Choose.

Chapter Seventeen

Nikko's POV

What the hell HAVE I DONE?! HE HATES ME! Why did I kiss Jen? I'M FUCKING GAY HOW DO I DO THAT?! Now he's with some RANDOM girl and they act as if they know each other for...

For forever!

How am I going to apologize for this? He completely ignores me and doesn't want anything to do with me. He doesn't text or call me. He doesn't even make EYE CONTACT with me. I saw the grin he had when he passed me in the hall. It's as if he WANTS to see me in pain.

I saw Jac and Jen walking in the hallway. Honestly, I'm surprised they aren't in a relationship. They were walking kind of close though. "Hey, guys," I said walking next to them. "Hey, Nikko," Jen said. Jac stayed silent. He looked angry but sad at the same time. Did he have feelings for Jen? Now I feel like even MORE of a douche.

"Do you guys know who Mac is hanging out with?" Jac looked up and had a slight smile on his face. "Is that...Erikka? I haven't seen her in years!" he said. 

Jen looked surprised. Almost...jealous. "You KNOW her?!" Jen and I said at the same time. "Yeah! She was our friend. I and Mac would hang out with her all the time! Mac mostly because his parents are always leaving so her parents babysat him. Good to see her again!"

So she was an old friend of them? And JEN didn't even know? 

"How long have they known each other?" I asked. "The three of us have known each other since kinder," Jac said. "She left in towards the end of 3rd grade to another school. That's when we met Jen." he said with a smile on his face and his eyes basically screaming "Please date me, Jen"

Since KINDER?! HOW DO I COMPETE?!

 "Why did you want to know?" he asked me. "Oh, I was just ummm- you know- ummm- curious because- uhhh..." I didn't want to say I was jealous because it was my fault. "Are you jealous?" Jen asked me. "Uhhhhh..." I heard Jac laugh and he was smiling. If Jac DID have feelings for Jen he and Mac probably have a plan or something. 

Right?

"I guess I am? I don't know. Help me!" I was desperate. "Sorry dude. You fucked up. You have to pay the price." Jac said. They both walked off to English while I stalked followed Mac and Erikka. I don't want them getting too touchy touchy. He is still technically kind of sort of not really my boyf riend so I have a right to interrupt.

Sorta. 

Not really.

I saw them part ways and Mac looked so....happy. I've heard from Jen that he used to be such an energetic and happy person. But since the end of fourth grade, he's hardly ever happy anymore... Maybe I should just leave him and Erikka be. If he wants to break up with me then I'll let him break up with me. Because if I'm not making him happy...then maybe Erikka can.

Jac's POV

Its been nearly 4 weeks. 4 Weeks since that day in February. The day that Mac's heart was crushed for the 2nd time in his short life. The day that my heart was crushed for the first time. The day Mac's friends and foes were defined (or so that's what he says). The day the group separated. 

Truth is, Mac is very sensitive. He just never shows it. Ever since... her. 

That.... bastard. She took the Mac we all used to know and... broke him. Tore him to pieces. To make matters worse she thought she was doing everything completely fine. I mean, what did I expect from her? She was a fucking player. Her dad and mom spoiled her so much. See, Mac and Janessa Jaques met during one of their parents' meetings. Their parents were acquaintances.

Mac REALLY liked Janessa. She was only 2 years older than Mac and Mac didn't think much of it. Janessa thought of him as the little brother she never had. Mac was only 6 when he first realized the world wasn't all unicorns and rainbows. 

He considered that he and Janessa were dating because of how close they had grown. He thought she was beautiful in every way possible. One day, though, he overheard Janessa talking to her mom about him.

"But, mom. He is SO snobby. And nosy! He acts like we are a thing! I'm only 8, going on 9. And you know that I have my eyes and heart set on Aaron from class! He is like...the cutest boy in the 3rd grade!" 

His heart broke at the words. I remember him coming to school the following day with tears streaming down his face. 

And I saw Jen watching. 

Sure, she was with her friends but she had always noticed Mac. Always

Myself and Erikka tried to comfort him but he just pushed us away. He was almost always isolated himself on the weeks he saw Janessa. It wasn't until she moved permanently that he was somewhat his normal self again. Even in his 'normal' state, he wasn't the Mac we used to know...

That bastard

Jen's POV

Yeah, I remember that day in 1st grade. Mac running to school with tears running down his face. It broke my soul. Even though we weren't friends yet, I knew him from the playground. He would always be running around with Jac and some girl. 

I guess that girl was who Jac said was Erikka.

She is pretty. Like, REALLY pretty. I usually don't get jealous but... I wouldn't be surprised if Jac chose her over me. 

Sure, I knew Erikka but not that well. I saw her at Student Council every Thursday. She had run for VP. The day the VP speeches were held, Mac was sick. Matter of fact, he was sick that whole week. That explains why he hadn't seen Erikka. 

Now the three of them are spending all their spare time together. They hardly invite me to hang out with them anymore. It's back to 'The Powerful Trio: Jacob, Mac, and ERIKKA'. Just like it used to be... Without Jennifer. Without Nikko. Just the original trio. 

Its as if they've forgotten me. I knew it would happen eventually but I didn't think it would hurt this much... Afterall, Mac told me he would never forget me... But now they have all gotten rid of me. I bet they would have gotten rid of me earlier if they knew she was back.

Because once again, they have chosen the old friend they know they can trust over the newbie that has had a crush on them both.

They chose.

And according to me, they made the right choice.

Afterall, who would like to be friends with a girl with two dead parents?