***

"Liz?" I murmured, my eyes slightly flickering.

That caused Jesse's face to instantly transform into a frown as concern clouded his black eyes.

"What?" He said. "No, it's Jesse."

"Oh."

I began to shift my weight up onto my legs, in an attempt to get up but was immediately held back by Jesse's grip.

"I don't think it's wise for you to move much right now," he warned me.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine, Jessica. It was just a stupid fall."

Jesse inhaled a little air to speak but decided to stay quiet in the end, he knew I could be quite persistent when it came to situations like these.

As I started getting up, I tumbled, hissing as my butt plummeted down into the cold cement yet again, at which point I realized I really did feel kind of dizzy.

"Woah woah," he said as he held my arms and helped me get back up on my feet. "I hate to say I told you so but- "

My scowl practically burnt a hole through Jesse's face, making him intuitively grow quiet.

Again, smart boy.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jesse studied my expression briefly. "Do you need me to take you to the ER or something?"

"What? No, I'm fine," I said. "Seriously," I reassured him when he raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Okay, fine," he gave in after taking a small pause. "But I'm keeping an eye on you."

My eyes unintentionally drifted onto a fuming Millie, who had very predictably followed close behind Jesse, and I had to suppress a sneer.

Which wasn't really that hard.

I didn't want to give her much attention, though, so I went back to staring at Jesse's eyes.

God forbid her actually thinking she's that important.

"Well if you're feeling sick, just say the word," Millie finally intervened making me whip my head back in her direction, as did Jesse who I'm pretty sure had zoned out for a moment.

She could've looked and sounded genuine enough, had it not been by the slight twitch of her right eye, which betrayed her and her true intentions.

Clearly she wanted to seem caring and considerate in Jesse's eyes but what she didn't know was that that wasn't really going to get her anywhere, and I fully intended on keeping her in the dark about it.

"Let's just watch the game once and for all." I pressed a hand against my forehead in defeat. "I've had enough drama to last me at least a week."

Oh, and I had seen nothing yet...

***

The next couple of days went by in a blur, each of us was focused on their respective classes. I, for one, had had a paper to turn in, which I finished just the night before. And sure, having to write papers sucked, but Business Studies had been a walk in the park to this day, as I expected.

Plus, business boys were another level of clueless, which offered me a great deal of entertainment.

I was walking down the hallway, when I stopped to put some of the books I was carrying inside my bag.

"Jade."

I was reluctant to turn around and face this annoying little fly that I just couldn't seem to shake off.

I swear, Millie needs to leave me alone.

I jerked out a scoff at her persistence. "Okay," I said as I directed my attention towards her.  "Hey Siri, how do you say restraining order in Spanish?"

Millie let out a humorless chuckle. "You really are hilarious, aren't you?"

I blinked once, slightly tilting my head to the side.

"Listen, I don't know what kind of sick game you're playing, but you can knock it off," she admonished.

I arched my eyebrows up in disregard. My indifference was starting to brew a storm in Millie's eyes, judging by her tremendously truculent glare.

"I mean it Jade, don't push me."

I uttered a dry laugh and decided to break my silence once and for all. "You might want to try that again," I suggested with a derisive smirk. "I didn't quite buy it."

My sneer was soon replaced with a hard stare. "And whatever game I'm playing is none of your business," I scolded. "So if you don't want your puppy wandering off elsewhere -"

I crept closer to Millie, dissipating the few feet of space that once divided us. Making sure to enunciate, I whispered in her ear, "I suggest you tighten his leash."

Before I got the chance to strut away from her, she belligerently secured my arm and turned her head to the side to look me dead in the eye.

Our faces just inches apart when she suddenly curled her lips into a wicked smirk.

I was wondering when you'd come to pay us a visit.

"You asked for it, Jade. Don't say I didn't warn you." She lifted her chin up high before bumping her shoulder against mine and walking off with a conceited gait.

About time the true Millie resurfaced, don't you think?

***

I lied down on my bed, my vacant stare fixed on the beige ceiling.

I knew it.

Clearly there was something Millie wasn't telling us, stuff just wasn't adding up. One can't be acting all "goodie shoes" one moment and be a total bitch the next, it makes no sense.

Unless it's exactly that, an act.

There were some things about her that had been rubbing me the wrong way and, if I had learned anything, is that my instincts rarely ever failed me.

I knew if I waited long enough and just kept being my naturally impassive self I'd eventually trigger something inside her and her pure nature would inevitably emerge for the whole world to see.

I flipped around on my stomach and spotted my phone facing down on the bed. Getting a hold of it, I unlocked it and mechanically tapped around until I landed my next move.

*

"Why are you calling me?"

I smirked at Jesse's warm greeting. "Well, hello to you, too."

The line went mute for a couple of seconds.

"Why are you calling me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why do I get the feeling that you don't trust me?"

I heard him faintly let out a chuckle. "That would be because I don't."

"Good." I paused. "So I need a ride to go buy some stuff for Liz's surprise party."

"Why don't you get Liz to drive you?"

Is he for real?

"Ok, I'll give you a second," I said and waited patiently for it to hit him.

The line went quiet again while Jesse processed the stupidity of his own question. You know, for someone who got into Brown for their straight A's, he sure could be a little dense at times.

I dug an elbow into my bed and placed my head in my hand. "C'mon Jessica, you can do it."

"Ok, I see," he acknowledged.

"Great, so what time are you picking me up?" I teased.

"What, like now?"

"I'm sorry, am I breaking up?" I held my phone away from my ear and knocked on the screen a couple of times. "Is this thing on?"

I brought the phone back up to my ear. "Yes, now, Jesse."

"What did I do to deserve this?" he whined.

"You played kiss or slap. I'll see you at Liz's house in 30 minutes."

"Wait, Jade -"

***

A/N

AYEEE YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS... MORE JADE AND JESSE TIME YAAY!

Anyway, y'all... the situation with Millie is escalating. Fast. LOL. I can't imagine what the hell is about to go down😈

Except I totally can because I already wrote it. HAHA.

I hoped you enjoyed this chapter I wrote before my life was ruined by uni exams and catch you in the next one my lovelies... 🖤😏