Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield

You don't know how long I've been dying to put this up lol

The next day India could barely get three feet away from Luna without her noticing. The only free time she had to herself was during her morning classes but as soon as the bell rang Luna would be waiting out in the hallway.

Currently she was dragging her to lunch, their arms intertwined.

"What do you want to eat? I'm craving French Fries but not the cafeteria ones. Those make me sick."

India didn't bother in responding. Her mind had been wandering all day, mainly to her father's actions the night before but also to Jesse. She was glad she stayed with him last night. Even though he wasn't in the same bed, just knowing he was in the room made her feel safer.

She was afraid of going home after school but she also knew she couldn't hide forever. She had to face him and explain the photo albums she had hidden under her bed. They were full of happy memories of her family, including pictures of her parent's wedding, her mother's pregnancy, and everything else that was supposed to be happy.

Like the map she hung up in her office she had found the photo albums tucked away in a locked box in the back of her garage. A.K.A. the place where everything her mother owned was stuffed.

She just wanted to see her mother's face again. She wanted to see her bright eyes. Her wide grin. Her golden hair.

She wanted her mom back.

Looking through the album every night since the trip had made the pain feel a little less terrible. But then her father found it . . . and it didn't end well at all.

They were hidden for a reason.

Out of sight, out of mind, was the old saying that her father lived by. He loved his wife with all his heart and when she left he turned to the best thing that could make the pain go away: alcohol. But then eventually he noticed the fear in his daughter's eyes, the way she would cower away from him, and not look into his eyes. He put down the bottle and stuffed every single memorable object of his wife in the back of the garage.

But skeletons don't stay in the closet forever.

"India," Luna called, "do you hear me?"

India came to attention to see Luna standing in front of her. They were standing in the line to the lunch line and they were almost next.

"Do you want to talk about it," Luna asked softly.

India shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

Luna and India shared a special kind of friendship. Yes they were neighbors and that's how they met, but how they became friends was unique.

One early morning Luna had rode her bike to Palace Park where she found her neighbor lying on a bench, nothing but a jacket keeping her warm. She nudged her awake and asked why she was sleeping in the park by herself. India tried lying to her, telling her slept walked but Luna was smart enough to know that was a fib.

The next night she looked out of her bedroom window to see small little India escaping out of her window on the second story. Luna grabbed her bike and met India at the park.

India cracked and told her everything.

For years after India would run to Luna's house when she wanted to get away. Luna would sneak her into her bedroom and let her stay the night there. They've been best friends ever since and Luna never wanted her to go through that pain again.

Luna sighed and turned to get her tray. India only told Luna what happened on the car ride to school but she wasn't going to open up and share her feelings. It was a stupid mistake on India's part.

They gathered their food and afterwards stood in the cafeteria, trying to find an empty table to sit at. They spotted one in the corner and started to make their way towards it when someone yelled Luna's name across the room.

They turned around to see Ajax standing, waving to them like a maniac with a wide grin plastered on his face. Luna laughed and looked at India. "What do you say we sit with him? I know Keenan's over there . . . we don't have to."

"It's fine," India sighed. "I have more things to worry about than Keenan at the moment."

Luna gave her a small smile before leading the way to the boys table. India felt nervous in her stomach but she pushed it down.

Ajax greeted Luna with a kiss on her lips that made India look away with red cheeks. Keenan caught her eye. "Uh hi," he mumbled, surprised to see her standing at the head of his lunch table.

India was about to give up and turn away when somebody came up behind her. Two hands covered her eyes, making her flinch in fear.

"Who is this?"

The person didn't answer of course but she didn't need to ask again.

"Kasper, what are you doing," Ajax asked confused.

"What the hell man, you ruined it," Kasper whined, taking his hands away from her face. He spun her around, showing her his dazzling smile. "Hey America."

India laughed, shaking her head. "Hi the friendly ghost."

"America," Keenan asked confused.

"Get it? America? India? Christopher Columbus thought America was India? He couldn't read a map? Her name is India . . ."

"I get it," Keenan seethed, glaring at him.

"Hey don't get mad at him," India protested. "It's a funny nickname. You're just mad you didn't think of it first."

"Hey! Gandhi is a very creative and fun nickname for you."

"Not really, no."

Keenan frowned at her while everyone else laughed.

"Sit next to me," Kasper said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards two seats at the circular table. All the while Keenan glared at them. India was about to ask him what was wrong with him when a voice spoke up behind her, sending chills running down her body.

"India?"

She turned around to see Jesse standing before her. When she left his house that morning he was still wearing his pajamas from the night before which turned out to be only underwear and a t-shirt. Now he was wearing black skinny jeans, boots, and a black sweater that hung loosely on his frame. His platinum blonde hair was styled up perfectly messy on his head. She wondered how long it took for him to style it in the morning.

If she stuck around earlier she could have found out.

"Hi," she whispered.

"Eating with the douche bags today are we?"

"Hey," Kasper protested, growing angry in the face. Ivan opened his mouth to shoot back a comeback but stopped when Keenan laughed.

"Don't pretend you aren't getting used to my company. Are you going to eat with us today or not?"

Jesse looked from Keenan then back to India. He spotted the empty seat between her and Keenan. "Sure, why not."

India looked between the two boys with a confused expression, as did everyone else at the table.

"What the hell did you do to Keenan," Lee asked Jesse skeptically.

"Yeah, you guys have been acting weird this last week. I mean you look like," Aiden scrunched up his nose, ". . . friends. Keenan was abducted by aliens wasn't he?"

Keenan rolled his eyes. "Stop being dramatic."

"But this is seriously weird," Kasper spoke up. "You two aren't supposed to be friends."

Keenan rested his elbows on the lunch table and leaned towards Kasper. "And you aren't supposed to be friends with India," he said in a deadly tone.

India looked at him surprised.

"Why does it matter to you," Kasper argued. "I can be friends with who I want to be friends with."

Keenan smirked at him. "Exactly."

"Anywhore," Jesse whistled, stealing a fry from Keenan's tray. "Let's talk about something else less awkward." Jesse popped the fry in his mouth and then immediately spit it out.

India couldn't help but laugh at him. Jesse looked over at her, sending her a smile and a wink. She blushed and looked away.

How could a single boy affect India so much?

"So Jesse," Keenan spoke up, "have you done what I asked you to?"

"Not yet. You haven't done what you were supposed to do."

"What's with the cryptic talk," Lee asked confused.

Keenan shook his head at his friend before turning back to Jesse. "I'll get it done by the end of the day. I promise."

"Fine," Jesse said, standing up from the table. India was worried that he was leaving for good, probably pissed off by what Keenan said but she didn't see a frown on his lips or anything. Actually he was smirking.

"What is he doing," Ajax asked Keenan, his eyes following Jesse as he weaved in and out of the lunch tables.

"I'm not sure," Keenan mumbled before his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. "Dammit that asshole."

India saw Jesse approach Aurora who was sitting alone at a table, typing away on her phone as well as eating. She felt bad that she was sitting alone while the rest of them were together. She thought that Jesse was going to invite her over but that thought went out the window after he shared a couple words with her before heading back to their table.

When he plopped down in the seat next to her Keenan instantly punched his shoulder.

"Ow," Jesse hissed, "what was that for?"

"You know what that was for," Keenan growled. "You're a dick."

Jesse grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "She's looking over here."

Keenan groaned but India noticed how his eyes turned her way briefly. He abruptly stood up. "I gotta go."

"Don't run away Keenan," Jesse yelled after him but Keenan didn't bother responding.

"Well now that your only friend is gone you should leave too," Aiden sneered at Jesse.

Before either Jesse or India could comment Luna smacked the boy in the back of the head. "Don't be a dick Aiden."

Everyone looked at Luna with a surprised expression. Finally she snapped and said, "Stop looking at me like I have two heads!"

"Why you like him," Ivan asked, looking over at Jesse. "He is um how you say-"

"Horrible, evil, a bad person," Kasper finished for him, glaring at Jesse.

India looked at him shocked, ready to refute an answer before Luna stepped in, once again.

"He's not a bad person, now leave him alone," she scolded. Turning to Jesse her eyes didn't soften any less. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Everyone looked between the two in silent fascination and confusion, especially India.

Jesse eventually nodded his head and scooted his chair back, Luna following close behind.

"What the hell is happening to this school," Kasper asked, keeping his eyes on them.

"I think he drugged everyone," Aiden piped up.

"Oh shut up."

Now everyone's attention was on India. Her cheeks flamed up in embarrassment but she kept her eyes on Jesse and Luna. They were standing right outside the entrance to the cafeteria where she could still see them.

The conversation was short. Luna shared a couple words that made Jesse shift awkwardly side to side. After that Luna walked back into the cafeteria and Jesse stayed where he was. He glanced back at Luna briefly before resting his eyes on India. She could see a hint of a smile on his lips.

The bell rang making all the students get up at once, including herself. She lost sight of Jesse in the crowd.

"Come on slow poke," Kasper teased, poking her cheek. "I'm walking you to class."

She smiled softly at him. "Alright just one second. I need to ask Luna a question."

"Okay, I'll meet you out there."

Luna caught India's eye and instantly knew what she wanted to ask. She gestured for Ajax to go on without her while she walked over to India.

"I told him thank you, you know, for helping you last night."

India bit her lip in anticipation. "Does this mean you don't hate him anymore?"

"Hey I still don't like him for using you like he did. But it does mean that I don't think he's such a horrible person that everyone has made him out to be."

India sighed in relief. "Good."

"If he helped you last night I'm starting to think that maybe there's something more to what happened two years ago. I've never heard of an abuser helping an abused person."

"That's because he's not an abuser. He never was."

Luna looked down to her feet. "Poor kid."

India sighed, noticing Kasper waving her from the doorway. "He's resilient though. I wish I could be like him."

Luna's eyes shot to hers. "Hey," she chastised, her eyebrows furrowing. "You are resilient. After everything he's put you through you still go back. That takes guts . . . and heart." Luna pulled India into an unexpected hug. "Most people forget that the heart is what makes them strong and you India have the biggest heart I've ever seen." She pulled away, her lipstick covered lips formed in a soft smile. "Jesse has tough skin but you have an enormous heart. Don't ever forget that."

...

Aurora didn't think she could be so happy when she walked into science class and saw a new seating chart pinned to the front wall. That means she wouldn't have to sit next to Ajax anymore and be constantly reminded of Spring Break.

She joined the other herd of students who crowded around the small white sheet of paper. Her eyes scanned the names paired together until she rested on hers. She was seated near the front on the left side of the class, closest to the door.

She turned around, ready to head to her new seat before she realized she didn't even look at her partners name. When she did look at it her entire stomach dropped.

Written next to her name was-

Keenan Lockhart

Bile seemed to rise up in her throat and every nerve in her body tingled. Not in the good way either.

It's been over a week since Keenan confessed to having feelings for her. It's been a week since she told Max everything, from sleeping with Keenan to the game he played, to the afternoon she spent with him.

By some stroke of luck Aurora managed to catch the most supportive, protective, loving, and outright understanding boy alive because he didn't get mad at her.

Okay so yes, when she told him about her infidelity he didn't speak for a couple minutes and was heartbroken. But when he asked her why she told him the truth. She was drunk, he was drunk, he was trying to win a stupid bet which he threw her in.

That made Max furious.

Not on the drinking part. That made him understand her part in all of it. She was drunk, her judgment was clouded, and they hadn't seen each other in weeks.

He was livid that Keenan could create such a horrible bet, part take in a game such as the Bring Your Own Chick, and have the audacity to go through with it! He felt sorry for Aurora for being used like she was. She didn't deserve, none of the girls did was his thought about it all.

How was he supposed to hate her when she was treated so horribly?

Love like theirs couldn't be destroyed over something as flimsy as a drunken one night stand. It didn't mean anything. That was that.

They needed to see each other soon though, that was for sure. Every day that passed was another that Aurora wanted to run away to Vancouver.

Aurora knew she was hanging on by a thread though in her relationship that was once rock stable. So being science partners with Keenan Lockhart was out of the question, especially since he developed feelings for her.

The bell rang signaling the beginning of class. Everyone had taken their seats except for Aurora who was seriously thinking about walking out the door.

"Ms. Willis is there a problem," Mr. Bull asked her in front of the entire class. Everyone was silent waiting for her answer. That's when she noticed that Keenan wasn't in class.

"Ah," Mr. Bull said, following her line of sight to her empty lab table. "Looks like Mr. Lockhart isn't here today. You know what that means."

Aurora looked at the aging man with confusion. "Um no I don't."

"It means I reassign his seat." Aurora let out a breath of massive relief as Mr. Bull scanned the room. "Ah ha! Looks like your partner isn't here either Ms. Quail?"

Aurora looked behind her to see India Quail sitting alone at a table as well, a shy smile on her face. She shook her head.

"Well that turned out well didn't it," Mr. Bull said with a happy grin. "Mr. Willis and Ms. Quail will be partners, leaving the two ditchers to be partners as well. Ms. Quail please join this table up here." Mr. Bull patted the empty table next to Aurora. She quickly took her seat, followed soon after by India who offered her a soft smile.

India wasn't Aurora's first pick of a lab partner but she was much better than Ajax and Keenan.

"I want all of you to look beside you for the moment. See that person sharing your table with you? Well good news, this person will be your partner for the rest of your senior year. You better get cosy with them because you will be spending a lot of time together these last couple weeks. There are labs due, projects due, and don't forget the two hundred point final! You will have to trust your lab partner to help you finish this class with a good grade."

Aurora looked beside her at India who was already smiling at her. "Don't worry," she whispered. "We got this."

"I don't half the stuff he talks about," Aurora said worriedly. "I don't want to bring your grade down because I don't know who to write a conclusion."

"Are you okay cutting things open?"

Aurora looked at her confused before nodding her head. "My dad and I go hunting a lot. He makes me skin the animals afterwards. I usually gut them too."

"Okay," India said clapping her hands and scooting away from Aurora with a look of disgust. "Then you handle the bloody stuff and I'll handle everything else. Plan?"

Aurora laughed. "Plan."

...

After science class Aurora had her most dreaded class besides Anatomy; Gym.

She wouldn't mind it if the teacher made them actually exercise. Instead he sits on his lap top the whole time while everyone else either ditches or sits on the bleachers, talking.

Today she decided to ditch.

The hallways were naked of any students after the bell rang as Aurora made her way to the cafeteria. She figured she would grab a snack to eat and sit down and study for an English test coming up. But as she turned a corner in the hallway she nearly ran into someone. That someone being Keenan.

He grabbed her shoulders before her nose could collide with his chest. Once she realized who was holding her she jumped back, a glare on her face.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to keep you from breaking your nose?"

She rolled her eyes. "Leave me alone Keenan."

As she tried to walk around him he stepped in front of her. "Hey now, I didn't try to run into you. I'm not stalking you so don't get all pissy at me."

"Don't call me pissy," she seethed.

"Fine, bitch, whatever you prefer," he snapped back, leaning into her face.

She huffed. "I prefer if you leave me the hell alone!"

He threw up both his hands in defense. "What do you think I've been doing this past week?"

"Oh I don't know," she rolled her eyes, "playing with your dog named Rich and rolling around in a pile of money? Isn't that how you spend your free time?"

He bit his lip and shook his head in frustration. "You always have to bring up my wealth don't you? News flash Aurora but my parent's money doesn't make me who I am."

"No," she clarified, "but your big dick does!"

His eyes widened in shock as she realized what she said. She gasped and threw her hands up to cover her mouth. "Oh my gosh, I didn't mean for it to come out that way! My words got mixed up!" She lowered her hands and clasped them at her sides. "I meant you're a big-"

Her words were cut off by his lips.

It took a couple seconds for Aurora to realize that Keenan was kissing her. Keenan was kissing her!

She shoved him off of her and took two steps back. "What the hell was that for," she yelled, wiping off her lips.

He looked just as surprised as she was. "I don't know . . . you wouldn't stop talking and you were blushing and God, I don't know."

She jabbed a finger in his direction. "If you ever do that again I'll rip your dick off understand?"

He took a step forward, reaching out his hand to her. "Aurora, just stop trying to-"

She didn't hear the rest of his sentence because she slapped him. She only thought about it for a second before she raised her hand and swatted it right at his cheek.

Everything was silent between them after that.

Eventually she spoke again. "I have a boyfriend and I'll be damned if I let you get between us." Then she turned on her heel and strode away, cursing Keenan Lockhart along the way.

...

"Keenan," Claire yelled from the foyer. "Get down here!"

Keenan groaned but none the less dragged himself out of bed. He leaned his elbows on the banister, looking down at his Mom who was hurriedly putting on her shoes.

"What's up Mom? I was wallowing in self-pity."

"Well you're going to need to wallow in self-pity with your sister. I have to get to the hospital quickly and Mary isn't feeling well."

Keenan was more than happy to babysit his little sister. Maybe the little squirt would bring a smile to his face, she usually would.

"I got her Mom. You go ahead."

She ran to the door, yanking it open. Before she closed it behind her she said, "Thank you Keenan. She's in the living room watching cartoons."

Keenan walked down the spiral staircase and down three hallways to the living room. In his house there were technically two living rooms, one in the basement and one upstairs but Kelsey hardly went down there.

"Kels," he called, walking into the room. She was sitting cross legged on the carpet in front of the flat screen TV. "What are you watching?"

"I think it's called Girls Gone Wild. I'm not sure."

"What," Keenan yelled, jumping for the remote. "No way in hell!"

"I'm kidding," she laughed, falling to her side. "I'm watching Spongebob."

Keenan sighed in relief, sitting down on the sofa. "Don't freak me out like that again."

Kelsey rolled her eyes at him. "I'm ten years old Keenan, I'm not a baby anymore."

"I don't care if you're thirty, you aren't ever allowed to watch that movie or anything like it!"

"Next thing I know I'm going to get an iron chastity belt for Christmas huh?"

"Actually Dad and I were going to get it for you last year but Mom vetoed that idea."

Kelsey came to sit on the couch next to Keenan. When he tried to throw his arm around her she pulled away and looked at him confusedly.

"Are you trying to cuddle with me?"

"Am I not allowed to do that with my baby sister? Come on, we never see each other."

She queried her curious eyes on him, surveying him from head to toe. Her face lit up with recognition after a couple minutes. "There's a girl isn't there!"

He scoffed. "What? Don't be ridiculous Kelsey."

She jabbed her finger at his chest. "There's totally a girl! I'm your little sister Keenan! You can't lie to me!"

He groaned and threw himself backwards on the couch. "Fine . . . her name is Aurora and she hates me."

"Oh," Kelsey squealed, getting to her knees and clapping her hands. "I like this already! All the best love stories start with the girl hating the guy!"

Keenan scoffed in disbelief. "Give me one example."

"Um Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries, Bellamy and Clarke from The 100, and Anastatia Steele and Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey."

Keenan jumped up into a sitting position. His face was bright red with anger as he yelled his sisters name.

She laughed uncontrollably and fell off the couch. "Gosh, I was kidding! I wouldn't know! You should have seen your face though!"

Keenan rolled his eyes and laid back down. "You're going to give me an aneurysm."

"Good," she giggled, getting back on the couch. "Now tell me everything about her."

"What do you want to know?"

"What she looks like for one and then what her likes and dislikes are."

Keenan chuckled at his little sister. "She has brown hair. It's curly, like really curly and I can tell she hates it but I think it's really cool. She has blue eyes, bright ones that always seem to pop. And her lips . . . well I won't tell you about those but they're perfect. And she's Canadian but she's pretty mean, I mean if she wants to be. If she wants to be nice then she's the sweetest girl ever. She likes gummy bears in her ice cream, she likes ice skating, she doesn't like reading, she doesn't like football, and she hates Greenfield. Oh and me. She hates me."

His sister squealed in joy making Keenan look up at her with confusion. "Why is that cute? Why are you squealing? Stop that."

"You're in love with her," Kelsey yelled, jumping on the couch.

Keenan laughed and rolled his eyes. "Kels, I'm not in . . ." he paused to think for a second. "Oh shit I'm in love with her."

...
I don't think I can get an update up for you guys tomorrow but this chapter is extra long anyways so don't be sad:)