WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

27.Lines We Can't Cross

Vanessa's first class had been intense, packed with new concepts that kept her jotting notes with fierce concentration. By the time she gathered her things and left, her mind was pleasantly buzzing with the morning's lecture. But as she moved down the hall toward the cafeteria, her focus started to slip, replaced by a gnawing discomfort she'd been trying to ignore. Jack's absence had hung over the class, a noticeable gap that none of her friends had openly acknowledged but all had felt. It had been two days since that night at the party, and still no one had heard from him.

Vanessa sighed, feeling a twinge of guilt mixed with her lingering frustration. Jack's stunt with the pill and the kiss he'd forced on her had left her reeling. She hadn't even tried to reach out to him, still upset by his behavior, but part of her wondered where he was and what he might be going through. Luke and Simon had taken him home that night, and after checking on her, they'd been more than willing to drop the whole Jack situation to focus on her.

As she stepped into the bustling cafeteria, she spotted Luke, Amy, Maya, Cassy, and Simon huddled around a table in their usual spot by the windows, the late autumn sun casting soft, filtered light over their group. They were deep in conversation, but as she approached, she noticed the subtle tension in their expressions. It was Luke who saw her first, waving her over with a warm smile.

"Hey, Vanessa!" he called, his voice lifting the mood slightly as everyone turned to greet her. Vanessa slid into the open seat beside him, setting down her tray with a small sigh of relief.

"Finally made it out of class, huh?" Simon teased, grinning. "We figured you'd be quizzing the professor until they ran out of answers."

Vanessa laughed, nudging him lightly. "What can I say? Just trying to keep up," she replied, a hint of playfulness in her tone. She took a sip of water, glancing around the table, catching the familiar looks of concern that lingered in her friends' eyes.

There was a pause, a momentary quiet that stretched just a bit too long as everyone exchanged glances. Maya shifted, her gaze narrowing slightly as if weighing whether to say what was on everyone's mind.

Finally, she broke the silence. "So... has anyone heard from Jack?" Her question hung in the air like a weight, drawing the focus of everyone at the table.

Amy bit her lip, looking down at her food with a small frown. Luke and Simon exchanged a quick, tense glance, both of them clearly uncomfortable with the topic. Cassy just sighed, folding her hands in her lap, as if bracing herself for the conversation.

Just as Maya finished speaking, Vanessa took a seat behind her, catching the last of Maya's question. All eyes immediately darted to Vanessa, as if waiting to see how she'd react.

Vanessa felt the tension rise around her, but she didn't flinch. She took a deep breath, pushing down her own discomfort, and met Maya's gaze with a steady look. "I was actually thinking about texting him," she said, her voice calm but firm. "We... need to talk about what happened at the party."

Her words drew a few surprised looks from her friends, who had half-expected her to keep her distance from Jack after the stunt he'd pulled. Luke looked at her, his expression softening with a hint of understanding. "Do you... want one of us to come with you?" he offered gently.

Vanessa shook her head. "No, I need to handle this on my own," she replied. "But thank you." She glanced down at her hands, fingers absently tracing patterns on the table as she thought about the conversation she needed to have with Jack.

Just as Vanessa finished speaking, a new voice interrupted the somber atmosphere at the table. "Hey, Vanessa!"

Ben's warm smile appeared over her shoulder as he approached their group, waving at her and glancing around the table at the others. "Mind if I join for a minute?"