𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 | 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲

22. Cafeteria

Jack

"Fuck me, what happened to you?" Josh asked as he approached the lunch table I was sitting at. He sat in front of me, his eyes scanning me questionably.

"Leave him alone, he's just tryna eat his salad in peace" Jonah butted in to defend me. Josh creased his eyebrows. "What is that, Caesar salad? You only eat salad when you're either really mad or really depressed... which one is it?" He inquired.

I shot him a death glare cold enough that if looks could kill he'd be sorry he asked. "Does that answer your question?" I snapped at him. Josh shrugged defensively.

There was a short silence until finally Corbyn and Eben joined us. "Sorry we're late" Eben began, slinging his bag off his shoulder and taking a seat.
"It's all cause Corbyn over here needed to talk to the teacher after class about extra credit" Eben mocked, holding back a short laugh.

Corbyn sighed. "I need to get an A at least in that class if I want to have any chance of being accepted to study Astronomy in college" Corbyn pointed out as if trying to justify himself.

"To be honest I didn't know people even did that stuff, I thought it was just in the movies" Eben admitted. I blocked their conversation out, staring blankly at the table.

The guys continued talking, nothing particularly interesting me until I heard those unwanted words leave Jonah's mouth. "So Corbyn, any news on the love letter?"

I bit down on my bottom lip roughly, trying not to pay attention. Of course it was no use, as I already felt the anger in my body begin to rise once again.

Corbyn shook his head at Jonah sadly. "No... but I really want to know who it is, I'd do anything!" Corbyn exclaimed.

"Even I wanna know who sent it" Josh butted in. "I mean, it would be interesting to see who it could be. With a guy like Corbyn you never know if you're getting a hot chick or an absolute nerd, cause he's on the basketball team but he's also a science geek."

"Thanks for that one" Corbyn mumbled. "But anyways" he continued. "I hope it's someone interesting" he admitted, a small smile crossing over his face.

"Oh my god, is Corbyn blushing?!" Eben exclaimed, pointing at Corbyn's cheeks. I looked up, noticing they were lightly flushed red. "Well now we have to find the girl who wrote the note" Josh chuckled.

Eben stood up, going to leave. "Are you going to grab food?" Jonah called out. Eben nodded in response. "Cool, I'll come with you. You want anything Corbyn?" Jonah asked before leaving.

Corbyn shook his head. "I'm not hungry" he replied quietly. After the two boys left it was only Corbyn, Josh and I left at the table. I was still moving my salad around with my fork, not having much appetite to actually eat any of it.

"What's it gonna take to find this person?" Josh hummed. Corbyn shrugged. "The only way to find her is if someone saw her go in to the locker rooms" Corbyn suggested.

Josh's eyes immediately darted over to me. "Well Jack was in the locker rooms for a while" he pointed out. Corbyn looked over to me with eyes of hope. "Did you see anyone?!" He questioned.

I'd kept my mouth shut for a long time, knowing if I tried to speak I'd blow up. I clenched my jaw, not knowing how much longer I could keep my anger under control.

All the continuous talking about the letter was driving me crazy and it wasn't helping to get my mind of Zach since I knew he was the one who wrote it.

"No" I spat out simply, looking back down at my salad. Josh huffed. "You sure bro? Come on, just think, are you sure you didn't see anyone come in?"

Something in me snapped. I knew I was bound to burst at any second but I didn't know what it was about his words that just made me blow up.

"You wanna know who fucking sent the letter? Then fine, I'll fucking tell you. I'll tell you if it'll make you shut up about it!" I yelled. I quickly scanned the cafeteria, and it wasn't long before I recognised the boy sitting alone to be none other than who I intended to find.

I pointed my finger over to Zach. "Him. It was him. HE sent the letter" I spat out. The words left my mouth before I could take them back and realise what I'd done.

"But.... that's a guy?" Josh asked in confusion. Corbyn's eyes widened in surprise. "Uhh..." he began, looking at Josh. Was he thinking about telling him he was interested in guys?

Instead of finishing his sentence Corbyn shut his mouth, evidently deciding now wasn't the right time. Josh looked back over to Zach. "I think you should still go talk to him, even if you're not interested. Ask him why he sent it or whatever" Josh urged.

Corbyn gulped nervously, standing up. He took a deep breath before starting to make his way over there, the letter clutched tightly in his hand.

As I watched him walk away I found it hard to believe what I'd just done. I'd just let everyone know that Zach wrote the letter and sent it to Corbyn.

I'd just brought him into the picture, and that made me vulnerable. By knowing Zach there's more chance the guys found out what I did.

But more than that, the biggest thought in my mind, was now Corbyn knows Zach likes him... and what if he likes him back? What if I have to sit here and watch them grow together - be together - and know that it's all my fault. I basically set them up....

I took a quick glance over, barely longer than a second, but in that time I could see the two were talking. Great.... fuck. Fucking great.

I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I thought I might've drawn blood, but in that moment I didn't care. Every emotion of anger was showing on my face, and I couldn't find it in me to care. Maybe I was tired of covering up everything I felt.

I couldn't help myself from looking back over to the two. Corbyn was trying to take what wasn't his. I was staring daggers at him from across the room, not noticing how aggressively I was repeatedly stabbing my chicken salad.

"Dude, chill, I'm pretty sure that chicken's already dead" Josh butted in, bringing my attention back. I looked down at my attacked salad, dropping my fork.

"Why are you so angry?" Josh asked, almost a hint of genuine concern in his tone. "Listen, I know that it's a guy but.... honestly I think Corbyn might be... into that" Josh suggested.

I creased my eyebrows together in confusion. How did Josh work that out? "Wait, you're saying you can like... tell when someone's-" I cut myself off. Josh shrugged. Shit. I hope he's never thought that about me.

"But Corbyn's not gay" i argued defensively. "I know that" Josh rolled his eyes. "Doesn't mean he doesn't still like guys too" he concluded.

"I know it's weird, and it's not what we're used to, but I wouldn't hate him for it. If he started dating that guy it would be... different, and hard for us to get used to, but I wouldn't hate him for something he can't control" Josh admitted.

"So you're ok with it?" I asked curiously. Josh screwed his face up. "I don't know if I am... but I know it won't end our friendship with Corbyn either way, so don't be too hard on him, ok?" Josh asked.

If only he knew the real reason why I was mad...

Before I had time to notice, I heard footsteps returning back to the table. I looked up to see Corbyn, an angry look on his face. "You're such an asshole Jack" he huffed, slumping down into the seat next to me.

"Well I was hoping for a thank you maybe, or possibly at least an acknowledgement of gratitude" i retorted back. "And why would I do that? Do you know how EMBARASSING that was?! Why the hell would you do that to me?" He yelled back.

"What are you on about?" I questioned, creasing my eyebrows at the strain of trying to understand what Corbyn was on about. He rolled his eyes. "You. You sent me to the wrong person."

My body froze at his words. I felt all the colour drain from my face. "You... you what?" I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"He didn't write the letter."