JESSICA
The morning light crept into my room, casting a pale glow over the familiar scene of my bedside table, cluttered with books and papers, and my rumpled bedcovers. But nothing could dispel the darkness that had settled in my heart. My mind raced with thoughts of betrayal and hurt as I read the latest news on my phone.
My father's affair with my best friend, Sophie, was no secret anymore. It was all over the school's website, splashed across the screens of every device within reach. And it wasn't just the embarrassment and shame that cut deep; it was the knowledge that my flesh and blood had betrayed me, that he had chosen his desires over our family's well-being.
But that wasn't even the worst part. As if the stab to my heart wasn't enough, the article also revealed that my mother's struggles with insanity had become so severe that she could no longer keep up the pretense of normalcy.
I felt like I was drowning in a tidal wave of pain and anger, unable to escape the crushing weight of this double blow. How could life be so cruel? Why did this have to happen to us? To me?
As I sat there, frozen in disbelief, my mind reeled with questions and doubts. Would I ever be able to recover from this? Could I find a way to heal and move forward, or would I forever be stuck in this cycle of hurt and betrayal? The future seemed bleak and uncertain, but one thing was clear: nothing would ever be the same again.
I put down my phone and took a deep breath before standing up from my seat and walking straight to the bathroom. As I stood in front of the mirror, I saw a person who was tired, overwhelmed, and lost. The events from last night had taken their toll on me, and I could feel the weight of them pressing down on my shoulders. My eyes were red and puffy from crying, and my skin looked pale and drawn. I knew that I needed to take care of myself, both physically and emotionally, if I wanted to make it through this difficult time.
I reached out and gently stroked my cheeks, trying to calm myself down. Tears streamed down my face as I let go of all the pent-up emotions that had been building inside of me. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of grief, and I didn't know how to keep my head above water. But as I stood there, allowing myself to feel everything, something shifted within me.
Anger began to rise to the surface, mixing with the sadness and frustration that already filled me. I felt a surge of determination well up inside of me, and I knew that I would not let these challenges defeat me. I was strong enough to overcome them, and I would emerge from this trial even stronger than before.
I opened the bathroom mirror cabinet in front of my heart racing with anticipation. My hands trembled as I grasped the hair scissors and hair dye, the weight of my decision heavy on my shoulders, but the fear of the unknown held me back. What if I hated it? What if it didn't suit me? But something inside of me snapped. It was time to take control of my life and make a change.
With a deep breath, I closed the mirror cabinet door and took a firm grip on the scissors. The cool metal felt reassuringly solid in my hand, like a lifeline to a new beginning. I raised the scissors high an inch above my shoulders, ready to take the plunge. My mind raced with doubts and uncertainty, but my body moved forward with conviction. With one swift motion, I brought the scissors down, cutting through the tangles of my long blonde hair.
As the strands fell to the floor, I felt a sense of liberation wash over me. The weight of my hair, both physical and emotional, lifted from my shoulders. I stared at my reflection, watching as my once-long locks transformed into a sleek, shoulder-length bob.
Next, dipping the brush into the vibrant pink dye, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement wash over me. I carefully painted the dye onto the tips of my hair, watching as the pigment spread evenly across each strand. As I worked, I felt myself transported back to my childhood days, when playing dress-up and trying out different hairstyles was a daily occurrence. This feeling only intensified as I examined my reflection in the mirror, admiring how the pink gradients seemed to dance along the edges of my blonde hair.
With each stroke of the brush, I could feel myself becoming more confident and carefree, ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead. As I rinsed out the dye and styled my newly dyed hair, I knew that this small change would make all the difference in my day-to-day life.
I looked different, yet still recognizable. The young woman looking back at me was stronger, more confident, and ready to embrace whatever came next.
TYLER
As soon as I arrived at school in the morning, Miles, my boyfriend met me at the entrance with a gentle smile on his face.
"Hey, Good morning!" he greeted, his voice filled with excitement. My heart skipped a beat at the sound of it, and I couldn't help but smile back at him. The one that indicated that I was so happy to see him again.
I ruffled his hair, and we both chuckled. "Good morning," I replied, trying to keep my cool despite the flutter in my stomach. We stood there for a moment, just smiling at each other, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on our faces and the joy of being together.
As we approached our lockers, I couldn't help but notice that my friends were all staring intently at their phones. They looked like they had just received some kind of mysterious message or notification that had captured their full attention.
"What's going on?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Clark, who was always the first to speak up in situations like this, finally looked up from his phone and grinned mischievously. "Dude, you won't believe what just happened," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
I raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue. "Try me."
Klaus, who was standing next to Charles, chimed in, "It's about Jessica, Ty"
Miles and I exchanged a knowing glance as we stood there, surrounded by the murmur of whispers and the glow of screens. It was like a secret had been shared among the students, but no one dared speak it aloud.
"What about her?" Miles asked, his voice low and urgent.
Erin stepped forward, her phone held up like a weapon. "Look," she said, her voice trembling. "It's on the school website."
As I read the article, my brows furrowed in confusion and disbelief. The words on the screen blurred together as my mind raced with questions. How could this be true? Jessica, the most popular girl in school, had always been the epitome of perfection, they say. Her life was a fairytale, or so it seemed. But now, here I was, reading that her father was having an affair with her best friend Sophie, and that her mother had been admitted to a mental facility due to insanity. It couldn't be real.
But then, I remembered that Jessica was being mean and a bully. Maybe there was more to her than met the eye. Perhaps these allegations were true, and she had been hiding behind her perfect facade all along.
Suddenly, Miles and I noticed our friends looking behind us in disbelief, their eyes wide with wonder and amazement. Out of curiosity, we turned our heads to see what they were staring at, and what we saw left us both speechless.
There walking in the hallway was no other than Jessica, her once long and perfectly styled hair now sleek, shoulder-length bob with pink highlights on tips of her hair like a gradient. There are piercings on her nose. She didn't wear her cheerleading uniform but instead, she wore a white shirt with a cool print in it, a pink checkered skirt, stockings, and a pair of boots.
As soon as she walked into the hallway, all eyes were on her. It wasn't just the way she carried herself with confidence and poise, but the way her appearance had changed so dramatically. Gone was the self-centered, and attention seeker bitch they once knew, replaced by a stunning strong, and competitive young woman with piercing blue eyes and gradient blonde and pink hair that cascaded an inch above her shoulders.
Some students couldn't help but gasp in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. Others seemed unphased, their expressions blank and emotionless. But most reactions fell somewhere in between - a mix of surprise, admiration, and maybe even a little bit of envy. After all, who wouldn't want to look cool like that?
"Is that her? The old Jessica we once knew before her sister died?" Clark asked sounding surprised and disbelief.
"Emily tell me I'll look cool looking like that" I heard Alexa whisper to Emily but Emily just nudged her elbow.
"Wow, I almost didn't recognize her" my boyfriend Miles commented which made me grin as I looked at him.
"That's my best friend right there, the girl who Idolized Avril Lavigne," I said and Miles glanced at me with a gentle smile.
"If I were you, I would be so proud of her too," he said and landed a kiss on my cheek which caught me off guard, but then I recovered sooner and managed to smile widely.
"Well guys let's just pretend we didn't see that," Clark's words hung in the air like a cloud of laughter, casting a lighthearted mood over the group. The students near us snickered and giggled, trying to hold back their smiles. It was hard not to laugh when Clark had such a comically straight face while delivering his line.
"I'll see you guys later, I'll go ahead first, bye," Miles said as he gave a wave and a cheeky grin before making his way to his first-class seat. His departure only added fuel to the fire, causing the others to burst into full-blown laughter.
MILES
My first class started with a lecture from our year 11th English teacher. As Mr. Lucas droned on about the nuances of Shakespearean sonnets, I found my mind wandering. I had always struggled with poetry, and this particular lesson seemed like a never-ending nightmare. But then, just as I was starting to tune out, something unexpected happened.
A gentle nudge on my waist pulled me back into reality. I glanced at my side and caught sight of Caleb sitting beside me, his eyes fixed on me. My heart skipped a beat as I noticed the gentle smile on his face, one that seemed to convey a deep warmth and understanding. It was as if he could see right through me, and it both thrilled and terrified me.
I had no idea how long he had been sitting there, but judging by the way he looked, he must have arrived just a few minutes ago. His hair was freshly cut, and styled in a way that accentuated his jawline and piercing brown eyes. He looked handsome, more so than usual, and I found myself feeling slightly drawn to him in a way that I couldn't explain.
"Hi," he greeted me, his voice low and smooth like honey. I couldn't help but smile back at him, feeling a rush of happiness at the sound of his voice.
"Hi," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. We exchanged a glance, one that seemed to hold a world of unspoken words between us.
He leaned closer to me and whispered, "Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't make it that night", as he spoke, his breath caressed my ear, sending shivers down my spine. His proximity was making it difficult for me to think straight, and I could feel my heart racing in anticipation. Despite myself, I found myself drawn to him, captivated by the sincerity in his voice and the gentle way he looked at me.
But I knew I had to push those feelings aside. We were just friends, after all, and I didn't want to ruin our relationship by getting too close. So I forced a smile and nodded, trying to play it cool.
"No, it's alright Caleb, don't worry about it" I whispered back and smiled at him, I saw him blush as he looked away from me.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of my class and time for lunch, I quickly gathered my belongings and prepared to make my way out of the classroom as Mr. Lucas announced the upcoming prom. But before I could take more than a few steps, Caleb suddenly appeared in front of me, his hands grasping the straps of his backpack and his eyes fixed intently on mine.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do or say. But something in his tone told me that this wasn't going to be just any ordinary conversation, so I nodded silently and waited for him to continue.
"Yeah sure what is it, Caleb?" I asked, my voice laced with a hint of confusion as I looked at him with a shy smile on his face.
He blurted out, "Yeah, the prom is approaching and I was wondering if you and I could go together?" His words took me by surprise, and I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.
I had always seen Caleb as my friend and never tried to see him romantically. So the idea of him asking me to prom was almost laughable. But then again, maybe there was more to him than I thought.
"I... uh..." I stammered, trying to find the right words. "I already have a date," I finally said, feeling a twinge of guilt for leading him on.
Caleb's face fell, and he looked disappointed. "Oh, yeah. Of course. I completely forgot." He scratched the back of his head, looking down at his feet.
I felt a pang of regret for turning him down, but I knew that I couldn't possibly go to prom with him when I already had plans with Tyler. We had been dating for over weeks now, and we were both excited to attend our first prom together.
"It's Tyler right?" I was taken aback by his directness, my heart racing as I tried to process what he had just said. "everyone's been talking about it you know, about you and Tyler, dating each other," It was true, everyone had been speculating about my relationship with Tyler for weeks now, but I hadn't expected Caleb to bring it up like this.
"Y-yeah," I replied, he nodded in response biting his lower lip. I don't know how to say this but he looked jealous, "I shouldn't have asked, anyway I'll see you around Miles," He said with a fake smile before he walked away leaving me behind in this quiet classroom.
As I stepped into the bustling hallway, the sounds of chatter and footsteps enveloped me, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt a sense of liberation. The weight of the world seemed to lift off my shoulders as I left the stifling confines of the classroom behind. For once, I didn't feel like I was under a microscope, constantly judged by everyone at school.
I made my way to my locker, the familiar metal walls providing a sense of comfort and security. As I opened it, I was greeted by the familiar scent of books and the faint smell of my perfume. I rummaged through the contents, grabbing my bag and books for my next class.
Suddenly I felt a presence behind me, "Hey Miles," the familiar voice of a young woman greeted me causing me to turn to see her, "Hey Jessica, what's up?" I asked calmly making her smile.
"Do you have a minute? I just want to talk to you about something," she said, at first I was hesitant to reply but then judging by her pleading expression I couldn't say no.
"Sure, What is it you want to talk about?" I asked her, closing my locker behind me, "You know, I just wanted to apologize to you, for all the things I've done," She said.
I was taken aback by her sudden apology. We had been enemies for so long, and now she was standing here with teary eyes, asking for forgiveness. I had never expected this from her.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. "I don't understand."
"You know, all the things I've done to you," she replied, her voice trembling. "I was mean and rude, and I treated you cruelly. I can't explain it, but I know I hurt you in so many ways. And I'm so sorry."
I was stunned. No one had ever apologized to me like this before. I didn't know how to react.
"I...I don't know what to say," I stammered. "I've never forgiven you for what you did to me, and I don't know if I can forgive you now."
She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. "I understand. I don't expect you to forgive me now. But I hope one day you will. I hope that one day we can be friends again, or at least be civil to each other."
I was touched by her words. No one had ever shown such remorse for their actions before. I didn't know if I could forgive her, but I knew that I wanted to try.
"Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll try to forgive you. But it won't be easy."
She smiled, relief washing over her face. "Thank you, Miles. That means a lot to me."
We stood there for a moment, neither of us knowing what to say next. But then, without thinking, I reached out and hugged her. She hugged me back, and we stood there, holding each other tightly, both of us crying.
"And, Miles one more thing," Jessica said as we both let go of the hug and wiped some tears from our eyes. My eyes furrowed in curiosity as she took out a piece of folded paper from her pocket and handed it to me. I opened it and found out that it was a poster for Erin's upcoming band concert for prom, "Can you help me, approach Erin? I wanted to join the band but I don't think she'll talk to me," she said.
"How about this, join us for lunch and we'll talk to Erin together," I replied returning her the poster.
"Would that be alright? What if they get mad at me for joining you?" She asked with a hint of worry in her voice, I smiled as I patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, Tyler and I will be there, come on," I said with a smile as I gently signaled her to follow me.
TYLER
After my class, my friends and I made our way out of the classroom, but just as we passed through the door a familiar voice called my name, "Mr. Penrod?" I turned only to see Coach Ramirez standing there crossing his arms.
"Hey, Coach, can I help you with something?" I asked, my voice laced with a hint of curiosity as I approached the imposing figure of our basketball coach. He was a towering figure, both physically and in terms of his reputation as a strict disciplinarian.
"No, Mr. Penrod," he replied, his deep voice firm but controlled. "I'm here to let you know that you've been kicked out of the team."
My brows furrowed in confusion. "What? Why?" I asked, my heart racing as I struggled to process the news.
"It's because of your association with Mr. O'Malley," the coach explained, his voice cold and detached. "It's prohibited for players to date or have any kind of romantic relationship with someone either from inside or outside the team. And yet, I have reason to believe that the two of you are...Dating."
"Wait, hold on coach, you're kicking Tyler off the team, the Most Valuable Player of our school just because he's dating Miles? Why?" Klaus asked with confusion.
"I understand your confusion, Klaus, but it's not just about Tyler dating Miles. It's about the distraction it's causing within the team," Coach explained. "Miles is Gay, and Tyler's relationship with him is starting to create a rift among the team. Some players are beginning to feel uncomfortable with the situation, and it's affecting our performance on the field."
"But, Coach, Tyler is the best player on the team! Without him, we won't stand a chance in the upcoming game," Klaus protested.
"It's on the rules, Mr. Hawkins," Coach Ramirez replied with confidence, a hint of mischief in his voice. Clark raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Rules? Sure there are rules, but having a relationship with anyone was not one of them," he began to protest, but Coach Ramirez cut him off before he could finish his sentence.
"Well, it is now," he said with a sly smile. "I just made them up right here and now, and whether you like it or not, Tyler is out of the team."
Clark's eyes widened in shock. "What? No, you can't!"
Coach Ramirez shrugged. "I just didn't feel like having him on the team anymore. It's my prerogative as the coach, and I can make up rules as I see fit."
Clark scowled, feeling a sense of injustice. "This is bullshit. Tyler's been on this team for years now, and now you're just going to kick him out like this?"
Coach Ramirez's expression was unyielding. "I'm not going to argue with you, Clark. Mr. Penrod is out of the team, and that's final."
Klaus smirked, "Coach, I have something to tell you," Klaus said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "If you're going to kick Tyler off the team for having a boyfriend, then you might as well consider kicking me off too. After all, I have a boyfriend as well."
The coach's jaw dropped as he tried to process what he was hearing. "Wait, hold on, you can't quit!" he exclaimed. "Sorry coach, it's on the rules," Klaus replied, his smirk is growing wider. "I'm afraid I can't play for a team that discriminates against people based on their sexual orientation."
"Yeah, me too, Tyler's my friend, and Klaus is my brother, and I don't think this is about Tyler, Miles, or everyone on the team coach, I think this is all about you and your homophobia, coach," Clark added, his voice filled with conviction.
The room fell silent as Coach Ramirez looked at Clark with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
"Thank you for your time, Coach," I said before my friends and I left him there, speechless.
...
As the eight of us, Clark, Erin, Jacob, Emily, Alexa, Klaus, Charles, and I sat there at our usual table at the school ground while waiting for Miles, we indulged in a conversation about Erin's band concert at our upcoming prom. The excitement was palpable as we all eagerly anticipated the night of music, dancing, and celebration.
"I can't believe how well the band has come together this year," Erin said, her voice filled with pride. "We've been practicing nonstop and it's going to be a night to remember."
"I know, right?" Clark chimed in. "I'm so hyped to see you all perform. I've heard the rumors about the surprise song you're planning to play, and I can't wait to see it live."
"It's going to be epic," Jacob said with a grin. "We've been working on it for weeks and it's going to be a showstopper."
Erin's desperation was palpable as she threw the posters to the table and rubbed her temples. "But still, I can't believe we're still missing one member of our band," she exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration. "We've been trying for weeks now, and every potential candidate has either flaked out or wasn't the right fit."
"Don't worry, we'll find someone," Clark said, his deep voice reassuring. "We just need to keep trying."
Jacob looked up from his phone, where he had been scrolling through social media. "Yeah, you've been lucky so far," he said, "but you can't keep relying on luck. You need to find someone who is committed and talented."
Erin sighed and dropped her hands to her sides. "I know, I just feel like we're running out of options. What if we never find anyone?"
Clark put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll find someone, Erin. We just need to keep looking."
"I hope so," Erin added.
"Hey guys!" A familiar voice greeted us, making me turn to look at Miles, my boyfriend.
"Hey, what took you so long?" I asked, playfully rolling my eyes. He shrugged his shoulders with a smile.
But as I looked into his eyes, I saw something else there, something that made my heart skip a beat. There was a glint of mischief, a hint of something more. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Miles leaned in, his voice low and husky. "I have a surprise for everyone, but you have to promise me one thing."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's that?" I asked, my heart racing with anticipation.
"You have to promise me that you won't be mad," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
I looked at everyone and I could see that they hesitated to like me for a moment, unsure if we should agree to his terms. But something about the way he was looking at us, the way he was speaking to us, made me feel like we could trust him. So we nodded our heads, and Miles grinned, satisfied.
"Good," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
"Erin, did you say you need one more person to join your band?" Erin's eyes widened in confusion as Miles spoke, "Uh, yeah... I did say that," she stammered, trying to process what was happening.
As Miles took a step to the right, a young woman appeared at his side, Jessica Cross, "Surprise!" Miles exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Why am I not surprised?" Klaus asked raising an eyebrow, "well maybe because you hated her, brother," Clark whispered to Klaus making him think deeply.
Jessica's eyes widened in surprise as Miles spoke up, his voice firm and resolute. "Everyone, this is Jessica and she's my friend."
The room fell silent, and all eyes were on Jessica, who looked like she was about to bolt. Miles' words had caught her off guard, and she didn't know how to react.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come," Jessica stammered, trying to pull her wrist free from Miles' grasp.
But Miles held tight, his grip firm but gentle. "Don't be sorry, Jessica. You're here now, and I want you to stay."
The table erupted into a flurry of questions, everyone trying to figure out what was going on. But Miles just smiled and shook his head, his eyes never leaving Jessica's face.
"It's a long story, but the important thing is that Jessica is my friend, and I want you all to meet her," he said, his voice filled with conviction.
Jessica's eyes met mine, and I could see the surprise and gratitude there. She had never expected Miles to stand up for her like this, to accept her as his friend despite what had happened.
I felt a surge of pride and admiration for Miles, who was putting aside his feelings to be there for Jessica. As the night went on, I could see the ice around Jessica begin to melt, her smile becoming more natural and her laughter ringing out more freely.
Miles had done it again, breaking down barriers and bringing people together with his kindness and bravery. And as I looked at him, I knew that I had found someone truly special.
Wait! Hold on! Jessica Cross? Your friend? You're kidding right?" Charles asked in disbelief, his eyes wide with incredulity. Miles just nodded in response, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Does that mean she'll get to hang out with us now?" Alexa asked, her voice full of excitement. Emily replied with a shrug, "It looks like that."
"I know I've hurt you all in the past, and I'm truly sorry for it," Jessica said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm still young and selfish, and I let my desires cloud my judgment. But I've realized so much lately, and I promise to be a better person and a friend to all of you from now on."
We listened intently as Jessica spoke, her words tugging at our heartstrings. We had all been hurt by her actions before, but her sincerity and vulnerability made it hard to stay mad at her.
"Okay, okay, I believe you," Erin said with a smirk, breaking the tension. "But don't think this means you're off the hook that easily. You're still going to have to earn our trust."
The rest of us nodded in agreement, and we all sat down to enjoy our lunch together. It was a small step towards healing and moving forward, but it was a start. And who knows, maybe this time, Jessica would change for the better.