Anger Issues

seven

Monday

Austin

I didn't see Jess at school in the morning. She's always on time, so she's either absent, or avoiding me.. again.

Third period was our first class together. She sat in the desk to my right, so I anxiously waited for her arrival.

Kids began filling in the class and taking their seats. Just as the bell rang, Jess finally walked in.

She sat in her seat and put her hoodie on, staring in the opposite direction. I sighed.

When I saw her white earbuds peak out of her pocket, I had an idea. We sat in the back of the classroom so it was our safe spot.

I opened a book and rested it on my hips and against the table, holding my phone out to hide it, and text her.

Me
Jess please talk to me

She had no reaction. Not a single move, not even a shuffle.

It made me angry. I tried talking to her in any way I could and she found any way to ignore me.

I put my phone away and put my notebook back on the desk, sighing.

Everything the teacher said, I tuned out. Until he called her, and she had no response.

"Jessica," he called for the third time. I reached over and tapped her arm.

She realized the entire class was staring at her, and she leaned back in her seat.

"Take off the hoodie please," Mr. O instructed. "And the earbuds."

She nodded and apologized, doing as told.

She began doodling in her notebook, giving me another idea. I took a post it and wrote a note.

Please just tell me why you're mad at me

Making sure Mr. O wasn't looking, I tossed the paper over to her desk.

"Okay class, get working."

Mr. O was a sub who didn't really care what the class did. He gave us assignments but nobody really did it anyway.

Jess crumpled the paper, and turned to me as the class erupted with conversation.

"I'm not mad at you," she said. I brought my desk closer to hers to hear her better.

"Then why are you still avoiding me?" I helplessly asked.

"I'm not avoiding you, Aus!" She said, clearly annoyed.

"Then why won't you talk to me?!"

My words came out louder than I intended them to do. The class quieted down but not enough to have all eyes on me.

Jess sighed in embarrassment.

I got angry. I grabbed my books and walked out of the class, not caring that everybody began talking about it.

Jessica

"May I be excused," I said, raising my hand. Mr. O nodded his head.

I held my books and went out the door, seeing Chris head for the stairs. The empty hallways caused each of my running steps to echo as I tried to catch up with Austin.

He's done this before. Walked out of class because he was angry, but he'd never done it because of me.

Regardless, it always gave me, or anyone close to him an easy excuse to get out of class.

"Austin," I said, before he began going down the stairs.

"Don't bother Jess," he said, shaking his head.

"Wait, please."

I followed him as he walked into the third floor, which was the quietest floor.

"Austin," I grabbed his hand, finally stopping him.

Before continuing to say anything, I went into a classroom that used to be a teacher's, but since he retired, it was always kept empty to honor the fact that he was one of the best teachers, who also happened to battle cancer.

"Don't leave," I said, as we got in.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked. "Why are you doing this?" I retorted.

"Because-" he angrily started, but cut himself off and sighed heavily.

"Jess did you mean what you said to me on Saturday after the fight?" He asked.

"What do you mean..?" I asked.

"You told me you love me. Did you mean it?"