Some Things You Can't Control

01: Forgetting And Regretting

Chapter 1

Forgetting And Regretting

- EDEN GARCIA-

I fiddle with the necklace around my neck, moving the charm back and forth along the fine silver chain.

"You see, Eden, I...." He fidgets, clearly uncomfortable. "I really-"

There's a loud bang as somebody's back hits the lockers just down the hall from us. A chorus of 'oohs' follow, as a small group of people form around the two attackers. The argument draws the attention of Lewis and I, completely interrupting our prior conversation.

Shouts echo from the two involved, and, almost instinctively, we're drawn closer, curious to get a glimpse of the perpetrators. Through gaps in the circle of students formed around them, I distinguish the two as Jake and James.

"You can't say that, not after you fucking went there!" Jake says angrily, shoving James into the bay of lockers again.

James snarls. "Touch me one more time, Anderson." His tone is undoubtedly threatening, almost daring Jake to give into impulse.

Sensing an impending punch-up, I push my way to the front of the crowd and emerge in the clearing with the two boys.

The expression on Jake's face is one of pure anger; I've known him for years, and the only person who can rile him up this much is, hands down, James.

Being the bigger person out of the three of us, I step forward to stand between them. My eyes fix on James in a cold glare.

"Stop it."

"Always so quick to defend him," James scoffs. "She your bitch, Anderson?"

"Don't fucking provoke him further," I say exasperatedly, "do you want to be punched in the face?"

"This is none of your business, Garcia. Fuck off."

"I'm not going to fuck off until you both grow up and be reasonable about this."

"This isn't a situation to be reasonable about, Eden," Jake says, his voice dangerously low as he glares at his arch nemesis. "Just let it go. I've got this under control."

"Snap out of it, Jake," I tell him. "We both know shit is going to go down if you get another suspension."

Jake's eyes flicker with recognition; another suspension would almost be pushing the borders of expulsion. He's been involved in one-two-many fights with James since starting at Nelson High. Ultimately, whether or not Jake becomes the better person in this situation will come down to a battle of pride vs. rationality.

Always does.

James smirks, looking from me to Jake. "Suspension? We all know he'd use any excuse to get out of a fight."

That's the biggest load of shit I've ever heard, but I decide it's better not to voice my thoughts on that matter.

Jake takes a threatening step forward toward his rival, jaw clenched. "You fucking deserve to be punched in the face, Stevens. If you had even the smallest shred of dignity, you'd know you don't fucking kiss someone else's girl."

Whoa. Okay then.

Automatically, my eyes dart over to Cassidy Miller. She stands passively to the side of the crowd, watching the situation unfold before her. A small amount of distaste arises at the sight of her; she should be here, not me. The three of them are in this mess and it should be up to them to get themselves out.