Best Friend's Brother: Chapter One

Sweet Couples and Sad Comics

I was tossing and turning all night. Sometimes I'd think about Nathaniel and sometimes about what Harry said. Most of the time it was what Alexa said. I shouldn't let it affect me, but when she hits such sensitive spots it's hard not to think about it because it makes me feel, what if this thing she said was right?

What if Nathaniel really doesn't like me and everything people say about me having a shot with him is just so they don't hurt my feelings? What if Harry does relapse? Would it really be a blessing if I was six feet under?

I try as hard as I can to shake those thoughts away, but when the parasite that placed them there is everywhere, it's kind of hard to shake them. I've thought about resorting to violence to shut Alexa up. Violence is an option, just maybe not the right one.

Before I knew it, my alarm was going off telling me to get my butt out of bed and to school. I groaned and got out of bed. I did the stuff I needed to and went downstairs meeting another well rested Harry with an apron on as he cooked pancakes.

"Good morning, Jessie," Harry said with a happy tone to his voice. I gave him a confused look and set my backpack on a chair by the table. 

"Good morning?" I said in a questioning tone.

"You're probably wondering why I've been home. Well, I quit my job at the Factory and got a better job at Key's Koffee in town. Now we might be able to do the things we want to instead of just getting by," Harry had a big smile on his face, "Avyana has been trying to get me to quit that job and work with her at the coffee house for a long time. I'm thrilled I listened to her this time."

The smile I had on my face dropped, and I grabbed my backpack, slinging it over my shoulder. Harry gave me a confused look as I walked through the door.

"I'm glad your friend has more power to change your life than your sisters do," I slammed the door behind me as I walked out.

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I walked into English and slammed myself into my seat. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, resting my head on my arms as I slumped over on my desk. Eventually, people started to find their way into class, rather loudly might I add. I picked my head up and saw someone standing over me. Take a wild guess on who it was.

No really, guess.

Yeah, it was Queen Bitch herself. Redwood High's most elegant, Alexa Winters. Fantastic right? Guess who was with her. Go on, guess. Yeah, Redwood High's best-looking air balloon, Summer Greene. Big surprise to see Alexa hanging off someone, imagine who that was. The man, the myth, the legend, the only one I let my guard down around, Nathaniel Kodak.

My heart shattered in my chest, but I kept the annoyed look I had all morning as I let out a deep sigh.

I sat up a little straighter as gave Alexa the best exaggerated fake smile I could muster, "Alexa!" I dragged, "I didn't think you were going to be at school today! I'm so glad you made it. Our classes would have been so boring without your snide comments about me! I love that you think I'm competing for Nathaniel's heart with you, I mean wow, I didn't think you were an airhead too! I thought that was just a "queen bee side-kick" sort of thing," I said adding the air quotes.

Alexa's lip curled up in a weak snarl, "Well, you're in luck! I won," Alexa laughed a little bit as she raised her and Nathaniel's intertwined fingers to show me.

"Oh, congratulations! Wow, I never guessed that he would date a piece of plastic!" Killing two birds with one stone. Shots were fired at both Alexa and Nathaniel. My gaze jumped over to Nathaniel who was looking out the window I was stationed next to. When his gaze met mine, I gave him a sad smile and laughed as I shook my head.

"Alexa, look what I found!" Summer said jumping up from my bag and handing Alexa a folded up piece of paper.

"There's a fifty percent chance I'll regret this, huh?" 

"Lexi, please put it back," Nathaniel finally spoke.

Alexa gave me her wicked devilish smile as she started to unfold the piece of paper, "Uh, hi. I bet this is a first. Receiving a comic that breaks the fourth wall? I thought it was a cool idea. You know since I'm super awkward in person. That's not the point though. I like comics, and I like you, so I thought: hey, this is a cool and original idea, let's do it. I totally get it if you don't like me, I don't want you to feel like you have to like me back. That wasn't my intent at all. I just felt like I should tell you. Keeping it real dude, I guess I wanted you to know because I'm weird. Then again, I did tell you through a stick person comic. But yeah, that's it. Hopefully, you laughed. Even a little. I just wanted to say hi and that I like you. I hope this wasn't cringy. Okay bye."

Alexa started laughing along with the rest of the class. Even the teacher was snickering behind her desk. I sighed loudly as I felt my ears heating up with frustration. I pulled my bottom lip in and bit it. I folded my hands together and kept my first and middle fingers up as I rested my chin on them.

Nathaniel watched me do this, "Jessica, stop it."

I gave him a dull look and stood up from my desk, "I'll stop when I'm finally dead," I snatched the comic out of Alexa's hands and walked up to the teacher.

I gave her a tight smile, "Will you please make two hundred more copies of this? I would love if everyone could see this." She took it without hesitation, and I waited for the copies to be done. The laughter finally died down as the prints finished. I took them off the printer and waved my hand with a paper in it.

"Come on! Come and get your copy! Remember this day, the one where I got humiliated again!" I yelled to the class. After everyone in the class got one, I walked through the school tossing some around and sliding stacks under doors and by the time lunch rolled around everyone was laughing with Alexa who was laughing at my sad attempt to tell someone that I liked him.

Katie sat next to me with an upset look on her face, "Did Alexa do this?!"

"I did," I laughed, "If I can't beat her, why not join her?"

"Because this happens, Jessica! What has gotten into you!? You're helping Alexa torture you, you're making suicidal gestures, you're barely eating, and you aren't sleeping even after Harry quit his job at the Factory!" She half yelled, and the cafeteria started getting quiet and was silent before I made my reply.

"What's the big deal anyway?! Nobody even cares that I exist, Katie! No one has ever cared so why do you all of a sudden?! Ever since we were little, it has been you, Hannah and Alyssa. I was just in the background. Everyone hates me, I don't have a chance with Nathaniel even though I let myself fall in love with him, and I can't even change my own brother's life! Do you understand how insignificant I am, Katie?!" I yelled and stood up on the table looking around at all the people with their cameras pointed at me, "I bet it would make all you assholes really sad if I died,  you wouldn't have anyone to pick on anymore."

I jumped off the table and walked out of the cafeteria and straight to the office. I knew mom was on her lunch break, but I didn't care. For most kids, the office is the last place they want to go during the day, for me, it's the only place I wanted to be.

Mr. Ferris, the principle, was walking out of his office when I walked in.

"Hello, Ms. Tyler," He said with a smile on his face, "How are you doing today?"

"I just hit a bump in the road today, but I'll be okay, thanks for asking," I gave him the best smile I could despite the aching in my chest. He walked out of the office with a nod and I curled up in the chair. At this moment, I wanted nothing more than to disappear.