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Jacqueline's POV
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Martha and I padded into the cafeteria, and after getting our meals we walked to two empty seats in the cafe. I took a bite out of my burger and chew on it.
"So how's it going with Nicholas?" Martha inquired.
"Great. At least we're as close as we were" I said, sucking on my straw.
"Close? How do you mean?"
"I mean we're--
"Dating?" Martha gasped after the interruption and unconsciously I spit out my drink before giving her a wide eyed look.
"What! We're not dating. How can you even say that?" I grimaced.
"What? You're sounding as if it's a bad thing to date him.. Don't you like him?"
"That's a very absurd question Martha" I frowned at her.
"Oh really? What do you expect? I very much noticed how carried away and worried you were when he wasn't talking to you, I also noticed how you guys exchanged smiles in the lab yesterday. You can't say those things mean nothing"
"It doesn't! And when you say I was worried, you were wrong, I was only being concerned about him because Jason was being an asshole. You only think I was carried away because you already have those stupid assumptions in your head about Nicholas and I being a thing" I said.
"So you're saying everything, the chemistry and every other thing I sensed were all normal.. No strings attached?"
"Yes. We're just friends and besides he's not even my type" I shrugged.
"Why?" Martha chewed on her pasta "because he's not a bad boy like Jason?" She asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Really Martha? You won't stop, Will you?"
"Not until you become honest with me. I mean if you're dating Nick why can't you just tell me?"
"I'm not dating him, and just so you know I don't like him the way you think. Can we stop this now?"
"Yes but why are you getting so uncomfortable with this conversation since you don't feel anything for him?"
"I don't know, probably because I just don't like this conversation and besides why are we even talking about him?" I asked, feeling goosebumps rising on my skin.
"Is there anything wrong with me wanting to know about my best friend's love life?"
"What? Love life? There's nothing like that. Why are you still on with this anyways?"
"From your reaction, I can tell you're not telling me the complete truth, you of all people should know that I don't stop until my curiosity gets satisfied" she said.
"And you of all people should know that it's wrong to talk with food in your mouth"
"Bu--
"Respect table manners, Martha. Your talking is bringing your soggy food out of your mouth" I said and she gestured surrender.
"Okay. But we're not done with this conversation" she said and focused on her meal.
Geez! I feel so uncomfortable. It's probably because the conversation wasn't the one I should feel comfortable with..
Me and Nick.. Dating? It's like one of the last things that can happen because we're clearly not each other's type, he said it already. And besides I'm not even interested in any love-life relationship for now.. Not after my experience with Jason and even when I am, I don't think it's happening with Nicholas.
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After lunch we head to class and I was glad Martha asked nothing else about Nick and I.. I know I wasn't totally free because Martha can be a curious freak at times. While we watched a concert video online, Martha kept telling me things about the artist, all the songs he have released.. The amount of views he gets, which is mostly on YouTube.. A little uninterested, I paid half attention to her and concentrated more on the song which was pretty interesting.
After a short time, it was time for sport. Martha tucked her phone into her pant pocket and we walked to our lockers. I grabbed my sport clothes and walked to the ladies changing room. I entered a room and stripped.
I looked at my scarred body, some fading and others still there like fresh wounds. Lately, Allan hadn't dealt with me like always, sometimes he is just too busy and other times he just didn't but mostly I've always been the one staying off his path and crossing off all the reasons he have to abuse me by doing things right. it was a relief that I haven't felt his pain for quite a long time but on a second hand, scary..
I could only think of the horrible things that will happen once he decides to pounce on me.. I pulled into my sportswear and threw my other clothes into my locker.. Martha and I walked to the field and I looked around, checking to find Nicholas but I couldn't. We were to have an over all activity today.
"I need to go somewhere, will you watch my seat so no one takes it?"
"Are you going to look for Nicholas?" She asked, ignoring my question and knowing she's right, I didn't answer because I don't want her turning the whole thing over. "I get it. Just go" she added.
I walked down the field, scanning around for Nicholas.. I was about calling him on my phone when I realized myself; why am I even looking for him? I wondered.
But then what if he isn't okay and that's why he's not out here?..
He already said his disease comes rarely and since it happened yesterday, it'll take days before it pops up again.. My subconscious destructed my reason and I sighed. There's actually no reason as to why I was searching for him. I turned to walk back to my seat when a figure blocked my path.. I looked up at the face.
"Jason?" I called dryly and took a step back "Why are y--
I didn't get to finish my sentence when he held my wrist and started pulling me.. "W-what are you doing?" I asked, trying to stop him but he was stronger than I am so I just let him be.
"We need to talk" he replied.
"About what? And where are you taking me to?"
"Somewhere where we can talk.. Alone."
"What? But I don't want to talk to you and definitely not alone. Besides what's so important that you can't say it here?"
"It's too noisy here" he said.
"Let me go, Jason. I don't want to talk to you" I said but he kept pulling me. Defenseless I didn't to drag with him.
"Stop it Jason" I rasped.
He took me to the back of the school building.
"Jason st--
He pushed me to the wall and stood in front of me. Releasing my wrist and looking at me.
"... Stop" I completed my words and breathed heavily.
"Why? Because of Nicholas?" He widened his eyes at me.
I slowly rubbed my aching wrist.
Does everything I say or do to this dude have to be because of Nicholas?
"No. It's because I'm scared you might try to rape me again" I said and he scoffed.
"That was Nicholas's fault" he said.
"It wasn't!.. You wanted to do it because you thought it'd make him angry."
"So you're taking sides with him again? Tell me, what do you see in that monster? Why are you so close to him even after knowing he's a monster"
"He's not a monster.. To me, Nick Is more human than you"
"Why?" He drew his face closer to mine.. I felt his breath on my skin and I tried to sink into the wall. "Do you love him..," he tilt his head and I felt his gaze on my lip.. "More than me?" He completed.
"W-w-what are you doing?" I asked.
"I want to kiss you," he said ordinarily and I tried to push him off but somehow he was too strong.

"Don't do it" I said.
"Why? Cos I'm not Nicholas?"
"Jason.. Don't do it--
I shifted away from him, passing his side that didn't have any barrier but he pushed me back to the wall..
"Let me go!" I yelled and he smirked.
"I don't know what you keep doing to me. I don't fucking know why I can't get you off my mind. Why are you so difficult?"
"Leave me alone Jason! Let go off me" I said.
"I don't want to"
"So what?! Are you trying to force yourself on me again?"
"What if I am?"
he said and I didn't know when my palm moved to his cheek in a slap, but I didn't regret it.
What does he take me for? Do I look that cheap and gullible to him. He tend to his cheek.
"I'm not as cheap as you think and just so you know, I'll never let you trample on me again!" I said and tried to walk away but he pulled me back in a greater force..
"You bitch--
"Let her go, Jason" a voice said and I tilted my head to see Nicholas, staring at us with his palm tuck in his pant pocket..
"And who would make me?" Jason asked.. My gaze stayed on Nicholas.
"I can't believe you pick on ladies now" he said. "come on, I thought you're more than this."
"And who are you to believe or not believe anything I do?"
"I'm your worst nightmare" Nicholas said and Jason eyelids darken with anger, his palm curled to a fist. He gave Nick a smirk and moved away from me.
"Want a duel?"
"We're too old for this man, just let her go" Nick said.
"What if I don't?" Jason pulled my wrist while Nick held the other to pull me to himself..
"Stop this Jason" Nick said and pulled me to his side.
"I won't" Jason pulled me to his.
I was dumbstruck..
"Just admit it Jason, I'm better than you in everything"
I could sense Nicholas was trying to get Jason angry and it worked because like a bolt, Jason moved to him and sent a punch to his gut.. I small cut appeared on Nick's skin and I gasped, running to Nicholas..
"Nick, are you okay!?" I asked in alarm and Jason drew me back to him, holding my wrist tight and preventing me from running to Nick.
"Nicholas!" I called and immediately a punch went to Jason's stomach..
My eyes widen.. This isn't happening. Jason left me to tend to himself. "Jason?! Oh my--
I didn't complete my sentence when Nick pulled me to himself and held my wrist too tightly that I felt it hurting..
I looked at his face, A small part of his lips was bleeding.. He looked at me and our gaze met, he pulled his gaze away and clinged tighter to my wrist, protectively.
..
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