Saving Us *Mate Astray*

Chapter 13

As my mind drifted through everything that had happened in the last month, a knock was heard from the other side of my door.

"Come in."

A few seconds later the door to my room creaked open and in came Jayd looking like a lost puppy. Whatever it was that had happened at school must have been bad to make someone as laid back as Jayd look like the world had fallen apart.

"Can we talk?"

"Yes, I have been waiting for you."

Jayd walked over to my bed and sat down at the edge. She had her head down and was playing with her fingers, a sign that something was causing her stress.

"So, do you want to tell me why you asked to talk to me?"

"First I have a question..." I simply made a gesture for her to continue when Jayd looked up to gauge out my reaction. She took a deep breath and spoke. "Have you invited Max to the party?"

To say I was confused was an understatement. This was not exactly what I was expecting from the seriousness on her face.

"No" I said slowly, trying to figure out what was happening. "Since Max is your friend I had assumed that you would have asked her. Jason and Jake asked their closest friends personally so I didn't have to invite them. I figured you would do the same with Max."

Jayd simply nodded her head slowly, acknowledging my answer but keeping quiet. We sat in silence for a few seconds. I imagined Jayd was getting her thoughts in order or gathering courage to tell me what was actually bothering her so I patiently waited for her to speak.

"I haven't invited her." That was surprising, they had been so close lately, having become good friends due to their assignment. "And I don't think I will."

By now I had figured out that whatever had happened yesterday at school had something to do with Max. However I can't imagine her doing anything that would make Jayd act this way.

"Why not?"

"She might be busy doing something else on that day so I didn't tell her about the party."

I was confused. Jayd was making no sense and throughout our conversation she had kept her head down whilst constantly playing with her fingers. This was so unlike her it was starting to worry me.

"Jayd look at me." She refused to move for a minute or so but then, reluctantly, raised her head. Her eyes were blank, devoid of emotion. She seemed to be suppressing whatever it was that was bothering her.

"I need you to tell me exactly what happened, okay? I promise to listen until the end."

Jayd took a deep breath to calm her nerves and proceeded to tell me the day's events.

"I was going to ask her to come to the party at lunch time yesterday at school. It had been a normal day until then, so once we made our way to the cafeteria and had sat down at our usual table I was ready to ask." She said all in one breath.

"But before I had a chance to talk, a guy approached our table and asked to speak to her. He was tall, around 5'9 with brown eyes and spiked brown hair, I guess he was attractive. Max was blushing throughout their conversation."

That last sentence was spoken through clenched teeth. Her hands were bawled into fists and anger had replaced the sadness and loss in her eyes.

"What happened once she came back to the table?"

"Before I even had a chance to ask what he wanted, she blurted out that he had asked her out to which she said yes."

Oh