Fade (On Hold)

Chapter Four:

Jason

I didn't expect to see a balled up figure in my spot under the stairs. I immediately knew who it was though, I'd heard the whispers all day.

     "Jordan," I sighed, striding over to her, setting my stuff down before taking a seat beside her on the dirty floor.

     I quietly watched her small shoulders shake, sobs rippling through her body. Her phone was a few feet away, shattered, as if she had thrown it against the wall. She probably had.

     It was circulating around school that she had received a mysterious phone call in the middle of second period, and never returned, but was seen racing down the hall in tears.

And here she was, falling apart in the place I came to think. She lifted her tear streaked face in acknowledgement to me, my heart lurching when she tried to stammer out an apology.

"Hey," I scooted closer to her, awkwardly wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

She flinched at my touch, but doesn't duck out of it like I expect her to. She doesn't move, except to place her head back between her knees, still trembling as sobs continue to rack through her body.

I sat with her quietly until she was able to regain control of her breathing, and she blinks those watery olive eyes at me.

I stare back at her, her short hair that had gotten noticeably thinner, her sharp cheekbones, those full lips...

"Why are you here?" I snap back to attention at the raw tone of her voice, lacking any sarcasm or hate.

I lift a shoulder, giving her a tiny smile. "You needed someone here," I shrugged, "And I happened to be that someone."

"No," she shook her head. "Why were you coming here? Originally?" A stray tear slips down her cheek, and I'm quick to brush it away. Stop.

"You've been crying your eyes out and you're concerned about me?"

"I'm not concerned," she denies, and I chuckle before turning the subject back to her.

"Is everything okay with you?"

"No," she looks away, tugging her bottom lip between her teeth. Damn.

"It'll work out eventually," she finally settles on, ducking out from under my arm. "Thanks for staying with me, though." She coughs slightly, gathering her stuff and her damaged phone. "I'll let you be."

"You can stay," I find myself say abruptly, and the surprise is evident on her face, and I'm sure the same goes for mine.

     "Ohkayyy," she backtracks and sits beside me once again, shooting me a small smirk. "Are you sure? I don't want to ruin your reputation."

I roll my eyes. "What's it with you and my reputation?"

     She still has those eyes locked on mine, taunting. "What's it with you talking to me?"

     "Sorry babe, if it bothers you I can leave you alone."

     Her face tints pink. "What's it with the pet names?" She demands. "Sweetheart, babe, what's gonna be next?"