𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 » j.g × j.w

t h r e e

jake

i can't stop thinking about the boy from earlier. he looked so scared and i don't know if it's because he got caught or what.

i guess it's obvious something is bothering me because tara gives me a weird look. "babe, what's wrong?" she asks. i purse my lips. "oh, it's nothing. just something that happened at school," i reply.

she pouts. "it has to be serious if you're thinking about this much," she says. "just tell me."

i sigh heavily. "this dude at school.. i think he cut himself? i don't know. i was with colby in the bathroom and i walked in on him wrapping up his wrists."

tara gasps. "he's okay?" she asks.

"i don't know! i heard from a few people that he ran away and that 911 was called."

tara looks stunned. not the good kind at all.

"what does he look like?" she asks.

"he's emo. he has piercings, tattoos. wears make up. the dude always wearing long sleeves even when it's almost 100 degrees out."

tara makes a face like she just ate a lemon. "jake, you stumbled upon that weirdo?"

i turn to her. "what the fuck, tara?"

she looks offended. "he's weird! i've never seen him talk to anyone!"

i get off the couch. tara grabs my arm and attempts to pull me back, but fails miserably.

"let go of me!" i shout, yanking my arm from her. "if we see him at lunch, we're sitting with him. if he doesn't have any friends, then we'll be his friends, okay?"

tara looks like she's about to cry.

i put my hands on her shoulders and lock eyes with her. "i'm not going to some sad memorial because a kid at school killed himself that could've been prevented, okay?"

tara nods.

"we're gonna make sure he doesn't feel like an outcast. you don't wanna talk to him? that's fine. at least be civil with him." i let go of her shoulders before gathering my stuff.

"jake, where the hell are you going?" she asks. "i'm going to colby's for a bit. i'll see you later." i plant a kiss on her head before leaving.

"you're overreacting about some guy you don't even know!" she shouts. "just stay with me, you don't have to go to colby's."

"tara, i love you but we're not arguing about this. bye, i'll text you when i get to colby's."