(Jack's P.O.V.)

It's three now, and school just got out. Mark and I are walking slowly down the hallways, the rush of kids going in front of us but neither of us care. We just walk, hand in hand, smiling, content with the silence between us. It's not like it's actually silent, there are a thousand kids rushing to get out the door so they can go home. 

But between the two of us it is, neither of us saying a word. Neither of us need to say a word. There's a lot of moments like this, where it's just comfortable silence. And I love it. It gives me time to think, but also being close to the one I love and being there with him. That's all that matters to me. In only a matter of minutes the halls go from absolute chaos to only a few students. 

Some are just moving slow like Mark and I, others heading towards a club or sport or whatever. But the hall we're in is fairly empty, with someone passing us every 30 seconds or so (which for our school is incredibly empty). The noise is filled by silence, or at least something close to silence, and the vast space isn't nearly as claustrophobic as it was before. It's nice, peaceful. 

"So what do you want to do when we get to your house?" Mark asks, breaking the silence. I shrug, running my other hand through my hair. 

"I don't know. Probably play video games. Make out. The usual." I say, making him laugh. I can't help but smile and laugh a bit too, staring at him with wonder in my eyes. How can one man be so perfect? 

"Oh! Wait! I need to stop off at the café before we go to your house. I forgot my jacket there last night and it's supposed to be really cold tomorrow. Is it okay if we stop there?" He asks and I nod. 

"Of course! If it means seeing Ann, I'm up for anything." I say, smirking slightly. He slaps my arm. 

"Don't pick her over me ya bitch." He says, and I laugh, kissing his cheek softly. 

"Wouldn't dream of it," I pull back. "Bitch." He slaps me again and soon both of us are just laughing wrecks, probably attracting so much attention between the few people and us but who cares. And then... 

"Watch it!" I hear a yell, and I look in front of me to see that I have just bumped into the one and only Chase Evans. I roll my eyes, my smile gone as I stare at the kid with a bored expression. 

"How about you walk on the other side of the hall like you should be?" I ask, raising an eyebrow as if asking "why the fuck didn't you?". Chase just scoffs, pushing me roughly. I stumble backwards, letting go of Marks hand and scowling. "Dude, just stop while you can." I say, glaring at him. Chase just chuckles, pushing me again. 

"Oh yeah? What'll you do if I don't?" He asks and I put a foot forward, ready to hit him. 

"Jack..." I look over at Mark, who shakes his head softly. I inhale and exhale slowly, glaring Chase down and wishing he would just burst into flames and burn. But sadly, that's not how the world works. So I just walk up to him and look him in the eye. 

"Leave us alone." I say and then I take Marks hand and we walk away, leaving Chase behind. It's silent for a while, just the two of us walking as I let the anger just burn off. It's bitches like him that ruin everything. Bitches that can't just... Stop. Once we get outside the building we walk down the sidewalk, towards the café. We both know the way to get there by heart now. 

"Who is that guy anyways?" Mark asks then, shocking me a bit. I quickly shake off the shock and just shake my head. 

"No one." I say it quietly, even though I know exactly who he is. 

"You wanted to hurt him, he's obviously not nobody. So who the hell was that guy?" I look over at Mark to see him looking at me with a pleading look in his eye. He really wants to know who Chase is. I don't know why, but whatever. I sigh, looking at the ground. 

"His name's Chase Evans. He's our age, good student." I shrug. Mark groans. 

"Yeah I knew all that. I mean what the hell is so bad about him? I mean, besides the fact that he's an absolute prick." He says and I stop walking, collecting all the knowledge I know about Chase in my mind and just thinking for a second. There are multiple reasons Chase is bad... And I really don't want to tell Mark all of them... But I also don't want to lie. He'll know if I am. So I just talk. 

"He's been at Rydell his entire life. Pretty invisible until this year. He was water boy on the football team until the quarterback hurt his foot playing last year. The dude stood in, and was a lot better so he just got the permanent role. He made a lot of friends, got a girlfriend." That last bit I spit out with venom and Mark looks at me with a confused expression. "Brittany." Is all I have to say for him to understand. He just nods, and waits for me to continue. 

"He didn't want to compete with me, but he had his own group. He was popular for the majority of second term. And then this year his dad was hired as vice principal and now that I'm out of the way... It's impossible saying what'll happen. We can't touch him without getting in tons of trouble and... Worst part is he hates me. Not just because he's more homophobic then anyone in that school but because..." I go silent, closing my eyes and swearing under my breath. Mark already knows. 

"You picked on him, didn't you?" I nod, ashamed. For about a year I picked on him, pointed out all his insecurities and all the cruel facts of life. And he's extremely homophobic. Like, extremely. Makes me really worry for Mark actually, even though I know he won't touch him. Hurt Mark and he's dealing with me, which I don't think he wants to deal with. Not after the story of Peter got out. Not after everyone found out what I did to him. 

"It'll be fine." I'm snapped out of my thoughts by Mark's voice and I turn to see him smiling at me, genuine hope and happiness in his eyes. "I don't care what you did before, and I don't care how much of a bitch Chase Evans is. We'll be okay. Okay?" With a small smile and a nod I reply. 

"Okay." And with one last kiss the rest of the walk to the café is silent.