's why no one even likes you," Marshall shot back.

"Everyone does," Hunter laughed.

"Everyone's scared of you," Marshall declared.

"Yeah, right," Hunter laughed a second time. "Who here would like to be my friend!?" Hunter called out to the entire class. Instead of getting answers, he got stares and the sound of silence.

"And you said?" Marshall smirked.

"Yeah, whatever," Hunter shrugged. "Did ya hear the game got canceled?"

"What game?" Marshall asked with confusion.

"What other game?" Hunter aggressively asked. "The football game. They're moving it to next Friday."

"So rescheduled?" Marshall corrected.

"Whatever!" Hunter yelled, getting the attention of some people that sat close by. "So, about your rejection..."

"Oh, God, Hunter," I rolled my eyes.

"I heard rejection," Jackson jumped in. I couldn't help but facepalm, giving Jackson the wrong idea.

"Chase, you got rejected!?" Jackson said a little too loud.

"No one got rejected!" I shouted.

"Boys!" Ms. Villano called out. "Lower your voices."

"Chase seems to be upset about his rejection," Jackson joked as he and Hunter laughed.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" I asked. "No one got rejected."

"We can never joke around with you, can we?" Hunter asked with an annoyed face.

"Toxic," Marshall mouthed to me. He was right. We saw this video, not long ago and it was told us things toxic people do. One of them was making jokes that are too harsh and then saying they can't ever joke with you.

"Oh, yeah," Jackson nodded after Hunter whispered something to him. "We heard something," he began. I already knew where this conversation was going. They're gonna talk about yesterday.

"We heard you had some friends over," Hunter continued. "It's bad enough that they're socially challenged, but the fact you didn't invite us. Are we a joke to you?"

"You might not be a joke to me, but I'm clearly a joke to you," I shot. Marshall's reaction was sudden. He was NOT expecting that. Thinking it through, it's been forever since they were nice to me. I'm kinda tired of them treating me the way they have been. What did I do to have everything as a joke to them? I tired of staying quiet and faking a laugh, of acting like it's okay and didn't hurt me. Like it doesn't matter. I'm going to speak up. I won't go speechless.

"Woah," Jackson laughed. "What's your problem?" Wow. They're seriously still taking this as a joke.

"You're my problem," I responded. "What's your deal? Don't you ever think you cross the line a little too often?"

"What line?" Hunter asked.

"He means you guys go a little too far a little too much," Marshall translated.

"Oh," Jackson understood.

"Feelings aren't a joke. Not everything is a joke." My little speech left Jackson and Hunter speechless.