My weakness

Chapter 12 : Are you okay mom?

The bell rang, signaling the end of another school day. Students poured out of classrooms, laughing and chatting as they navigated the crowded hallways. Jesse, lost in his thoughts, was making his way to the exit when he heard his name.

Jesse, wait up!" called Devon, hurrying to catch up with him.

Jesse turned to see Devon, her expression a mix of nervousness and determination. "Hey, Devon. What's up?"

She took a deep breath, glancing around to ensure some semblance of privacy in the bustling hallway. "Jesse, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's important."

Jesse furrowed his brow, concerned by the seriousness in her voice. "Sure, Devon. What's going on?"

They moved to a quieter corner, away from the prying eyes and ears. Devon hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, "Jesse, I can't keep it to myself any longer. I still have feelings for you."

Jesse's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the unexpected confession. "Devon, I... I appreciate your honesty, but you know I'm with Billie now. I love her deeply."

Devon nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I know, Jesse. And I respect that. It's just that seeing you two together, it stirs up old emotions. I thought I could move on, but it's harder than I thought."

Jesse sighed, understanding the complexity of the situation. "Devon, I care about you, but my heart belongs to Billie. She's the one I want to be with."

Just as the weight of the conversation settled between them, Jesse noticed Billie approaching, her eyes narrowing as she observed the intimate conversation between him and Devon.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Billie asked, her voice carrying a hint of jealousy.

Jesse turned to face Billie, his expression sincere. "Billie, it's not what it looks like. Devon just needed to talk, and I was trying to be there for her as a friend."

Billie's gaze shifted between Jesse and Devon, her suspicions lingering. "Well, it seemed like more than just a friendly chat. What were you talking about?"

Devon spoke up, her voice tinged with regret. "Billie, I want you to know that I respect your relationship with Jesse. I just needed to be honest with him about my feelings."

Billie crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on Jesse. "And what did he say?"

Jesse took a step closer to Billie, reaching for her hand. "I told Devon that my heart belongs to you. I love you, Billie. She needed closure, and I wanted to make sure she understood."

Billie's expression softened slightly, but the tension lingered. "Fine, but this better not become a habit. We have something special, and I won't let anyone come between us."

Jesse nodded, relieved that Billie seemed to understand. As they walked away together, hand in hand, Jesse couldn't shake the feeling that navigating the complexities of love and friendship was never a straightforward path.

The school day had come to an end, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jesse and Billie found themselves walking towards Jesse's house. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and the warmth of the fading daylight.

As they approached Jesse's front door, Billie couldn't help but notice the faint smell of alcohol lingering in the air. She exchanged a glance with Jesse, concern evident in her eyes.

Jesse hesitated for a moment, realizing that Billie had picked up on the situation. "Billie, I need to be honest with you. My mom's been going through a tough time lately, and, well, she's been drinking more than she should."