Hey this chapter is really long but really good...you'll probably hate me at the beginning of it, but it's totally worth it... Read and Review please!!

Chapter 14

Day five--------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday started off a lot better than Monday, except for the part where Jess still hadn't talked to Reid. Every time she had started to apologize something had come up, and Jess felt the space between them widen as Monday ended. But today she was determined to set everything right, and she was going to start as they walked to Chemistry together.

Reid had been sulky all morning, and assuming that Jess still didn't want to talk to him, he moved out of the SUV quickly and turned to leave for class.

"Hey Reid, wait up," Jess yelled after him as she raced to catch up.

"Oh so you're talking to me today," Reid said sardonically. He instantly regretted it.

Jess winced and bit her lip, unsure if he would even accept her apology. "Look Reid, I'm really sorry. I've been acting like a total bitch. I don't even know why we got into a fight in the first place."

"I do," Reid said bitterly. "You don't trust me Jess. I get it. It's fine, but I really liked you."

Liked?! Jess thought, panicking; As in past tense? Jess's heart fell, and her mouth opened, but no words came out.

"See? Even now you can't tell me what you're thinking." Reid shrugged and moved away from her to his seat.

Jess was so numb that she turned and walked out of class, not even bothering to heed the teacher's warning. Outside of her old room, Jess collapsed against the wall sobbing. She dug out her old room key, and yanked open the door, collapsing into her old bed. She didn't know how long she lay there, and she let the tears poor out of her, unconcerned with her appearance.

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"Fuck! Caleb, I really screwed this up," Reid said at lunch.

"Ya you did. What did you say to her exactly?"

"Just that she couldn't trust me and that I really like her."

"That's all?"

Reid thought for a moment, and realization hit him hard, "Shit! I didn't say like…I said likED! No wonder she looked so shocked."

"Who looked so shocked," Becca asked as she sat down.

"Reid basically told Jess that he didn't like her," Caleb said, glaring at Reid.

"YOU WHAT?! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SHE LIKES YOU?!"

Reid buried his head in his hands abashed. "I know ok? FUCK! No wonder she can't trust me. Every time I turn around I'm hurting her."

"Well what happened next," Becca asked.

"She left class."

"Has anyone seen her since?"

"I don't know, that's my only class with her today," Reid said, glancing over at Caleb who had two classes with her.

Caleb shook his head, "She wasn't in any of my classes today. I figured she just went to the nurse or something."

Becca glared at Reid, "You better make this up to her, or there will be hell to pay."

Day six-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jess hadn't even bothered to go back to Caleb's last night. She had phoned Becca and spent an hour and a half arguing with her, but Becca finally agreed to let Jess stay in her old dorm for the night. Jess actually hadn't gotten much sleep, but the sleep she did get was dreamless, and she was thankful. Wearing the uniform from the day before, Jess washed her face and pulled her hair back. She needed to talk to Reid. She couldn't make things awkward for the rest of the group just because he wasn't into her.

"Hey Jess, can we talk" Reid asked as Jess stepped out of her dorm room.

"Reid, how did you get here so fast?"

"Caleb let me take his car," Reid said impatiently. "So can we talk?"

"Uh yea look I'm sorry I ran out on you yesterday. I guess I was just surprised. I'm really sorry about how things ended…"

"Look about that, I didn't mean…"

Jess held up her hand to stop him, "it's fine. Honestly, I'm glad you told me the truth. You're probably right, we never could have worked. It was probably just the whole situation that sparked it in the first place. I just don't want this to be awkward for everyone else, so let's agree to stay friends." Misinterpreting his confused look, Jess continued, "well at least until this whole thing is over."

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The rest of the day went uphill for Jess. Every time she saw Reid, her heart ached, but she was trying to adjust the best way she knew how. At lunch she laughed with everyone, and tried to act normal, and everyone seemed to be buying it. What Jess didn't know was that Reid hadn't told everyone that he had accidentally broken up with her, and that when he tried to rectify it, she had really broke it off with him. Everyone assumed the two were still together, and Reid didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, or receive anymore lectures.

Jess tried to stay away from Reid whenever they were in a big group, always distancing herself with a couple of people in between them. It was just easier that way. Reid was at a loss, thinking that the break was what she wanted, while Jess simultaneously thought the break was what he wanted.

Day seven------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday was slow, and everyone decided they needed a break from Spencer. Tyler drove everyone to Nicky's, and Caleb warned everyone repeatedly on the way over to not be provoked. Pogue and Tyler had rolled their eyes, knowing that Reid couldn't go anywhere without getting into trouble.

Inside, the group split up. Tyler and Becca went to play pool, Pogue went to get food, and Caleb and Sarah started towards the dance floor. Jess and Kate sat at a table with a few drinks, just chatting. Reid, not wanting to Jess to feel awkward, went with Tyler and Becca. At least, that's what he told himself. Really he just didn't know how to act around her anymore. She had torn away all of his defense mechanisms, and for once he had cared about someone other than himself, but that person wanted nothing to do with him

"So I hear you and Reid broke up," a boy said as Jess was ordering food.

"Huh? Do I know you?"

"You should, I'm in a couple of your classes. My name's Jason." Jess looked at him more carefully then. He was medium build, about a head taller than her, with short light brown hair, and expressive blue eyes. She did recognize him.

"Oh sorry Jason, I guess I've been out of it lately."

"So you and Reid?..."

"Yea, I don't really want to talk about it. I actually didn't even realize it was school wide news."

"Everything about you is school wide news," Jason said, leaning towards her.

Jess laughed nervously, "I doubt it. I mean, I haven't been at Spencer long enough for that many people to notice me I hope."

"Well I noticed you. Too bad Reid got to you first" he said winking.

That's when she felt it, the air suddenly rushed out of her lungs, and she felt her entire body go cold. She backed quickly away from him, and she saw his smiling eyes cloud with confusion.

She caught Becca's eye, and noticed that all four boys had stiffened. Everyone walked over, and it was all Becca and Jess could do to keep everyone from using. It's not like Jason did anything, Jess thought. Chase is just getting closer.

"Come on, lets just go" Jess said, tugging at Caleb's sleeve. She saw Reid glaring at Jason, and felt sorry for the boy. She immediately stepped between Jason and Reid, her eyes pleading Reid to just walk away. Reid nodded, and pulled Jess in front of him as they walked out of Nicky's, glaring at Jason the whole way.

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Back at the house, Reid had hung back to make sure Jess was ok.

"Look Reid, I'm fine. I'm really sorry. I feel like you're always saving me. I can do it, really, you don't need to protect me. We both know you don't want to be here."

"Jess what are you talking about, you're all I think about," Reid said, pounding his fists against the wall.

"Wh-what are you talking about? You're the one that didn't want to be with me anymore. Is this about Jason hitting on me?"

"GOD JESS, JUST LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE. I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY LIKED, I MEANT LIKE. IT JUST CAME OUT AS PAST TENSE. YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SAID IT WOULDN'T WORK BETWEEN US."

"Only because you were clearly not into it anymore. I was just trying to make it easier on you until I left."

Reid sighed, pulling Jess into him. She fought back at first, still confused, but Reid held her fast before she could wiggle free. "God I've made such a mess of everything. First I wasn't there to protect you, and YOU felt guilty. Then I can't even get everyone to get off your back about it. Then I make you think I never even liked you. Jess, I have never felt this way about anyone. I'm sorry I keep screwing up. Please, you have to believe me that I want you in my life."

Jess started to cry then, pouring out all of the emotion bottled up since the Aaron incident. She looked up at Reid, smiling, and he caught her lips with his. Jess felt a weight lift from her shoulders that she hadn't known she was carrying.

Reid broke the kiss then remembering something, "What do you mean Jason was flirting with you?"

Jess let out a laugh, "Down boy, I wasn't interested."

Reid smiled then, ruffling her hair, and they started to walk back inside. "And what did you mean 'until I left'?"

"Well after this is done I wasn't planning on staying here."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Reid said, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her to his room, Jess laughing the whole way.

Good eh?! New character Jason should be interesting...i just hope Reid can keep Jess from him...hehe