Imagines with Jenna Ortega

More Than Friends 5

Two hours earlier, Jenna had gone with Percy to the store he kept talking about, only to find several of his friends already there. Surrounded by strangers, she felt out of place, smiling awkwardly as conversations flowed around her. The truth stung—she didn't know any of them, not really. Maybe she was moving too fast with Percy, clinging to him as a way to bury the feelings she still carried for Y/n.

Percy, on the other hand, blended in easily with his friends—laughing loud, trading inside jokes, showing off his latest finds from the store. Every now and then he'd throw an arm around Jenna's shoulders, pulling her closer as if to prove something, but he never really noticed the uneasy silence in her eyes.

Jenna sat there, nodding when spoken to, but the more Percy bragged and laughed, the more she felt like an outsider. It wasn't the kind of warmth she used to feel with Y/n. With Percy, it all felt... loud, rushed, and empty.

"I–I think I should go," Jenna said suddenly, her voice small but firm. "I just remembered we have exams coming up. I should... study."

Percy's smile dropped, replaced by a look of disbelief. "Seriously? You're ditching me for books?" He let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "Come on, Jens. We've barely hung out, and I brought you here to meet my friends. You can study anytime. Don't make me look bad in front of them."

Jenna froze, his words digging at her. A part of her wanted to stay just to avoid the guilt he was piling on—but another part of her longed to escape, to breathe.

Jenna took a quiet breath, steadying herself. "Percy, I appreciate you bringing me here, but... I don't feel comfortable. These aren't my friends, and honestly, I really do need to study." She managed a small, polite smile. "You don't have to look bad—just tell them I wasn't feeling well. It's fine."

Percy's jaw tightened, clearly unhappy with her answer, but Jenna didn't let him cut in. She stood, grabbed her bag, and added softly, "Thanks for inviting me, though." Then, without waiting for his reply, she walked out of the store, her chest heavy but her steps firm.

As the cab drove off, Jenna sank back against the seat, guilt pressing heavy in her chest. She felt wrong—leaving her friends back at the café, leaving Y/n most of all. The way Y/n had looked at her, silently begging her to stay, still lingered in her mind. It hurt, because she wanted to stay too. But instead, she gave Percy what he wanted... and now she was running away from the mess she created.

When the cab stopped, Jenna quickly paid and hurried into her dorm, trying to shake off the ache in her chest. But no matter how hard she tried, Y/n's wounded smile kept flashing in her mind.

"Wow! That was quick," Emma said, arms crossed as Jenna stepped into the room. Her tone was cold, disappointment dripping from every word. "Out with your new friend already? Or should I say your boyfriend?"

Jenna froze, guilt flooding her chest. "He's not my boyfriend," she whispered, but her voice lacked strength.

Emma scoffed, shaking her head. "You ditched us—ditched Y/n—for him. Do you have any idea how crushed she looked when you walked out with Percy?"

Jenna finally lifted her eyes, and Emma could see the shame written all over her face. Her lips trembled as she spoke. "I know," Jenna admitted softly. "I know I hurt her. I just... I didn't know what to do. Every time I'm around Y/n, my feelings get so overwhelming, and I thought maybe if I spent time with Percy, I could forget. But I can't."

Emma's anger faltered, replaced with a heavy sigh. "Jens... running away from your feelings isn't fixing anything. You're only breaking her—and yourself."

Jenna's eyes watered as she dropped her bag to the floor. "I know," she whispered again, her voice cracking. "And I hate myself for it."

Emma sat down on her bed, watching Jenna with a long, heavy stare. "Jens," she said firmly, "I need to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me."