HOAX ~M.Sturniolo

011• not lying

After school on Wednesday, Emma had insisted she come over to Jess's house. Jess had been feeling tired that day, but she let her come over anyway. Jess had originally thought Emma just really wanted to hangout, but when they were finally alone in her room, Emma had a more serious face.

"Jess, I'm gonna ask you serious question. Will you answer it truthfully?" Emma even put her hand on Jess's shoulder for a second. The second Emma did that, Jess freaked out a little bit. Because Emma was usually never serious.

"Your freaking me out" Jess had to say before pausing and answering "yeah"

"A guy from the south hockey texted me. He said that you slept with Matt that night of the party. Is that true?" Emma spoke clearer and smoother than she usually did. Jess's eyes widened, because who said that. She was lost for words for a second or two before gathering herself.

"No, why would someone say that?" Jess asked confused as hell. She wondered why people felt the need to spread around bullshit rumors.

"it's just....this guy who is on the south hockey team with Matt. Well, he said that they all talked about it in the locker room. Including Matt" Emma confessed. Jess felt like her heart fall into her stomach, hearing Matt had something to do with it. She thought that him, knowing her struggles and needs, would not lie about something like that.

"Are you sure?" Jess asked out hoarsely. Emma nodded, even showing her the instagram DM. Jess sat there for a few seconds, feeling the hurt and betrayal.

"Well nothing happened! I swear" Jess said defensively once she realized Emma didn't believe her.

"Jess, I know. I believe you. But I guess you were right. That kid is an asshole" Emma said defending Jess. And Jess agreed with her. Matt sturniolo was a huge asshole.

"Hey, don't snitch about this to Logan please" Jess held Emma's arm to make sure she was listening.

"Why would I do that?" Emma asked with a clueless smile.

"Because you always do" Jess said more serious. And Emma couldn't deny. She did tell Logan everything. But she was concerned! Ever since it happened, she's made sure to inform him on everything.

Jess didn't feel like even going to practice because of the situation. She didn't want eyes on her. She knew that the players from South would all just believe Matt, and think that something happened between them. But she was perfectly fine, not even a runny nose. So she went to school, got changed into her hockey gear, and then headed into the rink.

"Hey Jess" Jess heard some guy snicker as she stepped onto the ice. Instinctively, she turned her head. She was met with Brody's face. She went to leave this awkward situation, but Brody caught her arm, twisting her back.

"Don't touch me" Jess pulled her arm back.

"Sorry. Only Matt can do that, huh?" Brody said with this knowing look, like he knew the weight his comment held. Jess just looked at him, surprised he really just said that to her face.

"No one can do that" she corrected, before skating off.

Jess could feel eyes on her the whole practice. She was glad the coaches were separating the two teams for one practice, because she didn't want any south hockey players near her. It was when practice ended that the problem showed up right in front of her.

Jess had took a really long time to get changed, wanting to wait for all the players to clear out. She knew Logan wouldn't really mind waiting a few minutes in his car. But when Jess finally stepped out of the locker room, Matt was standing there, waiting. She gave him a disgusted and nervous look, which made Matt ache of guiltiness. By now, he knew he should have done a better job shutting down that rumor.

"Jess-"

"Save it" she cut him off, not needing to talk with him about anything. She was back to that night at the party, when Matt stole her seat. She was back to that feeling of hatred and irritation with him.

"No, I have to talk to you" Matt insisted.

"Well I don't want to talk to you. Ever" Jess emphasized the "ever".

"Well I wanna talk to you. I need to tell you-"

"That you told all your 'bros' that we slept together?" Jess cut him off bitterly. Matt gave her a genuine confused expression, because why did she think that? He had been the one trying to shut down that narrative, which was started by his teammates.

"I never said that" Matt said in a sincere voice. But all Jess could do was scowl at him. He wanted to say stupid shit and then lie about it? Fine.

"Don't lie, asshole. I know what you said to all your friends about it" Jess was growing angrier by the second. Why should she just let him get away with this. She was going to give him a peace of her mind.

"I'm not lying" Matt puts his hands in the air defensively "a bunch of guys just said that had happened. I told them nothing happened. Really" Matt stride to explain. But Jess lost her trust with him.

"Matt, I'm not gonna stand here while you lie to my face. It's fucking sick that you wanna lie and say we did that, when we didn't. Then deny you said it. But don't worry, I'm never gonna trust you again" Jess spat out at him.

"Jess, cmon believe me-"

"No! And you have the nerve to lie about some thing like that after what I told you" Jess could feel the tears forming as she pointed her finger to his chest while she spoke "I opened up to you, and now you tell all your friends this?" The tears that were forming are now spilling down her face. She cursed herself for giving him a chance.

Jess walked away to where Logan sat in his car. He didn't look up from his phone until she closed the door, buckling her seatbelt. "Hey, what happened" Logan asked concerned when he noticed the tears.

"I don't want to talk about it" she so knew she shouldn't talk about it. Jess knew enough to not tell her overly protective brother that a boy made her cry. So they went home. Thankfully, Jess had cleared her tears before she got home, because their parents had came back. Yeah, they had to leave again in two days, but them being home gave Jess a little happiness.

"Hey sweetie!" Her mother gave her a hug. Jess hated it though. It felt fake. Like the plastic toys from McDonald's. And Jess usually left them in the box, untouched. Separated from the stuff that mattered.

Jess hugged her, before turning to just smile at her father. She hated to admit she hated when they were home. They made things so awkward. At least with Logan she actually felt comfortable with. Jess cringed when she saw Logan shake their fathers hand.

Their parents had that disconnect from their kids when Jess was about 6. Logan was probably 7-8. Even though it was about a year difference, she wondered if he could remember more of the warmness from their parents than her. Jess had vague memories of chocolate on Christmas Eve, watching Stand By Me on summer nights, or burning s'mores in the backyard. Other than that, the robot looking parents is what she knew.

Logan had a strong resentment for his parents, as anyone would. He hated when they were back. And that was saying something, because if they were gone, he ran the house. Getting Jess up for school. Ordering or sometimes cooking dinner. Cleaning the house. Yeah, Jess helped with all those, but the real responsibility lay on his shoulders like bricks. He hated his parents for how they used to be. How they changed. How they are now. He couldn't wait for them to leave again, because just their faces made him upset. He always noticed the scar on his mother's finger, from when she accidentally cut herself while they cut onions one night. Or the pierced ear his father had, when he showed Jess it really wasn't scary to pierce your ear. All of it made him want to be gone

He wanted to do good in school. Go to college. Get a job. Move out and make something of himself. Make enough money to never talk to them again. Which might seem a little dramatic, since they only pop in for a few days before their home again. But that was the main reason he wanted that. It wasn't the constant disappointment of them just being their. Him and Jess could have an amazing week, and forget all about their parents. Then, they would pop in, reminding them they existed. Logan didn't even want that possibility.

Sorry for the short chapter.
Also more Matt next chapter