Confessions of a Queen Bee

9

Jayden was waiting outside Art. 

And I don't know why.

I have managed to avoid him all day and as I watch him lean against the opposite wall,  I'm worried it'll be him wanting to talk to me about whatever it was he wanted to talk to me about this morning. 

I could also hear the tapping of Jackson's foot repeatedly against the floor behind me and I knew he was becoming impatient, I don't know whether he was going to try and speak to me again but I wasn't going to stick around to find out.

The bell rang and everyone started spilling out into the corridor, Jess said goodbye and that she'll see me tonight and Jackson was walking behind me. I could feel his presence. Leaving art I saw Jayden make his way through the crowd for me and although I tried to ignore him, I couldn't bring myself to totally blank him.

He calls for me. "Ivy, for fuck sake. Wait"

Fuck. 

I turn around to face him.  I smile seductively at him, the character he's created for me at the forefront of my brain. If i play bitch, he'll continue to see me like that. 

 "Oh, hi Jay."

It came out less confident than I wanted. The energy today for it all was missing.

He touched the back of his head in an awkward acknowledgement. He nodded. "Can we talk?"

"Hey, Jayden" I hear the voice of the day go- of course, Jackson is here.

Jayden looks over my shoulder, his eyes connecting with Jacksons. "Sorry mate, I'll be there in a second."

 But Jackson doesn't leave. So I do. Knowing Jayden will most likely follow, I try and go to the same classroom that Jackson and I had our encounter in yesterday. 

"Ivy." Jay said as he followed me i.

I go and lean my ass against a desk, looking at him. 

We used to hang out here sometimes. Skip class together. 

"Yeah?" I say. 

"I just-"

He sighs, his words leaving him as he looks at me. He looks puzzled. 

"What Jayden? I want to go home."

"I wanted to apologise for what Grace said yesterday."

"Who on earth is Grace?"

"The girl yesterday from the lockers." He looks uncomfortable and it immediately makes my barriers fall a little. I used to feel so comfortable with him. We both were. 

"I don't care what the girl had to say about me Jay, you know that. What do you want?"

"I just don't want you going after her that all." He finally admits.

"Oh." I breathe, then my slight pain turns to a laugh. "You care about her?"

"Not like what you mean. I just don't want you making her life hell."

Jayden always cared pretty deeply, I guess it just surprised me that he cared about this girl so much. They had only known each other for a couple of weeks or so. He would have enjoyed messing with her a few weeks ago. 

Right ok. 

"Ok." I shrug. I don't have the energy to even think about going after that so-called Grace of his.

We've been over for what two weeks? Right okay Jay, nice one. 

"That's it? You're not going to do anything."