**Jacqueline's POV cont'
~
"So? Is it Nick?" Martha asked.
"Yes. I have to go return this, he's probably with mine" I said and Martha nodded. I stood up, with the phone in my hand and walked to Nick's class. I got there and stood by the door, a teacher was in and Nick was on seat.. Jotting stuffs down. I stared at him for a moment from the window, I'm glad he's paying attention even though today's event was enough to keep him distracted for a long time.
He's stronger than I had imagine. My gaze went down to the cell phone resting on my palm, if he sees this message from Jason i'm pretty sure it'll break him and with the way it looks, Jason must be planning something bad. I peered back into the class and my gaze scanned for Jason but he wasn't in class. For them to be here means they're having a general class but Jason isn't here with them. He's probably putting his threat in action.
I looked solemnly at Nick again. I just can't pick out Jason's issue with him. Nick can actually be sweet atimes, okay scratch that.. Nick has never been sweet or probably not to me but he's not a bad guy either. How can a human derive fun in another human's pain?
I walked away from Nick's class and walked down the hallway.. I needed to talk to Jason about this, he might not listen to me but there's no harm in trying still. I took Nick's phone and called the number that sent the text as I kept walking down, it started ringing.
I got to the door leading to principal Howard's office.. I stopped as an idea struck me. I took the phone which had stopped ringing and pocketed it, I needed to distract Mrs Howard out before I can do what I have in mind.
I knocked on the door and walked in without waiting for a response.. I looked over at the swivel chair Mrs Howard always sat on but she wasn't on it.
"Principal Howard?" I called, scanning around the office space. There was no response.
I'm sure she isn't in.
I needed to be fast!.
I exhaled deeply; this can be very risky for me if I get caught.
That's why you have to be quick! You can do this Jacqueline! Not just for Nick but for peace of mind. My subconscious cheered me on.
It'd definitely hold on my conscience knowing that I had a chance to help but I didn't.. I mean Nick is passing through so much already.
At once, I set to work.
In a swift move, I pulled it open the drawer fixed to the desk. carefully yet in a hurry, I took out the first file and started going through it but it wasn't what I wanted. I moved on to the next and checked it out too but it still wasn't there.. My heart was thumping loudly against my chest out of fear. I searched the third, fourth and fifth file but it wasn't there..
I stood and sighed, it's not here.
My gaze moved around and I sighted a cabinet, hung just at the end of the wall. I hurried to it and opened it, I shut my eyes and grabbed the file that my hand touched.. I quickly start flipping through it..
First.. Second.. Third.. Fourth.. That's it!.. I saw the test result and script and I brought it out gently, and scanned through the list of names.
Jason Gonzalez.... F9.
Seeing what I wanted, I quickly arranged the files back and neatly hid the paper under my blouse.. I walked out of her office and sighed in relief when the hallway was still as empty as I left it. I ran down the stairs and as I walked down the hallway with a thumping heart, I searched for Jason. I prayed silently in my heart that I find him before anyone notice what I had done. I got the second floor and was using the stairs to the last floor when a guy in hoodie walked past me.. I caught a glimpse of his face side and I quickly ran back before he'd reach the other staircase.
"Jason?" I called and he stopped. I moved to his side and after giving me a long stare, he took the cap down and I saw the visible cuts on some side of his face. I saw the look of impatience on his face.
"When do you plan on stopping all this Jason?" I asked.
"Stopping what?"
"This drama with Nick.. He's already going through so much and you doing all this is just adding up to his problems--
"You saw text, didn't you? Really are you guys that close.. And you beg for him now too?" He asked again, scoffing "What exactly is he doing to you that you don't see the monster in him?" He asked then continued in a low voice "And what are you doing to me too that I can't stop reacting this way towards you?"
"Just stop all this Jason!" I took a step back from him.
"Why? I think it's fun and just like my message says, I won't stop until I get Nick where he belongs and I have a good feeling that he's going there today" he said.. "But you can change that and be my fling since you care about him so much" he said.
I took out the result and shoved it at his face.
"What's this?" He frowned.
"Your test result, the one that has your name pointing to an F9" I said and his eyes sparked up as he tried to take the script from me but I put it away.
"How did you get this?" He asked, his eyes filled with so much horror.
"I already made so many photocopies of this, I'm not so stupid to have just one and guess what? I plan on pinning this on every bulletin board in school.. It'd get lots of attention there and--
"No one will believe it" he said.
"Oh.. Should I go on and do it then--
"What do you want?!" He cut me off gruffly and I smiled.

"Stop troubling Nicholas, I want you to stop crossing his path and threatening him.. And I want you to stop this drama of yours about him being a monster" I said.
"So all this is because of him?!"
"Will you do it or not?"
"Do you really like him that much?"
"Jason--
"Fine! I'll do it!" He said, panting.
"Good and just so you know, news like this never gets outdated, looking at your position in this school.. If you stick to your promise then I'll stick to mine. Don't try to play smart on me cos you can't imagine just how many copies I have of this" I said.
I heard his breathe coming out in grunts.
"Deal!" He said and I gave him a lopsided smile, nodded and walked the other side to the stairs..
I needed to return this script then Nick's phone and get mine.
I got to the upper floor and literally ran towards Mrs Howard office.
"Hey," Nick suddenly stopped me. I gave him an impatient look, my gaze on Mrs Howard's office door.
"I think we must've switched phones while we were on the roof" he said.
"What's up with you? Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?" He added, noticing my hurried state.
"Yes.. I need to return this to the principal's office before she finds out it's missing" I rushed my words.
"Why and what's that?"
"It's--
He took the script from me and looked at it. "The test result?" His gaze shot up at me "Did you steal this from her office?"
"Um kinda but I had to use it to stop Jason."
"What? Stop Jason from what?" He asked.
"Nick, I have to return this first. You can help me check out for her" I said and quickly hurried past him. With one glance around I entered her office and sighed in relief when I met it empty.
I quickly moved to the cabinet and pulled it open.. I was about putting the result in when I heard the door creak open.
"Excuse me? What are you doing?"
I froze and the script dropped from my hand. I heard the knocking of heels on the floor and I turned to see Mrs Howard picking up the script from the floor.. She looked at it and then at me.
"Why were you taking this?"
Sweat broke out on my forehead.
"Um I..
I gulped my words.
"Are you not going to answer me!"
My mouth opened and closed on it's own.
"Alright then.. I'm sure you'll talk by the time you end your semester in detention--
The door opened again.
"It's my fault, principal Howard" Nick walked in and principal Howard alongside me, looked at him.
"I actually asked her to get it because I needed to check something"
"Mr McDowell?"
"Yes ma'am. I only wanted to see something in it but I'm done now.. You can check it out again if you want.. I didn't rewrite or make any changes. I'm sorry I did it without your permission" he apologized and she looked from him to me then at him.
"I'm letting this go because you apologized but if I see any changes on the results then you'll be punished"
"Yes, Mrs Howard"
"Jacqueline... Right?"
"Yes ma'am"
"Put that back there and you two can leave" she said and I took it from her and put it in the cabinet before closing it. Nick walked out and I followed. I closed the door behind me.
"Why did you do it?" Nick asked, giving me a straight face.
"To stop Jason.. I saw the text he sent to your phone, he was planning something again so I had to act fast. Knowing how much he loves his ego, I had to threaten him with that test script where he got an F9--
"You haven't answered my question, Jacqueline. Why did you really do it?"
"I don't understand--
"You did it out of pity for me didn't you?, Do I look that helpless and pathetic to you?!"
"Nicholas--
"Did you really have to go that far?"
"But I just wanted to help--
"Help?" He scoffed "You're only helping me feel more inhuman! I don't need your pity! You didn't have to go this far to show me how helpless I seem.. Why? Is it because of my mom, are you doing this because you think I'm too weak to fight Jason off--
"Yes," I caught him off "Your mom asked me to take care of you but that's--
"My mom?!" He asked, a deep frown on his face "You did this because of her?"
"No.. I did it because of you, Nick and honestly I didn't expect this reaction from you! I just got Jason off your back--
"Who asked you to? I've been dealing with him alone for most of my life and I still can. I'm not a weakling, Jacqueline, I can fight for my self!"
"I didn't say you can't!" I raised my voice too. I don't know why he's getting so obstinate over something he should be grateful for.
"Then why did you do it? Why--
"Listen Nick!" I interrupted him "sometimes you should really be appreciative about some things in your life, especially when you have someone that genuinely cares. Alright, I do pity you but there are others who are passing through stuffs that are way worse than yours and they have no one with them.. No one to defend and help them! And I'm pretty sure that if I've done everything I did for you for them; they'll be very grateful, if not for the favor but for my being there. I'm not saying you owe me anything but I'm just asking you not to be so grouchy all the time.. Everyone have different issues, they're passing through as well. I have a life too, just so you know and when I did this, I didn't think you'd be mad at me when you find out.
I'm not even talking about the risk I took but about the fact that I did it for your own favor. I'm sorry if you think otherwise and if I was too nosy in your problems all along and I assure you that it'll all change" I yanked, and while he stood staring at me; I took my phone from his hand, put his in its place and ran out of the corridor before I end up crying my stupidity in his presence and make myself look more stupid..
Maybe he's right, I should have just minded my business.
I shouldn't have cared at all.
...