In The Next Life

Chapter Fourteen

It was awkward again in the house the next morning. Every time In looked at her, worry would grow in his eyes. She left In and New to fend for themselves and hitched a ride to school with Dew.

"How did last night go?" Dew asked as she pulled out of the parking lot. Jew shook her head as she fixed the pin in her hair.

"Not great. They spent all night worrying about me and now In can't even look at me without his smile fading." Jew sighed, closing her visor mirror.

"You told them about that night?" Dew looked a little sympathetic.

"I didn't really have much choice. They thought I lied to them and was keeping things from them. They wanted to hear my side so I told them my side." She just shrugged, crossing her arms.

"Are you okay?" Dew asked seriously. Jew hesitated before answering with a sigh.

"No. I didn't want to relive that. And I still...I still can't promise I'll go back to them. But In's breaking. I can tell." Her head thumps back against the seat as they pull into the parking lot.

"Okay. Hey. Stop that." Dew pulls into a spot and turns to face Jew. "None of that. You're blaming yourself, when you shouldn't be."

"I'm letting him down, Dew. Both of them."

"Nope. Nu uh. Stop that." Dew squishes Jew's face in her hands. "YOU are focusing on YOU. And that's the important thing."

"Urmcrniplzhafmyfashbach?" Jew attempted to ask through her squished face, but Dew gently used her hands to shake Jew's head.

"No. Stop focusing on the boys. Give yourself a break. Focus on what you love most."

"Pothaoshps?" She questions, causing Dew to laugh and let go of her face. Jew stretches out her jaw with a small pout.

"No, you dork. The swim team's trip is this weekend, and if I hear correctly you're going to the same place as your dad's first trip? That island is beautiful AND you get to swim all weekend. Put your focus on that." Dew smiles, proud of herself. Jew raises an eyebrow and an amused look crossed her face.

"How do you know so much about the trip?" Jew laughs as Dew's face turns as red as her hair. "Oh busted! Lian told you!" Dew hits her in the arm.

"Shut uuuuuup." She groans.

"Oh come on, just admit it already! You guys really aren't subtle." Jew laughs, grabbing her bag from the back seat. Dew just huffs at her and u locks the doors.

"Out. I will not be shamed in my own car."

"Hey hey, no shaming here. Tell your boyfriends hi for me." Jew laughs getting out of the car, narrowly dodging the paper ball thrown after her. She laughs, waving bye to the flushing red-head as she drives off. Jew shakes her head heading onto campus. Her smile falls as she walks into the courtyard and sees Shi leaning against one of the tables, staring directly at her.

Jew really didn't want to get into it with her so she put her focus past Shi and started walking. She didn't make it far before a hand was pulling her back, to face the one girl she didn't want to speak to.

"That, at the party, was uncalled for." Shi said through gritted teeth. Jew yanked her arm out of the girls grip.

"Uncalled for? You know what was uncalled for? Taking advantage of my trust. Dating my girlfriend. And then still playing the fucking victim." Jew hisses back, her grip going to her bag to keep her from punching the face in front of her.

"First off, Em made the first move. As for taking advantage of our friendship? I was with Em LONG before you were ever a part of my life. And that was all her decision. So maybe get your facts st-"