Anger Issues

sixty seven

Austin

At school the next day, Jess told me she really needed to talk to me. The only time I'd see her was lunch, so I waited for that.

I knew she was gonna ask about the party but I honestly didn't know what to say. It's like whatever I told her was going through one ear and out the other.

When lunch did eventually come around, she met me at my locker, and we went to the old classroom on the second floor.

"Are you alright?" She asked. "I'm fine," I nodded. "You're swollen," she gently cupped my face.

"I know," I nodded. "Are you in pain?" She asked. "I'm sore," I simply said.

She softly placed her hand against my chest, the one part of my torso that wasn't bursting with pain whenever I moved.

"I'm sorry," she softly said. For the third time, I think, now.

"Stop apologizing," I sighed. "Just forget it," I shook my head. "No, because I know you're done with me now," she said.

My head immediately shot up. "I'm not done with you," I said. "No, not like that," she paused. "Done with the shit I'm doing," she corrected.

She was right.

"Just tell me why you went, babe. I told you not to and you said okay, but you went anyway," I said. She stayed quiet for a couple seconds.

"Austin, I promise I didn't want to do anything crazy. I really just wanted to have a good time," she explained. "Did you drink?" I asked. She hesitantly nodded.

I sighed, pushing my hair back. "Just one. Not even, half. I stopped myself," she said. "Did you smoke?" I asked.

Her silence gave me the answer.

"Fuck, Jess," I stood up, punching the wall. "I didn't want to," she said. "But you did," I turned to her. "I didn't have a choice. They gave it to me and I couldn't say no," she said.

"You could say yes, but not no," I slowly said. "I couldn't, Austin!" She raised her voice. "I didn't know them, they were all so much older than us and I felt like I had to. I couldn't deny it," she said.

I closed my eyes. She was peer pressured.. in a way.

I took a few seconds to calm myself down. "How many times?" I asked. "Once," she said. "Are you lying?" I asked. "No, I promise," she assured me.

"What happened? Tell me from the beginning," I said, sitting down.

"When we got there, we didn't know anyone. We had a drink and Kayla went to meet a friend so I went outside. There was a group of people and they offered me the roll so I took it. I didn't do anything after that, I even put water in a solo cup to make it look like I was drinking. Later on, though, I really wanted to leave but I couldn't find Kayla. The guy you fought started talking to me and spiked my drink. I tried getting away but he wouldn't let me so I went to the bathroom, and that's when I called you. When the call ended I went out again to find Kayla, and he kept following me until you came," she briefly explained.

"He spiked your drink?" I asked. She nodded. "How did you know?" I asked. "Because I had water and when I went to drink it, it smelled like alcohol," she explained.

I stood up and wrapped my arms around her frame. "Are you sure nothing happened to you?" I asked. She nodded, pulling away, with tears falling out of her eyes.

She quickly wiped them away. "God," I sighed, turning around. "Jess, you can't keep doing this," I told her. "I know. It wasn't supposed to happen like that," she said.

I leaned against a table, processing everything that happened. She almost got hurt. If she did, I would blame nobody but myself for not being with her.

I pushed my thoughts aside, wanting nothing but to get over this topic.

"Just forget it happened," I said, reaching for the door. "Aus-" "Please, I don't wanna think about it again," I said.

Nodding, she slowly walked out of the room.

When we got to the cafeteria, we met Kyle and Kayla at our usual spot. Sitting down, tension was everywhere.

Jessica

"Where did you go?" I softly asked Kayla. "Where the fuck did you go?" She retorted. I was taken back by her sudden tone.

"I was trying to find you," I defended. "Before you left?" She asked. "I was looking for you, Kayla. Some asshole spiked my drink because I was looking for you," I explained.

I felt Austin softly press his hand against my back. Looking over, him and Kyle were staring at us as we argued.

"Come here," I stood up, motioning for Kayla to follow me. Walking away from the tables, I started again.

"Where did you go, just tell me," I said. "Jess, I was so drunk, I don't remember shit after parking the car," she said. "That wouldn't have been the case if you listened to me," I said.

"What does that mean?" She asked. "I told you that the drinks were strong, but you didn't listen to me," I explained. She sighed and shook her head.

"What happened to you? You left us there. I somehow got home and my mom told me I was at the police station," she said.

I didn't remember seeing Kayla or Sofia there. Only others from the party.

"Austin got arrested with a shit ton of other people, I was at the station and I didn't see you at all," I explained.

"He got-" she stopped, putting her hands up. "Just forget it, it doesn't matter anymore," she said, walking back to the table.

I called her name but she didn't answer. Sighing, I followed.

After a couple minutes, eyes started focusing on our table. "Why the hell is everyone staring at us?" Austin asked.

Kyle dropped his phone in the middle of the table. Picking it up, it was a video.

A video of Kayla and Sofia.. making out at the party.

Kayla froze immediately. We all looked up at her. "Kay.." I softly said. Her eyes filled with tears. Nothing else could be said before she ran out of the cafeteria.