Naomi Hanson's Point of View

     "Hey!" Jacob enthusiastically spoke as I opened my front door. To say I was not happy to see him would be an understatement. Right now, there are few people I hate more than Bryce Loski. One of them would be Jacob. Not because of the whole rumor mess, I've just never been his biggest fan. Shocker right? Who doesn't love Jacob in this town? I may be the first.

I folded my arms across my chest, my jaw clenched, "What do you want, Jacob?" Jacob's smile fell from his face. Suddenly, a sympathetic look rose instead, "Let me talk to you. Please." He practically begged. Don't be fooled. He's not a good guy. Just a good actor. How else will he get his parents to believe him when he says he had practice but was really out doing only god knows what?

"Fine." I sighed. Dear god, have you gone soft Naomi? Why are you talking to this imbecile? You despise him. You have no sympathy for him, just hatred. In fact, that's the only feeling you should have right now. Being nice got you hurt in the first place. Don't be so ignorant. 

Jacob let out a relieved sigh. He held his hands up in a pleading notion, "You've gotta forgive Bryce." My eyes widened, I let out a loud scoff, "What! No!" I shook my head furiously, "No way in hell."

"I know. I know how it sounds and I know you're angry and upset." Jacob began to plead, "But you have to. Listen, this isn't his fault. I made him say that stuff to me, I'm the one who spread it. Not him." He explained. Is it wrong to believe him? Whether or not it is, it's predictable I believe him. When it comes to Bryce, I suddenly become clueless and block out every rational thought in my mind. It's like when it comes to him, it's only about him in my mind. Do I seriously care more about him than my own well-being? Or am I just on a self-destructive streak?

I took a deep breath, "Still.." I trailed off. What happened to being articulate? God, shut up. I need to stop being so hard on myself. And maybe so hard on Bryce. But, Bryce should be held accountable for his actions. It wasn't just Jacob or Sarah. He was tangled up in this mess too. He can't just expect everything to be fixed when Jacob confesses.

"I get it." Jacob nodded in agreement before taking a deep breath, "But, he's beating himself up over you. I don't know if you know this, but that kid is so in love with you." And just like that, I've lost my breath. Does he love me? Or is this just a game? Or is Jacob being presumptuous? Do I love him? It's odd how a few simple words can spring millions of questions in your mind. And yet at the same time, you don't know what to think or to say. I just feel dizzy.

Jacob continued on, "He always defended you, I never knew why. And he looks at you like you're a goddess. It's clear that you're everything to him"

I let out a sigh, my teeth sunk into my bottom lip as a nervous habit. My hand ran through my hair, yet another nervous tendency. I looked up at Jacob, "Thank you." I quickly chuckled, "Never thought I'd say that to you."

"I guess people change as the leaves start to."