here without you

49

"I told you French was going to be terrible - and I was right because it always is. We so should have skipped."

"Well, if we actually did that every time you propose it, we would skip literally every French lesson. We can't do that, Jade."

"Technically, we could. And, well, I could definitely think of better things to do during that time. Things that are way more fun..."

She grins at me. I'm pretty sure I know what sort of things she's talking about.

We arrive at Jade's locker. She opens it, tosses in her French book, and looks for a different one. My eyes fall on the inside of her locker door where between pictures of Jade and her friends, there is a picture of us. Me with a wide smile, and Jade kissing my cheek. It makes me smile.

"I really love that photo," Jade says. "You look so cute and happy on it." She gives me that lip bite smile.

Suddenly, I see the smile on her face disappearing. Her gaze is directed at something behind me, and her expression has changed to what almost looks like anger. I turn around. I feel my smile slowly disappearing too.

"Hey." Shy smile. "Can I talk to you, Roze?"

"Um... Yeah. Sure."

"Maybe in private...?"

Jack's eyes move to Jade for a second. She lets out a short laugh and says, "There's no way I'll let you talk to Roze alone. Who knows what you will do? You might assault her again."

I stare at Jade. She is staring at Jack, her blue eyes as cold as ice. I have to admit that I find her being so protective of me kinda cute.

"I didn't..." Jack clears his throat. "Well, fine. Then I'll just talk to you here."

For a moment he says nothing, as though waiting for me to tell him I want to talk with him somewhere else, somewhere private. But I don't. I like having Jade here with me, and I don't think I want to be alone with him, even if we're not the only students in the hallway.

"I'm... I'm sorry about what happened at the party." He runs his hand through his hair. "I think I was just really drunk."

"Yeah, I think you really were."

He looks down at his feet, then back at me.

"I'm sorry, Roze. I was a total asshole."

"You still are," Jade whispers, loud enough for Jack and me to hear it. I try hard not to laugh or grin. Jack shoots her a look of annoyance, before looking back at me again.

"Can we just..." He sighs. Then, he takes my hand. I don't even need to see Jade's face to know it drives her pretty much insane. "Tell me what to do to make it up to you," he says.

I take my hand out of Jack's. But before I can answer him, Jade does.

"You seriously think Roze still wants to have anything to do with you?"

He frowns. "Not that it's any of your business, but yeah, I do. I know her. She would never just abandon me."

Jade lets out a bitter laugh. "And what exactly makes you think that? The fact that you were such a good boyfriend to her? Oh, no wait - you weren't. You're a cheater, and you always fuck around with every girl!"

I want to say something to calm both of them down, but it doesn't seem to be possible. Jack just starts talking again before I can even come up with what to say.

"Seriously? You are calling me a cheater?" He laughs, sarcastically. "Besides, it seems like Roze doesn't mind people that fuck around. I mean, she's friends with you - and everyone knows you literally fuck with every guy."