Love that always last 2 - christina's dark life

Chapter 2: A Shattered Illusion

The next few days passed in a blur, each one blending into the next, filled with the same anxiety and uncertainty that had become Christina's new normal. But as Friday approached, she tried to distract herself with thoughts of the party she had reluctantly agreed to attend. She needed to break free from the weight of her own thoughts, if only for a night.

After school that day, Christina hurried to the cafeteria, eager to find her boyfriend, Jackson. They had been dating for a few months, and he had quickly become a source of comfort amidst the chaos of her life. But as she approached their usual table, she spotted him laughing with Patricia—the girl who had made her life hell since middle school.

"Great," Christina muttered under her breath, irritation bubbling up inside her. She stood just out of earshot, trying to convince herself that she was overreacting. Jackson was just being friendly, right?

But as she watched, her heart sank. Patricia leaned in close to Jackson, her laughter ringing like daggers in Christina's ears. "You're such a dork!" she teased, flicking his arm playfully. Jackson's smile was wide, and he looked so... taken with her.

Feeling her stomach twist in knots, Christina approached the table, forcing a smile. "Hey, guys!" she said, her voice more upbeat than she felt.

Jackson turned, his expression shifting to one of genuine happiness. "Hey, babe! I was just talking to Patricia about the party tonight. You're coming, right?"

Christina's smile faltered. "Yeah, I'm going. But I thought we were gonna hang out before then?"

"Of course! But Patricia was just telling me about this crazy story from last week. You should've seen it!" Jackson continued, oblivious to the tension in Christina's voice.

"Right. Because you're so fucking interested in her stories," Christina said, her tone sharper than she intended.

Jackson frowned, a hint of confusion flickering across his face. "What's wrong? I thought you liked Patricia."

"I don't!" she snapped, clenching her fists. "She's a bully, Jackson. You know that!"

"Christina, chill. I'm just hanging out with her. It doesn't mean anything," Jackson replied, rolling his eyes. "You're being ridiculous."

At that moment, Patricia chimed in, leaning back in her chair with a smirk. "Aww, don't be jealous, Christina. Jackson and I were just reminiscing about how we both like the same music. Right, Jackson?"

Christina's heart raced, and her breath hitched in her throat. "You like the same music? What a fucking coincidence," she said, sarcasm dripping from her words.

Jackson sighed, clearly exasperated. "This isn't about music! You're making a big deal out of nothing!"

"Nothing? She's the one who makes my life a living hell! Do you really not see it?" Christina shouted, her voice rising above the chatter of the cafeteria.

Jackson looked taken aback, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about? Patricia is just—"

"Just what? Just the girl you're suddenly so interested in? Do you want to be with her instead?" Christina's voice cracked, the hurt spilling over.

The cafeteria quieted, and the weight of eyes fell upon them. Christina felt exposed, vulnerable, as whispers spread through the room.

Jackson glanced at Patricia, who wore a smug smile, before looking back at Christina. "You're being dramatic. I thought we were past this."

"Past what?" she shot back, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "Past you being a fucking idiot? Because it sure as hell doesn't feel like it!"

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the cafeteria, her heart pounding. She could hear Jackson calling after her, but the sound faded into the background as she pushed through the double doors and into the hallway.

"Christina, wait!" Jackson's voice echoed behind her, but she didn't stop. She couldn't bear to face him right now, couldn't bear the thought of being around him and Patricia together.

Her thoughts swirled like a storm inside her head as she raced down the hall, barely aware of her surroundings. She needed to escape. She found herself outside, where the cool air hit her face, grounding her momentarily.

She slumped against a nearby wall, gasping for breath, anger and sadness coursing through her. How could he be so blind? How could he not see how toxic Patricia was?

The minutes stretched into an eternity as she tried to calm her racing heart. But as the reality of what had just happened settled in, she realized that this was just another reminder of how alone she felt.

Christina pulled out her phone and typed a message to Mia: I need to talk. Can you meet me?

Her fingers trembled as she hit send, and she felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, Mia would understand.

As she waited, she glanced back at the school, seeing students milling about, laughing, and living their lives. The warmth of the sun felt like a cruel reminder of the coldness that had settled in her heart.

She had trusted Jackson, had allowed herself to believe in the normalcy of teenage romance, but now it felt shattered, like glass scattered across the floor. With Patricia looming in the background, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever feel safe in her own skin again.