The Bad Boy's Games

Chapter 9

Chapter 9
I shut the door behind me with my foot because my hands were carrying the mail.
'Im home!' I announced happily and ran into the kitchen, where Jen sat on the island stool, on her phone and munching a granola bar.
She paused from her rapid texting and glanced up at me as I skipped around the kitchen, fixing myself a PB & J sandwich.
'Well someone seems giddy' she remarked.
I turned to her and beamed. 'Yeseroo!'
'Im not even going to ask why' Jen said, sounding bored already. She took her phone and her granola bar and locked herself in her bedroom. It didn't sway my mood one little bit. I was a happy ray of sunshine.
My mom was at work (she's a nurse), and since Jen locked herself in her room, I pretty much had the whole house to myself. Which is awesome, if u ask me.
I relaxed and watched some tv for about an hour before showering and doing my homework.
By the time I finished my homework, it was already 6 pm. I was bored and not hungry enough for dinner, so I decided to text Rachel.
'Hey' I texted.
'Hey' she replied.
'So where were u after gym today'
'W/ hunter duh'
It sounded like she wrote it as if it was something I should've know already. But maybe I was just thinking wrong. Rachel isn't that cold.
'O cool how was it' I rapidly texted back.
Tap tap!
I looked up to see nick tapping at my window from his window with a stick. We've done this since we were little kiddies.
I put down my phone and offered him a sincere smile. After getting up and opening my window to talk to him, my bedroom door swung open. I snapped my attention to an angry Jen who stormed up to me and shoved her phone in my face.
'What what?!' I cried.
'READ!' She ordered.
I frantically yet annoyingly snatched the phone from her hand and examined it. It read:
From: Laura 💕
To: me
"Hey Jen Jen!!! What's up 😁 well I just wanted 2 let u know that jade has been acting up. She was SO mean to me today, and she was making out with like 3 different guys after school too! I just wanted 2 tell my BFF, cuz I thought u might wanna know. Ttyl 😘💕"
My first thought was: that's a long text.
My second thought: WHAT THE HELL I DID NOT MAKE OUT WITH anyone AND HOW THE HELL WAS I MEAN?
My third thought: since when did Jen (or should I say BFF Jen Jen) text oh idk just... LAURA '💕'?!?!?! They're not even in the same grade. Well that doesn't matter thaaaat much but still!
My mind was flooded with thoughts but no words were able to come out of my mouth.
'Is this true? Were u mean to my little Laura? And who the hell were u making out with!! WHO?!' Jen roared.
'Uh-well- er- it's not- er- she- I - ugh-.........' I stuttered, and eventually gave up, letting my weak voice trail off. I glanced at nick, who's jaw hung open and who's eyes were nearly popping out of his head staring at us. He shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts, and offered me a sympathetic smile. I had received those sympathetic smiles more than I'd have liked recently.
He stood there, still watching us closely.
'Answer my question!!! Is she saying the truth?!?!' Jen forced me to look at her.
I was speechless.
'Then I take your silence as conformation. How can I even call u my sister? You're bullying my bæ? And u go around making out with random guys? What's next, you're gonna lose your virginity with them?! I bet mom will be SO pleased to hear this, jade. I cannot believe u!' Her eyes were blazing with fire. Mine were scared as hell. I had to explain myself.
I placed my hands on Jen's shoulders and looked her in the eye. 'Laura is lying. I swear to God she is' (we are pretty religious so saying that was a big deal)
Jen scoffed. I nodded, agreeing to my own statement and continuing. I started from the morning up to the very last detail where the 3 girls confronted me after school. I stopped there, because the mike-info did not need to be explained.
'And finally, I did NOT make out with 3 boys, let alone one! You know I'm not like that Jen! Please just believe me!' I finished, panting a little.
Jen thought for a moment, and after what seemed like forever, she finally nodded at me and got up.
'Im sorry. I can't believe Laura has been giving u such a hard time. And I'm sorry about Nicole. And don't worry, I'll help u with Cassidy and she won't get anywhere near u. I promise. And the making out with 3 guys ... That was kinda far-fetched, so I believe u' Jen answered, and started heading out of my room.
'Thanks. You're the best' I called after her.
Jen froze in her tracks and spun around to face me. She said VERY intensely, 'you tell anyone about this, about what I have told u, I swear I'll do things to u that'll make u regret it. Okay?'
I nodded so fast my head hurt. 'Okay. Definitely. Sure. Deal.'
'Good! Bye now! See you at dinner!' She called out a little too sweetly and scampered off to her room, leaving me in my shocked, what-just-happened state.
'That was something' I spun my head to look at nick. He wore a gentle smile. It was genuine.
I chuckled. 'Yeah,' I answered, 'but that's how Jen and my relationship goes, u know?'
Nick nodded thoughtfully, and then very seriously told me, 'well, I trust Jen and all... But.... '
His voice trailed off and he looked at me. We locked eyes and just stared at eah other for a while. He looked intense while I felt very confused and awkward.
'But...??' I gestured my hands for him to continue, breaking the silence.
'Oh. Right. But if u ever need me, if you ever need someone to go to, to lean on, know that I'm here for you. No matter what. I'll always be here for you. Through thick and thin. So don't worry. And those mean girls won't set a finger on you as long as I'm alive. Okay?' He smiled at the end.
'Okay' I replied with a smile. I felt like hazel grace from The Fault in Our Stars and he was Gus. Except that I wasn't dying. At least not physically.
Nick and I stood there for a while, smiling at each other and making small talk about homework and stuff.
I heard the door slam shut downstairs and checked my clock.
7:45!
Mom was home now (she gets off at 7:30) so I guess it was time for dinner.
'Well... Thanks nick. My moms home now, so i think I gotta leave. Cya tomoro!' I grinned at nick. He waved as I shut my window and sprinted down the stairs to help my mom lay the dinner table. It was just a responsibility I had to do, not like a chore or anything. Besides, she needs to be helped out and laying the table was the least I could do after she did so much for Jen and me.
Mom smiled gratefully at me and I returned it. Jen came downstairs for dinner, and the 3 of us enjoyed a silent but delicious meal of mac n cheese and salad on the side.
At 8:15 ish, I fed my pet goldfish Harrison (nick named it that because he had gone on vacation to Africa and the driver's name there was named Harrison and he liked the name and the guy, so the fish was named in honor of the driver). Then I worked on this essay that I had to write due on Friday (it was Monday today) and before I knew it, it was 9:30. It was pretty early, but by the time I'm settled in bed it's around 10 and from there on out, I don't really have a set bed time. I just drift off... Thinking about stuff.
So as I lay in bed, absent-mindedly braiding my long hair, I looked back in retrospect at what had happened today. Mike flirting, mean witches hurting my fingers (I iced them again after dinner, and I'd told Mom that I'd just hurt them during gym (even though it felt bad to lie), nick and mike fighting (OMG HOW COULD I NOT ASK HIM ABOUT IT?! Tomorrow at the bus stop I would DEFINITELY acknowledge nick fighting for me at lunch), Jen coming to me and yelling, oh and Rachel with hunter. And mike and me after school. I'm still very shocked about how sweet he was being.
And then nick, and the window conversation. He honestly meant it when he promised me he'd always be there for me. He was sincere. He was being too nice. Too sweet. I know he liked me but I still didn't get why. Nick can do so much better than me! He's nearly perfect! But his kindness just made me feel awkward, which made me feel guilty, because this guy would literally catch a grenade for me. Wow.
Too much thinking! My head was starting to hurt. I checked my phone and it was 10:30 ish. I yawned and let my mind wander...
Just as I slipped out of consciousness, I had one last thought...
'What a day it has been'
And with that, I fell into a deep slumber.