Under the Stars

5. Like a magician

Chapter 5: Like a magician

Mia's POV

*****

A weight felt like it was lifted off of my shoulders after having come clean to Layla. I risked a lot telling her, but I would have risked a lot more if I hadn't. Being honest with her was the only way how I could have made sure that we started over, with no lies flying in the air. 

And I would not have been able to tell the truth if it weren't for Jack pushing me to do so. 

That was why, after having thought about it for an entire weekend, and after having mustered up enough courage to do so, I decided to properly thank him, and ask him if he wanted me to tutor him in physics as a thank you. 

I had noticed that he was having trouble understanding some of the things which we were doing, and I wanted to try and do something nice by tutoring, hoping that it would also give us the chance to get to know each other better. 

I was nervous as I approached the school, but I was also happy. Happy that I had my best friend back, and that I was acquiring a new one. 

Days, however, can be deceiving. One second you're in the best mood, thinking that nothing at all can ruin your day, and the next, something happens that makes all of the good things that happened seem frivolous. 

That was how I felt as I walked up to Jack's locker, only to find him with his arm around Jade Williams as he kissed her on the cheek. 

In that moment, my heart dropped. All of the excitement I felt for going to talk to him and offering my health vanishing into thin air. It felt as if somebody had just punched me in the gut, blowing out all of the air from inside me. 

Jack was the first guy I had liked after a very long time. The first guy I liked whom Sophie hadn't pushed to ask me out. Seeing him embracing someone else hurt me, especially since Jade and I used to be close friends a couple of years prior. 

There was no bad blood between us. Nothing ever happened like a big fight or any of those other upsetting things. We just kind of drifted. Jade was one of the first friends I truly cared about, and I knew that it was the same for her. The problem was that she used to go to another school, and we would only meet each other in an extra curricular club we both attended. When she stopped going, we lost touch, both of us busy with our lives. 

She joined my school mid-semester the year before, and even if we could have reignited our friendship, we never did. She was in different classes than I was, and we never actually had the time to become as close as we were. 

Seeing her with Jack made me feel horrible, and I felt even more horrible at the fact that I could not even hate her. She was one of the nicest people I had ever met, and I knew that she would have been good for Jack. Much better than any of Sophie's friends, that much was certain. 

"Hey, are you okay?" Sophie asked me as I made my way towards her, my mind still swirling with thoughts. 

"Yeah, it's just I saw Jack and Jade together," I mumbled, not even wanting to say it. 

Sophie closed her locker, looking at me with a smile, her gorgeous blue eyes locking with mine. "They talked a lot at the party last Saturday, and realised that they had a lot in common, and I guess it just happened," she explained, making me drop my gaze as I felt as if my heart breaking. 

I hadn't known him for such a long time, but Jack Baker was one of the nicest guys I had ever met. He was genuine, and kind, always wanting to help people. It was impossible for me not to fall for him, especially when I had spent years in a school with guys who did nothing but disrespect me.