"Do you think you'll be alright going to school today?" Berto asked, standing in his lab as I sat in his office chair. When I didn't answer he turned from his computer screen to see me chewing my lower lip, Shock hovering at my shoulder. "Jessie?"
"Sorry my mind was...somewhere else." I apologized and he shook his head offering me a smile as he headed over. Now standing at my side he gently set a hand on my shoulder and I raised my head slightly, intertwining my fingers through his. "Yeah it's been happening a lot lately."
"You don't need to apologize, bella. You've had a rough day." Berto answered and I smiled at him standing from the chair before I rested my head under his chin. "Maybe it would be better if you stayed here or at your apartment."
"Thanks, Berto but I should get back to school. I don't want to end up as dumb as Max." I commented hearing a groan and I smirked, turning my head enough to see Max and Steel in the doorway the former with his eyes narrowed at me.
"How many times do I need to say I'm sorry?" Max asked, rubbing the bridge of his nose when I stuck out my tongue wrapping my arm around my boyfriend, who gave Max a one-armed shrug.
"Max, Jessie has every right to be upset with you." Shock told him, arms crossed as I rested my head on Berto's chest with a faint smile on my lips. Especially when Berto gave me a quick kiss on the lips and I heard Max gagging, making me finally turn fully around. Noting Steel rolling his eyes I just smiled, enjoying the way Berto's arms wrap around my waist.
"How would you like to be reminded, by a friend no less, that your parents are never coming back?" I pointed out, resting my hands on Berto's who took the opportunity to kiss my neck getting a sigh for his trouble. "Now is there a reason you're here or is it just to watch Berto and I make out?" I added, reaching up and Berto smiled when I draped an arm around his neck.
"Jessie, I came by to ask if you wanted a lift back to school?" Max sighed as Steel rolled his eye at us and I snorted, tilting my head so Berto could reach my lips. "Eww...leaving now." He added, pulling a face as he hurried from the room with Steel in pursuit. Rolling his eye at us Shock hovered in front of me, staring at us until Berto finally relaxed his grip on me giving the Ultralink a grin.
"Yeah you should probably get going." Berto agreed and I sighed, untangling myself from my boyfriend's arms though he couldn't resist pulling me back in time to plant a kiss on my lips that left me grinning like a fool at Shock when I finally head back to Copper Canyon High School.
We did make a quick stop at my apartment to grab my books and my backpack before we head back, making it just in time to hear the bell ring. As I head for my first class I catch sight of Sydney, Kirby and Butch the latter making me smile a little.
"Still can't believe we're friends." Shock pointed out and I grin, waving back only to see Max standing near the open doorway and I freeze forgetting all about my other friends before my eyes narrow at Max. "Jess, stay calm. Breathe in and out."
"Hmph. Following me huh?" I growled at Max and my other friends all stare at Max who ran a hand through his hair. "Can't even leave me alone at school of all places." I mumbled, stepping through the open doorway without looking back at Max.
"Wow. What was that all about?" Sydney asked and Max just shrugged, not looking forward to explaining his slip-up to his friends and especially not his girlfriend. But it would have to wait as I slipped into my seat near the front of the classroom not even glancing up when Max waved at me from the row behind a slight frown on his face as I stared straight ahead.
I really tried to pay attention to the Spanish lesson but my mind kept wandering back to what Max had said and I frowned, chewing my lip.
"Jessie, you should be listening to your teacher and not what Max said." Shock said, peeking out of my backpack as I let out a breath.
"Shock, don't you start. He really hurt me and I won't just forget about it." I whispered back hoping that no one noticed me talking to my backpack. "Now could you be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate."
From the backpack Shock rolled his green eye waiting patiently until the bell for lunch rang. As I walked towards my locker I heard someone calling my name and I sighed, turning to see Max walking over to me. "Now what do you want?" I muttered and he blinked when I reached my locker.
"Jessie, I didn't mean to upset you." Max explained and I just shrugged, opening the locker so fast I nearly pulled the door off. Cringing I glanced around but Sydney and Kirby were too busy talking and once I realized Max was the only one who had seen it I relaxed.
"You say that now but how can I be sure? You're lucky to have both of your parents still..." I trailed off, swallowing and Max sighed watching as I returned my textbooks, pulling out the ones I needed for my next class. Closing the door of my locker I turned to see him staring at me and even Steel peeped out of his backpack, watching me with one blue eye.
"Come on, Jess. You know he's telling the truth." Steel added and I snorted, moving past Max and he glanced at Steel who shrugged the Ultralink quickly ducking into his backpack when Sydney and Kirby approached.
"Jessie, is something wrong? You look a little pale." Sydney asked and I tried for a smile which just turned into a frown when I glanced at Max. Noting the way I was staring at Max she nodded, taking him aside while I made small talk with Kirby.
"Max, what's going on between you and Jessie?" Sydney asked and Max ran a hand through his hair, wondering how she would react.
"You know how I've never mentioned Jessie's parents?" Max asked her and when she nodded he gave her a weak smile. "Well there's a good reason for that."
Once he told Sydney the truth her eyes widened and she looked at me as I rubbed at the bridge of my nose, trying to concentrate on what Kirby was saying.
"Jess, something wrong?" Kirby asked and I shook my head at him, a thin smile on my lips and Shock rolled his eye. "You sure 'cause you don't look very happy."
"I'm fine just need to visit the bathroom." I quickly answered, hurrying towards the women's bathrooms while he stood there scratching at his cheek.
"That was weird even for Jessie." Kirby commented as Max and Sydney rejoined him and Sydney nodded at him.
"Jessie, you can't keep ignoring Max like that." Shock commented as he flew out of my backpack and I just shook my head, washing my face when I felt tears threaten.
"If you went through what I had to you'd understand." I shot back, grabbing a paper towel and as I washed my face he hovered at my shoulder. "Makino took my parents from me and Max just had to mention that. Both his parents are still alive and what do I get?"
"Jessie, it's okay. You know Max sometimes speaks before he thinks. Which seems to be a habit of his unfortunately." Shock replied and I nodded, sniffing a little as I washed my hands under the tap. "But I know he didn't mean to upset you like this."
"I know that, Shock but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt." I answered in a small voice, not caring as more tears leaked down my cheeks. "I...I should get back to class."
"Jess, you sure that's a good idea? I usually wouldn't advise skipping class but you really don't look good." Shock suggested as I swallowed, quickly washing my face as he hovered beside me.
"I can't just leave school, Shock. I need to concentrate on getting through the day and then I'm heading straight back home." I answered, steeling myself before I headed outside and Shock rolled his eyes flying back into my backpack when I paused at the door.
I spent the next few hours keeping my distance from Max who wasn't happy about it and as soon as the bell rang for the end of the day he approached me when I was getting my books from my locker. "Jessie, you and I know I made a mistake. How long are you going to keep being angry with me?" Max asked, just out of earshot of his friends and I turned my head staring directly at him.
"Until I'm completely sure that you won't say something so hurtful ever again." I replied in a quiet voice, carefully slipping my books into my bag and after I started to close my locker Max crossed his arms. "Look at me like that all you want, Max. You upset me and not the other way around." I added, looking forward to heading home though as soon as I started for the front door I heard my phone beep and after I checked the message I felt a tiny smile creep onto my face.
Shock peeked out, glancing at the text before he rolled his green eye. "Typical. He just spoke to you this morning." Shock muttered, secretly pleased to see the smile on my lips. "Guess we're swinging by N-Tek instead huh?"
"You thought right, Shock. See you back at N-Tek, Maxwell." I told Max hurrying away before he had a chance to respond.