"Leave, James."
That was what started it all. James's face contorted in rage and he shot up, his relaxed facade completely broken.
"YOU LEFT ME!! YOU WERE A COWARD AND TRAITOR AND YOU LEFT ME FOR HUNTER!!!!"
I flinched at his outburst and used all my willpower to not run and cry. I am not that Jessica anymore. I can't be. I'll break if I am.
Lucas wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer to him. He's actually protecting me. I thought he would go running for the hills at the first sign of trouble.
Lucas isn't as much as a coward as you are, Jesse.
James was right all along. Even my subconcious knows it. I'm a coward. A worthless coward.
"You were my friend. You were supposed to be happy for me, James," I said, my voice trembling with held back tears. Lucas turned his harsh and cold glare to James, who is trying to compose himself after his rage took over for a second.
"Why didn't you want me, Jess? We were perfect for each other. Even our parents said so. Why...," he trailed off. I bit my lip, still a bit confused.
"I loved you like a brother and I thought you felt the same," I answered truthfully. Since when did James like me? He always teased and annoyed me like a brother would. This came out of nowhere.
"You've done enough damage," Lucas interrupts just as James was about to answer. "Get out."
The smug look on James's face is back and he sizes Lucas up. James isn't nearly as buff, but I know he's wicked fast. He has an advantage. Not a lot, but still.
"Looks like little Jess has a new friend," James says. His lips twist into a cruel grin. "Did you know that Jess cheated on her last one?"
My eyes widen and I instantly turn to Lucas. "No I didn't! They spread the rumour that I did. Please don't believe him!"
I was panicking. I lost Hunter to James. I can't lose Lucas too. He crept his way into me and now, I can't live without him. If he leaves me now, he'll kill me.
But I see no falter in Lucas's eyes as he leans down and kisses my forehead. I almost smirk triumphantly at the shocked look on James's face.
"I'll always choose you, baby," Lucas says. Not too loud but loud enough for James to hear.
"She's a bitch. She'll cheat on you too," James continues. I plead with my eyes. James is trying to sway Lucas to his side. Anger flared in me, demolishing any fear that I had inside.
"You say another bad thing about her and you'll find yourself buried six-feet under," Lucas growls. James has the nerve to chuckle.
He just sealed his fate.
Lucas jerks forward with his fist curled and ready. It hits James square in the jaw, snapping his head backwards and taking him by surprise.
I rush between them to stop Lucas from doing anymore damage to himself. His knuckles are bruising already.
"Let me have him, Jesse," Lucas says, blinded with anger. I smirked at a gaping James.
"Didn't you know, Lucas," I drawled. "This is how you properly punch someone."
James looks at me, eyes wide as saucers, as I let my fist sail through the air. It hits his cheek. He staggers, losing balance. I don't miss a beat as I swing my leg and hit his precious family jewels.
"You ruined me once," I say. "Don't think that I'm just going to take it the second time."
He doubles over, falling to the floor. I hate seeing people in pain. No matter what I say or do, just know that I'm not sadistic.
But damn, seeing karma hit him right in the arse is amazing. He has it coming for him and it is long overdue.
"Don't come back, James," I say, a lot more softly. He looks up, the cruel arrogance still in his green eyes.
"No matter what you say, Jesse, I will always be your first love," he says. He then stumbles out, leaving behind him dead silence.
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I hate him. I hate James and his stupid attitude. And his stupid words and stupid mouth.
I keep the list going on and on as I pound into the poor punching bag. My knuckles are bleeding and red is smearing the bag but I don't care.
Stupid James making me angry. Stupid anger making me bleed. Stupid everything. Everything is stupid.
"Calm down, Jesse," Lucas says from the corner of the room. He probably thinks I'm crazy. But James is back and my mind is in a frenzy. I couldn't care less what others think.
A part of me is still scared. I'm scared of my source of torment. I'm scared of the boy that stabbed me from the back. And I'm scared of myself for giving him the knife to do just that in the first place.
But a part of me is sick of him. He used me to make him feel better. By treating me like a piece of shit. A weakling. He walked all over me and at the time, I just took it. Not anymore.
"That son of a bitch- "
"Will not bother you," Lucas interrupts. "Not if I can help it."
I stop and take a break. The adrenaline rush I was feeling is slowing down and exhaustion is slowly taking over my body.
"Lucas, he isn't scared of you. That guy is basically a sadistic sociopath," I say. He tosses a water bottle and I deftly catch it.
"What did he mean by being your first love?" Lucas asks. He walks over to me and sits right beside me. I chug down the water and wipe a drop off my lips.
"I had a crush on him at middle school," I sheepishly admitted. But I never thought that he actually liked me back, which is why I abandoned the crush and went on to date Hunter.
"And?" Lucas asks. His tone is even, but something a lot more dangerous is lurking underneath.
"And he never showed that he liked me back," I say. He gets a towel and wipes the sweat off my brow. He keeps wiping, down to my neck. He seems to be deep in thought.
Then, his eyes flare up with possessive rage and what seems like jealousy and he moves a bit closer to me.
"You liked him?" he asks. I shake my head no.
"Not anymore," I answer. "He bullied me for 2 years. I think whatever feeling I had left for him is gone by now."
I was being sarcastic, trying to lighten up the mood. James has brought me so much sadness and I don't want him to bring more.
"'We leave parts of ourself in things that we used to love'. Ever heard of that quote?" Lucas says. He picks up a strand of my hair and starts twirling it around, making it dance through the air. I nod.
"Maybe that's why I feel so empty," I say thoughtfully. "Until I found you."
"Really?" Lucas asks, not believing me. I smile. I feel a certain warmth when around Lucas. It fills me and chases the cold and darkness away.
"Of course," I say, leaning my head on his shoulder. I wrap my arms around him and he wraps his around me too.
"And you wonder why I love you," Lucas whispers against my hair. He kisses the crown of my head. I resist the urge to giggle.
"Well," I say. "If I left a piece of me in James, I'm coming to get it back."
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A/N
Hey guys!
I think the problem between James and Jesse is exactly the embodiment of what I think is the root of all evil. Misunderstanding. James never told Jesse about his feelings and it caused problems. Big problems.
Anyway, I wanna give you guys a heads up, the next chapters are going to be a bit darker. A few surprises here and there, but I have some scenes that are a bit less lighthearted than the past few chapters. Brace yourselves!
Please comment and vote if you liked this chapter! I found out that my ideas flow the best at these two times. At rainy days and when I'm completely alone. I don't know why though.
Stay awesome,
Angie
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Word count: 1413