Bitter Sweet Christmas

04:The Weight

"You're going to be fine, Logan." I reassured him as I pushed him up the stairs. "It's just like any other high school but with different people."

"That's the problem. Different people means I won't know anybody here." he tried to fight by going the other way but I kept pushing him toward the door.

"Then make friends." I finally gathered all my strength and pushed him as hard as I could to the front doors.After a couple days of overlapping our vacation, the school finally opened which meant that it was Logan's first day at our school.

"You'll be okay." I calmed him down. "I'll take you to get your schedule and we'll see what classes we have together." He nodded and we walked to the main office.

After checking in and getting everything done, he walked out of the office where I came up to him and looked at all his classes. "We have first fourth and sixth together." I said to him as I handed his schedule back.

"If you need any help finding your classes, I'm here to help." I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. "Look. We have twenty minutes. That'll give me enough time to show you where all your classes are. C'mon." I led him down to hallway to where all the classes started.

*
"Class, we have a new student today. He will be walking in here in a couple of minutes. He is making his way down from the main office." the teacher informed us after getting a phone call from the office.

"How come I didn't get an introduction like that?" Logan joked. I turned to him and laughed as quietly as I could.

"Oh grow up, you big baby." I smiled. I turned to the front of the class and listened to the lesson until it was interrupted yet again by the sound of someone knocking on the door. We all turned as the door swung open and a boy walked in.

"Class, this is Jack Gilinsky." the teacher said and my heart skipped a beat as we locked eyes and he smirked. What was he doing back at this school?

As the teacher spoke, Logan nudged my elbow. I looked at him and he mouthed the words 'Are you okay?' and I just nodded. I was perfectly fine, nothing wrong. It's what I convinced myself no matter what I felt.

"Char.. How is he a new student?" Logan whispered.

"He moved schools in February but guess he decided to show up at this school again." I stared straight forward as the teacher kept talking about Jack.

"Jack why don't you go sit next to Robbie over there. Robbie raise your hand." she instructed as Jack made his way towards his assigned seat.

"Shiz." I muttered under my breath. With my wonderful luck, Robbie sat at the table next to ours and the lucky empty seat was the one next to mine.

"It's alright." Logan whispered. "Just pretend he's not there." And I did. For the rest of class I just stared straight ahead. It took me all I had to resist the urge not to glance at him when I saw him staring at me in the corner of my eye. As soon as the bell rang I waved to Logan and jogged out of class.

"Charlotte!" a voice called out. I kept walking as fast as I could. He called my name out again.

"What?" I turned around to see Jack chasing after me. "What could you possibly want?"

"Hello Charlotte." he smiled. "Where are you headed to?"

"Why?" I asked.

"Where." he replied. This boy makes no sense.

"As a reply to your stupid comment," I started. "I am heading to English." I turned around and continued walking. He caught up with me again.

"So am I." he said. "What's the rush? We have 8 minutes left."

"Just trying to get away from you."

"What's your problem?" he asked rudely.

"Oh my problem?" I snapped. I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. "I mean it's not like you left me on Christmas Day or anything."

He sighed. "I know. And I was stupid for doing that. But Charlotte, are you really going to be bitter about it?" he questioned.

"Such the charmer, aren't you?" I asked. "I feel bad for the girl I saw the other day walking with you. She has no idea what's coming for her."

"Oh, Maggie?" he asked. "Maggie. No. I'm not the same person I was a year ago. I wouldn't drop Maggie then go to another girl the next day. I care about her and she feels the same about me."

I rolled my eyes. What a performance.
"But, Charlotte. I came to talk to you and tell you that I wanted to try and be friends. I was hoping that maybe you would want to be also. I miss you." he said. After hearing that, I laughed. It wasn't the nicest thing to do but it was funny.

As we had finally reached our class, I turned to him with only 4 minutes left and looked at him in the eyes. He stared at me with a pained look and I felt guilty for treating him this way. Before I could give in, I blurted out the words I've been waiting to say.

"Jack." I started. "Almost a year ago, on Christmas Day you broke my heart. Are you aware of what you did to me that day? Yet, you never bothered to care. You were fine with what you did. You didn't talk to me for a year. You came and left me standing there with a heavy heart, not bothering to ever care about whether or not I recovered.

"Now, it took you a year to realize your mistake and you're now standing here apologizing. You may think I'm bitter but if I left you in that situation on Christmas Day with no explanation, I think you would still be pretty pissed about it also, don't you think?

"You came here and thought I'd come back to you and be here by your side? No, Jack." Turning away, I realized I had one more thing to say. I turned around slowly standing in the middle of the door way and finished what I had to say.

"Oh and by the way, when trying to win someone's affection, you don't call them bitter while in the act." Then I turned away and sat in my seat, leaving him there, speechless.

*
"So you just left him there?" Logan asked. I nodded my head and took a sip of my water.

"Atta girl." he smiled.

"Too bad my friends weren't here anymore. They've been waiting for this moment for what felt like years." I laughed, shifting uncomfortably.
The background story of my friends was sort of a sore subject I never bothered thinking about. Long story short, they left me alone as they strode off together being the inseparable pair they always were. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a tray sliding across the table. I turned and it was none other than Jack himself.

"I told you, Jack." I sighed. "I'm not going to-"

"I know, Charlotte." he cut me off. "I'm here to make new friends considering I'm new, remember?" I rolled my eyes and he smirked and turned towards Logan.

"What?" he spit out with his mouth full. I didn't know whether to gag or laugh.

"What do you say? Wanna hang out or-"

"No." he said immediately. Jack stared at him with wide eyes as I immediately burst out laughing. I looked up at him as I continued to laugh and he just glared at me. He got up and walked away to a table full of guys as we still managed to laugh. Once I caught my breath, I turned to Logan.

"Why didn't you say yes? You don't have to be stuck with boring old me." I giggled.

"Why would I want to be friends with someone like him? You don't do things like he did to you." he returned to a serious tone. "Plus you're a lot more fun to be around than his cocky ass." We both burst out laughing and enjoyed the rest of lunch.