The infected

2. School

JAY

Jared pulls the car into their usual parking spot. All around them people are making their way into the building. Jay opens the door and grabs  his bag from the back.

"Okay so we'll all meet back up here when school is over" Jarred says.

"I have gymnastics practice till 4" Jay says.

"Bio clubs first meeting is today" Jenna adds.

Jarred frowns.

"Okay, so I guess we'll meet an hour after school ends" he says.

Jenna slings her bag over her shoulder and links arms with Jay.

"Sounds great. See you then" she says and they walk off together.

Soon a group of people surround Jarred. Jay looks back at his brother and smiles. Jarred has always been the likeable one who makes friends easily, while he on the other hand would be completely alone if it wasn't for Jenna.

They step through the school doors and make their way to homeroom. All around them people are starting to steal glances and wisper things to each other.

"Seriously?" Jenna says throwing dirty looks at them.

Jay sighs.

"We expected this remember" he says.

Jenna stops in front of the classroom door.

"Yeah I know. I just thought it would be old news by now" she says.

Last year Jay's popularity shot up a bit when he started dating Jeriko the schools shinning athlete. The relationship was fun and for a while even Jay himself began to believe that they were endgame. But on Christmas eve Jay realised that maybe the two of them just weren't meant to be and broke up with him.

The breakup became public knowledge very quickly thanks to social media. After that ,since they never gave a real explanation as to why they broke up, speculations and rumours began to spread over the break.

"Jenna it's fine, let them think they have it all figured out" Jay says.

Jenna meets his eye.

"You sure you're gonna be okay today?" She asks.

Jay looks around and sure as ever they're all still wispering about him. He looks back at his sister and smiles as convincingly as he can.

"They all ignored me before, maybe if I'm lucky they'll do it again." He says and takes her hand leading her into class.

JARRED

"As seniors this year you all have a duty to set a good example for your fellow students in the lower grades..."
Mrs Turner goes on and on with her speech.

All around him Jarred can tell that no one is actually paying any attention, him included.

"Hey hot shot" Lucas wispers next to him.

Jarred picks his head off the table and looks at him.

"What?" He says.

"So I heard your brother cheated on that Jeriko guy and that's why they broke up" Lucas says.

Jarred rolls his eyes.

"Is there a point to anything you're saying Luke?" He says.

"Well I wanted to know if it was true" he wispers.

"I don't know Luke. In case you haven't noticed I'm not Jeriko or my brother, if you want to know why they broke up so badly then why don't you ask them"

Lucas blinks hard as Jarreds words sink in.

"Sorry I asked" he says.

Mrs Turner continues with her speech till the bell rings and everyone leaves while she's still talking. Lucas goes out the door and begins spreading what Jarred said to him.

"You think she knows that she repeats the same speech to every senior class every year?" Talia says standing next to Jarred.

"My theory is that she's going to keep repeating it till she meets a class that will actually listen" Leo adds.

Jarred laughs. High school would be a nightmare without his friends. The bell rings again and they make their way to their first lesson.

JAY

Jay sets his tray on the table and catches yet another person pointing at him from across the room.

"You know you would think people would learn to mind their own businesses" he says and takes a seat.

Jenna looks back and frowns again.

"It's your fault for dating an athlete. Now your business is everyones buisness" She says.

Jay sighs and for a second everything around him goes silent like someone pressed the mute button on life. He looks around his eyes being drawn to something. They scan the room till they meet his. He's standing alone on the other side of the fence outside the school. Jay can't see him properly but inside him he can't shake the feeling that he knows him from somewhere.

They're eyes are locked and it feels like the only thing that exists is this moment between them. The boy turns to his right and Jay can tell that something he sees scares him. When their eyes meet again the boy only holds eye contact for a second before hurrying off.

Jay tries to trace his movements but soon the boy disappears behind some cars.

"What do you think Jay?" Jenna asks.

Jason looks up and blinks hard the feeling he had leaving his body.

"About what?" He says.

Emma who he guesses must have just recently joined them for lunch sighs.

"The line up for this years gymnastics team" she says.

"It's the same every year. Besides coach hasn't even picked a captain yet" Jay answers.

"It has to be you" Jenna says.

"Totally" Emma agrees.

"No way you guys"

"Oh come on Jason. You're the best we have and besides we all actually like you" Emma says.

Jay looks around. Before during lunch he would be sitting next to Jeriko surrounded by a bunch of people who never even used to acknowledge his existence much less eat with him. They would makes jokes and laugh about stuff making sure everyone else could hear how much fun they were having.

"I don't think people like me all that much anymore" he says.

"That's just beacuse they think you cheated on Jeriko" Emma says.

Jenna and Jay exchange a look.

"THEY WHAT??" They both exclaim.

Emma frowns like it's common knowledge, which it looks like it is now.

"You guys haven't heard?. People are saying you had sex with some other guy durring the break and Jeriko found out so he dumped you."

Jay has to take a second to actually process what she just said.

"Where in the world would they get that from?" Jenna asks.

Emma shrugs.

"It's just what people are saying" she says.

The bell rings signifying that lunch is over.

"Look I have History right now, but we should meet up at practice today" Emma says and leaves.

Jason looks to Jenna who smiles at him.

"It's not true Jay. Give it a week and they'll be on to gossiping about someone else" she says but Jay can tell that she doesn't believe it herself.

He nods and they get up from the table. But just before he leaves he has to look back at where he saw the boy earlier.