The Cravers

25. Watch It

Brenda opened her locker. Class was about to start and she had to rush quickly if she didn't want to get a tardy.

But just as she was about to run down the hallways. Natasha emerged behind her.

Brenda snapped back, staring at Natasha. "Hey, Nat-" she stopped when she saw the tears down her face. "What's wrong?"

Natasha sniffed. "Nothing."

"Who did this to you?" Brenda gathered the girl in her arms and hugged her comfortingly. The tardy bell rang, barely any people in the hallways. "Come on, let's go outside. P.E. can wait."

The air felt refreshing, sharp and tang. Brenda walked Natasha to the back of the school where the boundary fence had surrounded the perimeter. "What's wrong?"

Natasha gulped down. "It's him."

"Who?" But Brenda knew the answer. Her boyfriend. Of course, this was meant to happen.

"Him." Natasha only said. "I think he's cheating on me." She bawled.

Brenda sighed, of course. If only Nat trusted her enough to tell him who he was. Instead, she asked her a question. "What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She sniffed.

"Come on, I won't laugh."

She glared. "Don't push me Brenda Rose Lee!"

Brenda snarled. "Fine be that way." She stood up to leave. Let Natasha suffer in her sorrow, who was she to help her?

"Wait-" Natasha reached for her hand. "Brenda, at least, can you walk me home? You know my house, its far off the corner..."

Brenda sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear, she pulled Nat up. "Come on. Let's go."

They quietly snuck out of the campus to the streets, no one noticed the two girls leaving so it was an easy escape. They walked out in silence. And it was awkward since Natasha still refused to explain her situation and Brenda knew better to not push her.

After long moments of thickening silence, Natasha said goodbye and left to go home. She didn't give a second look at her friend which angered her. Brenda didn't know if she was mad at her or not, they were a pair of misfits who hung out, and yet even if they called each other bffs, it seemed far off the truth. She sighed, walking back to the school grounds. On the corner of her eye, she caught a boy walking down the same way as her. She shot back her gaze to see who it was. It was Jake.

Her heart pounded, what should she do? She couldn't ignore him, before they'd know, they'd be entering chemistry together, since they both had the same class. Brenda considered ditching the class...

"Lee!" Jake yelled.

Brenda whirled around, trying to look surprised. "Jake??"

He grinned. "Hey there beautiful. What's up?" He wiggled his brows.

Brenda blushed. Jake called her beautiful.  But she didn't want to dwell on it too much for it might take a toll on her excited heart. She took a breath, "I'm trying to empty my mind."

"Of?"

"Everything," she shrugged.

"Okay," he nudged her. "You know, if anytime you're in trouble. Or you need to talk to someone, just call me and we can talk."

Brenda's heart melted in his generosity. "Thank you."

"Here," he took a piece of paper, with his name and number already written on it. "In case you need it." He flashed a quick smile.