Starting Over

15. Jess

"Hey girl, how was your weekend?" Stephanie asks wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

I wrap my arm around her waist, smiling remembering how good I felt when Jackson met my mum. "It was wonderful, I went back home to visit my family, actually." I reply. "What about you?"

"Oh, you know, same old party Friday and Saturday then sleeping all day Sunday due to a major hangover," she shrugs like she didn't just admit that she's pretty much an alcoholic.

I laugh and shake my head. "I'm glad your routine hasn't changed,"

She lets go of me once we get to our table in the cafeteria. Since I fell down the stairs I haven't seen Jess and today out of all days she's sitting at the table. So as I take my seat in between her and Jackson I decide to do the one thing I'm good at, confront her but instead of saying it to her face, I'm going to be a bitch about it.

"I still can't believe someone pushed me down the stairs, like I'm still shocked by it and it was almost a month ago now," I say loudly to Steph who is sitting in front of me, pretending I don't know who did it and why.

In the corner of my eye, I notice the fry that Jess was moving up to her mouth drop out of her hand and onto her lap. Jackson clears his throat on the other side of me.

When I told Steph that it was Jess who did it out of jealousy she immediately backed me up and lost contact with her. Which at first I thought was a bit silly because it didn't involve her but then again who would want to be friends with someone who does something like that.

"I know right, word has it that whoever did it, did it out of jealousy," she states getting the hint to intimidate Jess.

She still hasn't picked up her fry that she dropped or moved at all.

I fake gasp, covering my open mouth with my hand. "Jealousy? What could they be jealous about?"

Jackson's whole body is trembling with laughter next to me making it hard for me to concentrate on my act.

Stephanie leans forward, "whoever did it is jealous of you and Jackson," she whispers but still loud enough for the table to hear.

Jess shoots up next to me, slamming her tray on the table and storming off.

Stephanie lifts up her hand for me to high five, I reciprocate with a huge smile on my face.

"You are one hell of a bitch," Jackson slapping the table as he laughs. I can't help but join in with him.

"What can I say? I'm the biggest one yet," I smirk bumping shoulders with him.

The rest of the day goes by and as I make my way to my car, Jackson is leaning on the passenger door side.

My stomach turns to mush and my heartbeats rapidly taking in his godly appearance. His tensed muscles bulging out of the sleeves of his shirt as he has his arms crossed along his chest.

"Do you need a ride?" I ask as I reach him. I unlock my car and open my door.

"No, my cars over there," he points to where it's parked. "I just wanted to tell you that Jess spoke to me in class."

I lean against my opened door, "and...what did she say?" I ask.

"She said that she deserves every punishment for her actions but she didn't think you'd end up unconscious with a concussion," he shrugs.

"Wait, so did she apologise?"

"Ah and this is what confused me. She said, although she didn't think it'd be so serious, she's not going to apologise because she believes she did it with a 'genuine' reason," he explains using his fingers to emphasise the reason.

My jaw hits the ground. "You're kidding! What normal fucking person says that?" I yell waving my arms around.

"That's the thing, she's not normal," Jackson shakes his head.

We stand in silence, every so often I hear the click of Jackson's tongue.

"This is my fault, I'm sorry," I look up at Jackson. "If I had of known her feelings towards me I would've told her it's not mutual and none of this would've happened. Like you just moved and you get pushed down the fucking stairs because of me," Jackson doesn't meet my eyes as he pours his heart out with sorrow and concern.

I immediately take a few steps toward him, placing both my hands on each of his arms. "No one is to blame but Jess. I get it, we both have our reasons to make ourselves believe it was our fault like, if I didn't move here than it wouldn't have happened but then I wouldn't have met you and I wouldn't be getting the therapy I need," he nods his head in understanding, meeting my gaze.

"You've been through so much, yet you're still so positive," he hooks his arm around the back of my neck pulling me to his chest.

Positive. It rolls of his tongue perfectly and I can't help but feel that I'm only positive because I'm around him.

I listen to his heartbeat as he twists and pulls at my hair sprawled along my back.