Beyond my Beating Heart

Chapter Eight: Drunk words are sober thoughts

Play Ghost by ZZ Ward for this chapter

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The bell rings and I get up out of calculus. My butt is sore from sitting in these ridiculously hard seats and my head hurts because I fell asleep once. Twice. Three times on the desk. Needless to say, my day is off to a pretty rough start.

Walking into the cafeteria is a nightmare, I mean, it is every day, but things just seem louder today. Jett smiles over at me, showing me to our usual place we sit at. I gaze over the table and notice that Lauren has taken over the spot I usually sit at, next to Jett, and to be completely honest, it is not that I care if someone is in my place, because I can stand my own ground, after all, I know how to take care of myself. It is just the fact that she is purposely trying to annoy me. Bitch.

Lauren glances back at me for a split second, shooting daggers into not only my eyes, but into my brain. And as much as I hate to admit it, she intimidates me. It scares me, because I know what she is capable of doing. If looks could kill, I would be dead on the floor right now.

"Hey Junipeeeer!" Lauren squawks annoyingly. Her whole fake nice act makes my want to gag.

"Hi Lauren." I greet back, gritting my teeth and trying ever so hard not to gouge her eyes out with my plastic spoon.

As if he can hear the awkward tension that lights begets throughout the three of us, Chris decides to make it worse, nothing out of the usual. Makes me wonder how much longer I am going to have to keep up this act. It is completely and utterly exhausting.

"I see you two are getting along." Chris smirks sarcastically.

I roll my eyes and dig into my salad, trying desperately not to look at Chris, he has already ruined my life enough.

I feel so small, all of these people have the ability to tell Jett about myself, my secret, my insanity. And if I make one wrong play I will lose the game miserably.

"So, Juniper berry, you're coming to Lauren's party tonight right?" Jett asks casually.

"W-what party?" I question nervously, parties are not exactly... my scene.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Lauren is hosting a party tonight. You need to come! It's gonna be epic!" He says enthusiastically.

"Uh, no, parties plus me equals... no. Just no." I say sternly.

"Please! I can't go without my best fwiend!" Jett mock pouts and I roll my eyes.

"Look, I'll think about it." I sigh.

"Yeah!" He shouts and Lauren, Annabelle, and Chris glance up at him with a weird look.

"Remember, that's a definite maybe." I reply, feeling more like his babysitter and less like his best friend.

"Good enough for me!" He exclaims, taking a large bite into his sandwich.

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"Hey, it won't be that bad. Just a few kids from school and some music." Jett says, trying to reassure me.

"And alcohol, sex, and maybe drugs." I say negatively.

"Come on, for me, please?" He asks one final time.

"Fine. But only for you." I sigh.

"Yes! I promise it'll be fun. Now pick out what you're gonna wear, I have to go, Lauren needs me to help her 'pick a hot outfit.'" Jett tells me as he heads out of the front door.