Though the plan was to show Gia how upset and ashamed at himself he was, Jake didn't need to try very hard to be convincing. In fact, he wasn't sure anyone could see exactly how badly he was hurting. The kiss, knowing how it had upset and likely freaked Gia out was killing him from the inside out.
He walked into school and watched his feet move. He didn't care where he was going or if he bumped into anyone. He made it to his locker, but because he wasn't paying attention he couldn't see where he was going and smacked his head into it. He groaned loudly, opened his lockers, and shoved his bag and all his books inside. Then he closed his locker and stared at it.
Suddenly, he was pushed into his locker. He hit his face again, but he didn't care. He was then grabbed roughly by the shoulder and spun around. He was slammed again into his locket, this time hitting the back of his head.
"You called the cops on them, punk?"
Jake looked up and saw Ryder, the school's soccer goalie – and an amazing one at that. Ryder shoved him into his locker again, and grabbed his shirt. He pinned him up against the lockers and growled, "You're really screwing us over, Holling."
Behind him was the rest of the soccer team. Jake looked Ryder in the eyes.
"I didn't do anything."
"Mick and Alex were kicked off the team. Coach won't even let them come to practice. Ms. Chesterfield won't let them leave her office until their parents pick them up, and there are two cops standing outside the doors to make sure they don't leave. They can't leave their house, unless they get a police escort to take them to school. They can't go anywhere unless there's a cop there! What the hell did you do, Holling? We have a big game coming up."
"I called the cops."
Jake, Ryder, and the team turned their heads. Gia had just gotten to school, with Emma right behind her. Emma was holding Gia's school bag on her shoulder, and seemed to be standing back while Gia…
Gia was pissed.
Ryder let go of Jake, smoothed out his shirt and then took a step back. He gave Gia a nervous, tried to be playful grin. The look on Gia's face was a threat and most boys in the school knew it very well. Her buttons had been pushed and she was ready for a kill.
"We were just…"
Gia's eyes narrowed slightly. Ryder turned around and called out to his team, "We'll be late for practice…"
"Practice is cancelled," Gia announced to them. "I had a quick chat with the coach this morning. Told him about the little incident on the field, explained what happened at the party…"
"All students please report to the auditorium for a mandatory assembly. Attendance will be taken."
"Whoops," Gia said and smirked mischievously.
"C'mon, guys," Ryder led the team down the halls and followed the crowd of students as they made their way down to the auditorium for the big announcement.
Jake stood by his locker as the halls cleared out. When it was just him and the girls, he sighed, turned to his locker to open it, and then tried to make himself look busy."
"The assembly's mandatory, Jake," Gia walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll get there," Jake breathed. "Did you really call the cops on Mick and Alex? Gia, I'm fine…"
"I called them for me," Gia said, "We caught them sneaking into Emma's room over the weekend. Emma screamed for help before anything could be done but no one hurts Emma and gets away with it."
"You've proven that," Jake nodded. "You did the right thing."
"Mick and Alex have been assigned a probation officer. They're being watched constantly and when they aren't at home under the watchful eyes of their parents, they're in Ms. Chesterfield's office. She insisted they stay in school and get an education. Plus, it's better than the alternative."
"Their lives being ruined, and rightfully so?"
"No more school work and days spend on the couch playing video games, although, I doubt that would happen. They've got a lot of community service hours to complete."
"Good for you, Gia, I mean that," Jake whispered. He closed his locker and started to the auditorium, but Gia grabbed his arm.
"Jake, about the kiss…"
"I'm so sorry, Gia," Jake couldn't look up at her, "You didn't deserve that and…"
"Don't let it happen again," Gia smiled, "At least, not like that. You really freaked me out."
Jake finally looked up at Gia and saw the threatening demeanour she had used against Ryder and the soccer team had completely disappeared and had been replaced with a sweet and gentle smile.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispered, "I had no idea what came over me."
"I trusted you, Jake… and against my better judgement… I'll trust you again," it looked to Jake as though that was hard for Gia to say, and he knew it was. She wasn't just trying to forgive him, but she was trying to trust him again. He had hurt her badly. He didn't deserve this chance.
"I'm really sorry," he whispered and then hurried to the auditorium.
Emma walked over to Gia and passed over her bag. She noticed the yellow Ranger's hands were a little shaky.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah."
"I told you, you had it in you," Emma gave her best friend a comforting hug. "You're strong, loyal, and very sweet."
"Sweet?"
"I won't tell the others," Emma chuckled. "I'll let you keep that tough girl image if it makes you feel safer."
"For now," Gia nodded her head. "Ms. Chesterfield says we can either attend the assembly, or come back for third period. Personally, I've lived through all this shit, I don't need the lectures."
"Ernie's, then, my treat."
