underestimated ⊙ j.f.

31; real

°°°

I never meant for the fight to be this long. This is the longest either of us went without speaking to each other. And after leaving Justin on seen, I don't think he would like to talk to me. And for the first time here, I truly felt alone.

The hallway was packed with people as I went to my locker. Once I got there, I replaced some history books with math books and closed it. There was a feeling of someone watching me. I didn't know who to expect until I turned around seeing that it was Justin. Guilt rushed through me immediately, not because I left him on seen, but because I've been in his position before.

Confidence built up in me to go and talk to him before Jeff's self showed up in front of me with a wide smile.

"Good morning, gorgeous." His bright white smile beamed with enthusiasm. Justin looked away making my smiled soften a bit. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

I shook my head recovering with a tight smile,"no. Everything is great."

Jeff turned to see what my gaze led to, his jaw clenched at the sight of the other blue-eyed boy. Before I could say anything the taller boy was already headed for him. Grabbing his collar, Jeff pulled Justin closer. "Stay. Away. From. Her." His voice seemed deeper as the words came out slowly.

Justin's eyes were wide while his head nodded softly. At one point, his pleading gaze was fixed on me and I immediately felt more guilt.

The text wasn't meant to be seen by Jeff. I didn't know how to reply to Justin, either. My phone was being borrowed by Jeff to do something when Justin texted back. If it was up to me, I wouldn't have shown him.

Right then, the bell ran making all the teenagers in the hall flee to their classroom. Jeff came back to kiss my cheek softly. "See you later." He smiled before going to his classroom.

My next class wasn't that bad, the only thing was that Madeline was in there. I didn't want to fight with her, I wanted more than anything to take everything back.

"Everyone to class!" A teacher called through the hallway, breaking my thoughts.

I rushed to my next class to make it on time. Once I walked in, all the seats were taken. All except the seat next to Madeline. A small polite smile played on my lips, trying to make things less awkward, as I sat down next to her.

"No one is sitting here, right?" I spoke up through the silence.

"Just me and Zachary, since you know. We hooked up." The sarcasm in her voice made me flinch suddenly.

For the rest of the period, we were all quiet. The deathly silence killed me, and I decided that today would be the day that this drama is over.

In lunch time I walked up to Madeline's table confidently. "I'm done." I said bluntly, making everyone at her table look up.

"Me too." She said lifting up her tray of finished food. "Can you throw it away?"

My eyebrows furrowed before shaking my head,"No. I'm done with all the drama between us!" I exasperatedly spit out.

Then she got up and grabbed my wrist softly before dragging me someplace. "Where are you taking me? I'm trying to stand up to you!"

"I know. But do you really want the whole school looking at your while you do?" Her head turned around as her eyebrows raised, making my head shake.

Her grip released from my wrist when we got to the football field. She sat on the bleachers waiting for me to sit, which I did. There was silence between us before I spoke up as she did as well. "Oh sorry. You first." I smiled softly.

"You're the one who came to me first. So you." Madeline's bright smile shined in the sunlight.

I nodded my head before sighing. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I ever accused you of hooking with Dempsey, or for even believing it for one second. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I'm sorry I believed everyone else. I'm just really sorry in general." The words slipped from my lips at a quick pace, but she understood every single word.

"It's okay. I get it, the break up with him was still technically fresh, so I get it. And it's easy to believe in all the lies that float around here. It's okay." Maddy's small smile began to grow little by little. "I'm just glad I have my best friend back."

My expression reflected hers with a soft chuckle before my arm swung around her shoulders. "Me too. We have a ton to catch up on."

"Yeah! How's Jeff? He's still giving me glares in the hallway." Her voice was laced with hurt feelings.

"I'll talk to him. He won't stay mad long. He's a sweet guy, yknow. Perfect person overall, but sometimes it doesn't feel like he's with me."

All the feelings and secrets that I was hiding finally came out. It wasn't just me anymore. No more loneliness, because I had my best friend back.