Broken Runaways

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Jeffrey

So close. I nearly got there. If only I had done something to distract her from noticing what I was doing.

Jessica was so secretive. It didn’t make much sense to me, though. Everything I knew she was going through was probably not something I hadn’t endured myself. I understood Jessica. I understood that she was like me, in the sense of the infliction of pain on ones person. It wasn’t hard for me to put the pieces together. Ever since I first got back into the school system, I had payed close attention to Jessica and her habits.

I noticed that she always wore long sleeves, constantly gripping to the rim of them. I noticed the emotions that ran through her eyes, the understanding, hurt, anger and disgust. I also noticed that she tended to put on a very different persona, depending on who she was with at that moment.

All habits I used to have, and still do. They were what I referred to as silent pleads for help. And without the right person and the knowledge that person had, could spot the pleads. Due to me having personal experience on the matter, it was fairly easy to notice it in Jessica.  I knew that the markings on her arms existed, but I guess I didn’t want to believe it. Though I did want to know if my suspicions had been correct.

When Jessica realized that my hand was inching up her sleeve, she cupped her hand in mine. As if denying me the justification of the truth. Not lying, but denial. I viewed that as worse. Refusing to believe the truth is a horrible thing. Not only for others around you, but towards your mental stability.

The bell that signalled the end of the day rang, and I quickly picked up my books and fast walked through the doors of the classroom. As I neared my locker, I saw Jessica bent down at the bottom of hers, trying to get something out of it. I slowed my pace and observed her as she did so. Watching as she struggled, I saw her place her left hand on the side of her locker. Jessica’s sleeve fell slightly down her arm without her noticing. I slowly approached behind her, making sure that the soles of my shoes didn’t make a sound against the tiled halls. Standing over her, I looked down her sleeve. I saw merely three bracelets, and sighed.

“Jesus Jeffrey, give a girl a warning.” Jessica standing up, a binder in hand. I opened my locker and threw my books inside, closing the locker after it. “Don’t you have any homework?” She asked, pushing a strand of her blonde curly hair behind her ear.

“I did it during extension. So no. No homework for me.” I told her. I saw her putting the binder in her hand inside of a messenger bag that was slung over her shoulder.

“Lucky. I have extension right before lunch.” Jessica told me before closing her locker.

“That must suck. Without extension at the end of the day, I would never do any homework.” I explained, walking next to Jessica down the hallway to the back entrance of the school. I pushed open the double doors, letting Jessica go through in front of me. I slipped my hand in my back pocket, pulling out my pack of cigarettes. I took a single cigarette and my lighter from the box, placing the end in between my lips, lighting it. Jessica watched me intently as I smoked, watching how I inhaled and exhaled.