All You Wanted

A Jessie and Woody story

Chapter 3/6

For the first time, Mrs. Barlow saw Woody smile when the bell rang to start break. It lifted her spirits further when Bo took his arm to follow him around. It was a bit amusing seeing Woody so nervous but she believed it was the first time he's exchanged pleasantries positively. She knew meeting her daughter would work and at the same time she knew Bo would get a better taste of the real world here. Understanding the safety of inside the home needs to be balanced by the understanding of how wild the outside is too. Her husband tried to advise against it when she first brought up the idea last night but after Mrs. Barlow insisted and since Bo liked the idea, he eventually gave in. Mrs. Barlow knew that even a delicate rose needs to have a thorn. It's the only way a young person can learn to defend themselves when the time comes. She went to stand by the door since it was another beautiful day but decided to leave Woody and Bo alone, let them embrace the sunlight.

As she inhaled the warm summer breeze, Jessie walked to the side of her slowly with anxious eyes. Mrs. Barlow concluded that she wasn't paying attention to her because there was no acknowledgement of her presence. Jessie looked like she had one thing on her mind because that face said she was concentrating contently but intensely. Mrs. Barlow smiled at her and leaned against the doorframe as she watched the redhead observe.

"What are you up to Miss. Jane?" she asked kindly. Jessie looked at her with a blank but innocent look. Mrs. Barlow caught onto something else in her eyes. Jessie was worried about something and she wasn't even aware of how much this change has affected her. She looked like she was genuinely scared of losing something so special in life. "Are you feeling okay, dear?"

Jessie didn't respond. She almost hated Mrs. Barlow for introducing Bo to the class. But Jessie did love her like Woody did. She's the only other adult she talks to, apart from her alcoholic father, and the nicest too. Jessie tried to never get on her bad side or upset her in anyway. Instead of speaking back, she just turned away and walked off to look for her target. Mrs. Barlow watched her go, not too sure of what to make with Jessie's behaviour.

...

Woody led Bo into a small section of the woods. He didn't really say much but Bo encouraged him to speak. He ended up explaining how he likes to take his colt here sometimes. He showed her all of the different fallen logs and mounds Bullseye favours in his jumping. Bo noticed that as he carried on talking the confidence and pleasure he was getting from telling someone this increased with each sentence. It made her smile again. That bright expression he had was cute she thought, making her conclude that she really enjoyed his company. Looks like he did too.

Bo remembered when her mother first told her about Woody. How he was the nicest boy you could possibly meet, but also how he was so lonely. Bo didn't understand why, especially when she would leap on the opportunity to be friends with someone like him.

"I would love to meet this young horse of yours, Woody," Bo mentioned. "He sounds very exciting."

When he heard her speak again he remembered how fragile her appearance was, but when she spoke the confidence made itself known. It was something very admirable and he wished he were more like that.

"I should introduce him to you someday Bo," he said gently. He clasped his hands together behind his back and kicked a stone away with his eyes to the ground. Woody has never felt this way. Actually feeling joy with someone his age was indescribable. He didn't want it to end. It confused him slightly though. Is this what friendship was?

"Bo?" he asked.

She raised her entrancing sapphire eyes to him, "Yes?"

"Are we friends?" Woody felt silly asking a question like that, but after feeling the cold loneliness for so long he didn't want to let that warming feeling go. He had to find out for sure.

Bo giggled, "Silly. Of course we're friends."

"Really?" Woody asked hopeful.

Bo walked up to him and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Yes." Woody was dumbfounded and blushed bright red. This was a moment when his mind went blank and he truly didn't know to think.

Instead he said once more, "Wow."

A large rustle was then heard in the bushes. Snapping of twigs and harsh disturbances to the leaves broke the calmness of the air. Woody looked to the bushes and his heart froze in its tracks when Jessie, Maggie and Katherine charged out of it. Woody gasped and jumped back to Bo beside him. Bo herself looked at them oddly trying to remember who they were from the class. She only recognised Jessie since her flaming sun stroked hair was unique amongst the class.

"Hello Woodrow, we've been lookin' for ya," she sneered with crossed arms.

Her tone sent Woody shivering all over his body. His eyes were as wide as they could go, calamitous and frightful. Bo noticed how Jessie's appearance affected Woody's posture. He was very scared having completely forgotten Jessie always looked for him during breaks. Now her look said she was extra furious about something or another. He guessed its because he was talking to another classmate. Woody knew Jessie liked it when he was submissive to the way things work between them. He always wondered if that was why no one wanted to befriend him. They didn't want to get involved in his torments from her. That tone she used was something alien to him though. It sounded worse than before, and now he got Bo involved. Realisation struck him and his gut turned.

"Bo, you'd better go," he told her quietly, not even making eye contact.

Bo snapped her attention to him in surprise, completely shocked by what was happening here. Bo figured out that Jessie was no friend to Woody. She could sense the tension, especially when their eyes met. For some strange reason, and Woody found this particularly strange, Jessie immediately struck her focus on Bo giving her the deadliest look. Something was wrong. However, Bo stood still and looked at Jessie questioningly.

"Who are you?" she asked.

Jessie ignored her. "You'll be surprised to know Wood that we don't actually want to see you. Better get outta here while you still can."

Woody definitely knew this was abnormal, but when he found out that Jessie was eyeing Bo like a dangerous coyote his panicking doubled.

"Jessica, please leave Bo alone," he pleaded.

"Aww, you're not going to drown me in your tears like you did yesterday are you?" she replied.

Woody felt angry inside him then. If anyone was in danger of drowning yesterday, it was him. Bo gasped to what she said. Her mother told her that about him as well last night. So it was Jessie who did it.

Bo placed a caring hand on his shoulder and asked, "Woody what did they do to you?" Her only response was a tremble from him before he tensed because he was too scared to say anything else. Woody knew if he said anything Jessie would come after him again, not necessarily during school time but before and probably after it. Bo was now extremely worried.

However their contact didn't last long when Maggie and Katherine tackled Woody to the ground and held his arms down. He gasped in shock and struggled to get up again, but even he understood by now that it was pointless. Bo was left feeling stunned, not believing that they could do something like that to someone so nice.

"Woody!" she cried out. She was about to run to help him but Jessie stood between them. Bo froze after being taken aback by how fast Jessie was.

"Listen carefully," she hissed in Bo's face. She spoke in a voice loud enough for only Bo to hear. She was petrified herself by how personal this suddenly seemed. "Woody is mine. You are not to speak to him, look at him and especially not to touch him. If I see you do anything like that I'll come after you myself."

All she wanted was to keep things the way they are. Jessie always knew this was the best way to handle things. Take matters into her own hands to defend what she… adulates…

Bo was terrified, that much was true and Jessie's words sunk in perfectly to make her want to run away. But when she heard Woody struggling to get up again and caught sight of him being held down, Bo felt like she needed to do something to stop this. Her eyes narrowed. She didn't even think about how this possessive-like behaviour was strange.

"You can't stop me or Woody from doing what we want," she started nervously. Her words sounded more cross as she spoke.

Jessie chuckled, "Oh yeah? And you're going to stop me, are you?"

"If I have to then yes."

"What are you going to do? Run to the teacher like the little fairy princess that you are?"

Bo was feeling weaker by her tone, confidence slightly leaving her. "That's horrible! Why are you doing that to Woody?"

"It's what he gets for being a little twerp."

"You're so mean to him it's no wonder he doesn't like you!"

A wave of reality took Jessie over and she froze. Her mind went blank, her voice silenced and her body shook. The words. The strongest but faintest words that rung through Jessie's head had finally made itself known through someone's voice. Somehow what was worse is that the words attacked Jessie like a weapon, striking her softest nerve like a bullet. She felt like if she had concluded that fact to herself out loud a long time ago this pain she felt might not exist anymore.

"Inner peace is not about being right all the time. It's about knowing when to accept it when you're wrong."

The words trailed Jessie's eyes down to the ground. Woody could see her in front of him and he was mesmerised by what the words did. He heard them too and Jessie was suffering an emotion so hurtful. Woody didn't question how or why; he could just sense it. It was like how Jessie acted this morning but more. His own heart was burning because it was true. All he wanted to do now was run away and hide in a dark hole. But what he truly wanted was to not want that. He wanted them all to get along. No bullying. No fear. Dillin would say they're too young to want conflict between them, why would they want to grow up so fast and throw away the best years of their life. That was truly why he was so unhappy. Not because of the bullying, but why the bullying even existed.

Maggie and Katherine turned to Jessie to find out what was happening. Bo made the point and had no sympathy towards her, as her glare was now more confident than before. The two girls, without any other orders from the redhead, got off of Woody and went away. Woody kept his gaze on Jessie. His senses were strong then and he couldn't ignore them even if he wanted to. Bo immediately went to Woody after the girls got off him and helped him up. Jessie was frozen stiff on the spot, still feeling the aftermath of the words.

"Come on Woody," said Bo who tugged his arm away. Woody let himself be dragged by Bo for a couple of steps before he stopped them.

"Wait," he said. He never took his eyes away from the taller girl. The changes to Jessie's behaviour recently, even if they were only a few times, were too noticeable to ignore.

"Woody, let's go," Bo said again pulling at his sleeve.

"You go, I'll catch up," Woody said gently.

"But-"

"It's okay, Bo," he assured. "I'll be okay."

Bo hesitated for a couple of seconds before she walked back towards the school, turning to see him a few times before vanishing through the plants. Woody turned his head back to Jessie. He thought it was his imagination playing tricks on him but he could have sworn that he heard a small whimper. Woody cautiously took a step forward towards her. Then he saw it. Her back was turned but he saw a tear fall. The sparkly surface hit the soil gracefully and soundlessly. He was still and wondered if this was actually possible. Never in all of his few but dragging years did he ever see her cry. It placed the cards on the table and his fear of her was then questioned. Instead it acted like the wildest nature of nature; it changed – to worry.

The trance was broke when the school bell rung to end the moment. Woody and Jessie were surprised by the familiar noise and looked behind them. They saw the small bell tower between the far trees indicating the school's location. Woody looked to the soil below them and sighed. Jessie wasn't aware that he was still there; she thought he'd left with Bo, to get as far away from her as possible. It was truth to say that she was glad he was still there and only him. Jessie never thought about how it was better when it was just the two of them. But she didn't dare to meet his gaze. Woody managed to catch a glimpse of her bloodshot eyes before she turned her head away. It turns out she was crying more than he thought and Woody thought whether he should ask if she was feeling okay.

But when the chanting of the school bell ended, Woody knew he should leave. He didn't want to though, he wanted to know more. Jessie was acting differently from before and Woody's heart burned in guilt and concern towards her. But he wasn't her friend, why should he stay here? Since she kept her back to him, he decided it would be best for him to turn and walk away. Which he did. Jessie waited for him to go. Taking a few glances before accidentally catching his eye whenever he looked back. Confusing vibes occurred when their eyes met, even if it was for less than a second.

Jessie felt cold and alone when Woody was gone from sight. She knew going back to the school wasn't going to make her feel better, so she just found a log to sit on and stayed there. The perfect companionship between the trees' bark and the soft luscious leaves were more comforting for her than anything else now.

...

Class started as normal. Mrs. Barlow wondered about where Jessie was but thought it was typically another child playing hooky. It wasn't the first time it's happened either. Many other children liked to do just that. This time the only one absent was Jessie but class went as normal. Everyone had a book and listening to the chosen child as he read, most dreading on it being their turn next.

Woody sat at the front desk once again with Bo beside him. The threat said to her before seemed to have little effect after the result. In fact, Bo felt better with herself after that and was sitting closer to Woody. He was trying to concentrate with his reading but nothing was distracting him from what happened from his mind. He knew Jessie was still there and he was sure he shouldn't feel bad for leaving her there, but he did. In his mind he was painting the picture of the verdant forest. Leaves falling gently to the ground, moss gifting another life to the dead wood below and the sun illuminating the land with a glorious glow. Then there was Jessie, and all he could see was her emerald eyes and the tears that gingerly fell. Woody named the artwork in his mind "sensitivity"; a side he has never seen. One he thought could never exist in her.

He looked up from the book and breathed deeply. Thinking about Jessie awakened the memory of when she first came to the school. A few years ago when the town was much smaller with a population the same as the cupboard of a famished farmer, it was only Woody who went to school. Dillin was always busy in his duties as Sheriff to home tutor him and accordingly was old friends with Mrs. Barlow. The young teacher immediately took a liking to the sienna-eyed boy, impressively astonished by his smarts. A few more weeks passed until Jessie arrived at the door. Woody remembered strongly sensing someone there while he was working. He turned around and saw her silhouetted by the bright sun behind her. Jessica Jane, a tall but silent girl taking one small step after the other when Mrs. Barlow welcomed her inside. Jessie then let her eyes meet his. Something was there, it left him feeling more than enlightened and he'll never forget that moment no matter how old he gets.

Jessie sat against a tree in the forest. Her scarlet hair tickled her face gently and she happily let the warm air comfort her. Her gaze was locked on the tree bark opposite her and her hands were caressing the dry soil she sat comfortably on. She was thinking about what Bo said, about Woody not liking her. Of course he didn't like her, he's probably having a good time with Bo now and forgotten that she's here. He's finally found that friend he's always wanted. But there was something that Bo, and Woody, didn't know; she wanted him to like her. Oh how desperate she was for him to like her. Every night when Jessie follows him home, it tugged at her heartstrings like a lassoed critter. She thought back to when she first laid eyes on him on her first day at school. Of course Jessie was too young to know what that feeling's deeper meaning meant. Unaware that it was this feeling that craved for his company, attention and friendship. She never knew how to get that. Jessie did not know, never learned, how to befriend someone. It wasn't fair, because like Woody she felt lonely herself, and probably more so.

When their break happened and they met outside the lesson, Jessie wasn't as shy as Woody was but quite playful, which encouraged him to like her more. Her adventurous personality was something he loved most on that day. Woody remembered how the following day went slightly different however. Jessie was then a lot more closed-off and aggressive, and her happiness appeared to have vanished. Even now Woody had no idea why. Jessie learned that night of the first day that even a loved one can surprise you, namely her father, for that was the night her mother passed away. To one as sensitive as Woody was, Jessie knew she could easily get what she wanted but without showing him that she would submit to anything or anyone. She never meant for her actions to turn into bullying qualities but it just ended up that way. Jessie was afraid of Woody turning out to be the same as her father, unknowingly it happened to her instead. As she grew up without someone to show her the straight and narrow, her only learned reactions came from the wrong role model. It broke her heart and made her sick because she didn't know this. Instead she was left with the confusion. She lost any chance of having Woody as a friend. Jessie brought her legs to her chest and hugged them tight, wishing dreadfully for the clock to turn back to the moment when Woody looked at her like he did with Bo. Maybe it was further wishful thinking, unaware that Woody had thought the same thing, but she could have sworn that he looked at her much more affectionately than Bo. Jessie further tortured herself when she thought of what could have happened instead of this now. She didn't care who knew or what they would make of it; she was holding that memory close to her heart forever and always.