Ava's POV
I guess bitchiness runs in the family. I'm crying my eyes out in the bathroom when I hear someone walk in. The person knocks on the door of my stall. I can't tell if it's Uma or Rose, but I don't want to see either of them right now.
"Go away," I choke.
"Ava?" Rose says from the other side. "Can we talk?"
I rub my red eyes and open the door just a crack. Sure enough, she's standing there.
"What?"
"Ava, I'm sure Uma didn't mean what she said," she says. I know she's trying to make me feel better, but it's not helping at all.
"She said it to her mom. There was nothing between us. Nothing at all. I wasn't just in love with her. I was in love with her smile, her laugh, the way her face scrunches up when she wants a kiss... Ugh, I was so stupid to believe I could fall in love again after...you know."
A few tears trickle down my face and splash onto my sweatpants. Rose hands me a tissue.
"I know, but have you considered that she was trying to protect you, Ava?If her mother found out about you guys she would have done everything in your power to keep you guys apart. I doubt she'd be willing to risk losing you for good."
She has a point. But Uma's words stung badly, like she was denying that what we had, even if it was for a little while, was anything special.
"Besides," she continues. "If there's anyone you need to be upset with, it's Jessica, for even telling her mother about you guys."
"I don't even want to talk about her anymore. I just want her stupid school to be fixed so she can go away and leave us alone."
"But we can still stop her before she does anymore-"
"It's enough, Rose," I snap bitterly. "She's hurting everyone you care about, and when you try to fight back, things get worse. I can't do this anymore. We'll just have to wait until this all blows over."
Rose's shoulders sag. "We wouldn't have saved this school if I just decided to wait. We wouldn't have stopped Hearst's corruption if we had waited. So I'm not gonna wait."
"Rose," I say, shaking my head. "You're on your own with this one. I'm sorry."
"Fine." her words are cold and distant. "First my boyfriend gives up and now one of my closest friends won't even stick up for me? Whatever."
She scowls and walks away from the bathroom. Uma follow immediately after, and before I can say anything, she envelopes me in a big hug."
"Ava, I am so, so, SO sorry for what I said," she cries. "I just didn't want my mother to separate us! I really do care about what we have!"
"Then why did you say it?"
"My parents are conservative. They'd never let us be together. Ava...I know we've only been together for a little while, but I can't help feeling that...I'm in love with you."
"Do...you really feel that way about me?"
"I've never felt this way with anyone else. You're spunky, sassy, and you always make me feel happy when I'm with you. When Jessica put laxatives in my drink, you could've left, but you stayed and comforted me. Please, please please forgive me!"
"Uma...of course," I say, leaning in to giver her a kiss. Right now, I don't care what anyone has to say about us. She has me, and I have her, and that's all that matters.
Jessica's POV
I follow the sound of giggling and occasional moans to the library.
"You're really cute when you blush, Aiden," a familiar voice laughs.
"Y-you doing this on purpose," someone else gasps. "How did you know my neck was my most s-sensitive area?"
"Let's just say a little birdie told me," the guy replies. "Hmm...what's this? That's a nice set of abs you got there…"
"T-that tickles!"
"Well, things just got more interesting...My abs are protected by a layer of ice cream and pizza."
There's more laughter inside. Surely this dude isn't talking about the same Aiden who dumped me recently. I open the door. Sure enough, Aiden is on Jason's lap while Jason sneaks his hand up his shirt and kisses him feverently. I withstand 5 minutes of this show before I clear my throat and make myself known. They jump. They color drains out of Aiden's face, but Jason keeps his arms around him protectively.
"Why am I not surprised?" I growl. "You've always had one foot out of the closet."
"Jessie! Have you met my new boyfriend?" he says, giving Aiden another kiss on the cheek, to which he blushes. "He's a total cutie."
"Is this some joke to make me jealous?!" I demand.
"Nope," he answers with a smirk. "Are you jealous?"
"Yeah, right!" I scoff. "This is so pathetic, Jason. You're clearly just using poor Aiden's feelings to get revenge on me."
"You hurt him, you little psycho!" Jay accuses.
"You don't even know him like I do. We have more history, right Aiden?"
"Uh...yeah...sure. History," Aiden mumbles, more or less into Jason's shoulder.
"See?" I point out. "If I'm so bad, why did he stay so long?"
"I...uh…" Aiden stammers, turning red with embarassment.
"Just stay away from us, hear? I don't know about Aiden here, but I'm not afraid to get ugly with you."
"You wouldn't dare put your hands on a lady," I sneer.
"You ain't a lady. That's why I'm finna fight you. Now, beat it!"
"Alright, Jay...or should I say Jayda…" I trail off. Jason goes completely red and Aiden looks confused.
"What is she talking about, Jay?" Aiden asks.
"Umm...can I speak to you...in private, Aiden?" Jason stammer s, getting up and pulling him to a more secluded area in the library. Whatever he has to say, Aiden probably won't forgive him for hiding it from him.
I casually stroll out of the library and run smack into Rose.
"Ugh," I crinkle my nose at the sight of her. "So disgusting how this mere impact makes you jiggle like that you tub of lard."
"You can stop with the petty insults. I'm not afraid of you anymore," she sneers, getting all up in my personal space.
"Even though your friends are?" I laugh. "Do I have to beat you up again?"
Rose pins me to the wall, landing a hard punch to my jaw. I stagger back and hold my bruising jaw.
"Except this time I'm not getting my butt kicked," she growls, standing over me. I try to get up but she steps on the tips of my toes, rendering me immobile.
"Don't hurt me, you freaking pig!" I cry. Rose laughs.
"Not after the way you treated me, my friends, and my boyfriend. You deserve what I've got for you."
After a few sharp kicks to the chest, I decide to call it quits. I would live to get revenge another day.
"Ok, ok, you win. I'll stop torturing people. I'm sorry. I'll change!"
Rose freezes when she hears this.
"R-really?" She asks.
"Yeah!"
"Well...I've changed too."
With that she completely pummels me with her chunky fists.
"Ow!You!Bitch!"
"DON'T-" *SMACK* "-MESS-" *POW* "-WITH-" *CRACK* "MY FRIENDS!"
When Rose finally finishes, she is hunched over, face flushed, breathing heavily. I'm pretty sure I have a black eye, more bruises than I can count, and a possible concussion.
"Know what, Rose?" I choke out. "You think you're some saint by doing that to me. But in reality...you're no better than me. You're a monster, capable of doing anything to hurt others. Just wait until I recover...you're a dead bitch, you hear? D-E-A-D. Dead. Too bad you won't have an army to stand with you this time. You might want to get into shape."
I use the last of the strength in one of my arms to smack her belly forcefully. She winces, but gives me a lethal glare.
"And you might want a lawyer," she says before scurrying off.
Sneak Peek of the next chapter:
Jason's POV
I can't believe Jessica just outed me like that in front of Aiden. He wasn't supposed to know about who I was before
No one was.
Aiden crosses his arms across his chest.
"What is Jessica talking about? Why did she call you Jayda?"
I sigh and take out a picture I keep in my wallet. A small girl about 11 years old with a boy stand side by side.
"The girl in the picture," I say. "She's who I used to be. We were friends once. But not as Aiden and Jason. As Aiden and Jayda...I'm...I'm trans. I disappeared out of your life when I transitioned to spare you the confusion and my family the embarrassment. The town had forgotten about us, so everyone thought I was always a guy. Even you."
"Jason...why didn't you tell me when we met that you recognized me?"
"I had feelings for you back then. I still do. I didn't want to spoil anything we might've had...So there's my story. Feel free to hate me now."
"Jay…"