The next week was weird because John kept offering to walk me home. Ha, John caring about my safety? That's a huge laugh."Hey Emily." Called Jeffrey. I smiled at the thought of having a best guy friend like him. "So how're things between you and John?" He asked careful not to make me angry. I shrugged. "Fine I guess." Jeff stopped me and turned me toward him and said "I like you a lot." My jaw dropped and I felt like a deer in headlights. "W-What?" I asked. He seemed like he was trying so hard to spit it out. "I. Like. You. A. Lot." He breathed between each word like he was dying. "Really?" I blushed crimson. He nodded. "I like you too." The look on his face was one of shock and every good feeling ever. "You do?" I nodded and held his hand. "Of course."
When the bell rang for school to start Jeff neer let go of my hand. I felt so safe with him, mostly because of his height. I loved tall guys. "Aww love birds." Sang Molly. I shooed her away playfully. Sheena seemed oddly quiet and reserved. Which was unusual for someone as talkative and open as her. "Hey Sheen, what's wrong?" I asked. She looked at our hands and said "Nothing. I'm fine." I knew she lying. "Okay" I went with it anyway. Wonder what's with her.When we got to cleass Jeff sat next to me and Sheena sat behind us, and John being ten minutes late to class, sat at the back in the only empty seat. "Hey Tommy, what's with Jeff and Emily being so damn close?" He asked. Tommy swiveled around in his chair and explained the whole thing. "Why? You finally realize you're an idiot for not telling her you like her?" He smirked. John snapped his pencil in half and said sternly "I'm not into her. I hate her." All Tommy did was shrug and turn back around. "Pssst, Vera." He called. Veronica turned in her seat and mouthed 'What?' He pointed to me and Jeff and mouthed 'Them? Together?' Veronica smiled wide and nodded. She wrote down on a piece of paper and tossed it to John. It read:
-Cute right?
John made a gag face and wrote down,
-No, It's not
Veronica quickly jotted down before the teacher saw,
-You're just jealous of him John. Don't think I haven't heard you wanting to walk her home after school.
John tossed the paper back,
-I HATE her. I have no interest in her. What's wrong with Sheena?
Veronica looked over a few students shoulders and saw Sheena zoned out and in her own world. She turned back and shrugged and mouthed ' I don't know.'
John wrote down below the previous comment,
-Didn't she have a crush on Jeff?
The note landed next to me and unfolded. I looked down and reached for it. Veronica and John were both in a panic. I read it and saw the last two comments. I felt my heart skip a beat. I recognized the writing and turned to Veronica behind me. "Did she?" I asked. Veronica shrugged and said "I honestly don't know. You'd have to ask her." I looked up toward her and pieced it together, She has a crush on Jeff and doesn't like seeing me with him. She's done this too many times already, she's not taking him from me. Not like the others.When the bell rang I completely ignored Sheena when she tried to talk to me. "What's wrong with her?" Asked Douglas. We called him DeeDee. "I don't know." Said Molly. Sheena seemed scared, but knew why I was mad. "I know why." She said. Everyone turned to her and DeeDee asked "What happened?" Sheena rubbed her forehead and said "Who told her about Jeff?" She asked. John and Veronica looked at each other and seemed tense. "John? Did you?" He looked everywhere but at her. "Kinda, not really. More like asked." Sheena chased after me and when she finally caught me she tried to get me to look at her. "I'm sorry." She said. I didn't dare look at her or else my anger would vanish, and fuck it, with the shit she did before, I deserved to be mad. "No." I walked away to my next class. The whole day was like this, ignore Sheena, ignore John, get over today.
"You okay doll?" Asked Jeff. I shook my head. "What happened?" He asked. I shook my head agian. "You have to talk to me about this." He prodded. I rolled my eyes. "Sheena likes you." I tried to fight the tears. He seemed shocked and a bit relieved. "What's wrong with that?" He asked. I felt my face turn red and I felt my blood boil. He doesn't get it! He doesn't understand what happened before! She'll do the same! Over and over again."Everything." I said through my teeth. He seemed to get the fact that I was angry, so he backed off. "I love you." He said before walking away. That was it. My anger dissipated and I followed after him like a lost puppy. "I love you too." I said back. He looked down and and held my hand. "Don't be angry for something so stupid." He gently rubbed my hand and didn't let go. "Okay." I said looking down at the dirty floor of the hallway.
After three more periods, we went to lunch. I sat in between John and Jeff. While Sheena, Molly, Tommy, and DeeDee sat across from me. To sum it all up, it was really awkward.
