Thank you to Jazz248 and minx for reviewing. I managed to get this chapter up quickly so please review and I will try get the next chapter up quickly too.

Chapter 36

After another awkward meal where Kate and Tom forced Sarah, Jessica and Kim to all sit at the table and have a family meal, Jake and Mike sat speaking in Jake's room.

"This is real bad Jake," Mike said worryingly.

"I know Mike, but what can we do. It's up to them to sort it out," Jake agreed. Even though Sarah was Jake's closest sibling he still couldn't help but feel that she had made things a lot worse by agreeing to speak to Elliot but yet not evening hearing Jessica out and then getting into a physical fight with her.

"I am on Sarah's side because I know that Jessica is in the wrong but you should have seen her when Mark and I took her back to her room after her and Sarah's fight. She just collapsed onto the floor and cried her eyes out. She was genially really upset and she kept apologising to us. I am worried about her because she has no one," Mike said concerned. Mike had never seen Jessica like that before and even though he knew she was in the wrong he still felt a bit sorry for her.

"We will just have to keep an eye on her Mike. I had lunch with her today at school because she was by herself and everyone was throwing things off her. She is going through a really tough time just now," Jake added.

"Have you spoken to Elliot?" Mike asked Jake.

"A Little," Jake hadn't spoke to Elliot much but he could still tell that Elliot was upset about everything that had happened. Jake still felt awkward because he didn't want to lose his best friend and that was the reason why he choose not to tell Sarah about Elliot and Jessica even though he knew Jessica liked him.

"Mike we just have to work on keeping this family together and not letting it all fall apart," Jake said but even he knew himself that that was a difficult task when it seemed that the whole family was falling to pieces right around them and there was nothing that they could do.

"Kim has been really quiet today. How do you think she is dealing with it all?" Mike asked.

"I actually think that she is ok because all of her friends are there for her and taking her side over Jessica's. To be fair Kim never even spoke to Ryan, so she can't be that upset by it. She's more upset because Jessica knew that Ryan was her crush yet Jessica still got with him. Kim will just feel that Jessica did something to her that sisters should never do," Jake replied. Jake knew that Kim was not nearly as upset as Jessica and Sarah were and she was more just annoyed and angry at the moment but he knew she would get over it soon.

The two of them sat in silences for a few minutes as they thought about things and hoped that everything would sort it's self out.

"Mike I know you find it tough to deal with conflict and arguing and that it was that that lead to you running away at the lake. But please if you ever feel that way again come speak to me, I don't want to have to go through that again with you because I was so scared that I was never going to see you again," Jake said as he was concerned that all of this going on would affect the other family members especially Mike.

"I hope I don't ever feel that way again. I just have to be stronger and deal with this sort of things but I don't think I could put you'll through that again anyway and I am still really sorry for putting you through it all," Mike replied.

Kate and Tom were sitting in the kitchen by themselves and were worried as well.

"Kate I have so much going on right now with this family and I'm so stressed out at work as well," Tom expressed his concerns to Kate.

"Tom promise me you won't over do it?" Kate asked her husband.

"I'll try not to," Tom replied, "It is really hard to watch three of your daughters arguing".

"I know because whenever I speak to Jessica, Sarah accuses me of taking Jessica's side. I heard Jessica crying today, Mike and Mark were speaking to her so I left them to it but I am really worried about all three of them," Kate replied.

"I thought Jessica would have had more sense them too have got with two boys at once. One who went out with Sarah before and the other who Kim fancied," Tom said as he knew that Jessica was a bright kid and he couldn't understand how she would have got herself in a situation like this.

"We have tired sitting down with all three of them and that didn't work. Sarah won't even look at Jessica, yet again speak to her. We have tried to leave it and let it solve its self but that hasn't worked either. Today all of us sitting round that table and eating was really awkward because barley anyone spoke because you can really see that the argument between the girls is having a big impact on the rest of the family," Kate said as she reflected on this evenings meal.

"Kate I am going to call Nora and Lorraine and see if they can both come here and speak to the girls because after all they had their fair share of fights but look at them now they get along great," Tom said as he picked up the phone and began to call them.

Tom hung up the phone and had a smile on his face, "They both agreed to come and Lorraine said she could be here by tomorrow afternoon".

"How did she mange to get time of her work that quickly?" Kate asked.

"Turns out she is off work tomorrow and Saturday so she said she will stay until Sunday and then she'll get a plane back to New York for Work on Monday," Tom replied.

"Well let's just hope that Sarah, Kim and Jessica actually listen to what Lorraine and Nora say and hopefully we can sort all of this out," Kate replied.

Not sure about this bit

The next day came and Jessica was dreading having to go to school again when she didn't even have anyone to speak to. Today she had to do her project with Ryan and she knew that it was going to be awkward because the whole would be watching and talking about them.

When Jessica got to school one of her and Kim's friends, Emily came over to speak to her, "Hey Jessica, I know you probably think that I don't like you because of everything that has happened well that's not the case. I don't agree with what you did but I feel bad for you because no one is talking to you," Emily said as she stood awkwardly.

"Thanks it's good to know someone is this school will actually still talk to me," Jessica was really surprised that Emily was speaking to her.

"I obviously understand why Kim is upset with you but I don't want to leave you out or watch you sit by yourself and get abuse shouted at you from everyone else and I know that it must be horrible for you so I'll be there with you today so that you don't feel alone," Emily smiled.

Jessica was really shocked that Emily would do that for her," But why?" .

"Well remember last year when my parents split up well you were really there for me when no one else was and I am really grateful for that. You were there for me when I had no one so I'll be there for you if you need me," Emily replied.

Jessica never knew how grateful Emily had been for when she helped her through that tough time a year ago but she was really happy that she didn't have to go through today by herself.

When Jessica and Emily walked into class Kim was already there, "Eh Emily what are you doing speaking to her?" Kim asked.

Emily startled to reply, "I'm just speaking to her," Emily was surprised by Kim's reaction.

"I thought we were friends though?" Kim questioned.

"We are but I am just as much friends with Jessica as I am with you. I am not taking sides in all of this," Emily replied.

"Well you obviously are," Kim replied. Kim was still really angry at Jessica and couldn't understand how Emily could speak to Jessica if her and Emily were really friends, "If you were my real friend then you would realise how much in the wrong she is and how she doesn't deserve anyone. If you want to speak to her then you are just as bad as her!"

Ryan had just walked into the class and heard what Kim had said, "You know something Kim, me and you have never even spoken before so I think it's really childish that you are not speaking to Jessica just because me and her had something and you're jealous of that. You know nothing about me so how could you like me when you don't even like the real me?" Ryan asked Kim as he stood up for Jessica.

Kim looked really embarrassed as even she knew herself that her crush on Ryan was childish, "What I don't understand is how can you come in here and stick up for Jessica after what she did to you?" Kim asked.

"Yeah she hurt me but the question is she didn't really do anything wrong to you. If you really liked me then why did you not speak to me and try to know me. Jessica hasn't done anything to hurt you, you're just jealous of her," Ryan replied.

Jessica was really surprised that Ryan was standing up for her after everything that she had done to him.

"Who do you think you are to tell me that that Jessica didn't hurt me?" Kim replied in anger.

"Guys stop it please!" Jessica shouted, "I know I caused all of this but you two have never even spoken to each other before and here you two are arguing with each other, please just stop," Jessica couldn't watch on any longer. She hated watching knowing that this was all happening because of her.

Mrs Brown walked into to class and started speaking about the projects that she had seen yesterday. Before she told Jessica and Ryan that they would have to do their at the end of the lesson.

After Mrs Brown has set the work Ryan went over to Jessica, "Are you ready to present this project then?" he asked her.

"Yeah are you?" Jessica replied.

"Yeah. I know everyone will probably be talking about us the whole time but just ignore them and try and get on with the presentation," Ryan advised Jessica because he knew that everyone would be gossiping.

The end of the lesson came and Jessica and Ryan got up to present their project to the class. Jessica was really nervous in case anyone shouted anything out at her while she presented her project but she knew she has to take Ryan's advice and ignore them.

Jessica and Ryan had managed to get through their presentation without any problems form anyone else in the class and Mrs Brown gave them a smile which suggested that they had done well.

At the end of the lesson Mrs Brown called on Ryan and Jessica to stay back and speak to her, "You guys did a really good job and I can really see that you benefited from working with Jessica Ryan," Mrs Brown commented, "In fact this was the best out of the whole class and I'm going to give you an A!"

"An A!" Ryan looked shocked he hugged Jessica as they celebrated getting an A.

"Jess I could never have done this without you. This is the best grade I've got in ages," Ryan thanked Jessica. For a second Jessica and Ryan forgot about everything that had happened between them as they celebrated getting an A.

Ryan looked awkward as he pulled away from hugging Jessica as he remembered that things were still weird between them.

"It's ok you don't have to thank me you put in all of work yourself and you deserved that A" Jessica replied.

"I feel quite responsible for the fact that Kim is not speaking to you and basically making a hate campaign against you," Ryan said as he thought about the argument that he had with Kim earlier.

"Ryan you have nothing to feel bad about it's all down to me. I didn't just hurt Kim and Sarah I really hurt you and Elliot. And you don't have to speak to me just because you feel bad about me and Kim it's not your fault," Jessica replied.

"I know all of this is really messed up and going to take a while to sort out but we have a really bug basketball game after school so you can come watch if you want because I know that thing at home aren't good with you just now," Ryan smiled as he invited Jessica to the game. Ryan hadn't forgiven Jessica yet but he was slowly working on building up their friendship again.

Jessica smiled as she walked away. She has really pleased that Ryan was speaking her because she knew that Kim, Sarah and Elliot all wanted nothing to do with her right now.

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