| Focused, on you | ~Jaden walton

001

Highschool..
Last.. First day... of Highschool.
I slowly repeated to myself. Making sure I wasn't dreaming.

I rolled off my bed and landed face first on the floor. "Fuckk.." I said to myself, placing one hand on my head and the other on my knee.

"Ohh hunny, are you alright up there?" I heard my grandma yell from downstairs. "Yes Nona everything's fine!" I yelled back, as I examined the bruise forming on the corner of my head.
"Great. Justtt great." I say, grabbing my backpack and heading downstairs. I open the fridge and grab a quick snack before heading out.

Alex's cousin and I got really close over the years and I grew a sister like bond with her. She drove me and Alex to school almost everyday and had promised us that she'd be able to drive us again this year.

—

"Thanks again for picking me up" I say as I hop into the car. A smile forming as I do.

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New character
Alex's cousin: Kaleigh

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"Oh it's no problem!, so tell me again, what happened with you and Jaden?" Kaleigh asks. "I mean if it's alright that I ask. I know you both went through a lot last year" she turns to face me.

She was right,

Me and Jaden did have some tough to forget arguments, but.. that was all ancient history now.

—

"Jeez that sucks" Kaleigh says as me and Alex hop out of the car, both grabbing our backpacks at the same time. "Ya, but I'm alright now. It was for the.." I turn my gaze in the other direction and lose my train of thought. Everything went blank. I turned to Alex and her jaw was to the floor.

  "It was for the what?" Kaleigh silently questions. Not knowing what we've just witnessed.

Jaden and his new girlfriend Sierra were canoodling. In from of EVERYONE. I mean cmonnn, just get a room already. I silently say to myself.

"Omg is that the Jaden guy you were talking about just now?" Kaleigh questions as Jaden and Sierra walk past.

"Shh.. they can hear you!" Alex mumbled to her cousin. "She's right.. anyways let's get out of here I'm not feelings good today" I say, slowly turning around and thumping my bag in the front seat.

"Oh come on.. if you don't show up today Jadens gonna think you still hung up on him. Don't you realize how stupid that makes you seem? And anyways half the schools already seen you, if they find out you skipped school the second Jaden and Sierra made an appearance they'll know for sure that your just down bad and still not over him!" Alex said, trying to pull my arm towards the school doors.

"Maybe your right but this whole things made me sick already, I think it's best for me to get home instead of causing drama. It'll be better anyways, I'm not prepared for the rumours." I reply. "Suit yourself! I've got a chem test." Alex says as she twirls and heads toward the doors. "On the first day back?" I shout as she walks farther away. "Yup! Have fun at home, I'll keep you updated on what goes on today" I nod my head and get in the car.

   After the long silence in the car ride home with Kaleigh she finally decided to talk first "This was the wrong choice" she said as she turned to me
", Alex was right." She continued. "I'm not here for your input right now" I say in a somewhat aggressive tone. "Jeez this whole Jaden thing must be driving you crazy. I've never seen you act like that," she says as she turns to me. "Don't do it again though," she chuckles. I begin to laugh with her.

2 hours later:

  Me and Kaleigh decided to stop for some ice cream on our way back home. "So should we start heading back? Kaleigh questions. "Oh.. can we not? I mean, my grandparents are home and.. they wouldn't be happy if they knew I skipped." I replied. "You're right. Let's just hang out at my place until Alex finishes school." Kaleigh says. "Not before sending Alex a selfie of us!" I say as I  grab my phone and flip it open. "She's gonna be so jealous" Kaleigh says as we both chuckle.

At school:

We honk the car multiple times before Alex even realizes we're here. She comes running to the car with a blank expression. Which is unusual for someone like her, she expresses things in any way she can. " Whats up?," I say as I open the car door for her. "Very gentlemen like, thank you" Alex replies to my gesture. "Right, now answer the question" I state,

Alex takes a short breath and starts to mumble. "I can't hear you? Speak louder" I reply. "Fine.. Jaden stopped me in the halls today. He told me that he was having a surprise party thrown for Sierra and that everyone was invited except you, he then told me that he thought it would be for the best and there would be less "drama" if you weren't there. He asked me to give you this." Alex then proceeded to hand me a scrummy note that was folded about a hundred times. "Jeez what happened to this thing." I laugh in nervousness.
The note states the following. "Can we talk tomorrow?" Was all that written. Can this man not just text me? I mean I thought we were still friends? Maybe I misinterpreted how we left things.. I'm so foolish I thought to myself.

Alex must've noticed me zoning out because she tapped me on my shoulder. "Someone's here to talk to you.." Alex said as she nudged her head towards the window. I looked up and saw Jaden standing infront of our car. "Hey.. can we talk?" Jaden said quietly. I looked around to both Kaleigh and Alex. They both signalled for me to go, so I unbuckled my seatbelt. Jaden came around and opened the door as I stepped out.
"Thanks, so.. what'd you wanna talk to me about"I ask coldly. "I was just.." Jaden couldn't form the correct words, it was pretty obvious from the way he was constantly moving around and trying his best to not make eye contact. "You were just.. what?" I asked. "Are you ok?" Jaden blurts. "Ya, why wouldn't I be" I chuckle nervously, once again. "Nothing it's just.. your  head looks pretty messed" Jaden says as he looks down at me. "Excuse me!?, what's that supposed to mean?" I question.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that, I just meant.." Jaden arches closer and moves the hair from my forehead. "It looks like you got hit pretty bad, I was just wondering if you were hurting yourself or if something happened," Jaden admits. I had been so caught up in everything else around me that I didn't seem to realize the bruise that happened this morning when I fell of my bed. "Oh, ya I'm fine. Thanks though." I reply dryly. "That's weird.. you don't sound sick?" Jaden questions. "What do you mean?" I ask. "Well, this morning Alex told me the reason you were absent was because you were sick.." Was he asking about me? No he wasn't.. he was just worried. Jeez what was I thinking?.. that he actually liked me again? I think Kaleigh was right. I must've completely lost my mind. "It was nice talking to you Jaden, I've got to go" I run to the car before letting him reply. I couldn't face the lies he was telling me. I'm sure he knew that Alex would tell me he wasn't going to invite me. What's his aim? To hurt me even more?..