Jackson Trent.
I had been nervous, I had been a wreck, but then Gina, Kat, Darcy and my mother came through and gave me the worst pep talk ever but with a swig of vodka like Gina recommended, I got out there and killed it, well I did my reveal, I talked to students who were fawning over me, from first years to seniors, I had even talked to Ryder and Pete, honestly I feel like that had been a mistake and Darcy thought otherwise.
"It wasn't a mistake, Jack despite how you want to discredit your own feelings, you know you like the guy, maybe not as a guy you would date but maybe as something less, a friend, you did say Weis liked him." Darcy argued and I scoffed at where she ended. "Really, my dog, Weis likes Wyatt." I pointed out and we both laughed but Wyatt whined.
"Sorry boo boo, come on lets go dance and finally show off your dance moves." Darcy announced dragging us to the dance floor where everyone made space for us but also joined us, the Ariana Grande song played and I did switch positions with a lot of girls and guys, it didn't matter, it was a safe space and anybody could be what they wanted, we had actually made sure to tell everyone via a sign by the door that if anything remotely bad was posted on any website, we would sue that person or persons.
We did a dance off, a konga line and finally a crazy dance, with everybody rubbing up on everybody, even Amber had joined in making my friends and I laugh but we appreciated her dance moves till the music stopped and the slow dance came on. "Come here." Wyatt told Darcy grabbing her gently and they danced, further proving me right that there was something going on.
"Can I have this dance?" Suddenly the question was asked and I turned to face the 6'4 sports addict Ryder Edwards. "Its a slow dance for couples, shouldn't you be having that with Pete?" I questioned qurking a brow and waiting for his response. "I don't care about Pete right now damn it, I care about you, I haven't seen you in a few weeks give or take a couple of days, you never showed up for our morning runs and then after blowing me off that day you just vanished, I deserve this dance." He growled pulling me into his embrace and I gasped.
I had to admit this, I didn't know Ryder Edwards could get any pushy and I didn't know that for a long time aside from his taunts and insults to my weight, I had an inkling feeling that I actually liked the person he was if he were to change. "You're still as offensively pushy." I hissed toward him and he smirked. "Because you were being stubborn, and I know for a fact, that you're incredibly stubborn." He chuckles and I narrow my eyes on him as we danced.
"You know this is toxic right, I shouldn't like you, you shouldn't be holding me, Ryder you watched as your friends harassed me, taunted and insulted me, you said nothing, I don't hold grudges but I somehow just expected better from you." I confessed and it seemed to break his macho attitude. "I know and I'm really sorry about that Jack, I should've been better, I realized later that what I was saying, what everyone was saying was wrong and it hurt you badly, and my words aren't enough to express how sorry I am that I didn't step in sooner." He explains with a heavy sigh and I just nod.
"So why now Ryder, why come now?" I demanded. "I know better, Pete told me some stuff about your past and what happened to you, honestly I should've put it together earlier, I had always been there since junior high and I watched you become a whole different person and said nothing." He exclaims and I'm sure the horror on my face was apparent, had Pete really told him about my dad, about what happened to me, I had trusted him with that, to never tell any one else.
"Jack please, I forced him to tell me because I didn't understand what was going on, I was trailing you around because I wanted to know what happened between you and Pete, I wanted to know the truth about what happened with the person I had fallen in love with and if you were actually the villain, I always had doubt and Pete, just proved me right." He tried to salvage the situation yet it was getting worse for me, this wasn't what I wanted to hear, Ryder was basically telling me that he was around me to know if I was the one who broke Pete's heart, nothing else and I had hope.
Which had been shattered. "I asked everyone at school to lay off you, and leave you alone." He muttered. "Wow, how chivalrous of you, how did you achieve that?" I sarcastically exclaimed and the guilt flooded his face. "God, and here I had hope for you, fuck you Ryder Edwards!" I pressed my palms on his chest and pushed him away harshly. "Jack, listen to me, Jack!" He called out but I ignored him marching away.
In my dramatic stomp away, I spotted Pete in the far crowd and walked straight for him, everyone saw me and greeted me, thanking me for the party, I was polite to wave back and give gratitude back until I reached Pete. "Guys, could you give me and my friend here some alone time?" I asked his friends who all smiled slyly walking away, I could see the lust in their eyes but fear in Pete's when he slightly looked up to me.
"Who do you think you are?" I hissed toward him catching him off guard. "What are you talking about Jack?" He asked, lip quivering, I knew that trick. "Drop the act Pete, I know you told your boyfriend about my past, about what happened, it wasn't your place." I sneered and he jumped taking a few steps back. "Jack you don't get it, I was close to losing Ryder if I didn't tell him the truth, and I feel horrible for telling him what happened but I had no choice." He argued and I snorted shaking my head.
"No choice." I mumbled. "No choice your thin twink ass Pete, you don't get to say shit about my past to anyone without my permission, not your parents, not your friends and especially not Ryder, do you know what he did huh!" I spat and he shook his head. "He told everyone in your little clique." I growled and his face paled.
"Jack I didn't know he would do that, Ryder has been off kilter after he started hanging out with you, I think he just wanted to protect you." He explained trying to calm me. "Fuck his protection Pete, thats my life you so casually spoke about as if you were having pillow talk, I just went through a few gruesome weeks just to deal with the repercussions of my depression and what happened back then so that it wouldn't control me, now look what you've gone and done, everyone knows!" I yelled finally causing a stir with a group of party guests.
"Maybe this isn't the place Jack." Darcy tried to intervene but I held up a finger toward her. "Not today Darcy, he needs to hear this." I turned to Pete who was crying. "I never meant for any of this Jack, if you should blame anyone, blame Ryder." He sniffled. "What?!" Ryder blurted out angrily. "There is plenty of blame to go around Pete honey, but it starts with you and your toxic ass!" I tell him angrily and his eyes pool with more tears.
"Its people like you Pete who can't help being bitter that make the rest of our lives miserable!" I shout gesturing to the crowd. "All you had to do was shut up and keep yourself out of my business but that was too hard for you, you cheated on me and broke up with me, told me I deserved being beaten half to death, do you know what that does to a person who loved you." I accused and he just cried. "Jack, please." Wyatt pleaded. "No, shut up." I growled.
"And as if that wasn't enough you had your buddies, the jocks, the cheerleaders and the popular kids all target me because I was plus size and you wanted to keep your pristine popularity record clean, how dare you Pete, when the bullying started, it wasn't just me they went after, they went after a lot of people here, but look at them now, Amber your sweet best friend and BHS's top mean bitch is here dancing at our party." I went on further as nothing but low music and a crying teen took the space.
"I'm so tired of you meddling in my life Pete and same goes for you Ryder, you had no right to tell anyone about my life, none of you here would be overjoyed to know that everyone knows a dark part of your lives." Everyone nods in support, my friends and even Ryder.
"But Pete and Ryder you found it almost convenient to dry me out, well it makes me sick, especially with you Pete, because I know you did it on purpose, Ryder is every bit as dumb as rocks but I can understand he meant well, you knew, and I wish I had never allowed you into my life." I tell him and he just cries. "Jack I'm so sorry." He pleaded but no one moved to comfort him.
"The door Pete." I pointed toward the doors of the manor. "You're kicking me out." He cried and I said nothing. "Come on Pete, we'll order you an uber." Two of his friends came forward and took him away, I couldn't believe it, I had just openly dished out all the dirty laundry between me and these two and damn it felt good.
Suddenly Beggie Beggie by Ayra Starr began to play, it was my go to song in any situation and Kat who was standing by the dj's desk waved at me, I might half heartedly hate my sister but that was an epic move. "I'm sorry everyone for ruining your eve;" Before I could finish Wyatt hugged. "Oh sugar baby." He cried as Darcy also attached herself to me, Ryder who was still there moved forward and joined the hug.
"Hate me, I don't care." He grumbled as everyone close enough joined our massive hug making me laugh. "Okay everyone, let's go dance!" I yelled and everyone ran to the dance floor, mingled or went straight for the food, I was on the dance floor with Wyatt, Darcy and Ryder.
"I was stupid I admit, but I ain't no chicken to run away because you called me out on my bullshit, I'm just as stubborn and partly unapologetic, so I'm gonna be here proving that I'm sorry about everything." He exclaimed as he danced behind me, I turned to face him with an eye roll. "Like I said toxic." I pointed out and my friends both laughed. "Hey, I didn't know you had it in you, but big bro, Im so proud that I witnessed you read a bitch." Kat spoke up joining our group.
"Kat." I whined and everyone just chuckled. "What, it's true. " She argued. "Never mind, just dance with us, uptown funk you up, uptown funk you up, say what!" Darcy sang loudly and we all joined in. "I'm too hot!" I sang with my friends backing me up. "Make a dragon wanna retire man, I'm too hot." They backed me up as we danced the night away. "Don't believe me just watch!" I screamed with Ryder and my friends trying to contain me but ended up just joining in. "Uptown funk you up!"
Being Jackson.
Somehow this chapter is my favourite yet.
Saint Jay - Uptown Funk You Up by Bruno Mars in my head.
XO