♥Chapter 30: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴀ ꜱɪᴄᴋ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ♥

❆Jake❆

The lights of the classrooms went out again. 

When the fuck are they gonna get it fixed already?

Every single week, they send us out to the cafe whenever the lights go out instead of just fixing it.

Kai's busy playing a game on his phone while I sit beside him and look into his phone, having nothing else to do since I already completed everything. 

The bird hits the pipe again and Kai loses making him throw his hands up in frustration.

"I was this close to reaching a new high score!" 

"Do better," I tell him.

"What's your high score?" He asks me. 

"Thirty-two," I reply.

His mouth drops open before he shakes his head. "Nah, you're lying." 

"Yeah, fine, it's four," I grumble. 

"I can't get past the third fucking pipe." He complains, restarting the game. 

"Are you boys seriously playing Flappy Bird?" A third voice speaks up over us. 

Kai and I look up to see Jenny, a student from our class. My annoyance is quick to appear at the sight of her. 

Jenny Markus, the biggest flirt in our college. She looks like she's been on the beach her whole fucking life and grew up as a gymnast. Many people compare her to a model. 

Eh, for me, Toothy is the only model. Toothy has natural looks and stride. Plus she'd never flirt with a tomato.

Unlike Jenny...

"Why play Flappy bird when you can play something else?" She peers down at us with her flirty smile.

"Hey, I read the same thing on Pinterest last night." Kai grins.

Jenny takes a seat next to me, shifting way too close to me for my liking. I lean away a bit but she follows.

"So what are you boys up to this weekend?" She asks, proceeding to place her elbow on my shoulder. 

I shoot Kai an irritated look. He picks up on it but like the dumb fucker he is doesn't decide to do anything about it. 

"Nothing much, assignments, projects and all are due." He answers. 

"Oh come on, nothing fun?" Jenny pouts. "What about you, Jake?"

"None of your fucking business." I gruff, shaking her elbow off my shoulder. 

I can't even count the number of times she's flirted with me. Even after telling her, I have a girlfriend. She's one of those kinds of people who look for nothing serious and just wants fun, while not knowing how many relationships she's ruined by causing suspicions between them.

"Well if you aren't doing anything then I'm always free. A couple of friends of mine are going to this club, you can join—"

"No."

"But I haven't even finished—"

"No."

"But—"

"No."

"God that is your favourite word, isn't it?" She narrows her eyes at me. "That's the only word you say to me." 

"That's not true," Kai says. "He said fuck off last time."

Jenny turns her narrowed eyes to Kai. Her irritation simmers down completely though and her flirty smile is back on. "What about you? Will you come with me—"

"Oh no, don't turn this on me." Kai raises his hands on either side of his head. "Unlike Jake, I don't cuss girls."

Jenny lets out a dreamy sigh, "Nice guys. They're such a turn-on. They're all so sexy in bed." 

Kai's face turns slightly red and he opens his mouth to say something but gets interrupted by loud shouting.

"JAKEY!"

My head snaps towards the entrance of the cafe. My eyebrows shoot up at the sight of Corey. My eyebrows go up even higher when I see Kennedy and Toothy beside him.

"What the fuck?" A glare comes on my face. 

Corey struggles with three school bags on his arms which are no doubt his, Kennedy's and Toothy's. 

"Look who's here!" Corey hollers as he walks toward me.

My eyes land on Kennedy and my breath gets stuck in my throat for a while. She looks so beautiful. Her hair is wild and curly like it always is and her green eyes glimmer. 

"Is that Jenny who flirted with a tomato?" Corey exclaims, causing everyone in the cafe to stop whatever they're doing and look at him, attracting attention.

I eye Toothy to see if she suddenly feels uncomfortable. She doesn't like sudden attention and this fucker keeps attracting it towards himself and unintentionally towards her too. Corey must've realized it too because he struggles all the bags in his hands to one arm, and puts his free arm around Toothy. 

"She did what with a what now?" Kennedy widens her eyes. 

"Come on we have to rescue Jake from her!" Corey tells Kennedy and Toothy before rushing them towards us. "Don't worry man, we'll save you!" 

"Oh great, Corey!" Jenny claps excitedly.

Corey stops dead in his tracks picking up on Jenny's flirtatious look. "I'm sorry ma'am but my age is not appropriate for you to pass on your flirtatious smile."

Jenny's smile grows even wider.

"Hi, I'm Kennedy." Kennedy pops in with a wide smile. "How ya doing?"

Jenny turns her eyes to Kennedy and looks her up and down. A look of realization comes on Jenny's face. "Kennedy's real?" She exclaims with wide eyes. 

"What do you mean?" Toothy frowns. 

"I thought Jake made it up just to give me an excuse to decline me every time."

"Oh, she's real. Look." Corey pokes Kennedy's cheek.

"I'm real." Kennedy pokes her own cheek. 

"What the fuck are you people doing here?" I hiss. "Aren't you people supposed to be at school?"

"The school shut down," Corey replies. 

"He paid someone to pretend to be dad and get us out." Toothy gives Corey a flat look. 

I glare at Corey. 

I look at Kennedy. "How did you get out?" 

"For some reason, my grandma keeps dying every day and I have to attend her funeral," Kennedy replies. "I didn't even know I had a grandma who can die every day."

I raise an eyebrow at Corey. "Seriously?" 

"I keep forgetting every time that I already used grandma." Corey mumbles. "I'll make sure to use Uncle Bob next time." 

"So are you up for that party at the club—" Jenny places her elbow back on my shoulder. 

"No." I lean away from her but like the parasite she is, she leans in further sticking to me. I get a good whiff of her perfume that actually smells pretty good but it's on her, so it smells bad.

"Oh come—"

"No."

"Plea—"

"No."

"Serious—"

"No." 

"You only use that single word with me!" Jenny huffs. 

"That's not true," Corey says. "He said fuck you, bitch last time."

Jenny narrows her eyes at Corey. But she probably found him attractive or something so her glare turns into a sweet smile in a second. 

Corey notices that and his smile drops. He takes Kennedy's arm and shuffles her in front of him, using her as a sort of barrier or something.

"Kai!" Corey exclaims. 

"Sup?" Kai greets him.

"Kai!" Kennedy exclaims too. 

"Hey." Kai greets her back too. 

Then Corey and Kennedy look at Toothy as if expecting her to do the same. 

"I'm not doing that." Toothy states, her sunglasses on her face.

"She's shy," Corey tells Kai. 

Toothy elbows Corey. 

"I get it why you're with her," Jenny whispers to me, still way too fucking close to me no matter how far I try to lean away. Might as well let me sit on Kai's fucking lap. "You don't wanna hurt her tiny feelings and break her heart." Her lips come close to my ear. "Don't worry she doesn't have to know."

Irritation sparks in me and I'm about to snap at her when Corey jumps in like a siren. 

"YOOO!" Corey widens his eyes, "Kennedy! She's flirting with your man while you're in front of her!"  

I look at Kennedy and can't help the surprise that shoots within me. Kennedy's got her eyebrows furrowed into a frown and a tiny glare as she stares at Jenny. 

Is my Kennedy finally openly showing her annoyance?

I resist the urge to smile. 

I stand up from my seat which causes Jenny to scramble to sit up straight because of the lack of support from my side.   

I walk towards Kennedy and stand beside her. 

"I'm not supposed to like her, right?" She whispers to me while Corey continues his loud siren shouting with Jenny. 

"She's ruined too many relationships just for fun," I reply. 

A sudden smile comes on Kennedy's face and she starts jumping excitedly. "I got a B in Chemistry!" 

"That's great." I smile at her.

"I tried murdering Mr. Mark today." 

"That's even fucking great!" I can't help but feel even prouder. 

Corey lets out a huge gasp, placing a hand on his chest. "Kennedy! You heard what she said? She said she's gonna fuck Jake while you're sleeping in the same room! Man, she's gone too far!" 

Kenendy widens her eyes. "Motherlover!"

"Kennedy! Attack!" Corey jabs a finger at Jenny.

"HIYAAA!" Kennedy charges. 

But before she could attack Jenny, Kai plunges himself in between and nearly topples over when Kennedy rams into him. 

"Whoa okay." He manages to steady himself and Kennedy just as quickly.

Kennedy, Corey, Toothy, and I narrow our eyes at him. 

"This might seem all fun and all but we're still in college and she," Kai gestures towards Jenny, who's currently smirking at us, "can file a complaint against this. Jake, you've already gotten into a lot of trouble because of her." 

"You did?" Kennedy looks at me. 

"She files false complaints against everyone," I grumble, glaring at Jenny. 

"I don't even get why you're with her." Jenny scrutinizes Kennedy, raking her with her eyes up and down. "She looks and acts like a child."

"And?" I raise an eyebrow. 

"Finally! A word that isn't no." Jenny throws her hands up.

"Ha! You're joying over that?" Kennedy grins proudly. "Jake tells me a lot of words."

Jenny narrows her eyes at Kennedy. "He's gonna dump you." 

"I'm not." I scoff. 

"He's not," Corey says. 

"He's not," Toothy says. 

"He's not," Kennedy says.

"Why don't we go out the campus and do this?" Kai suggests.

"When he dumps you he's gonna come to me," Jenny states proudly. 

"I'd rather go to that tomato." I scoff.

"Yeah, he'd rather drink pee." Kennedy throws in.

"Yeah, he'd rather give up education and quit his job and live a life of a low-class worker, sweeping the streets and picking up trash, and helping ducks cross the road and never getting a happy life and spend it all in despair and pain!" Corey throws in.

Everyone stares at him.

"No?" Corey asks.

Everyone shakes their heads. 

"Fine. Tomatoes and pee it is." Corey nods. 

"Tomatoes and pee for life!" Kennedy throws her fist up. "After me, of course." She gives me a smile. 

"See!" Jenny jabs a finger at Kennedy as if she saw Kennedy doing something illegal. "A child!" 

"Why don't you put that finger down before someone breaks it?" Toothy flashes Jenny a sweet smile. 

"You don't want a broken finger now, do you, Penny?" Corey asks. 

"My name's Jenny and you knew that." Jenny narrows her eyes. 

"I did." Corey states.

"Let's compete." Jenny looks at Kennedy. "The first one to get Jake wins." 

"Alright. I'm in!" Kennedy grins.

She then turns towards me and grabs my arm, lifting it into the air. "I got him!" 

"Ding! Ding! Ding! Kennedy's the winner!" Corey belows. "Everybody! Cheers for the winner!"

Everyone in the cafe clap for Kennedy.

"I didn't mean it like that!" Jenny yells. 

"I got him!" Kennedy waves my arm in the air. She suddenly drops my arm, gasping. "Oof heavy arm." 

I shake my head at her, not even trying to resist the smile curling on my lips. 

"I meant like to bed!" Jenny exclaims. 

"Oh." Kennedy blinks. Then grins again. "I'm already ahead of you then. I slept in his bed so many times."

"I meant sex!" Jenny nearly explodes. 

Kennedy's face turns pink at that. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh." Jenny scoffs.

"But why does that matter?" Kennedy asks. "I've already got him in so many other ways."

Yup, she did. 

"That's the ultimate goal." Jenny states. 

"No it isn't," Kennedy says.

"You heard her!" Corey throws in. 

"You know what?" Jenny shakes her head. "I'm done here. You can be with your childish girlfriend and childish friends." She tells me before turning away and storming off. 

"Yeah, walk away!" Kennedy says.

"If she comes back again after this, she seriously has no life." Kai states.

I shake my head. "Pain in the fucking ass."

I look at Corey. "Now, you."

Corey stops whatever he was saying to Toothy and widens his eyes as he turns towards me. "Me?" 

"We need to talk about you bunking school every fucking day and even bringing in Toothy and Kennedy with you," I state, fixing my glare on him.

He gulps.

✯✯✯

✿Kennedy✿

"Okay now look at this," I tell Jake.

"Tsamina mina, eh eh. Waka waka, eh eh. Tsamina mina zangalewa..."

I've seen girls slither around a guy's body like a snake and I attempt to do that to Jake.

He stands completely still in the middle of the living room, turning his head in my direction on whichever side I'm at. 

I'm getting pretty good at dancing. I've learned Moonwalking, Tango, and now this slither thing. I'm gonna soon turn into the best dancer there is! Just you wait and watch—my foot tangles with Jake's and I fall to my death.

"Whoa!" 

He catches me just as I stumble and sets me right.

I stop dancing when I feel my chest tightening with my breaths shortening. Splutters of cough rack through my body and Jake stops the music. He takes my inhaler from my pocket and hands it to me.

"Are you alright?" He asks me. 

"I'm dying." I gasp, dramatically.

"Yeah, you're alright." He says. 

After composing myself, I stand up straighter with a deep breath. "Okay, yeah, I'm fine."

I walk towards a pile of where my toys are kept before picking up one. 

"Jake! Catch!" 

I fling it at him.

He jerks into action and catches it, seconds before it hit the floor. "What the—"

I don't stop and fling another one at him.

This continues until he has a pile of plush toys in his arm, not letting even a single one drop to the floor.

"Now catch me!" I squeal and jump at him.

He quickly tosses all the toys on the couch and catches me just in time before I crash into his brick wall-like body.

His hands come under my butt, lifting me up so I'm properly settled against him, with my legs wrapping around his torso.

"Strong man," I pat Jake's biceps.

"You could've gotten hurt." He says.

"If I jump from the window, will you catch me like you just did?" I ask.

Jake shrugs, "I'll try."

"What if I die?"

"Then rest in fucking peace."

"Meanie."

"I'm falling in love with you."

And I'm dead.

My expression of momentary shock leaves and my cheeks turn warm. 

He said this last night too. When he said it, I nearly screamed and yeeted myself out the window like how a normal person does. 

I feel like Jake wouldn't want that to happen though. 

So I had just settled to reach up and kiss him. 

I wanted to say it back. I mean I know I'm falling for him too. 

For some reason, I wanted him to have this special moment where there are fireworks and New York City lights and music. 

I watch too much TV.

Like last night, I again lean in and place my lips on Jake's. He responds back, closing his eyes.

The front door opens. 

I jerk back, scowling. 

I turn my head towards the intruder and see Corey and Toothy entering the house. 

"Aren't you gonna run towards them and hit them while calling them a burglar or thief?" Jake asks.

I frown in confusion, "Why would I do that?"

He narrows his eyes at me.   

"What?" I blink. 

He shakes his head. 

"Only me then I guess." He mumbles to himself.

"Are we interrupting something?" Corey asks.

I realize Jake still has me in his arms. 

"Yes," Jake says. 

"Nope," I say and jump down from him. 

 "Wait you guys got back together?" Toothy asks.

"What do you mean?" Jake asks.

"You people broke up." She says.

Jake frowns. "Who the fuck said that?"

We all look at Corey.

Corey who was in the middle of bending to sit on a couch pauses when he realizes everyone's looking at him. He slowly stands back up. "You people got back together?" He asks as if it just clicked in his head.

"We never broke up, you fucker." Jake glares.

"But we did," I say.

"When?" Jake turns towards me with a startled look.

"Last night when you walked out the room," I answer.

"We absolutely did not." He states.

"It looked like a breakup though," Corey says.

"But it wasn't," Jake says.

"I got ice cream!" I raise my hand, grinning.

"Breakup ice cream?" Jake raises his eyebrows.

"No, it was chocolate," I reply.

"I didn't mean the flavour." Jake gives a flat look. "Who got you ice cream?"

"Corey," I reply.

Jake looks at Corey.

"She was crying," Corey says.

"I was not..." I furrow my eyebrows.

Jake narrows his eyes at Corey.

"So people didn't break up?" Toothy asks.

"No," Jake states.

"So when did we break up then?" I ask.

"We never did!"

✯✯✯

I pack my things into my bag.

More like trying to shove everything in at one go.

My leg has been bouncing the entire time, excited to meet Jake. Excited for no reason. I just want to see him.

After zipping up my bag, I sling it over my shoulder and move to walk out of the class.

Before I could, Mr. Mark calls my name from behind making me halt.

I turn around and raise my eyebrows, "Yes?"

He motions me to walk over to him and I walk and stand in front of his desk.

He tidies a stack of papers while looking up at me, "We haven't had a tutoring session in a while."

"Right," I say.

Jake told me I didn't need Mr. Mark anymore.

His words were 'You've got me now. No need to go that fucking asshole'.

And truly, I didn't need Mr. Mark.

Jake is a wonderful tutor.

"You seem to be doing better in class too..." Mr. Mark continues gazing at a mark sheet below his glasses.

I smile, "Thank you."

He looks up and stares at me.

Neither of us says anything. I play with the straps of my bag.

"Is that all?" I ask when he doesn't give any signal that he's going to speak.

He gives a single nod, still watching me.

I nod back and move away, hurrying to walk out of the class.

I swear there's something really fishy about that man.

I walk into the hallways, and someone bumps into my side.

I turn my head around and Eve smiles at me.

"How's it going?" She asks.

I smile back, "Amazing."

We walk out of the school building and my face lights up like the sun, looking at Jake leaning against his car, a cup of milkshake in his hand.

Beside him, Toothy and Corey were having a conversation with him.

This time, I remember not to leave Eve and we both walk toward Jake.

"Jake!" I greet, throwing my arms around him and squeezing him into a tight hug before letting go.

"Here." He hands me the milkshake cup.

"Deadliest rat poison, again?" I ask before taking a sip.

He nods.

Eve furrows her eyebrows at Jake and me, "Didn't you two break up last night...?"

Jake and I look at her before looking at each other.

'You told her?' His eyes were asking.

'No' I gesture back, with a frown of confusion.

"I mean that's what the tweet said." Eve continues.

"What tweet?" I ask.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Corey making jabbing motions at his neck as if gesturing for Eve to shut up.

Jake, Toothy and I look at Corey.

"Wanna say something?" Toothy narrows her eyes at Corey.

Corey's eyes widen before he gives a sheepish look and a shrug, "My social life was on the line."

"Delete the tweet, you bastard." Jake glares.

Corey rolls his eyes before taking out his phone and scrolling through it.

"So you both are together or not?" Eve asks, getting my attention.

I nod, "Apparently, we never broke up."

A crease appears between Eve's eyebrows and she gestures for me to come near her.

When I near her, a little farther away from the rest, she whispers to me.

She attempts at whispering. Little does she know her whispering was loud enough for Corey, Toothy and Jake to hear even though we're standing a little far.

"Jake actually likes you?" Eve asks me before adding, "I'm not meaning it in a bad way. I'm just curious."

I nod, not sure why she's asking me that, "Yeah...he does. Why?"

"He's not, like...uncomfortable with you being sick?"

My eyebrows shoot up at that, "What? Not at all. Why're you asking that?"

She shrugs, "People are usually highly intolerant around sick people." 

As far as I know, Jake is the most tolerant person I've ever met. I mean he doesn't show it but he is. 

He tolerates Corey and Cole. And me. 

He listens to my rants, runs after me, sits with me on the ground when I cough and holds me when I have my 'I'm going to die' moments. He even stays up all night with me when I accidentally wake up and can't go back to sleep. 

"I don't know...people are usually disgusted being near a sick person. Jake seems the type to date a complete hot stuff. You know?" She shrugs. "Just saying."

"Oh," I say.

"Bitch!"

Did I yell that?

I can highly assure you I did not call Eve that.

Toothy marches past me until she's completely in Eve's face.

"Who the heck are you calling sick?" Toothy glares at Eve.

Eve widens her eyes at Toothy's steel-type glare. "I-I'm just saying that people like Jake don't date people like Kennedy."

"There are more people like Jake?" Corey gapes in horror. But then a huge grin appears on his face. "There are more people like Kennedy?" 

"Is it because I have asthma?" My voice comes out in disbelief as I question Eve.

Do people really think like that nowadays?

"Why the fuck can't I be with Ken?" Jake frowns. "And who are you to decide whom people like me can't be with?" 

"Because you're you." Eve points. "And she's she."

My heart starts breaking as I stare at Eve in disbelief. I thought I'd finally stopped meeting people who judge me.

"I knew you were a bitch from the beginning," Toothy glares.

"You know, you're not hot when you talk like that," Corey states.

"But it's always like that!" Eve threw her hands in the air, "It's common standards! Kennedy doesn't deserve Jake-or anyone one of you as her friends. She should go out with people like her!"

A small crowd starts to gather around us.

Toothy and Corey raise an eyebrow while Jake's eyes narrow into slits.

"Who exactly are people like her?" Toothy questions, tilting her head.

Eve looks like she might as well dissolve under Toothy's gaze, "Y-you know? People who are sick like her?"

Something stings my eyes and I realize I'm holding back tears.

"Girl, Kennedy's the liveliest person ever. Far from sick." Corey states.

"You're the one who has a sick thinking, Eve," Toothy says.

"I'm just trying to tell you people about how it's supposed to go-" there were tears in Eve's eyes now as if she hated being here.

"We don't wanna hear it," Toothy states.

"Eve," Corey starts, "having standards is a good thing. But when it comes to belittling people, it's fucking crap."

"You people need to stop criticizing others just because of a flaw they have that they have no control over." Toothy states.

Eve shakes her head as if refusing to listen to Toothy and Corey.

Before anyone could say anything, she turns around and bolts away.

"That's not fair." Corey pouts, "I had one more inspirational quote to say to her."

"Then go run after her," Jake states with a sarcastic smile.

Corey shakes his head and looks at the people gathered around us.

"If anyone of you recorded or took pictures of the drama that happened right now." Corey calls out, "Before posting those, please delete the ones in which I don't look good."

Some people chuckle, others leave, and a few stand and talk to each other.

Eve's words stung.

She didn't bully me, but she tried making it seem as if I don't deserve the world just because I'm sick.

Why does everyone think that being sick means you're a waste to the world? That you can't become something in life? That you don't deserve the good stuff?

A hand caresses my back.

Without thinking, I lean back onto Jake and he holds me, kissing the top of my head.

"Don't listen to people like her, okay?" He murmurs into my ear.

I nod, still feeling sad.

Jake whirls me around until I'm facing him. He grabs my chin and makes me meet his eyes.

"Okay?" He questions, sternly.

"She was kinda right-"

"Okay?"

"But-"

His grip tightens on my chin, "Okayyy?"

I yelp pushing his hand away from my chin, "Okay, okay, you nugget."

"Good." He nods and places a kiss on my mouth.

"Let's go home now." He says and grabs my hand.

"I'm coming with," Toothy states.

Jake nods and makes me sit in the passenger seat.

Corey had to go somewhere else so he tries to pull Jake's pants down before leaving but Jake catches onto Corey's neck and pulls him away before giving his side a good punch.

"Asshole," Jake mutters while getting in the car.

I wave at Corey who is trying to puncture Jake's car tire now. 

But before he could, Jake drives away. 

I look up and smile at Toothy and Jake.

"Thanks for stepping up for me."

Toothy shrugs, "We gotta be there for each other." She says, sharing a look with Jake.

I smile to myself.

Mom and dad would be proud of the friends I made.

Actual and real friends. 

✄ ✄ ✄ ✄

Words: 4,370

Date of publishing: 19th May 2022