Audrey.

Part 4.

Audrey.

After about a few hours, Jacob returned. He said he'd be back in the morning. But, other than that, he seemed .. different. His eyes were red. And he smelled like alcohol and 50 pounds of weed. "Jake?" I called. He smirked. "What's up?" he asked. "Are you high or drunk?" I asked. "Both" he laughed. I looked at him crazy. "What's the matter, baby?" he walked towards me and kissed my neck. I pushed him off.

"I think you need rest" I said. He bit his lip and looked at me from head to toe. "I'd rather stay awake" he said. "I don't think that's a very good idea" I said. "Hey. What are you two still doing up?" Jacob's aunt stood at the top of the staircase. "Um ... we were getting a late night snack" I said. 

She looked at me then at Jake. Then, she furrowed her eyebrows. "Get back to bed. You don't wanna be tired in the morning" she said. Then, she went back to her room. I sighed in relief. 

~

Jacob

I woke up with the biggest headache in history. I sat up in bed. What the hell happened last night? All I remember was leaving the house and driving somewhere. I don't remember where I went. I heard a knock on my room door. "Yea" I said. My door opened. It was Audrey. She smirked. "Nice nipples" she said.

I laughed and shook my head. "What do you want?"

"Um .. if you don't mind, I'd like to carpool with you to school" she said. "Why would I mind?" I asked. "I don't know. I just thought you were still mad at me" she said. "Nah, I'm over it" I said. 

~

 Once we pulled into the lot, I put the car in park and took the keys out. Then, I sat in the car for a bit. Audrey unbuckled her seat belt. She started to get out, but then she stopped and looked over at me. "Jacob?" she called my name. I looked over at her.

"I'm sorry" she said.

"About what? Yesterday?" she nodded. I shook my head. "It's not you that should be apologizing. I shouldn't have been jealous in the first place. I should've been happy for you, like you said ... So, I'm sorry" I said.

She smiled and kissed me on the cheek. My eyes widened at her actions. I felt my face heating up. She laughed and opened the car door. "Come on, child!" she said. I got out and we closed our doors. We started walking towards the school. "Audrey?" I heard Chresanto's voice. She stopped and turned around. I turned around as well. 

He looked at her, then at me. "Oh, we're not--"

"It's fine. He's better for you, right? A better influence?" 

"Chres, we're not together. We just carpooled to school together"

"And, you couldn't ask me, because?"

"He ... lived closer. I didn't want you driving far and end up being late for school"

"I wouldn't mind"

"You act like y'all are dating. Calm down" I had to put my two cents in. He was getting a little too upset for no reason.

"I'm sorry, I don't recall asking for your input" Chres said.

"You didn't have to" I said. "Y'all, please don't do this again" Audrey said.

"You might wanna watch your mouth, Perez"

"Or what?"

"You don't want me to beat your ass again"

"YOU beat MY ass? Last time, I'm pretty sure it was the other way around"

"Don't flatter yourself"

"Stop!" Audrey got in between us. "Y'all are acting like children"

"You might wanna get your faggot friend before he breaks a nail, tryna fight me"

I hated when people called me a faggot. Even when Audrey says it. I mean, I know when she says it, she's just playing, but it still hurts a little. "Don't call me a faggot"

"Or what? You're gonna cry?"

"Chres, stop" Audrey defended me. "Why the fuck do you hang with this gay ass nigga anyways? Y'all always together" Chresanto kept going. I may not be the best fighter, but when people push me to my breaking point, it's like Satan takes over my body.

"Don't talk about him. You know he's been bullied before" she tried to whisper. 

"I don't give a fuck. That nigga gay and he know he gay. Ain't that right Jakey Wakey?" he pinched my cheek. My jaw tightened. I jerked my face away. "Aw, is the little faggot boy upset?"

You don't know how bad I wanted to kill this nigga.

"See, look at him. He just standin there like a bitch. He ain't gon do shit" Chresanto got in my face. "I dare yo ass to hit me" he said. I clenched my fists and bit down on my bottom lip. I felt a tear fall down my cheek. He laughed, then backed away. "You a lil bitch" he said. Then, he scoffed and bumped past my shoulder.

Once he left, I calmed down a little. I looked down at my shoes. "I'm so sorry, Jacob" Audrey said. She touched my shoulder. I shook my head and headed to first period.

Audrey.

I sighed, as he walked away. They used to be good friends. Well, from what I saw. And now ... they hate each other because of me. I felt my phone in my back pocket vibrate. I pulled it out. I had a text message from Ashley. She's one of my best friends. "What's up with Jake and Chres?"

I unlocked my phone and replied to her. "I think it's because of me"

"What happened?"

"They both like me and .. I think that's the best way I can explain it"

"Oh, I see"

"But .. the other part of the problem is .. I like both of them too" I sighed.

~

The last bell of the day rang. I grabbed my things and walked to my locker. I put some of my books away and then, grabbed my red notebook. I, then, closed my locker. "Audrey" I heard my name. I turned around. It was Chresanto. I walked towards him. "Yes?" I said.

"I'm really sorry about .. this morning .. It shouldn't have went that far"

I smiled. "I shouldn't be the one you're apologizing to" I nodded my head in Jacob's direction. He was sitting on a bench outside, with his head in his hands. "Yeah .. I hurt him pretty bad ..."

I nodded. He sighed. "Okay"

We walked out of the building and in his direction. Chres cleared his throat. Jacob lifted his head out of his hands. He looked so ... depressed. "What now? Come to make fun of how gay I am again?" he was being sarcastic. I looked at Chres. He shook his head. "I came to apologize. I shouldn't have said that to you, man. I was just mad. And .. I'm sorry. I really am. So, if you don't mind, can we put this behind us?" He held out his hand.

Jake looked at it, then stood up. Then, he looked down at it again. He grabbed his bag from off of the ground and walked away. "I guess that's a no" I said. "It's whatever" Chres shook his head. "I'll text you, alright?" he said. We gave each other a hug and he pecked me on the cheek. I smiled a little.

Then, we went our separate ways. Once I got to the car, I saw Jacob with his head on the steering wheel. I opened the car door and got in. "Jake, what's wrong?" I asked, after closing the door. He didn't reply.

"I'm trying to help you" I said.

I still got no reply.

"Why won't you just talk to-"

"There's nothing to talk about" He lifted his head and looked over at me. "Just tell me what's wrong .. I wanna help you"

"You can't. I know you can't"

"And how do you know?"

He didn't answer me. He cranked up the car and we headed home.