Jessie had been ready for the day to be over the minute Michael winked at her. Now it was and there was only one thing left to do before she and Jonny dealt with the mysterious Brotherhood. She leaned against her locker and looked down the hall, the bell rang.
The halls filled quickly as kids poured out of their classrooms. Again Jessie gave a stiff upper lip as eyes glared at her and girls made faces. She was there for one reason and one reason only.
From the far right, her 'reason' appeared and Jessie took a deep breath.
"Claire?" Jessie watched the back of Claire's head. Claire wouldn't turn around. She wouldn't look a Jessie.
"She doesn't talk to skanks," Brooke sneered as she walked up to her new place at Claire's right side. Ivy joined her quickly, large squirrel eyes leaping from Brooke's face to Jessie's.
"Shut up!" Jessie snapped. Again, Claire didn't flinch. Didn't turn to look at either one of them.
"Make me," Brooke challenged as a small crowd began to form around them.
"Fine," Jessie shrugged her book bag and it hit the floor with a thud. Adrenaline surged through Jessie and pulsed loudly in her head. She needed a good release. How kind of Brooke to offer her one.
Brooke froze and her mouth dropped into a small stunned 'O' shape.
"Do it and you'll be expelled," Ivy jumped in quickly.
"True," Jessie admitted. She tilted her head slightly and squinted her eyes. She took a step forward. "But I think it would feel incredibly good right now and that would make it worth it."
A few chuckles came from the crowd. Some, 'Go on Jessie' and 'Cat fight' leaked in between Jessie and Brooke. Jessie was ready for whatever girly hit Brooke threw at her. It was Brooke that would crumble at the first strike. Everyone knew it. Claire turned slowly and looked from Brooke to Jessie. Her face was still unreadable.
"Well, you're not only a tramp but your violent." Brooke spoke softly as she quickly struggled to regain the crowd into her favor.
"I'm not a tramp," Jessie stated coldly.
"Really?" Brooke's brows shot up triumphantly. Somehow Jessie had stepped right where Brooke had wanted her.
"You live in a house with two guys . . ."
No! It was Jessie's turn to freeze in place.
"You're in love with one of them but you make out with the other?" Brooke smiled slyly. "That isn't questionable behavior? You can make out in public, imagine what they do at home."
Jessie could feel the eyes of the crowd sway over to her. Brooke had struck her hard without even a strand of her perfect hair falling out of place.
Only Claire. Jessie bit down hard. Only Claire knew Jessie's feelings for Hadji. Only Claire. Claire turned back to her locker.
"You don't know what you're talking about." Jessie struggled to regain her composure.
"Oh?" Brooke crossed her arms. "I don't? You aren't in love with one of the guys that you live with? Because everyone knows what happened Friday night when you were left alone with Jonny Quest. You can't deny that. Are you involved with Jonny Quest or was it a quickie because the other guy wouldn't give you the time of day?"
More whispering circulated around Jessie. Heat rose up her neck and spread to her cheeks.
SLAM!
Claire shut her locker and walked away. Jessie followed her. She finally caught up when Claire stopped in the girls bathroom. They were finally alone.
"Claire?" Jessie waited for Claire to look at her. The best she received was the reflection in the mirror as Claire looked up from the sink. "Is that what you think?"
Claire didn't say anything.
"You know that isn't true." Jessie waited without a response. "Right?"
Claire looked down.
"Look," Jessie took a step forward. "Jonny and I are just friends. Honest. I know I should have talked to you and not just left. I know that looks bad. What happened was this; we were listening in on the group and they finished suddenly. We were trapped in the hallway with nowhere to go but the room across from the one they were leaving. They saw the door close anyway and walked in. Jonny kissed me to make it look like we were doing anything but listening in on them."
Claire looked up but she still didn't respond.
"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you. I'm sorry I didn't call. I'm sorry Jonny is an idiot." Jessie searched Claire's face. She searched for any indication that she had apologized for the right thing so they could go back to the way they were. "I'm sorry you're so mad at me, but I never lied to you. I hate that we aren't friends anymore. I'm sorry."
Jessie left. It was her turn to walk away. She couldn't stand any more silence from Claire. She couldn't stand it if after all that Claire just walked away, leaving her behind for good because that's the only place they had left to go and Jessie knew it.