Escape

Escape: Ch. 8

          “Nope, just seeing which nickname will annoy you the most,” Jazz replied sweetly, her voice steely.

          “Well,” was all Rebecca could think to say.

          “Wait, where are Liam and Gwen?” Rebecca asked suddenly, taking in Jazz’s hard expression.

          “Sleeping over there,” Jazz gestured sullenly to a large tree, where Rebecca could barely make out two figures laying together.

          “Wait, together?”

          “Yup.”

          “Do you like him?”

          Jazz stared in horror at Rebecca. “You can tell?!”

          “Well, when you gestured, your lips nearly deflated with as much pressure that you put on them.”

          “Don’t tell me that he knows,” Jazz groaned, falling back to the ground.

          “I’m sure he doesn’t,” Rebecca muttered. Then, she asked herself why she was being so nice.

          “But, I’m sure he’ll never like someone like you.” Immediately, she wanted to take it back as she heard Jazz’s intake of air. It was like a broken-hearted gulp.

          She almost apologized, saying that any guy would be lucky to have her, but at the last moment snapped her mouth shut, telling herself that she didn’t care. So what, Jazz didn’t like her? It was… not the truth, she was really pretty, but Rebecca didn’t want to give Jazz a boost in feelings.

          “You can’t tell anyone.”

          “I won’t.” That was the least that she could do, right?

          Gwen suddenly plodded around the tree, looking worse for wear. Rebecca saw her red eyes and noticed that she had been crying.

          “You okay?”

          Before Gwen could answer, Jazz turned to Rebecca.

          “When did you become so caring?” She snapped, getting up to stride away, her limp making her seem not as menacing as she meant it to be.

          Gwen sighed, running her hands down her face to chase away the residue of crying.

          “She’s mad because—”

          “I know. She told me. She likes Liam, right?” Rebecca sighed, knowing she should’ve apologized. Now Jazz didn’t like her, or Gwen, and Rebecca needed a friend desperately. Wait—she had considered Jazz a friend? Sighing, she admitted—she didn’t know anymore.

          “Yeah, she’s completely in love. I could tell, but Liam can’t.”

          “Liam can’t what?” Liam came around the tree, his hair sticking up every which way.

          “Pull off the bed-head,” Rebecca replied casually. “We were wondering whether your hair would resemble a mad scientist’s or not.”

          “Ha-ha, so funny,” Liam rolled his eyes and plopped down on the ground. “Where’s Jazz?”

          “Taking a walk,” Gwen replied. “She’s not the happiest bear in the morning.”

          “Are you kidding me? She can’t walk around now. Her leg will give out soon,” Liam grimaced and shook his head.

          “I’ll find her.”