+chapter.seven+

“Oh boy, now we’re turning into a crybaby?”

“I’m not a crybaby! Take a look at what you’re doing to me before you start with the name calling!” Jennifer yelled.

“Please. I’m just sticking with the rules…you know, the ones Mom and Dad set for us?”

“I’m happy for you. Maybe you should go follow them and keep it to yourself. This section of my social life is none of your business.”

Jessica shrugged. “That doesn’t stop me.”

Jenn sighed; harshly pushing away tears with the back of her hand. “Stop you from what?”

“From telling Mom and Dad of course,” Jess spoke.

“You can’t…”

“Oh, but I can.”

“I hate you so much!”

“Feeling’s mutual!”

The two were screaming now, waking up the rest of the teens while they were at it.

Taylor, Sean, and Amy all walked down the hall. Sean and Amy had obviously been up for quite awhile, but Taylor was rubbing his eyes sleepily, still half-asleep.

“What’s going on?” Taylor yawned.

“Jess and Jenn are fightin’,” Zac replied, standing close enough to the door to hear what was going on.

“Gawd, they’re loud!” Sean exclaimed quietly.

The others nodded in agreement.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Just shut up! Gawd, don’t talk to me anymore!” Jennifer yelled. She was getting sick of it already and just wanted to be with Isaac. This was neither the time nor the place for their confrontation.

“Why don’t you?” Jessica yelled back.

“You always have to get the last word, don’t you?”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Oh my god!” Jennifer exclaimed in frustration.

Jessica began muttering things under her breath, and Jennifer knew they were about her or her and Ike.

“Ugh,” Jennifer sighed and began to walk out of the room, hot tears creeping down her cheeks.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Away from you!” Jennifer cried and flung the door open, coming face to face with the other six teenagers. She glanced at each of them, her eyes hurt. She pushed through them, ran down the stairs, and out the door, leaving her things behind. The six looked at each other, not knowing what to do or say. Suddenly, Isaac turned and ran down the steps and out the door after Jenn.

Zachary began to walk in the room and over to Jessica on the bed. He sat down next to her, not sure of what to say. He just sat with her, hoping she would acknowledge his presence and talk if she needed to.

Jess sighed and laid back on the bed. “I’m so stupid.”

Zac laid back next to her. “Why’d you start with her?”

“I dunno…” Jess trailed.

“Yes you do,” Zac replied knowingly.

Jess sighed. “Cause I’m jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what?”

“Her. I want to have someone like that too. It’s not fair that everyone always likes Jennifer. It’s always Jennifer this and Jennifer that.”

Zachary looked at her. “So…you pick a fight with her?”

Jess shrugged. “I dunno…It ticked me off to see her and Ike holding hands and being all couple-like.”

“Jess…You and Jenn…you two didn’t have to get into a fight…”

“I know,” Jess sighed.

“No, I mean, you seriously didn’t…I planned on asking you out today.”

Jessica looked at Zac. “Ohmigod…are you serious? Ugh…I have to find Jenn.” She stood up and grabbed her sneakers.

Zac shook his head. “I wouldn’t. It’s to soon…and Ike already went after her.”

Jess nodded slightly. She gave a soft sigh, dropped her sneakers, and laid back down on the bed.

“You okay?” Zac asked softly.

“I’ll live…Just guilty I guess...”

“Don’t be…I’m sure she’ll understand.”

“I hope…otherwise I just lost the most bestest friend in the world,” Jess said, her voice quivering slightly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Show’s over people! Let Zac and Jess talk!” Brooke exclaimed quietly, shooing everyone away.

“You know Brooke,” Tay began. “You’re like Folgers… except for the part that I don’t like coffee, but I do like you!”

“Do you like chocolate?” Brooke asked. Taylor nodded vigorously. “Then I’m your Sweet Escape!”

Taylor obviously liked that name considering he was naming what different kinds of Sweet Escape candy she was. They walked off, Tay still rattling off the different flavors.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Isaac finally caught up to Jennifer when she was about halfway up the street to God knows where. “Ike, please, don’t,” Jennifer pleaded, tears sliding down her cheeks.

Isaac looked at her confused. “Don’t what?” he asked.

Jennifer looked up at him, a pained expression on her face. The more she looked at him, the more she was with him, the more it hurt. She felt her knees beginning to give way. She was feeling so much. “Can we sit down? Please?”

Ike nodded slowly and walked her over to a bench on the side of the road. She sat down and Isaac sat down next to her. “Jenn, what’s going on?”

Jennifer sniffed and looked at him, wiping her eyes. “I…I can’t be your girlfriend.”

Isaac looked at her, feeling confused, hurt, and used. “What?”

“I can’t be your girlfriend…Ike, you have no idea how hard this is…I’m so sorry…”

“Wait…Wha? Why?”

Jenn gave a soft sigh. “I’m not allowed to date yet…and even if I were to go out with you, if I were to sneak around…” Jennifer’s voice broke slightly, tears clouding her vision. She took in a deep breath and continued. “If I were to sneak around, Jess is threatening to rat me out. She would too. I know she would. She can be cool and all, but then she can be so…I dunno. Stubborn. And if they find out…I most likely would get this huge speech and I wouldn’t be able to see you again. I know before it even happens. It’s gonna be hard enough just convincing them to let me hang with you. Convincing them to let me go out with you…that would be a no-go.”

Isaac looked at Jennifer, pain and concern showing in his eyes. “Baby…I…I’m sorry.”

Jennifer shook her head, tears creeping down her cheeks again. “It’s not your fault,” she spoke just above a whisper.

“But it is. God, I’m sorry. The last thing I want is to hurt you in anyway. I love you too much to do that to you. And if I have to wait for you, I will. I swear I’ll wait forever for you. You’re worth it. You really are,” he spoke in the same soft tone. He opened his arms welcoming her to a hopefully comforting hug.

She leaned into his arms; his warm body making her feel so good. About everything. Herself, her future, what they had. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Ike kissed her soft hair. “Baby, you don’t have to thank me. Anyone in their right mind would do the same.” Jenn looked up at Isaac, her face a deep crimson from her tears. “Really,” he whispered gently, nodding slightly.

Jennifer just sat there with him, protected from the outside world by his arms, his strong, comforting arms. She could spend forever in those arms…just maybe she would…