Jae got suspended.
"What?" I jump up. My stomach drops.
"Yeah. Yesterday. He didn't just fight Peter. He fought those other guys too. Richard and Isaac too. All three of them. It was like he went on some kind of rage rampage or something."
"That's not fair," I say.
"What isn't?"
I take a breath.
"I didn't tell you, but… when I ran off yesterday, I accidentally went into the boys' restroom. And those guys were there. They were being awful and wouldn't let me leave. Jae stepped in and told them to back off."
James's eyes widen as if he just saw a goat with a pig's head.
"What?" I ask. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"So Jae stood up for you… and then went after Peter? Seriously?"
"With Peter, I don't know what happened. But with the others, yeah. He helped me. Why is that weird? You would've done the same."
"I would because I'm your friend. But Jae? He doesn't help anyone. Ever." James leans in. "Do you think he likes you?"
"No! He was just doing the right thing."
"But he hit his own friends to defend you."
"They were being awful."
"Still," James says, thinking hard. "This is Jae we're talking about."
I hesitate.
Because honestly? It is a little strange.
"I didn't know he got suspended because of me," I whisper. "I feel terrible. Maybe I should talk to the principal—"
"He definitely likes you." James shrugs.
"James. Seriously."
He opens the door to leave.
"I'm telling you, he likes you."
"Goodbye, James."
He steps out into the hallway.
"He likes you," He calls.
"GO," I shout.
***
By the next morning, my heart is stumbling all over the place, totally unable to pick a rhythm.
And no, it's not just because the whole school keeps staring at me, mostly it's because I couldn't convince the principal to change Jae's punishment.
I tried to tell him the boys started it, but he only said violence isn't justified. And that was the end of it.
As I walk through the packed hallway, someone bumps into me.
"Sorry," I say automatically.
"I'm sorry," Aubrey Jenkins says at the same time. She's actually looking at me.
"Are you all right?" she asks, and I know she's not talking about the bump.
"Yes. I'm fine."
She smiles gently.
"It was awful what Giselle did," she says a moment later.
She knows. I guess everyone knows.
"And my brother is a jerk," she adds.
I press my lips together. "It's all right," I say, even though it isn't.
"I accidentally stained his favorite shirt," she says, a tiny grin appearing.
I can't help smiling back, and suddenly we're laughing.
We stay there a moment before I notice her girlfriend walking toward her.
"Bye, Aubrey."
"Bye," she says, waving before she heads off.
Aubrey's a freshman. She´s quiet, kind. When Peter and I were kids and I used to go to their house, she'd tag along everywhere with me.
She was the sweetest little thing.
Now she's grown into this beautiful, shy girl.
The memory warms me, until I turn back to my locker.
Mallory is leaning against it.
Great.
I square my shoulders and walk forward.
"Because of you, the boys were suspended," she snaps. "They say Jae was defending you."
Her voice drips with disbelief.
"As if someone like him would ever bother with you."
She folds her arms. "What did you tell him? What did you promise him?"
I shake my head and force a smile I definitely don't feel. I don't know where the courage comes from, but I hear myself say:
"Maybe he's just not awful like some people."
Her expression darkens, and she slams my head quickly against the locker.
The hallway goes quiet. I steady myself, open my locker, and keep moving like nothing happened.
"He pities you," she adds. "Giselle likes Jae. She is furious. If I were you, I wouldn't come back to shcool. She'll make your life miserable."
As if she hasn't already.
Before leaving, she knocks my books out of my hands.
No one helps. Of course not.
I kneel to pick them up, until someone crouches beside me.
I don't even look at first. I'm too focused on pretending I'm fine.
But when I stand and fi nally look at the person helping me…
It's Jae.
He hands me my notebooks. We just stare at each other for a beat too long.
"You're… here?" I manage. "You were suspended."
He doesn't answer—he just looks irritated. Though honestly, he always looks alittle irritated.
I can't tell if it's me specifically or his default setting.
"I talked to the principal," I say. "He wouldn't change his mind. I'm sorry."
He plants his hands on his hips.
"You talked to the principal?" he asks, sounding surprised, and annoyed.
"You were trying to help. And they started it."
Silence stretches between us again.
"You didn't have to do that," he finally says. His tone is unreadable.
"I just thought maybe if he heard me out…"
He sighs and looks away.
When he meets my eyes again, his voice is calmer.
"I came in for a meeting with the counselor. Part of the punishment."
He actually answered me. Voluntarily. That's… new.
"I have to go," he says, already turning.
"Wait—Jae."
He pauses.
"Thank you. For what you did."
He stands still, studying me. Then:
"I was already done with those guys. You just gave me one more reason to finally do something about it."
He nods once. "Take care."
I watch him walk away.
Kids in the hallway are staring again, whispering now.
I try to ignore it.
"Hey, Laura!"
I jump.
"James. Seriously, you scared me."
He grins. "Why? Still replaying your conversation with Jae?"
"I saw you two. Pretty much the whole hallway saw."
"He was just helping."
"Uh-huh. Helping. Again."
"Don't start, James."
"What was he even doing here? Isn't he suspended?"
"Counselor meeting. Like suspension wasn't enough."
James glances around. "Why are you here so early?"
"I tried to talk to the principal. Didn't work."
The bell rings.
"I have to go," I say.
"Since when do you go straight to class after the bell?"
"Since Mallory decided to say hi this morning."
His expression sharpens. "Did she do something?"
"Just shoved my head into the locker and dumped my books on the floor. Nothing major."
James clenches his jaw. "Unbelievable."
"Oh, and she thinks Jae helped me because I—" I stop. "Never mind."
He shakes his head. "They're not worth your energy. I'll come get you for lunch,okay?"
"Okay."
"And hey—just… watch your heart."
"What?"
"Don't let anyone break it again."
I shake my head and head to class.
I barely sit down when a boy drops into the seat beside me, one of the show-off types.
"Hey, Laura," he says. I ignore him.
"You still looking for a boyfriend?" he snickers. "I don't mind going out with you."
I keep my eyes on my book.
"You could write me cute letters or do my homework or whatever."
He laughs with his friends.
The teacher walks in and thank God the conversation ends.
My face burns.
What I felt for Peter has become a joke.
And maybe if I'd handled things differently, none of this would've happened.
But honestly, they would've found something else.
The rest of the day passes without major disasters. No sign of Giselle.
Just a few dumb comments from boys trying to impress each other.
James stays glued to me like he promised.
***
At home, I'm lying on my bed thinking about my options when Grandma knocks.
"Can I come in, Laura?"
"Of course."
She sits on the edge of my bed, her face worried.
"You know," I say. "Don't you."
"Yes. I know what happened at school."
"Let me guess, James?"
"No. Jason heard it from Aubrey."
"Aubrey? Why would she—?"
"Because she cares. She said what happened was wrong."
I don't answer. I just stare at my hands.
"Laura," Grandma says softly, "losing your parents was a heavy blow. And I know that gap in your life feels—"
"Grandma, please…"
"Listen," she says quietly, fi rmly.
I close my mouth.
"It's all right to care for Peter. Even if he doesn't return your feelings, your love is still real.
And that love inside you, that's something strong. Don't let anyone ruin that part of you."
Her words hit me harder than I expect. My eyes sting.
"You're a beautiful girl with a good heart. If someone can't see that, it's their loss."
A tear escapes. I wipe it quickly.
She pulls me into a hug. I cling for a moment.
"You can always talk to me," she says. "You don't have to carry this alone."
"I know. Thank you."
She kisses my forehead.
"And I'm going to talk to the principal—"
"No!"
I sit up fast.
"It's fine. It won't happen again."
"Laura, ignoring this isn't right."
"I'm not a kid anymore. I can handle it."
She studies me, then sighs.
"All right. This once. But if anything else happens, I'm stepping in. This is serious."
"I know."
She stands.
"I need to go start dinner."
"I'll help—"
"No, Sofia's helping today."
She smiles and leaves just as Jason appears.
"Can I come in?" he says.
"You're already in," I mutter.
He sits awkwardly at the edge of the bed.
"Aubrey said some girls messed with you."
"It's fine, Jason. Really."
He studies me a long moment but doesn't push.
"Okay."
Silence.
He scratches his head, classic Jason.
"You don't have to help in the garage tomorrow if you're not feeling—"
"I'm fine."
"Okay."
He starts to leave, then turns back.
"Laura… if you need anything, you can ask. I'm here."
I blink.
My brother has literally never said anything like that.
"…Thanks."
He smiles faintly and slips out.
I curl back under the covers, feeling pathetic, like everyone sees me as helpless.
But then I realize something:
People treat me this way because I allow it.
If I want things to change, I have to change.
There's only one way to stop Mallory and Giselle.
I have to stop being a doormat.
I have to stand up for myself.
***
JAE
I promised myself I'd stay away, but there I was again.
She let herself be bullied. Again. How could I just watch? She even came to school trying to get me out of the mess I dragged myself into.
This is a disaster.
"Cope… Talk… Help… Growing up," Mr. Mildred drones, the counselor.
I'm barely listening. His lectures about consequences and "results of your actions" blur together.
He already has me pegged: delinquent, ticking time bomb, punk practically begging for a criminal record.
Explaining myself would take a book, and honestly, who has the patience for that?
"Is this girl… important to you?"
Wait. What?
Did he really just ask me that?
"What?" My gaze snaps to him.
"I heard you did this for a girl. Do you care for her?"
"No. Who told you that?" I try to sound calm. "It has nothing to do with that."
He studies me a moment, then nods slowly. "I see."
"And why, after fighting two boys, did you go after one more?"
I inhale, remind myself I don't owe him anything.
"I was going to be suspended anyway. And the guy is a jerk. I got carried away. You know how adrenaline works, right?"
He stares at me, so direct it makes my skin crawl.
"Right. Okay. Aside from that, what would you like to talk about?"
Nothing.
"I should be the one asking, Doc. What do you want me to say?"
He smirks.
"Any question I ask, you won't give me a straight answer. I want to hear something from you instead."
I look at him. He thinks he's already figured me out.
"Well… I don't feel like saying anything right now."
"Great." He shuts his notebook, glances at his watch. "You've got 21 minutes. Then you're free to go."
I sit still. He's already putting on his coat.
Is he… trying to trick me?
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"Coffee break. Mrs. Sanders is here if you need anything before I'm back."
He pauses at the door, turns back.
"Just remember, you'll have to show up here for our 30-minute appointments over the next three weeks. Sitting quietly every time might not look great on your file."
Then he leaves, door clicking shut behind him.
Fuck.