I've Got This Friend

"Hey how was your weekend?" Jack wonders approaching me at my locker.

"Yeah it was good." I smile, but I feel bad that we're thinking about two different situations.

"Too bad we didn't get to hang out." He laughs a little. "Maybe we can this weekend?"

"Oh, sure. I might have to see if I'm busy, but absolutely."

"Great. I gotta go to class, I'll meet you at your locker at the end of the day." Jack kisses my cheek as he walks away.

As I'm grabbing my right books for the classes I have today, Ash huffs. "Not dating my ass."

"Ashton what are y-"

"I just saw him kiss your cheek, Jessica. Your the one who didn't have to lie." He interrupts, slamming the door to my locker as h storms away.

What the fuck? I think to myself. He's never acted like this before. He's never acted like he wanted to punch me in the face. Is he really this messes up because I have a potential boyfriend, or is there something more?

___

After class, I normally wait for the guys so we can all walk to lunch together, but the only one standing there is Michael. "There you are." I gasps. "Ash is on a rampage about something, but he wont tell us what it is."

"I know." I say quietly, walking with my head down.

"If you know then tell me." He whines.

"I don't know for sure what it's about, but I have a pretty good idea." I sigh as Michael prompts me to continue. "He saw Jack kiss my cheek this morning at my locker, and he got really mad."

"Why would he get mad?"

"I told him we weren't dating, which we aren't, and then when Ashton saw him kiss my cheek, he blew up."

Michael steps in front of me, stopping my movements. "Jessie I don't think you understand how upset he is. Like he's really fucking pissed off. When the guys and I were about to walk to your class room to meet you, he refused and took Cal and Luke with him."

I shrug. "Maybe he's just mad that he thought I lied. I'll explain it to him later. You know let him have his tantrum then try to talk to him."

"If that's what you want, go for it. I speculate there's more to all of this though." I don't answer. As we walk into the cafeteria, our normal spots were saved, except one person was missing. Can you guess?

"Hey guys." I smile.

"Hi Jessie!" Cal waves at me with food in his mouth, while Luke sits there with a 'what are you up to' expression.

I shake it off and decide to change the subject, but before I can get anything started, Ash sits down with a grunt. "Can you believe they wouldn't give me extra food?" He complains.

Luke gently slides tray in Ashton's direction. "So what are we all doing after school today?" Cal asks.

"I'm going home. Alone." Ashton bluntly stares in my direction as everyone else looks away from the tension.

"You wanna do something after school. It can be the four of us, since Ashton wont be there." Michael suggests.

"Make it three. Jessica'll probably be with Jack." Ash spits, his words filled with venom.

"Mate there not dating. And if she had something planned with him, who cares? We see her enough anyways." Michael jumps in trying to reason with him.

Ashton gives me a death glare, his eyes burning with hatred. My eyes, however, start to wheal up with tears. The fact that Ashton could be so cruel, was overwhelming. I stand up and walk away from the table, not wanting him to see me cry.

When I turn the corner to the bathroom, I run into Jack. Like literally run into Jack. "Hey there, cutie." He winks. His face falls when he sees my face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm fine." I sniffle, trying to walk away.

"You don't look okay."

"It's just- it's hard to explain. Long story short, I made my best friend in the whole entire world mad at me, and I don't know how to fix it."

"I'm sorry. At least we have this weekend to look forward to." Jack leans in really close to my face, but I put a hand on his chest to push him back.

"I'll get back to you on that. Your a nice guy, and I like you, but I don't know if I want anything more right now. I'm sorry."

Jack looks back, scratching the back of his neck. "I'm-I'm sorry. I understand." He then walks off in a rush. Great, another broken patch.

___

Jack didn't wait for me at my locker like he planned to this morning, but I didn't blame him. I turned him down. I was surprised though, to find Ashton waiting there. "What?" I harshly ask him.

"Aren't we walking home together?" He smirks.

"Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were walking home alone today. That's what you wanted right?"

"Jessie, I'm sorr-"

"It's fine really, screaming at me, and putting me down totally doesn't deserve an apology. Especially when this behavior comes from you so called best friend." I snort, this time storming away.
___
Later that night, Ash called me nonstop last night, but I didn't answer. When he sent me texts, they all said things like, 'I'm sorry.' 'Jessie, I really am.'
I guess now we are both an emotional wreck.

Notes