WARNING ⚠️: Winter and Justin ❤️🤪 (and you know what that means) 🤭
I skip-walked to meet Alex and Zach; it was Alex's birthday, and I was so excited for it. Lately, he's been reminding me so much of Hannah, and it warms my heart up.
"Hi there." I threw my arms around him, kissing his cheek. "Happy birthday!" I smiled widely.
"Thanks, Mint." He loved this nickname, and he loved it more knowing the story behind it. "I was thinking of going to the arcade this afternoon. Wanna come?" My smile faded away.
"I can't, I need to take care of Ellie." He lowered his head, disappointed. "Sorry, honey. I'll buy you a gift." He nodded with a sad smile.
"Oh! Look who it is!" I saw Zach with his arms crossed over his chest. "Wait, is it your birthday?" he asked, smiling. My eyes landed on Jessica, and she ran towards me. I stumbled backward when I felt her body slamming into mine.
"Best birthday gift." Alex looked at us, still wrapped in each other's arms. "And why are you smiling like a psychopath?" Zach widened his smile even more, which made me laugh.
"What?"
"What?" Jessica locked our arms together and intertwined our hands. "You guys got me a banner made?" Alex asked.
"It was a group project. I made the design, Clay ordered it online, and Zach put it up," Jessica explained.
"Woah, that's... that's really, really nice, you guys." He grinned.
"Aw... Happy birthday, buddy." My whole body froze, making me squeeze Jessica's hand. "Oh, sweet banner," Bryce said, patting Alex's shoulder.
"Is your mom bringing cupcakes?" Scott asked. I gave him a death look, shutting him up.
"I hope she brings enough for the whole class." I scoffed; I really wanted a cupcake right now, even though I hated agreeing with Bryce.
"Maybe you'll get a new cane this year too, huh?" I punched Scott's arm, shoving him away from Alex.
"Fuck you!" Bryce chuckled, walking away.
"And some new friends." Scott kept looking at me, and I swore if I could, I would break his teeth.
"Fuck you!" Alex started to walk towards them. "You fucking rapist!" he shouted. I gasped, stumbling backward, not believing what he had just said.
Everyone looked at us. Some of them laughed, and others looked at us scared and surprised. I knew what Alex had just said broke Jessica's heart in two, again.
"Dude, shit like that doesn't do anybody any good." Zach took a step closer to Alex.
"Yeah? Well, it feels good to me," Alex retorted. I rolled my eyes, frustrated. "Maybe if you'd stop defending him all the time."
"When have I ever defended him?" Knowing the two of them, this was going to be an argument.
"Every day! Every day you hang around him and play basketball with him, you choose his side." I walked to them and stood next to Zach. "Don't even get me started with you, Winter."
"You know what? I don't have a choice! I have a little sister who is only six years old, and if you don't remember, I've been shot by my mom's stupid boyfriend. I need Bryce more than anything right now." I knew what I said made him realize how fucked up it was for me. "I choose Jessica's side, not his. And so did Zach!"
"Why would you do that?" All of us looked at Jessica and saw how fragile she was.
"Shit. I'm so sorry."
