Bloody Mary // J. Hale

Friendship

A few days had passed since the trip to La Push, and Jenna had, indeed, come down with a cold. She spent the next several days confined to bed, surviving on little more than chicken soup and slowly working through her English assignments. Her phone stayed off; even its faint glow seemed to worsen the constant, dull ache in her head. Aside from letting Bella know she was out with the flu, Jenna had spoken to no one. In truth, she welcomed the quiet, grateful for an excuse to stay cocooned in the comfort of her room.

But eventually, her body recovered, and she had no choice but to return to school.

As much as she dreaded it, Jenna knew she couldn't hide forever. Sure enough, whispers followed her the moment she arrived, with people murmuring about how she'd nearly drowned at the beach. Pulling her scarf tighter around her neck, she noticed Lauren and her group on the far side of the parking lot, watching her and giggling. Oddly, Jessica wasn't with them. The absence felt strange—she was almost always at Lauren's side.

Jenna waved as her mother drove off, but a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach as her eyes scanned the parking lot. Toward the back, she spotted Jasper leaning against his Jeep. Even from this distance, she could tell he was watching her. She swallowed nervously, adjusting her backpack as an uncomfortable warmth crept over her. The fact that he'd likely heard about the beach incident nagged at her. Of course, he'd heard—nothing ever happened in Forks without the whole town knowing about it. She quickly broke their gaze, looking down as she forced herself to walk toward the school building.

Inside, the hallways were buzzing with sharper, cruel whispers that echoed off the walls.

"I can't believe she fell into the water."

"Why'd she come back? Doesn't she get that no one wants her here?"

"If only she'd drowned..."

"I thought she finally left for good. What a shame."

Jenna bit her lip as she walked, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground. Their words stung, biting deeper with each step. Her eyes blurred, a prickle of tears starting to gather.

You are destined to be alone.

A surge of helplessness rose in her chest. She wanted to turn and run, to escape anywhere else, as far from here as her feet would take her. It's so unfair... Why does everyone hate me so much?

Lost in the haze of her thoughts, Jenna didn't notice until she walked straight into someone.

"Jenna."

Startled, she looked up to see Eric standing in front of her, his dark hair hanging over his face, though she could see the worry in his eyes. "Eric," she managed to say, her voice cracking, teetering on the edge of tears. Without a word, Eric pulled her into a hug. She stiffened, surprised, but he only whispered, "Come here," and held her close. Usually, Jenna disliked physical contact, but this time, she didn't fight it. Instead, she buried her face against his chest, letting her tears flow, hidden from the cruel eyes around them.

She soon realized that Eric wasn't alone. She could sense at least three other people nearby, their footsteps soft but intentional as they stepped around her and Eric, forming a loose, protective barrier between her and the rest of the hallway.

"Hey!" Mike's voice rang out, loud and commanding, cutting through the noise and drawing the attention of everyone around them. The whispers stilled.

"If I hear anyone talk badly about our friend ever again, you'll regret it," he warned, his voice strong and steady. Jenna blinked, barely believing it—Mike was standing up for her?

Jessica's voice joined his, sharp and clear. "Yeah! Mind your own business, people!"

Jenna couldn't quite process what had just happened. The noise of the hallway began to swell again, but Eric gently led her toward the stairwell, where the air felt quieter, safer.