Love is Beautiful (She's so Ugly)

Chapter Twenty Four (part three)

After everyone finished their cleaning jobs, they returned to the detention room. Will dismissed them with a smirk. "Try keeping the chaos in class to a minimum, yeah? My job would be boring without you kids." Then, as they were heading out, he added, "And, Love—wait for me at the gate. I'll walk you home."

Everyone froze and turned back in surprise. Merida only nodded with a small smile.

"What was that about?" Yuri whispered as they walked away.

"Oh, I knew him before," Merida explained. "He's changed a lot, so I didn't recognize him right away."

Yuri's mouth made an O-shape. "Ah. Got it. And... that blonde guy in detention—was that Jacob?"

Merida nodded hesitantly.

Yuri twitched her lips. "Yeah, not my type. But the copper-haired one... kinda cute."

Merida stopped in her tracks and grinned. "You mean Brandon? You like Brandon?"

"Hush, Love! I just said he's cute. Boys come and go," Yuri laughed.

They were still joking when Lisa shoved Merida hard enough to make her stumble to the floor. Yuri gasped and immediately helped her up.

"What the hell is your problem?" Yuri snapped, her face red with fury.

Lisa laughed. "If I were you, I wouldn't hang around trash like her. Join the Royalties, or keep getting treated like dirt."

"Yuri, just leave it," Merida whispered.

But Yuri wasn't built that way. She marched right up to Lisa and hissed, "Apologize to my friend."

Lisa crossed her arms smugly. "You two are losers."

That was the last straw. Yuri grabbed Lisa's hair, yanking hard, and slammed her head against the wall. Gasps rippled through the hallway.

"Y-Yuri!" Merida cried.

"Royalties? Royalties, my ass!" Yuri shouted, shoving Lisa away. Then she turned on the gawking crowd. "Get out of my way, you stinking cowards!"

She seized Merida's hand and dragged her out of the circle. Merida followed quietly until Yuri stopped, sighing heavily. She turned to her cousin, hands firm on her shoulders. "Do they do this to you every single time?"

Merida's voice shook. "Y-Yeah. It's fine. I'm learning to stand up for my—"

Yuri hugged her so tightly it cut her off. Merida stiffened, then heard the sound of Yuri sniffing.

"Are you crying?" Merida asked, trying to pull back.

But Yuri only clung tighter. "Fight back, Love. Don't let them humiliate you." Her voice cracked with emotion.

Merida hugged her back just as fiercely. "I'm learning. And I swear I will. I'm stronger now that you're here."

When Yuri finally pulled away, Merida gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. No one had ever done that for Yuri before.

–––

At the gate, Merida waited. Yuri had gone ahead, saying something urgent came up. While waiting, Merida's eyes drifted toward Jacob. For a split second their gazes locked, and she quickly looked away.

Jacob began walking toward her—until Elise appeared, throwing her arms around him and pressing her lips to his.

Merida froze. Pain stabbed through her chest, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. What a liar, she thought bitterly. They're still together. Before the hurt could spill over, she turned and walked away.

Jacob shoved Elise back, glaring. "I told you—we're over!"

"But I told you I'd prove my love! I still love you!" Elise cried.

"There's nothing you can do to win me back," Jacob shot back, voice hard. "I'm done. Get that through your head."

He stormed off, leaving her shouting after him. His frustration grew when he spotted Merida—laughing with Will near the gate.

Jacob's lips pressed tight, jealousy twisting his insides.

"It must've hurt," came a voice.

Jacob turned and found Leo beside him. Every ugly memory of how he'd treated Leo rushed back. Maybe fixing things could start here.

"Let's talk," Jacob muttered.

Leo gave a sly smirk, hands shoved in his pockets. "Go on. I'll listen."

"I'm sorry," Jacob said. "I didn't know until Brandon told me."

Leo chuckled dryly. "That all? I don't care about that part. I want to hear something else."

"I'm sorry for hurting her," Jacob admitted.

Silence stretched. Then Leo said softly, "Jay."

Jacob turned his head—only to see Leo's fist flying at him. Pain exploded across his jaw and he hit the ground.

"That's for being a fool," Leo said calmly. Then, offering his hand, he added, "Apology accepted."

Jacob groaned, rubbing his jaw as he took the hand. "You asshole. That hurt."

Leo laughed. "Remember this, though. I'm not giving up on her. So don't you dare give up either. May the best man win. There's three of us your're competing."

Jacob blinked. "Wait—'three of us'? What do you mean three?"

 Leo nod toward Will. "Your new counselor's been dropping hints all day. He knew her dad. That's his advantage."

"How do you even know that?" Jacob asked, brow furrowed.

Leo just smirked. "Because I'm awesome, and you're not. I'll see you around."

"You're not gonna do anything?" Jacob pressed.

"Not my move to make. That's on you." With a lazy wave, Leo walked off.

Jacob stood there, jaw aching, mind spinning. Leo was always so damn chill. But what the hell was he supposed to do now?