Here we are with chapter 2! I had a lot going on in these past few days so I wasn't able to update sooner. But it seems my sequel tics aren't really being read. I suppose my publishing this is just for vanity. Idk. Maybe just to say that I did it.
Well, to the 12 people who bothered with my hot garbage writing, enjoy Chapter 2.
"Good morning." Jonathan smiles at Ina as she sets her bag down next to her desk and takes her seat.
Ina doesn't say anything to him. Just keeps her head down.
"How are you today, Ina?"
"I think... I want a little quiet before class starts." Ina mumbles, barely turning to look at him.
"Was it them?"
"That's none of your goddamn business." Ina replies sharply.
"I'm sorry, Ina. I'm… I was just worried."
"It's fine Jonathan. Believe me I've been through way worse. This is nothing, so please just stay out of it."
"Ina…"
"Cut it out." She looks away from him. Her voice thick with tears she's trying to hold back. Jonathan doesn't want to upset her.
"Im Sorry Ina. I'll back off. But if you need anything, you can talk to me whenever. I won't tell anyone, I'll just listen."
Ina finally faces her friend. She looks so tired. Her cheeks dark and somewhat sunken. Her eyes are so sad. Appearing to water against her will at Jonathan's kindness.
"Thank you, Jonathan."
He just smiles again, hoping that she does try to come to him for help when she needs it.
Several more students enter in a large group. Jonathan notices Ina shrink slightly in her seat. Trying to appear smaller than she already is. They don't do or say anything, but their presence changes the atmosphere. Jonathan can feel the fear radiating off of Ina. He can see how she tries to hide her true feelings of disdain and apprehension by the way she presses her lips into a thin line. She grows paler by the second. Seeing her this way makes his heart clench. This isn't the same Ina he met at the beginning of the school year. This girl is a frightened, timid mess. It just makes Jonathan so sad.
Ina is unable to pay attention to a single word during class. She's going to have to ask Jonathan to borrow his notes again. She can't fail another exam. One more and they'll contact Papa. That was the warning she got from Mrs. Potter last week.
There's a 20 minute break between 2nd and 3rd period. Ina finds herself wiggling in her seat. She really has to pee. But she doesn't want to get up. Some of her classmates are lounging in the hallway. She'd have to walk past them to get to the bathroom. Ina doesn't know if she has it in her to deal with them this early in the morning.
Jonathan notices Ina squirming. Clenching her fists uncomfortably while she stares at the classroom door.
"Wanna take a walk? Maybe stretch out before 3rd period starts?" Jonathan asks her.
"Um… sure." Ina shrugs. She has an idea of what Jonathan is trying to do. But if he gets in trouble again he'll be expelled. She won't let someone else suffer consequences because of her.
When they exit the classroom Jonathan takes Ina's hand and walks her in the direction opposite the bathrooms. Away from the group of classmates she was hoping to avoid.
"Wait… Jonathan… we need to go back-"
"Just trust me."
He keeps that hold on her hand and smiles kindly at her. Ina brings her free hand to her cheek when the honey glow hits her like a slap to the face.
They turn the corner and keep walking. There are other students from different classes lounging about in the halls during break, but Ina doesn't know them and sighs in relief. She pays them no mind.
They turn another corner and Ina is completely unsure where they are. Even after 6 months here she still hasn't explored the entire school. Jonathan comes to a stop in an area completely unfamiliar to Ina. She finds herself panicking and pulls her hand out of his. Her breath hitching audibly. Why did he bring her here? What does he want? What is he going to do?
"Ina?"
"Please…" she keeps her head down, unwilling to look him in the eye.
"I'll do anything just… just don't." Ina whispers.
"Ina, it's just me." Jonathan says quietly. "I'm sorry..."
"We should go back…"
Ina unconsciously backs away from who she thinks might be another attacker. She hits the lockers behind her, her heart beating a mile a minute. So loud she can hear it.
"Please, let's just go back. I want to go back." She's crying now. Jonathan is angry with himself for upsetting her. Dummy. You should have explained where you were going.
"Don't you have to use the bathroom?"
"Ple- what?" Ina looks up at him. He hasn't approached her since she backed away. His stance is neutral, not tense or forward leaning- not ready to attack. His green eyes hold a world of hurt. She isn't sure why that is. When he gets a closer look at her face he holds both hands up.
"Ina, I promise I'm not going to hurt you." Jonathan feels terrible. He should have known better.
"I just thought you'd like to use the bathroom in peace. I know this area is less crowded in the mornings. I'm sorry, Ina. I shouldn't have-"
"No!" Ina stops him. She wipes her tears and smiles. "No, don't be sorry. I was the one jumping to conclusions. I was stupid."
"Hey, don't say that. I kinda dragged you here and didn't say anything. I'd probably think something was fishy if I were in your shoes." He finally lowers his hands.
"I… thank you, Jonathan." She closes the distance between them and hugs him. "Thank you."
He's slow to wrap his arms around her. Ina is a full head shorter than he is, probably because she's two years younger than the rest of the class. But the height difference doesn't make the hug awkward. He rests his head on top of hers for just a moment. This feels nice. Feels… right. Ina's hugged him before, but something about this moment is different.
He let's go before she does. Jonathan doesn't know what Ina is comfortable with and doesn't want to push her boundaries. So he also takes half a step back.
"We still have plenty of time before third period." He points to the girls bathroom behind her.
"Take your time, I'll wait for you and we can walk back together."
"Thanks. I really appreciate it." Ina smiles again. Her gratitude speaks volumes to him. Everything from her tone, to her smile and relaxed posture shows Jonathan just how much this means to Ina. He's still smiling when she turns and pushes open the door to the bathroom.
Ina feels so much better with an empty bladder. What a relief! She was going to try to hold it until the end of the school day. Because when the halls get crowded she can evade them and get away easily. She would have tried to go during lunch. But they always follow her during that time. No peace.
Ina is glad she has a friend like Jonathan. Honestly, she doesn't deserve someone so kind. He already got suspended once because of her. She really doesn't want that to happen again.
She's the one to take Jonathan's hand when they start the walk back to their classroom. He doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he welcomes it. Squeezing her hand reassuringly as they make the trek back.
"Well, well, well… would you look at this?"
Three of them. Jonathan isn't sure who spoke. But doesn't care. He knows who they are. What they're doing to his best friend.
"Aw, did we interrupt something?"
Ina pulls her hand out of Jonathan's for a second time. The look of sheer terror that crosses her features is enough to send chills down his spine. Jonathan doesn't think twice. He steps in front of Ina, blocking her from view. She cowers behind him, grabbing onto his uniform jacket with trembling hands.
"We're just trying to get back to class." Jonathan says, the confidence in his tone helps Ina to relax some. She could never pull that off. Not anymore.
"Why not take your time with her? Have her take care of you?"
Ina whimpers. Jonathan feels his heart racing and a cold sweat breaking out underneath his shirt. His mother used to sound like that too whenever his dad made a nasty comment. There are so many things that could cause Ina to react like that. So many terrible things.
"Shut your mouth."
"I really want you to make me." The ring-leader steps forward.
"Back off." Jonathan asserts and takes a slight step backward.
He shifts his position slightly to take a more defensive stance. His knees bent and his arms stretched behind him to create a protective cage around Ina. He is ready to strike if need be.
"You've caused her enough trouble. Go. Away."
"Who do you think you are, you little piece of shit?!" The ring-leader takes another step forward. Jonathan takes another step back.
"Just stay away from her." Jonathan wants to hit this boy. Wants to make him hurt and force him to feel all the pain he caused Ina and more.
"You really think you're something don't you. Defending a 2 dollar whore like your life depends on it."
"Cut it out. Don't talk about her that way!"
Jonathan finds himself raising his voice. These comments and awful names… jonathan has heard them before. No one should be caught with those ugly words in their mouths.
"Or you'll what?" The ring-leader threatens.
"I laid you out once don't make me do it again!" Jonathan threatens right back.
"You got lucky, you punk!"
Jonathan struck a nerve. He can tell and finds himself immensely proud that he can unravel this boy in front of him with just words.
A bell rings, signifying the beginning of third period. Ina squeaks at the sudden sound.
"This isn't over!" The ring-leader walks away and his two cronies follow him.
Jonathan remains where he is. Doesn't break his defensive stance until those boys are out of sight. When it's all clear, he turns around to try consoling his friend. She latches on to him once he's facing her, sobbing erratically. He just hugs her back, quietly shushing her in an attempt to calm her down.
"What were you thinking?!" Ina cries. "They could have hurt you!"
"I don't care. You're my friend and I wasn't going to let them do anything to you." Jonathan sounds just as confident and assured as he did when he was talking to those boys. Proof to Ina that it wasn't a front or an attempt to impress her. He means every word, and she knows that.
"I hate seeing you this way, Ina. It's not fair. You deserve so much better."
"No I don't! Please Jonathan, don't get involved again. I don't want you to get in any more trouble because of me."
"You can be mad at me all you want. That's fine with me. But if I'm around and they start picking on you, I'm going to do something. I'm not going to sit and watch while they terrorize you."
"You're so stupid!" Ina hits him square in his stupid chest, but puts no force into the punch.
"You got that right. Protecting my best friend makes me really stupid."
He's a stubborn ass. He reminds Ina of Eren. Never willing to back down no matter what's going on. Always defending even at the risk of his own safety. Ina looks up at him, her cheeks wet with tears and her brown eyes wide with panic she's yet to subdue.
"Hey, it's alright, Ina. They're gone. It's just us now."
He even sounds like big brother sometimes. Strong and comforting. Always knowing what to say in the moment.
"Thank you." Ina can't seem to stop crying despite how much better she feels. "You're such a good person."
Ina doesn't know why she's still surprised by good people and their kind actions. But at this point in time, she's still spent more of her life being hurt by people than she has being happy and feeling safe.
"So are you. Don't let anyone tell you different. You're sweet and kind and you deserve good friends." He places gentle hands on her cheeks.
"Don't you believe me?" He asks.
"I…." Ina tries to look away.
"Hey, I'm not a liar. And I know you've seen a lot in your life. Probably stuff I couldn't even imagine. But I know a good person when I see one. You are amazing. You're not just a good person, you're a great person. And glad I met you this year." His words are as genuine as his smile.
Ina still isn't used to hearing praise. She's grown accustomed to backhanded or sarcastic compliments. She'd been convinced that the only good people in the world was her family. She thought they were the only people that would ever truly love her.
Maybe she was wrong.
Ina turns around suddenly, breaking the hold he had of her. In truth she doesn't want him to see the honey glow in her cheeks. She covers them up with her hands.
"Ina?"
"I'm fine. I'm fine. It's just…. you're so... so… nice to me. That's... it's still a new feeling." She mumbles. "I'm not really... used to it."
"Well then everyone in the world is an idiot." Jonathan comments.
He comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her shoulders. She holds on to him. Appreciating his warmth. He rests his head on her little shoulder when it's clear she's okay with it.
"It's my job to make up for other people's stupid mistakes then." Jonathan is so close she can feel the vibration of his voice on her shoulder.
"You're so wonderful. And smart. And pretty."
"Ah, stop it Jonathan! Talk about something else!"
"No way." She can feel him smiling.
"You're stronger than I could ever be. And so brave- even though you're younger than all of us. I want to be more like you, Ina."
"We're late now." Ina whispers.
"I don't care. I have a lot of compliments to catch up on." Jonathan hugs her tighter. Ina welcomes it. Feeling safe for the first time in months.
"Hey!" That sounds like… no way. It's impossible.