jack's pov +

standing at our lockers on monday morning, sam was gushing about some girl that he hooked up with over the weekend and how she was much better than her best friend.

i wasn't really paying attention to the details when all i could think about was how badly i messed up with dakota on friday.

crystal came over that day after school because she lost her house keys. at first we were talking but one thing just lead to another and i hate myself for giving in to her.

"once we'd finished, she was completely out of breath but that didn't stop her from begging me to go once more" sam nudged me and chuckled.

"okay seriously sam, you're my best friend and i love you man but i honestly don't give a fuck" i finally told him.

he stood speechless at my blunt words, but i did a double take behind me when i noticed dakota walking down the hallway and towards her locker.

"dakota" i casually rushed over to her.

she ignored my presence and focused on entering the combination to her locker.

"did you get my texts or calls?" i questioned, awkwardly standing behind her with my hands in my pockets.

i sighed as she once again stayed silent.

"look, i'm sorry. i never meant to hurt you. what happened or what i did was so stupid and i wish i could just go back in time and—".

dakota shut her locker, cutting off my words and went around me to head to home room. i just wish that she would at least say something to me.

"dakota, wait" i grabbed her arm before she could move any further. she glanced at my hold on her then finally looked me in the eyes.

"please, just let go" she said, her voice quiet and shaky as if she would burst into tears any second.

in that moment, i wished that i could just hug her and hold her until she's okay, but this is all my fault and i can't stand to see her like this.

out of respect, i let go of dakota's arm then watched her briskly walk down the hallway and straight into the girls bathroom.

first period was english - everyone was scattered around the room, sitting on tables and talking loudly whilst we waited for our teacher to arrive.

dakota never came to home room and she has english in this class too yet she isn't here. i anxiously bit my lip, thinking that trying to talk to her earlier just made things worst.

but i relaxed a little when i saw her finally enter the classroom. she studied it a little, briefly catching eyes with me but went for the few seats at the front as soon as crystal purposely touched my arm.

i rolled my eyes at her behaviour and moved away to my other friends.

"hey what's happened with you and dakota now?" seriyah questioned. "she looks really upset".

crystal joined us and scoffed, "so?".

i huffed and scratched the back of my neck, "i messed up. but it's a long story, so i'll explain later".

"what's so long about it? she broke up with you then got upset when you moved on. it's ridiculous" crystal explained, folding her arms across her chest.

"okay first of all, it's not ridiculous and second of all, i haven't moved on, crystal" i told her.

"excuse me" liam apologised as he walked through our group to get to the front.

"ugh, watch out hobo" crystal stepped back and brushed off her clothes.

"but i said excuse me" liam retorted.

"yeah, well try and watch where you're going next time" she scolded, leaving liam to subtly roll his eyes.

"try and keep your legs closed next time" i heard him savagely mutter under his breath.

"i'm sorry, what?" crystal inquired, waiting for him to repeat his words.

he shook his head and held back.

"i thought so" she added and left him to make his way to the seat beside dakota.

i watched them embrace one another with a hug, then liam leant against her table to talk to her before she laughed a little at something he said.

he took his beanie off and placed it on her head, which only made her giggle some more. it was great to see her smiling and happy, even if it isn't me that she was smiling back at.

+

dakota's pov +

i made sure that my backpack was still left open during class so i could pack my things away as soon as the bell rang.

i threw it over my shoulder and hurried out of the room with liam trying his best to catch up.

"wow, i never seen someone so excited to head to study hall" liam said whilst still zipping up his bag.

"i just needed to get out of there" i told just as i spotted kelsey and jonah coming this way. i sighed and pushed my hair back, "worst class ever".

"well obviously you share it with crystal meth and jack can't-keep-his-dick-in-his-pants gilinsky" kelsey replied.

"i still can't believe that he did that to you" liam added.

"me neither, what a douche" jonah followed.

"guys, can we please stop talking about it? finals start tomorrow and i have bigger things to worry about than a guy that i never officially dated and his shady ex".

all four of us were about to start walking to the library but my name being yelled out stopped us.

i recognised the voice and really wasn't in the mood of being on the verge of tears again even though i just said that i don't care.

but i need to get to a point where i don't care because i can't let this ruin my focus on my future.

i turned around just after taking in a deep breath.

"hey, dakota. wait" jack managed to get his way through the hallway crowd.

"back off, jack. haven't you done enough already?" liam said to him. "she doesn't want to talk to you".

"dakota has a mouth, she can tell me that herself" jack retorted, focusing his attention back on me.

"so you can fill her head with bullshit and make her let you back in to hurt her again?" liam came and stood in between us, directly face to face with jack.

the obvious confrontation started to catch people's eyes that soon, most of the hallways' focus was on liam and jack.

"seriously man, back off. this has nothing to do with you" jack spoke through gritted teeth as his jock friends began to pile up behind him.

the first thing that drastically popped into my head was liam getting hurt by these guys, so i stepped forward and held liam's arm.

"liam, stop. he's right, let's just walk away. it's not worth it" i said, receiving a look from jack as he assumed i meant him.

the boys both gave each other one last glare and the mini crowd around them cleared up once they realised that a fight wasn't going to break out.

kelsey and jonah gestured for liam to walk away with them, but jack took my arm again to hold me from following.

"please can you just talk to me and give me the chance to explain, dakota?" he begged.

"explain what? we weren't in a relationship jack, so i don't even have anything to be mad about" i laughed to myself.

"i know but—".

"so let's just go back to how things were before" i informed. "you acting like i don't exist and me, being pathetically and perfectly fine with it".

he immediately frowned at my compromise as i tried to turn away.

"what?" he pulled my shoulder back. "no, no way. i can't just forget about you or about us".

"you did on friday" my voice happened to break at that exact moment.

he stared back at me guiltily, causing me to break our eye contact since his brown eyes always throw me over the edge.

"so please just leave me alone and let me get on with my life" i finalised and left him to go and join my friends.

+

i came through the front door as quietly as i could because all i wanted to do was get to my room, do some extra studying and sleep early. but that obviously didn't work out once i heard my mom call my name.

"dakota is that you?" she spoke from the living room.

i threw my head back in frustration, "uh, yeah mom. it's me".

"come in here".

debating whether to just run upstairs and avoid whatever conversation she wanted to have, i just decided to deal with it and walked into the room.

she placed down her magazine, "what's the rush to go to your room all the time? i feel like we haven't talked in so long".

i stood by the doorway, fiddling with the strap on my backpack, "because there's nothing to talk about".

"how's your studying going?" she patted the space next to her that i soon took. "and college applications, all sorted?".

i nodded, "everything's fine".

"what about your love life?" she eagerly rested her chin on top of her fist.

"mom!".

"jack hasn't been over in a while. is everything okay between you two?" she turned her body to face me more.

i shrugged and refrained from telling my mother anything that will cause her to worry about me during finals.

"sure" i answered.

"but speaking of jack, his mom and i were talking the other day and decided to have his family over for dinner tomorrow night".

"what? no!" i instantly protested. she frowned back at me, so i relaxed and cleared my throat. "i mean, where will everyone sit?".

"sweetie, we'll make it work" she chuckled and stroked my hair. "plus, i thought you'd be happy that our families are coming together more, considering the status between you and jack".

"there is no status, mom" i muttered.

"there isn't?" her eyes widened. "what happened?".

i shook my head, "nothing major, we just decided to stay as friends. it's easier".

mom titled her head to the side and gave me a sympathetic look, "are you sure?".

i hesitated as i tried to hold back any sign that would tell her that i'm really not okay.

"...positive" i agreed.

-

i'm back bbys

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