The Hurt

Chapter 8

Jessica’s POV

Not only had Sarah been practically attached to my hip the whole morning, but it also seemed like everyone had started taking notice to me. Not that I minded being social after I’d been locked in a room for three days, but I’d have to admit, it was weird having everyone pay so much attention to me.

The bell rang and the halls were filled with students rushing to third period in a matter of seconds. I didn’t really like school, but I did miss all the chaos that every day brought. The jocks slamming each other into lockers, the loud gossip of the back stabbing popular group who seemed to squeal louder after you’d thought they couldn’t, and just everyone yelling in the halls trying to be louder than the person next to them. It really was an interesting scene.

“Hey, I’m just going to run to the washroom, but I’ll meet after, okay?” I half scream at Sarah and instead of her screaming back, she just nods.

I push my way through the crowd and finally reach the washroom. Once the door shuts behind me, you truly realize how loud everyone it. It was completely silent and the sound of my phone ringing almost gave me a heart attack.

I pull it out of my pocket and answer it. “Hello?”

“No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please don’t—“ I freeze, it sounded like Melissa, but she was supposed to be at school.

“Melissa!? What’s going on? MELISSA!” I can just hear her crying and pleading in the other end and my heart breaks when I hear her get slapped. “Mel..” I try to call to her again, but the phone goes dead. I throw my phone into my bag before I rush out of the washroom.

I break into a full on sprint down the hall thinking: please be okay, please be okay.  Completely oblivious to my surroundings, I run into someone. “Hey, watch it…”I practically growl as I get up to face the nimrod who was just standing like an idiot in middle of the hallway, but instead I come face to face with the dark haired boy that I was stalking just last week.

“Hey, what’s the rush Jessica? Art is that way.” He pointed in the direction I had just come from. I just stood there, dumbfounded at the fact that he actually knew my name. I give myself a mental slap, focus; you don’t want to look like an idiot.

“Shit, class has started already?” I pull out my phone to confirm it. When I look up from my phone, he is kneeling on the ground picking up his sketchbook and pencils that had scattered all over the floor. “Oh god, I’m so sorry Aaron.” I bend down beside him and start to pick up the pencils that were absolutely everywhere.

We finished picking up the art supplies that I had scattered all over the floor then we heading down towards our class. We made a stop at Aaron’s locker because he had an extra credit piece he wanted to show the class. Even though I begged and plead, he wouldn’t let me see what it was.

Class had just started when we walked through the door and our teacher, Ms.Latimer, was more than pleased to see Aaron and I. At first, I almost didn’t recognize her. She had dyed her hair from the strawberry blonde that it was, to a light brunette. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and she had her glasses sitting on top of her head. She was without a doubt, my favorite teacher. The only slightly annoying thing about her was that she was very punctual and loved to annunciate ever word. Maybe she should have been an English teacher. I chuckle at my own internal joke.

“Aaron, Jessica, glad you could join us. Please take you seats,” She chirped as she reached for Aarons painting, “and I’ll take that.” She took his painting and placed it on the easel that was sitting in the front of the class with a tarp over top.

“Good afternoon everyone, before we start, I would all like to take a moment and welcome back Ms.Stewart who has been away with some family matters for the last week.” Everyone smiled in my direction, and said welcome back. “Now, as I told everyone last Friday, Mr. Lockwood has prepared a special piece for some extra credit that he wanted to share with everyone.” The class seemed to be really excited to see Aarons painting. I glanced over at Aaron who was smiling; obviously he was just as excited to present his painting.