Jar of Hearts

♡ 9 ♡

Jack: Hey. I'm fine. Wasn't really into her in the first place, anyway. Good thing it didn't last long though, lol. I'm happy to be single honestly because there's this girl that I think I might like. She keeps running into me. I think it's a sign. :)

"How the hell do I respond to that?" Is the first thing that comes out of Emily's mouth.

She and Rory stare at her phone wordlessly. They both silently think of a proper response to Jack's message.

Rory sucks in a breath and sits back on the bed, taking her eyes off the screen. "Well, you have to let him know that you're interested too. Obviously."

Emily groans and throws her head back. "Easier said than done." She shuts off her phone momentarily. "Plus, I'm not necessarily into being a rebound."

This provokes an eye roll from her best friend. "It's not a rebound if he didn't really like her that much. Plus, they were only together for not even a whole month. There's no possibility that he could have gotten that attached to her."

"Still..." Emily sighs and plays with a string on her flannel pajama pants. The blue and yellow pattern makes a stark contrast against the pastel purple bed sheets. "I don't have any idea what to say."

"Well." Rory purses her lips and looks at the headboard behind Emily thoughtfully before moving her honey eyes to meet her ocean ones. "Just say something simple, like: Yeah, maybe it is a sign. Then add a winky face."

Emily stares at Rory dumbfounded for a second before shaking her head and typing it into her phone. She can't believe she's doing this. She stares at the words before pressing send, contemplating whether or not she really wants to go through with this.

Then, Jack's brilliant smile and warm, hazel eyes enter her mind. It makes her heart beat with irregular palpitations. She bites her bottom lip and hits send.

Rory squeals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next evening, Rory and Emily arrive back at school. On Saturdays, the principal allows their band to practice in the music room as long as a member of the faculty is on the premises.

Thankfully, Mrs. Park volunteered instead of Mr. Lange. Edward Lange is a man in his sixties who teaches ninth-grade history. He has a slight hunch in his back and hair that resembles Gandalf's—likeness in both the hair on his head as well as the beard.

Mrs. Park is chill and doesn't even really supervise them. She simply watches Netflix in her office down the hall and lets them do whatever they want. Well, as long as it follows school rules... And the law.

Emily's phone buzzes in her back pocket. She pulls it out and smiles at the name on the screen.

Jack: What time does your band practice end? Can I pick you up after?

Emily: 7. And, sure. :)

She discreetly puts her phone away, careful to keep it out of sight from Rory. She hasn't told her about the date that Jack had asked her on earlier that day. She hasn't told her yet mainly because she doesn't want it to be made into a big deal.

Rory has a tendency to make things more dramatic than they are. Surprise, surprise.

Emily opens the door to the music room and is closely followed by Rory.

Carlos is already there, playing something on the drums, and in the corner of the room Grant Reed, or rather, Noodle, is sitting in a chair, tuning his bass.

Grant has dirty blonde hair, soft brown eyes, and is super skinny. His uber thin figure got him the nickname "Noodle" from Rory when he first joined the band. And it's stuck ever since.