Trust Me

It Wasn't a Funny Story

Sorry for the late update! But you should be thankful, I wasn't even planning on writing for the next two months as I'm on vacation.

This is a short chapter, but the next chapter should be longer and I'm planning on posting it today or tomorrow.

Okay I'm done.

-☺☺☺-

"Heh heh," I chuckled nervously. "It's actually a funny story...."

Can you believe that I, a girl that's been lying and keeping secrets, would be THAT BAD at lying?

I'm not usually! But the look in Jackson's eyes freaked me out.

"For some reason, I doubt that," grumbled Lucas, with an equally dark look on his face. I did a double take.

Lucas, sunshine boy supreme, looked ready to kill.

I dunno if he wanted to kill me or whoever he thought did this... I'm gonna go with the latter.

"Jasmine," Josh's voice came out strained.

He looked at me with a face that made me think he felt betrayed and... guilty

Betrayed because I, his best friend, didn't tell him.

Guilty because he, my best friend, should've known.

"I won't ask again," Jackson growled. "What is that?"

"I mean it's pretty obvious, dude."

When I'm nervous or being confronted, my brain decides to turn on "spew sassy shit so Jasmine gets into even more trouble" mode.

Jackson glared at me.

Noah stepped towards me.

"Jasmine, you know you can tell us."

Yeah. I guess I do.

"It's just..." I started, struggling to find the words to explain my internal dilemma. "I couldn't tell anyone before he was arrested. And after... well, there was just so much going on that I needed a sense of normalcy. And I had that with you guys. I didn't want to ruin that."

They all looked at me with confusion, anger, sadness... except Jackson, who stared at me blankly.

"By the time I understood that I had to tell you, it'd been a few weeks and I... I guess I just didn't want to face your reactions."

"Well you have faced them," Noah said. "So might as well just explain everything now."

It was the first time I'd seen him genuinely frown.

So I explained, with difficulty, my mother's death, my fathers abuse and power, and my suffering.

Everything was out in the open.

The boys' hands were curled into fists. Despite the tense atmosphere, I couldn't help but sigh happily inside at their show of protection for me.

I never thought I'd have that.

And because of my lies, I may never have it again.

The boys stood in front of me in a semi circle, still as statues.

And then slowly, Jackson reached out towards me.

He won't hurt me. He won't hurt me.

I chanted, willing myself not to flinch.

His rough hand wiped my tears and he pulled me into a hug.

Jackson, the oh-so-scary bad boy, pulled me into a HUG.

With this and the weird kiss thing he did at Josh's house, I'd think that an alien had taken his body. But I knew that Jax was a softie inside, so it didn't come as TOO much of a surprise.

"You are so strong. You fought so hard and you just keep fighting. Keep going. No matter what goes wrong, no matter who says that you can't do it, keep going. Don't quit. Never quit. Because I'm-WE'RE here for you. Here to help you fly and catch you if you fall. And I'm NEVER letting go."

Holy shit boi.

We stood there, our arms around each other, until the others started to slow clap behind us.

"That was beautiful," Lucas fake sniffled.

Josh smiled.

"That was so deep... did you get that from Tumblr?" Noah. Of course.

-☺☺☺-

A new day, a new life.

Finally, for the first time in years, my life is looking up.

I'm living happily with Mel in our fully renovated house. I'm doing extra curriculars and volunteering; things I never got to do when I lived with my father.

The bullying has completely stopped. Even the trips and nasty glares.

And best of all, I have a group of friends that I love more than anything.

I don't know if there's a God, or multiple gods. But out there, in the great wide universe, is a force that heard my prayers and saw my suffering and blessed me with everything I needed.

There's only one tiny problem. So tiny, it's minuscule. Can hardly see it. It doesn't even matter that much.

I have four wonderful, amazing, awesome friends.

And they're. All. Boys.

I love them. I don't have a problem with boys.

But I would love to have a girl friend. Someone to gossip about hot celebrities and dress up with. Someone to rant to about boyfriends and periods.

And because of that force somewhere in the great unknown that's seems to have taken a liking to my well being, I believe that I'm gonna find a girlfriend.

At least, I hope.

Cuz I'm getting real tired of going to the arcade.