Their Voices

part 8

Finally after lunch ended and our third period was now beginning both Sophie and Jasmine finally came out of the bathroom. Sophie not saying another word she kept thinking about the whole situation. As we walked down the school hallway. Sophie finally asked the question she was dying to know “Okay Jas I just want to know one thing” Sophie stated. Turning towards her “ok” I listened “who was here after school yesterday? Though I have a good idea of who.” she muttered “I still want to hear it from your mouth” Sophie explained. “There was me, janitor Rick but he left not soon after you and there were some other clubs still at school getting ready for the festival, competitions, and other stuff, but anyways I was heading to the councilors office to hand in the paperwork until...” I paused seeing Jack in the hallway. Our eyes meeting my face immediately flushed. “And what? Who else was here” Sophie asked curiously as I automatically looked away my face beet red with embarrassment. Sophie now growing annoyed looked to where I turned away from seeing Jack looking back astonished she looked from him then back to me “oh no! no no no no no HIM!” she asked, shocked, her anger as clear as day. I shook my head in agreement “Jack Williams! So did he do this to you” she asked, trying to control herself as she tried to put the pieces together. Frantically disagreeing I shook my head with worry “well was he there when it happened then?” she asked, sighing annoyed I looked at her and shrugged my shoulders unsure “Well, I’ll just half to find out won't I” she said marching towards him holding her head high. Stopping her in her tracks I looked up at Sophie whose face was now covered with determination and anger. Worried I held her arm tightly “What? You don't want me to?” she asked, confused. Shaking my head I disagreed, my face turning brighter “don't make a scene please” I pleaded as I held her arm “who says I will I'm just going to ask him if we could talk for a bit that’s all” she said giving me a cheesy smile. Unsure I let out a shaky breath “just meet me at our spot ok” Sophie said taking my hands off of her arm and giving them a soft squeeze with one of her looks saying ‘trust me’ letting out a breath I agreed “then I will see you at our spot ok Jas” she said walking off with her shoulders back and head held high. Watching her for a moment I grew nervous “ah I’m not ready to do this she’s lucky I trust her so much” I sighed quietly. Turning around I ran out the door to a little area hidden by bushes and trees around the school side to wait nervously for Sophie.

“Yo, Jack, I see you got your bag back” Jackson pointed out. “Yep I just grabbed it and went home” Jack said questionably “yea but me and Sam were still worried about you” “yeah I’m fine and as you can see I have my bag” Jack said laughing with a smile. Putting his arm around Jack's neck Sam laughed too “yeah that's true but did anything interesting happen?” Sam asked, eyeing Jack suspiciously. Looking at them he just laughed “no nothing happened why?” Jack said nervously “oh nothing you just seem different is all” Sam said casually Jackson agreeing. “Yea how so,” Jack asked, “well you seem…” “JACK WILLIAMS I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!” Sophie yelled as she walked towards him “oh hey Sophie what's up” Jack waved. The thought of what he saw earlier coming to mind “we don't have time for hellos, we need to talk NOW!” Sophie said strongly as she grabbed his arm pulling him away. He looked at Sophie curiously. “What's wrong?” he asked, seeing her eyes full of worry and impatience “It's important so just come” she said as she continued to pull him along “Ok, Sorry Sam, Jackson. I'll see you in class alright” Jack yelled as they went down the hall “um ok see you later then bro” Sam said unsure as he watched Sophie drag Jack away in a hurry.

“Jeez, Sophie what's so urgent that you had to drag me out here for,” Jack asked, yanking his hand away “quit hiding and come out” Sophie declared looking at a group of trees and bushes. Unwillingly I did as Sophie commanded and stepped out from behind the tree my face red. Jack's eyes widened as I walked out. He looked from me to Sophie then back to me “Jasmine” Jack muttered surprised. Everything Jack saw flashed through his mind making him choke on his words. “Hi” startled he blinked for a moment hearing my voice first as I nervously looked to the ground “um hey...you ok I saw you crying at lunch” Jack asked finally getting the words out of his throat. I look up embarrassed seeing Jack's face filled with worry and care. Blushing I looked down again quietly breathing feeling dizzier “oh no I'm um...yea I'm fine” I stuttered “WHAT! YOU ARE MOST CERTAINLY NOT FINE. TELL HIM THE TRUTH JAS HE'S GENUINELY WORRIED ABOUT YOU” Sophie yelled angrily. Jack looked from Sophie then back to me the same type of worry in his eyes as Sophie's. “NOW JACK...” Sophie yelled grabbing Jack's attention “ye...yes” he stuttered nervously “you were here after school the other day right” Sophie confirmed, “uh yea why?” Jack asked cautiously as Sophie let out an annoyed sigh walking over to me sternness in her eyes “who else can you think of that was here. The ones who hurt Jasmine were waiting for her and since she won't tell me who they are I'm finding out myself” she explained with all seriousness in the world gleaming in her eyes. “Oh, I'm not really sure. There were quite a few clubs there for practice outside. Although there was a group of girls walking in the halls. I am not really sure because we hid in the classroom but they sounded really familiar” Jack explained nonchalantly until he looked at Sophie. Seeing the way her worried eyes changed to a deep anger filled red. “Why?” Jack asked nervously looking at Sophie. Her eyes startled him backward until she took a calming breath, her eyes changing back to her calm and reassuring eye color. She grabbed a cloth and turned around “c’mon Jas” Sophie said handing it to me I shook my head in worry and uncertainty “JAS” she yelled startling me and Jack as he looked at the both of us with confusion “this is what's wrong” Sophie said just grabbing me tightly as she wiped off some of the make-up that we had just put back on. Showing the dark bruise. “I saw that this morning on my way to the cafeteria, I guess I wasn't seeing things” Jack worried. “Stop it” I said quietly uneasily. Sophie turned to look at him and me angrily. I froze nervously. “It's really fine I honestly just fell off my bike because I didn't want to hit a cat and instead of my bike hitting the cat it hit me. It's no big deal” I said trying to laugh it off “LIER! -sigh- Jasmine, I've known you long enough to know when you are lying. You need to understand that other people will and can help you. Probably even better than I can.” Sophie said caringly “I said I'm fine Soph” I said getting annoyed “NO YOU'RE NOT” she yelled, “why would they do this to you anyways?” Jack asked again “Jasmine,” Sophie said caringly “GOD! What are your problems? I'm fine I don't need you worrying” I said snapping “Jas...no you're not? You're not like this. You're always so sweet and shy you haven't yelled since you were little. You haven't cried like that since you were little and nothing has ever changed that so what's so different now” Sophie asked, causing old memories to hit me like lightning both shocking and painful. Turning around I tried to process everything and calm myself down “Jasmine I have to agree with Sophie you look like you're about to break down” Jack agreed sounding worried “JASMINE!” Sophie yelled angrily --SNAP--“why do you even care” I gruffed to myself “what?” they both said confused. “WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE!” I yelled, turning to face them tears in my eyes “YOU HEAR ME NOW? YOU HAVEN'T MET ME. WE JUST SO HAPPENED TO BUMP INTO EACH OTHER IN A CLASSROOM. IN YOUR MIND I DIDN'T EXIST UNTIL YESTERDAY” I yelled angrily at Jack my blood boiling with emotions. Their faces froze in shock and worry “Jas come on you don't....” Sophie started “WHAT SOPHIE WHAT? YOU ALWAYS SAY ‘YOU DON'T THINK THAT’, OR ‘THAT'S NOT YOU’ YOU’VE EVEN SAID ‘DON'T DO THAT ’ DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK I DON'T THINK? WELL SORRY TO BREAK IT TO YOU BUT I'M NOT THE LITTLE MEEK GIRL I WAS BACK THEN. I DON'T NEED TO BE WATCHED OVER, I DON'T NEED A SAVIOR, I DON'T NEED PEOPLE AND I CERTAINLY DON'T NEED SOMEONE TO TELL ME WHO I AM! SO WHY? WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE HUH JUST...JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW I HAVE NO FRIENDS, A BAD HISTORY, A BROKEN FAMILY OR IS IT YOU WANT TO WATCH ME BREAK MORE WELL GUESS WHAT Y'ALL GOT WHAT YOU WANTED. I'M FALLING APART, I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING INSIDE, I'M HURTING SO BAD IT'S UNBEARABLE. WHERE YOU HONESTLY EVEN MY FRIEND OR WAS IT ALL MY BROTHER? WHERE YOU? NO, YOU WEREN’T. YOU WHERE MY BROTHERS. AND WHERE IS HE NOW HE'S CERTAINLY NOT HERE IS HE! SO I GUESS YOU CAN LEAVE, YOU'RE RELIEVED OF DUTY, THERE'S NO NEED TO...TO WATCH OVER ME ANYMORE OR ACT LIKE YOU CARE” I yelled hurtfully “Jas, that's not…” Sophie stuttered “HEY THAT'S NOT TRUE OR FAIR.” Jack yelled annoyed. Surprised I turned to face him as tears continued welling up in my eyes. “You said that I haven't met you, that we just so happened to bump into each other in a classroom. You even said that I didn't know you existed till now but the truth is I have noticed you. You are the one person in this whole messed up school who doesn't follow me or say how awesome I am. You're always so quiet, just being you no matter what others say or do. I'm always wondering who you are, what type of person you are and how you could deal with this crappy school harassment and pain it causes you...but when I look at you. It's like you don't care, as if you don't feel it like it doesn't exist. You're in your world.” Jack said getting closer “like you're somewhere else entirely, seriously look around you. You have a great friend who is trying everything she can to help you” Jack said both of us now face to face with each other. Suddenly he grabbed my shoulders tightly looking me sternly in the eyes “look at yourself you're awesome, you're beautiful, you got smarts, you have a great friend who cares about you. I know I don't know the reason why you're so scared to get hurt, or why you think everyone is out to get you but they're not and I’m not so don't make them out to be” he said smiling his hands loosening their grip. I looked at him shocked and dazed I didn’t even notice I was crying when suddenly my legs gave in and I fell against him “I'm sorry I can't believe I blew up on you guys like that I'm...I'm so sorry --Sniff-- I know it's not enough to say how sorry I am I know but I really am sorry” I cried honestly “it's fine Jas you needed to let it out you bottle too much up and that's not good for you or your health” Sophie said comfortingly. “I’m sorry I’m so sorry --Sniff-- sorry Jack, Sophie” I cried. Sophie looked at me, relaxed, seeing Jack's caring gaze. Thankful for what he had just done she waved at him grabbing his attention and mouthed ‘thank you’ Jack just nodded giving Sophie a smile.