With junior year starting, Jaela didn't know what to do, her and Jem had sorta made it through the summer. A few dates here and there, but she didn't know anymore. She didn't feel the same and she didn't even know how Jem felt and that's a first. But she decided to stick it out. Stick it out until it's back to normal or else they'd figure it out together, when they had the time. If they had the time.
Jaela had to take school a lot more serious now, signing up for colleges in the spring and ACTs. She never had time, Jem was graduated so from college upstate she couldn't see him except on special occasions where his work load was light. She had F's in 3 classes by the end of the first quarter. The day she got her report card, she took it and ran into an empty stairwell and began to cry. She had tried but with a preoccupied mind how could she focus. Her boyfriend out in college with prettier girls, harder classes, more freedom, building his future while she was here getting more and more behind. It will only get worse. What could she do?
As she was crying the stairwell someone came down from the upper level. As he passed, she saw him stop and turn around after thirty seconds of thinking whether or not to bother.
"What's wrong?" The boy asked, he had an accent, a southern accent. He had strong white teeth with prominent canines. But his eyes, were so light blue she was lost in them instead of those things.
"A lot, too much, Everything." She handed the new boy her grade sheet. Why would she care? The colleges are gonna see this and they are who really matters. He read it and he laughed. She began to get angry why was he laughing? But he quickly began to talk.
"This is everything to you? A list of letters and percentages given to you? When really all it comes from is a series of tests testing your memory. You are a human, worth so much more than numbers and letters on a piece of paper. Please don't cry about it." He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's not only that, my boyfriend. He's in college now he's probably surrounded by attractive girls all day long and the freedom will make him want to... make him want to end this. What we have and all that we've been through, we can't just end it at this. I cheated on my previous boyfriend, who I loved, with Jem. And now, I don't know what to do. Was it an act of passion that I took too strongly for love? Did I actually love him? Do I?" She paused and realized she was talking to a stranger. "I'm so sorry, what's your name?" He chuckles.
"It's okay for me just to be a stranger, you know? Sometimes that's what you need, someone you don't know to listen to you so you feel completely comfortable. What am I gonna do with this information? Nothing because I don't know you and you don't know me"
"What if I want to know you?" She says, looking up at him with worried eyes. Why did she want to know him? He made her curious, his opinion of grades and of her.
"Well then that's different. In that case, my name is Grayson." He held out his hand in a friendly manner, and smiled a wide smile where his eyes scrunched. "What's your name?"
"Jaela" she says snuffling and wiping her final tears away. She shook his hand. But what she wanted most was to hug him. She looked then to his light blue shirt and he guessed what she wanted.
"Do you want a hug, Jaela?" She nodded and opened her arms to go around him. She was so short compared to him, her face was in his chest. She turned her head so she wouldn't be suffocated.
When the hug ended, they walked through the halls together.
"Why aren't you in class, Grayson?" She asked.
"At first, I didn't know but I guess I wasn't in class just so I could meet you. Fate has its way of getting those who need each other together." Now it was her turn to chuckle.
"And why do you need me?"
"I just moved to this school, I don't know anyone yet, I just skipped my first class of my first day and now I have an excuse." He laughed. "Okay in all honestly, I've been kind of lost. Not physically but mentally. You reminded me of who I am. I am caring, the brave knight who comes to the rescue. The fixer-upper. At least that's who I was back in Texas. But I think I like being that person. Jaela, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'll allow you to be yourself. I need new friends anyway." She smiled at him.
She and Grayson spent a lot of time together, more than she and Jem did. He made her laugh and helped her with school work. She felt better than ever.
"Why are you even still with him?" Grayson retorted one day at the library while they were both doing work and she was talking about her boyfriend never texting her. It took her by surprise. He softened his face. "I'm sorry I get it, your relationship is more than what's happening now. It's just... never mind." Jaela swallowed.
"No, Grayson. Tell me."
"You deserve so much better" he paused. "And by so much better I mean me. I wish you and I could date. We get each other, I'm here for you, you're there for me. It'd almost be perfect. We have time for each other. I'm in your grade. We could... we could end together." That was what made her give in. We could end together.
"I don't wanna ruin this, Grayson. You're my best friend"
"I know that's why it'd only be "almost" perfect. Just know I'm always gonna be here for you no matter what we do or don't become"
"You promise?"
"I promise."
