Jett

46

When they got back to the apartment, Jett didn't bother being quiet. She let the door slam behind them and noted the way that Kayden flinched at the sound.

When he caught her look, he just gave her a wry smile coupled with a shrug, obviously unwilling to explain the reaction.

Before Jett could decide whether to push or not she was tackled by a blue blur. Jinx's arms wrapped themselves tightly around her neck as the two of them tumbled to the ground. Jett barely registered the fall, instead she found herself more occupied with how desperately Jinx was hugging her. She felt a slight stab of guilt at disappearing on her and slowly reciprocated the awkward floor hug by gently wrapping her arms around Jinx's torso.

"I hate it when you do that," Jinx muttered as she pulled back, sitting so that she was straddling her instead.

Jett just looked back up at her from where she lied on the ground. She wasn't quite sure of what to say back. Apologies would be inadequate in comparison to the stress she had put Jinx under and her brain was too foggy to construct anything sincere anyway. She hadn't been able to sleep in days; memories both old and new had been attacking her every time she closed her eyes. It had been almost too easy to drown them out with drinking or fighting or something else equally dangerous and reckless. Though, there in the apartment with people she knew would have her back no matter what, she was able to relax a little bit. Which meant she had to fight back the absurd idea of just falling asleep on the floor right under Jinx's stern gaze.

Instead, she lightly pushed Jinx off of her and sat up. "I couldn't stay here," She spoke truthfully, staring at the ugly mustard couch that Jazz had chosen when she had picked out their apartment. The two of them had even shared a bed considering the trouble Jett had falling asleep on her own. Everywhere she looked held a little bit of Jazz that was near impossible to ignore.

"Neither could I," Jinx spoke and Jett felt like a coward as she stared back at her, the silent 'but I did because I had to' hanging heavily between them. Of course Jinx wouldn't want to stay there either but after Jett bailed she didn't have the luxury of a change of scenery. If Jett had just stayed put they would have been able to finish up and leave days ago.

"Glad you've decided to show up," Naziah saved Jett from having to say anything as she made her way into the living room, standing in front of the kitchen area with her arms crossed.

It was the first time Jett had looked at Naziah since Jazz died and she had to stop herself from grimacing at the sight. Instead, she kept her face neutral as she looked up at the other girl.

"We need to talk."

Jett could guess where she was going with the conversation, her gaze flicking to where Kayden was standing hesitantly by the door, watching the scene before him.

Jett nodded, turning her attention back to Naziah before she stood and offered a hand to Jinx.

"We'll go to my room," Jinx offered as she took Jett's hand and stood.

Kayden moved to follow but at Jett's look he stepped back without any arguments.

"The board has been hounding my arse to wrap things up here," Jinx spoke up from where she had perched on her bed once Jett had shut the bedroom door. She rubbed her eyes as she spoke, the fatigue clearly showing on her features. She then looked to where Jett had taken post leaning against the door with her arms crossed, appearing as impassionate as she could under the slight accusation in her friends eyes. "If it were anyone else they would have come and hauled you back there themselves."

"We'll leave tonight then," Jett replied easily, not willing to get into an argument about her privileged position with her friends. It was enough that she had to deal with people prodding at school. Instead, she decided to let them in on one of the things she had gotten up to during her brief disappearance. "The funeral is in two days anyway and we wouldn't want to miss that."