Moonrise | Paul Lahote

17

Three weeks passed.

Three weeks of absolutely nothing.

Jenna sat with her friends at lunch. Jessica didn't talk to her. Bella didn't talk to her. Lauren and Tyler sat on a different table, but never too far. Always in their field of view, always touching. Everyone was a little confused.

Jessica withdrew from herself a little more every day.

And Jenna couldn't do a fucking thing.

"I can't do this," she seethed, glaring at the tiny flower pot on Emily's coffee table. "I fucking can't with her. Yesterday we were at lunch and she was looking at Jess while she made out with Tyler. That is just so messed up!"

"So kick her teeth in," Paul suggested.

"No! I promised I wouldn't, remember??" Jenna pinched the inside of her arms, which were already littered with a myriad of bruises. "Which also doesn't make sense. Everything is so fucked and so meaningless, and I-I'm just so angry all the time, I don't..."

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Paul grabbed her as she choked, gently prying her fingers off her arms. "Breathe, babe. Just breathe."

"Not fucking helping!" She growled, trying to fight him off.

But Paul was too strong and soon she was melting into his embrace, pinned against him so tightly she didn't have much of a choice. And as annoying as it was, she could feel her heartbeat start to slow.

"Sorry," she whispered once she'd calmed down, clinging to the front of his shirt. "You shouldn't have to hear this, you have enough to deal with."

"Don't be, it's a good distraction."

"Glad I can help," she sighed, loudly. "I don't know why I've been such a bitch lately."

"I think it's justified."

"So you agree that I'm bitchy?"

"Like I said, justifiable bitchiness."

"Hm."

He grinned down at her. "Is that a smile I see?"

"No."

"Yes it is," he sang. "I made you smile."

"Shut up," she grumbled, trying to force her lips back into place. It failed. "Ugh, why do you always say the right things?"

He shrugged. "I'm just smart?"

"You keep telling yourself that," Emily called as she swept in through the back door, only to pause at the sight of them, eyes widening. "Oh, no, what happened?"

"Nothing," Jenna sighed, still not moving from the hug.

"Bad day at work?"

"Something like that." Her day at the vet clinic hadn't been bad, just slow, giving her time to stew.

Which had brought up all the shit that was happening, and boom, mini crash-out.

Emily patted her back sympathetically. "Well I made muffins, and they should be done rightttt...." Bing! Went the oven. "Now."

Paul laughed as Jenna immediately shoved her way out of his arms, rushing to the kitchen where she sat at the island, watching Emily patiently as she took the muffins out, like a child waiting for a snack.

Emily giggled at the sight, setting the tin on the counter. "Wow, look a little more eager, why don't you?"

"I'm hungry," Jenna complained.

"They still need time to cool off, sorry."

Jenna wilted in her seat, only to perk up again as Sam came striding through.