Jessica wasn't herself. Though Jason had fully succeeded in tarnishing and destroying Bradin and Jessica's friendship, he could see he wasn't going anywhere. She may be severely upset and disgusted with Bradin but she still cared about him.
"You're better off." Jason told her for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"I know," she nodded. She tried to change the subject, she tried to speak of other things, but every time Bradin was close by, Jason noticed her noticeably stiffen and turn away. On the bright side for Jason, Bradin didn't appear to be trying to change Jessica's outlook on him. He was keeping his distance.
No matter what reassurances Jessica muttered, it was still obvious that she was just going through the motions. It was quite depressing to watch. Jason was getting frustrated. Bradin and Jess were only friends, they didn't even know each other all that well, and here she was acting as if her world had crumbled.
Jessica turned from Jason and went to class, her thoughts running similar to Jason's. She knew that she really shouldn't be this torn up. Or at least, she shouldn't have been if she only cared about him as much as she had convinced herself of. Really, though, Jessica felt very close to him. After all that had happened, she strongly believed he wouldn't hurt her again. She had relinquished most of the barriers she had up. With her mind in a fog, the voices in the hall seemed to blend into one mass of useless racket. The colours surrounding her might as well have been black and white for all the notice she paid them. Outside, the light chill in the air brushed her skin and she didn't shiver. The sand beneath her bare feet failed to soothe her. It was ridiculous.
"Hey." Will's voice interrupted Jessica's drab indifference to the world. Art class. Right. Will was smiling; his scintillating emerald eyes broke into her shell and seemed to jolt Jessica back.
"Hi." Jessica answered as the two entered the brightly lit and widely spaced art room. As they took their seats, Jessica pulled out her sketchbook and looked at Will. "Listen, I want to apologize about Bradin."
"…Bradin Westerly? What about Bradin?" Will asked curiously.
"You don't have to pretend nothing happened, Jason already told me what he did." Jessica said.
"And what did Jason say he did? 'Cause I'm not sure what you're going on about." Will stopped fiddling with his pencil and focussed on Jessica.
"Bradin was being an ass and threatened you," Jessica frowned. "I'm just hoping he didn't hit you like he did Jason. He didn't, did he?"
"I don't think I've ever spoken to Bradin," Will said slowly, looking at her like she had two heads.
"Really, you don't need to deny it-" Jess started.
"I'm not. Bradin never threatened me. But if it were Jason's word you're relying on, I'd watch out. He recently came up to me and asked me to help him get rid of Bradin. I refused but obviously he didn't let it go. Anything Jason says or does in relation to Bradin Westerly is probably done out of jealousy, I wouldn't trust him. He's got a vendetta against Bradin, a heavy one." Will shook his head.
"You, what, he-?" Jessica spluttered.
"Jason himself said he was going to go to any means to separate you and Bradin. I'm hoping you didn't toss things with Bradin away because of some stupid childish lie told by Jason. Really, Bradin's not a bad guy, he seems decent. Jason, on the other hand, looks as if he'd turn on you in a minute. In fact, I heard that Jason had once tried to recruit Bradin in getting rid of me. Obviously, he's a scheming creep. Watch your back 'cause Jason isn't really your friend." Firmly said Will.
Jessica gaped in shock for the rest of class. It couldn't be. Would Jason seriously do something like that? Could she trust anyone any more? As the words sunk in she fully realized her stupidity. Bradin had told her he didn't do anything… why couldn't she have believed him? Why didn't she? With Will's testament, there was no doubt about what the truth really was. Damn it! Why hadn't she thought of talking to Will about this before confronting Bradin? She was such an idiot…
When lunch came, Jessica thanked Will and rushed off to find Bradin. She could not believe she had yelled at him when he was innocent! He was at his locker, thankfully.
"Bradin!" she shouted over the hallway noise. He glanced up but upon seeing whom it was, he looked back down. Expertly weaving through the log of students, Jessica reached his side. "Bradin, I am so sorry! I feel awful-"
"So, you've accepted that I didn't do anything, huh?" Bradin said.
"Yeah, I talked to Will and he told me all about how Jason was trying to turn me against you, God, I feel so stupid! I should have believed you when you said you didn't threaten him. I'm so sorry!"
"Yeah, you should be." Bradin answered coldly. "My word should have been enough for you. Through everything I've done, not once have I ever lied to you. I thought you trusted me."
"I do trust you-," she protested. "I guess I just let everything else you've done blind me in prejudice."
"You told me that you forgave me for doing that stuff. Forgiveness means moving on. Forgiveness means not bringing up all my past mistakes every time we have a fight." Bradin's eyes were unyielding. "Maybe you do trust me. But you've just proven that you trust that weasel more. No matter what I say or do, it all goes back to my past mistakes, doesn't it? You'll never be able to fully trust me, to let it go. Even now you wouldn't just take my word. You had to hear it from a second source before believing me."
"No!" Jessica blurted. "Bradin, Jason was my closest friend aside from you…and in the period that I wasn't talking to you, he became my best friend…I never thought he'd lie to me about something like that."
"But obviously, you thought I would." Bradin slammed his locker shut and glared at her.
"I'm sorry," she repeated again, her voice desperate and begging. "I have moved on from that stuff you did, I'm sorry that I brought it up…"
"No you haven't." he said quietly. "I know now that no matter how many great things I do, you'll still measure me by the worst things I have done."
"Bradin, that's not true." Stammered Jessica. "Please, I'm sorry, can't you forgive me?"
"The tables are finally turned," Bradin said thoughtfully, in a would-be calm voice. "All those times when I was begging you for forgiveness…. all those times when you were mad at me… Well, Jessica Wong has finally screwed up. This time she's the one who made a mistake. And you know what, Jessica? I don't think our friendship was ever that strong if one ridiculous lie could truly make you turn your back on our friendship. I don't think I can be around someone who could really believe that I was abusive. I don't think I can be around someone who really has that poor an outlook on me. Really, Jessica, you thought that I actually threatened Jason. Like I would ever do that. You obviously don't know me all that well."
"No, please, Bradin I'm sorry!" Jessica exclaimed helplessly.
"And how many times have I been sorry? As you've shown so clearly, sorry isn't always enough." Bradin told her, his jaw set. He walked off, joining up with some other popular seniors without another glance back.
Jessica felt an overwhelming surge of self-loathing. When it came down to it, she really was a stupid moron. It was really far fetched to think he would do something like that. Bradin Westerly never needed to lower himself down to threats to get the girl. He wasn't always gentlemanly but he definitely wasn't barbaric either. She had never really seen Bradin angry before, truly angry. The coldness in his eyes, the lack of a smile on his lips… It wasn't a look that she wanted to see again. How could she have thrown away their friendship? It felt like every time things were great between them, something somewhere had to happen to break it. Jessica couldn't really blame Bradin for not accepting her apology. After the hell she made him pay before forgiving his crap, it would've shocked her if he hadn't made her work for it. But Bradin was the natural charmer, he had many ways to stop the swelling of anger and restore relationships. Jessica sucked at this type of thing. She was stubborn and just apologizing sincerely was often a feat. She had no idea how she could make things right. Why couldn't she have just believed him when he said he had done nothing wrong!
At that moment, the man of the moment Jason pranced up. "Ready for lunch?"
"You self-serving, conniving, back-stabbing, filthy bastard!" Jessica spat out. "He didn't threaten you. He didn't do any of that! You really did just make it all up! Well, I don't know if you wanted to do that in order to get me or whatever but now that you've sufficiently destroyed Bradin and my friendship, you've also ploughed through our own. I hope you're happy, weasel. You've just wrecked the one thing that I had going for me. I thought we were friends. I guess it didn't matter to you how hurt I'd be. Bastard." She turned around and headed for the exit.
"Jess-!" Jason exclaimed. "Come on-are you really going to believe Bradin's word over mine?"
Jessica let out a hollow laugh. "Even now you're denying it! Wow, you're more weasel like than I thought. Will told me everything, smart one. Now stay the hell away from me or I just might give you the beating I stopped Bradin from giving you."
"Wait!" Jason tried.
She whirled around dangerously. "I'm not kidding. Stay the fuck away from me." He didn't listen and advanced in front of her. With her eyebrow raised, Jessica punched him square in the face and kicked his ankle so he fell hard on the floor. "Don't come near me or Bradin again. Yes, that's a threat. A threat I will carry out." With that, she walked out the school doors, meeting up with a highly impressed Will on the way.
Jason lay there groaning with a look of utter surprise on his face. He hadn't seen her get so violent before… he'd always thought of her as the quiet, passive type. With a moan, he wondered how his seemingly flawless plan had spiralled so much out of control.
Things were peachy. Bradin was pissed at Jess. Jess was pissed at Jason. Will was pissed at Jason. Bradin was pissed at Jason. As he stood up, Jason darkly thought that he had better stay home for the next few weeks.
A/N: thanks for reviewing! 5 til 200! Yay! Lol, I want to end this story but I have no idea how to tie it all up... I'm thinking there's going to be at least another 2 chapters, if not more. About the sequel idea, I once got a review from 'Kimberly' about doing an R, or in case, M rated one. I've been considering it and I was wondering if you guys would be for an M rated sequel or the same T rated one.
