Always// Jacob Sartorius • Mark Thomas • Blake Gray • Hunter Rowland

Chapter 3

Shit, I take it back. This week can get worse... well, it actually already has. I have soccer practice every Wednesday after school. And today is Wednesday... OH! Did I mention that Stacey's the captain?

I wake up at 5 am to a bunch of text messages. 5 am!? This better be good. I check my phone and see 2 texts from Jacob and 3 from Lilia. I opened Jacob's first.

Jacob: Hey I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm not sure what I did to make you mad at me, but I'd really like a chance to start over.

Jacob: Maybe Friday night?

I quickly responded, knowing that I would never go anywhere with Jacob.

Me: im busy friday night

I closed Jacob's messages and opened Lilia's.

Lilia: Emma I'm really sorry about what happened, can you please forgive me?

Lilia: I can't express enough how sorry I am! You're my best friend in the whole world, and I wouldn't change that for anything!

Lilia: Please talk to me at school today... I want to apologize in person.

I didn't respond to Lilia, seeing how I'm still mad at her. I did my usual morning routine and said goodbye to my mom. I walked out the door and hopped on the bus. I didn't sit beside Lilia, but this time I sat alone. Lilia kept looking back at me and giving apologetic looks, but I ignored her. We went 5 minutes before stopping somewhere we never stopped before.

The bus doors opened and Jacob got on the bus. I groaned and sunk lower into my seat. I saw Lilia point towards me and Jacob sat beside me. "Please, not today. I'm not in the mood." I said while looking away. "Can we please start over? You've hated me from the beginning, and you haven't even met me." As he said that, he glanced at Lilia and back at me. "This is like your situation with Stacey. She hates you for no reason." I glared at him. "You don't even know me, let alone my deal with Stacey." Jacob sighed and tried again. "I'm going to tell you something that I haven't even told your friends. I'm with Stacey. We met up and hung out last night. Turns out, she's a really cool person." I looked at him and snickered. "Well, that'll win you right over with Lilia, Vee, and Kat!" Jacob got up and, didn't sit with my friends, but instead Stacey.

I looked over at Lilia and raised my eyebrows. She looked confused as why Jacob was sitting with Stacey. Lilia walked over to my seat and sat down. "Look, Emma. I'm really sorry for everything that has happened. I didn't mean for any of this to change our friendship. I really miss the old us." I looked at Lilia and sighed. I missed my best friend. I couldn't just let her go like that. I hugged and accepted her apology. "Ok, now can we talk about why Jacob is sitting with Stacey?" Lilia said to me while looking back at Jacob. "Oh, he just informed me that he's going out with her now. Apparently, they hung out last night and fell in love or whatever." Lilia gasped and laughed. "Shocking, but won't last a week." Lilia ran back over to her seat to tell Vee and Kat. I went with her. They were both shocked!

As soon as we walked into school, Jacob came in holding hands with Stacey. Everyone gasped and a few were whistling. I headed to my locker, only to catch a glimpse of Liam running towards the bathroom crying. I ran after him to make sure he was ok. Once I turned the corner, he was out of sight. I headed to my first class. Jacob had just made the guy I like cry. He's defintely on my list now. I sat down and had a particularly mean face on today. "Pssst... Stacey told me why she doesn't like you." I continued to look front while saying, "I could give a rat's butt about you or her." Jacob looked shocked. "Jealous now, are we?" I looked at him and glared my eyes. "Are you kidding me? You think I'm jealous? No, my problem is that you started dating Stacey without even knowing her for an afternoon, and you have hurt other ones that may have still had feelings for her. You don't even know her and what she will do to you." Jacob shook his head. "Stacey won't hurt m-" "You don't know what Stacey is capable of! Take it from the girl that has been bullied by her for years! I've watched her tear so many people apart. I just don't want to see you get hurt." And with that, I faced front again and texted Vee.

Me: im stuck in a classroom with js, send help

Vee: lol, still cant believe he started dating stacey

Me: i know. i warned him that she will hurt him, but he won't listen

Vee: i'm coming to save you

Me: yesss

Around 5 minutes later, I hear a knock on the classroom door. The teacher walks over to the door and steps outside for some time. He comes back in and walks over to me. "You're excused." I tried to contain my smile and silently exited the room.

I burst into a huge smile when I saw Vee. "OMG, what did you tell him?" She gave me a mischevious look. "That it was that time of the month and you need female products, so I was bringing you some." We laughed as we walked down the hall. "What do you say we bail Lilia and Kat out, too?" Vee nodded her head and we walked to Lilia's classroom first. I hid in the bathroom while Vee said the same thing that she had said to my teacher to Lilia's teacher.

Moments later, Lilia walked out of the class looking confused. We explained everything and she giggled. "I just needed some time with you guys." I said. We walked to Kat's class next. Lilia and Vee hid in the bathroom this time while I walked up to Kat's class. I knocked on the door and waited nervously. A couple seconds later, Kat's teacher appeared outside the door. "May I help you?" She looked sternly at me. "It's that time of the month for Kat, and she needs a couple lady products. I'm here with some for her." She looked at me as if she was debating whether to believe me or not. She finally nodded her head and walked back in. Kat was walking out of the door before you know it. We explained everything to her and began walking the halls. I needed to use the bathroom so I told them I would catch up with them.

As I walked out of the bathroom, I saw Stacey turning the corner. "HEY!" She yelled as I tried to get away. "Heard you slipped out of class." I looked at her with no response. "Oh, in case you were wondering, my boyfriend told me that. MY boyfriend." She continued to walk closer to me. "Let's get something clear. Jacob is mine, and not yours." I went in to try to save myself. "Listen, I honestly can't stand Jacob and-" "Give me a break. You're all he talks about. Emma this, Emma that. He can't get over why you don't like him, though." She had finally approached me and was towering over me. "Jacob is mine." I turned away and tried to run, but her little group of friends were blocking the hallway. When I turned back around, everything went black.

**

Word Count: 1287

Hey guys!! It's Emma here! This is where it starts to get interesting... I told you guys that if you stuck with me long enough the story would actually be good! 😂🎉

Q: Whats your favorite movie?
A: I just recently watched the movie "World War Z" and it's SO good! It stars Brad Pritt and they are releasing a sequel in 2019!!