Chapter XXVIII

Sherry ignored all of his calls into the next day. Jake had been relentless. And for a long time she feared that he might dare to show up at her front door. Why was he bothering to call? Clearly he didn't have as much interest in me as I originally thought… God, what a mess.

The more she thought about things the more convinced she became that it should have been obvious. There were warnings all around her, not only that but things had moved way too fast. Too fast to be normal…

She rolled eyes in front of the mirror. Her father had demanded that she go to school today. Apparently he didn't want her getting in the habit of missing school over things like this. Sherry nodded quietly and had sulked to her bedroom and began to change.

She looked exactly like she felt, but she ran her fingers through her short hair quietly and let out a sigh. Whatever.

Seven text messages, five calls and nothing.

The first he had sent was a simple one, Sherry, text me or call me whenever you get this.

She had not responded, but he expected that she wouldn't so he did not make throw a fit about it, instead he sent her another one. This one was more direct. Sherry, we have to talk about this.

Again no response, so he tried one last patient message: Please text me.

After that all his messages had displayed his annoyance at her in general, you're not even giving me the chance to explain.

Are you really going to not hear me out?

It's not what it seems like.

This is fucking ridiculous.

He had called her multiple times throughout the day and she didn't bother to pick up a single one, hell she didn't even bother to send me to the voice message system.

Now he stood against his motorcycle waiting for her to show up. He wondered if she would purposely avoid him and show up a little later than usual. He wouldn't be shocked by it. And would she sit with them at lunch? He hoped so, he needed to see her. It didn't even matter that she wasn't interested in starting a conversation with him, it was all about the fact that she wouldn't even look at him, as if she wanted to forget him. Even when she had found out she kept trying to avoid his stare, and when she did look at him it was like he was someone she never knew.

Fucking Billy, Jake cursed and blew out smoke, if he had kept his mouth shut none of this shit would have happened. And Excella…

After his father had taken him home he washed his bloody fist and bandaged it messily.

He hardly got any sleep. Jake continued to rerun the sight of her over and over, the way she had looked at him. It made his chest hurt and his throat tighten so badly that he coughed a bit to clear the pressure.

The bell rang and Jake cursed under his breath and put out the cigarette. Where the hell was she?

"Are you alright?" Sheva asked in class as she looked over Sherry warily, "you look… tired."

Sherry smiled, "I'm totally fine, and how are you and Chris?"

"Well last night we talked about the army thing again," she cast a cautious stare to Mr. Kennedy, hoping that he wouldn't catch her talking in the middle of his lesson, "I basically told him that I'm not sure that I can do it… I know that he's going to be away for most of the time and I just don't know that I can stick around and wait for him."

"Don't feel guilty," Sherry whispered, "it's not for everyone."

Sheva nodded, "I just… I love him and even if I weren't with him it's not like I'd be able to move on to anyone else."

"Maybe you're just having trouble right now… accepting it," Sherry shrugged, "I'm sure you'll come to a definite conclusion soon. Just… enjoy whatever time you two have left."

Sheva nodded and looked up to Mr. Kennedy, pretending she had been listening the entire time.

Sherry's thoughts turned to Jake. What would she do during gym? Was he even here? She didn't really know, after all she had entered using a different door this time around – expecting him to be near the parking lot.

It didn't matter. If he tried to talk to her she would just ignore him.

In gym Jake waited for her impatiently. He watched girls filter into the gym and all he could keep thinking about was what he was going to say to her. After all if he went up to her he needed to say something.

I shouldn't have ever made that stupid fucking bet, he thought as he waited.

I' m a moron.

Jake waited and waited but eventually realized that Sherry was not there. He wondered if she was absent from school or purposely avoiding him. Both possibilities made him feel worse than he already did.

When lunchtime came around Jake did his best to not look overeager. So he waited for Chris, impatiently, and scowled at Billy.

"Hey Jake," he muttered, Chris raised a brow at Billy's demure demeanor and looked to Jake who didn't respond. Instantly he stopped walking and crossed his arms in front of himself. Billy turned and stared at Chris with confusion, Jake stopped walking but didn't turn to look at him.

"What's going on? You two are acting weird."

Billy remained silent and Jake looked to him with a sharp glare. It became apparent that none of them had any intent on answering so Jake spoke, "well? Tell him what you did Billy."

"I didn't do anything," Billy defended himself, ignoring the hustling school kids who were brushing past them with annoyance as they stood in the middle of the hallway, "all I did was mention the bet that Jake and I had on Sherry… but then Excella heard and … she told Sherry."

Chris' eyes bulged and he looked between Jake and Billy with shock. Jake remained scowling and Billy continued to stare sheepishly. Chris spoke up, fumbling over his shock, "are you serious?"

"Yeah," Jake snapped, "and now she's not fucking talking to me. She didn't even show to gym today and I don't have to wonder as to why that is."

"You moron," Chris bit back, "this is your fault too for agreeing to it."

"I was drunk!" He defended and stabbed a finger towards Billy, "everything would've been fine had he not opened his goddamn mouth! I mean, what kind of absolutely moron-

"Being drunk off your ass isn't an excuse for the things you do. That's exactly why you shouldn't get so drunk, this isn't the first time that you do stupid shit like this but you never learn do you?" Chris shut his eyes with impatience and then cast them both a glare of equal force, "you two owe her an apology. I can't believe that you two are so fucking stupid."

Jake and Billy didn't respond to the insult and followed him into the lunchroom. Instantly Jake's eyes flew to the table that he expected her to be sitting out. His breath left him in a rush. She was there.

Quietly Chris, Billy, and Jake made their way over to the table. Very aware of the now more obvious tension between them. Sherry was animatedly talking with Sheva and for a moment Jake could would have sworn that she was absolutely fine, like if nothing had happened. But as soon as they made it to the table, and her eyes landed on him – he knew it was only wishful thinking.

Her eyes dimmed it seemed. They tightened the slightest bit and her body did too. Sheva smiled at them all and kissed Chris a bit hungrily on the mouth. Sherry mumbled a meek 'hi' to them all and turned back to Sheva, talking about who-knows-what.

Jake's eyes narrowed and he took a seat in front of her. So that's what she was going to do? Ignore him?

"So, how was your day guys?" Sheva asked innocently, watching them all curiously. They all looked rather tense, and she could have sworn that Billy's face was a deep shade of red and that he actually looked… shy? Humbled? She didn't know, but there was something weird in the air. Even Sherry was unusually quiet, and Chris just looked down at his hands silently. Jake stared at Sherry.

A few more seconds of awkward silence passed and for the longest time all that Sheva could do was stare in shock at them all. What the hell was going on here?

"Hello? Am I talking to myself or something, one of you answer me!"

"Everything's fucking fine," Jake bit harshly, glaring at the top of Sherry's head as if though it had personally offended him, "isn't that right Sherry?"

Now Sherry raised her head and smiled sweetly, "everything's perfect."

Sheva frowned as she looked in between them, well this is just awkward.

"So tell me," Jake interlaced his fingers almost like a businessman, "are you sick?"

"No."

"Then why weren't you in gym today?" His eyes hardened, "I waited and you didn't show."

"Jake," Sheva interrupted, "do you really have any right to question Sherry like that? You look like an ass right now."

"Its fine Sheva," Sherry smiled softly and took her sandwich in her hands, she bit into it patiently. Jake glared as she took her time chewing, Billy stirred in his seat with discomfort, "I didn't go to gym because I didn't want to. Satisfied?"

His stare became angry, "no, I'm not fucking satisfied."

"Too bad," she shrugged, "it must be sucky to feel disappointed in someone, mhm?"

He gaped at her. Chris began to snicker and Sheva stared between them with shock. She had thought everything was fine, she began to wonder if this was all brought on by Steve Burnside. Was Sherry still annoyed with Jake over that? But that couldn't be it. Billy looked too sheepish to not be involved with this somehow.

Jake spoke, "it's not about that. You know that I wanted to –

"This is really not the time or place to do this Jake," Sherry mumbled softly. Jake glared.

"Then where? You won't fucking pick up my calls or my texts. There is no other place to do this Sherry," his voice hardened again, "you didn't even show to gym so obviously you don't want to talk to me. And now you're telling me that this isn't the place to do this?" His eyes were like flames and she began to tremble where she sat, "so you tell me where you want to do this, because last time I checked this is the only place to do this."

"I'm not going to sit here and let you berate me in front of our friends," Sherry stood up sharply. Sheva's eyes widened as Sherry angrily grabbed her stuff, Jake began to stand as well, "you think that because every girl wants to get in your pants that that means that I have to just forgive you for what you did? Oh, and let me remind you that you haven't even apologized for what you did," she glared at him more openly, "so not Jake, forgive me if I don't feel like sitting in front of you or being in your presence right now. And the way you're acting hardly lets me know that you feel bad for what you did. You act more like I owe YOU and apology for being hurt about being your bet."

"What!" Sheva exploded, as Sherry stalked out of the lunchroom. Jake stood there for a few moments as Chris quickly explained everything to Sheva. Then Jake went after Sherry, hot on her heels as she marched through the empty hallways.

"Hey, hey, hey come here!" He took her by the wrist, doing his best to be gentle as she pulled her arm away and continued walking. "Will you just talk to me? Jesus Sherry you'd think I –

"Think you'd what?" She whirled and glared up at him, her eyes were steel and his melted at the heat, "think you used me? Embarrass me? Use me as an object? Dehumanize me for money? Trick me for money? Make me like you for money?!"

"It's not like that Sherry," he sighed and ran a hand along the shape of his head with frustration. She crossed her arms, "just let me explain-

"You keep saying that but never cut to the chase," she shook her head, "and you know why Jake? Because there isn't anything to tell. You know what you did, and you can explain all you want, you can tell me why, and the setting, and the state of mind you were in at the time and it wouldn't matter. You know why? Because you have yet to even apologize for it. You just stand there and continue to tell me that I should let you explain why you decided to use me for a bet. But does that change the fact that I was nothing but a bet to you? No."

Jake shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at his boots sheepishly. Sherry shook her head.

"Unbelievable." She muttered and continued to walk away from him, again he went after her.

"Just hear me out. God damn it Sherry stop!" He pulled her by the shoulders and held her against a locker gently, "I was drunk out of my mind. Billy was talking and he got me going and… and I told him that I could get you to kiss me in less than two months," his face heated up with embarrassment, Sherry's lips trembled to hear the words from him, and even now she wanted to slap him and hold him at the same time. He messed her up so badly, "I… I swear I completely forgot about it. Nothing I've experienced with you is fake. I swear to God Sherry." He paused, trying to look for any sympathy in her eyes. Instead he found hurt, and some more hurt.

"I can't do this right now Jake…"

No, no, no... He pulled her closer, embracing her small figure and hoping to melt her resolve with this gesture. She felt so good to hold, and she made him laugh and smile and she excited and thrilled him beyond reason. She made him illogical in the best and worst of ways. She made him better.

"I'm sorry, Chérie," he squeezed her a bit tighter. She had to forgive him. She had to, right? There were still so many possibilities for them both. So many things that he could imagine them doing.

And if she didn't forgive him… well then she would do those thing with someone else. Someone else would hold her and touch her, kiss her and adore her. And she'd feel all those things back, but not for him.

"It's okay," Sherry mumbled, "I forgive you Jake." His body sagged slightly and she pulled out of his embrace, she cast him a sad smile, "but I think that… I need to be on my own. We rushed into this and –

"What?" His eyebrows knitted together, "what are you saying, you just said you forgave me-

"I do," she nodded, "but I just can't do this right now. I've been… I've been losing sight of things." Like my irresponsibility when it comes to my father… I've been sneaking out, and partying while my father lays at home in a bed. Sherry shook her head, she could almost cry at what she believed to be her selfishness, "I'll see you tomorrow Jake…"

"Wait, what?' He grabbed her hand and stared at her with confusion. He felt like the earth had turned itself inside out. "What are you saying Sherry?" is throat was tight, and it was sinking towards his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Her eyes dimmed again and she smiled sadly, "Jake… there are things in my life that I just can't explain to you right now… one day maybe but right now is not the time… There are people who —

"Are you seeing someone?" His gaze darkened dangerously and he stepped forward, when she flinched slightly he persisted, "are you seeing someone?"

"No Jake, you were the only person I was seeing."

"Was?"

"Yes," she swallowed, "I'm really sorry Jake I just think that we shouldn't-

"I don't want your apologies," he spit hotly, "I want you to tell me that you forgive me and that everything will go back to the way it was before yesterday."

"That's not going to happen," she wanted to apologize again but thought better of it, "I've got to go."

"Schools not over yet!" He challenged, Sherry was already walking away from him. It really was making it very hard to focus.

"Yeah well, I'm not feeling well, bye Jake." Sherry continued walking as quickly as she could afraid that he would see the absolutely lack of confidence in her words. If he did stop her she wouldn't be able to continue on pretending she didn't want whatever they had been.

Jake watched her go and with every step that carried her further he grew angrier. His hurt grew at her actions and yet he was more annoyed at his inability to change her mind. It made him feel sick to his stomach. She was really hurt, he understood that now. He could feel it in his limbs like if her pain was his own because it was. Everything that she felt he felt with more guilt, because he was the perpetrator of the crime.

Angrily he drove his fist into the nearest locker over and over. The principle came and demanded that he stop damaging property which he complied with. And that's how Jake ended up in the detention room that afternoon. This time Supergirl didn't rescue him.


:O And things are about to get. C.r.a.z.y. in the next two chapters. You know what button to hit darlings! :)