All a dream

JASMINE

“Get up from that bed, lazy girl!” I could hear Amy's voice loud and clear.

“Go away, Amy. I want to sleep some more,” I groaned, cuddling the pillow.

“You need to get up now, Jazz. We have practicals today, and you wouldn’t want to miss it, considering the fact that you have parents who want you to keep up with your grades. Why are you still sleeping? Didn’t you get a wink of sleep last night?” she asked.

I didn’t. I couldn’t even close my eyes throughout the night because my thoughts were filled with Jack.

Right, Jack.

In the speed of light, I quickly got up from the bed and rushed to the window. I quickly opened it and let out a disappointed sigh when I noticed that the window next to mine was shut.

I had seen Jack through that window last night, and now that it was closed, it felt like last night was all a dream—Jack didn’t talk to me, and he doesn’t live next door.

“Are you looking for someone, Jazz?” Amy asked, wondering why I jumped out of bed just to look outside my window.

“No, I don’t,” I sighed. “Let’s just go to school.”

“Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yes, I am fine,” I beamed at her.

I dashed into the bathroom, and after I was done, I hopped into a simple dress and black boots.

Amy and I went downstairs, and I found my mom already setting up the table for breakfast.

“Good morning, Mom,” I greeted, sliding into a seat. Amy did the same.

“You girls go ahead and eat. I won’t be joining you,” Mom said, grabbing her purse.

“Why, Mom?”

“I have to join your dad in the hospital. He needs me.”

“Alright. But… Mom?” I hesitated. “Can I drive to school today? I already have my driver’s license, and I think it’s time I start driving myself.”

“No, hon. I won’t allow you to drive on your own again. The last time I allowed you to do so, you got into an accident.”

“That was months ago. I will be sixteen soon, and I promise I can drive carefully.”

“No means no. See you later, sweetie.” She kissed my cheek and walked out.

“See you around, Becky,” Amy called after her.

“Don’t worry, Bestie. I’ll give you a ride today,” Amy said, jingling her new car keys proudly. “My parents just got me a new baby.”

I grinned. “Lucky you.”

I couldn’t help but wish my parents were more like Amy’s parents—chill and less protective. But I don’t blame them. It took them years to have me, and my mom couldn’t conceive again after I was born.

Amy and I finished breakfast and headed for school. Riding with Amy was always an adventure—she was one of those top ten students who secretly enjoyed breaking traffic rules.

“So, what do you think of my new baby?” she asked, tapping the car bonnet with pride.

“I love it!” I giggled.

“I knew you would.” She slung her arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go to class.”

On our way, we met Callista by the hallway. She was talking to a few students and laughing.

Amy froze. “How can someone be that beautiful?” she whispered, practically drooling.

“I thought you said I was the most beautiful girl on earth,” I teased.

“Well, you are… second,” she smirked. “I really want to tell her how I feel, Jazz. But what if she’s straight?” Amy sighed.

I wanted to tell her about Callista and me bonding last night, but I chose not to because everything that happened last night felt like a dream, and I wouldn’t want to make my best friend excited and get her disappointed later on.

“I’m sure you will be able to someday.”

The school bell rang, and everyone began leaving the hallway. Callista didn’t seem to notice me, but I did see a boy's hand wrapped around her waist. She is in 12th grade just like Jack.

“A girl like Callista couldn’t possibly be into girls… right?” Amy muttered sadly.

“Maybe. Perhaps not.” I gave her a reassuring pat.

We both entered the classroom, but I immediately ran out when I saw Jack laughing with a group of girls, one of them was sitting on his lap.

Jack is in 12th grade, so what the heck is he doing in my class? This question echoed in my ears a thousand times, as I heard my heart beating uncontrollably.

It always skips a beat whenever I see Jack. But this time, it was beating more than it should—Jack is in my class.

“Why did you run out of the class like that? Did you see a ghost?” Amy asked, catching up to me.

Jack was scarier than ghosts.

“No, I didn’t,” I swallowed. “Ghosts don’t exist, remember?” I added.

“So why did you run off like that?” she paused and sighed. “Let me guess, it was because of Jack, right?”

“Why is he in our class?" I asked in a panicked voice.

“You're speaking as if you don’t know Jack. He’s unserious and always wants to be anywhere he wants to be,” Amy reminded me, and I went silent.

“Don’t tell me you won’t go to class just because Jack is there? You know you can’t always hide from him forever, right?”

“I’ve been doing that for a year now,” I muttered.

“Even so, Jazz. You need to stop this hiding thing. You should be bold and allow him to notice you.”

“Says the girl who can't tell Callista how she feels.”

“We are different. I don’t know if Callista is straight or not, but everyone knows Jack only has eyes for girls. That’s what makes us different,” she said, and I took a deep breath, and went back inside the class, and there was Jack. He was kissing another girl.

Just how many girls would he kiss before he gets satisfied?

I went to my seat and sat down with Amy. I tried not to look in his direction, but my eyes kept gazing at him, watching how he kissed her.

“That’s enough, Jack,” our English teacher said when she entered the classroom.

Jack let go of the girl, and he smiled, licking his lower lip, and I swallowed hard, watching him do so.

His eyes almost met mine, but I quickly looked away from him, as always covering my face from him, but this time I did it with my bag.

"What are you doing here, Jack? What happened to your class?" she asked.

"Math isn’t my thing, so I'm going to hide here until it's over. Can I stay here for the next hour? Looking at your beautiful face is better than being in math class," he winked at her with a smile, while the girls in my class drooled over him.

He has always been a flirt. He could pass with straight A’s if flirting was a subject.

"Fine, but make sure you don't disturb my class," she smiled at him before proceeding to what actually brought her here.

“Jasmine? Is she in school?” she said all of a sudden, and everyone kept turning around to see who Jasmine was.

I quickly buried my head on the desk so I wouldn't be noticed. I’ve always sat at the back seat, just a way of mine for anyone not to notice me.

“Where's Jasmine Parker?” she asked again.

She never asks about me, so why the hell was she doing that now?

“She is here, Ms. Jenkins,” Amy said, dragging me up to my feet, and everyone had their eyes on me, including Jack.

“You're Jasmine Parker?” she asked, surprised, and I nodded my head, my head down, away from the stares of my classmates.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you. Your English grades are outstanding, but you never show up when I call you. Why is that?”

I forced out a smile.

“I'm impressed with your grades. We need to talk after class, okay?”

I nodded my head and sat back in the chair, almost killing Amy with my eyes. Whenever I was called by any teacher, I always pretended not to hear them, but this time Amy had to rat me out.

“Sorry, Bestie,” she grinned at me.

My eyes shifted to Jack. He was flirting with another girl, not showing any signs that we had talked last night. I sighed, finally believing that my interaction with him last night was probably all a dream.

After class, I met Ms. Jenkins in her office. She praised my performance and encouraged me to consider entering some writing competitions.

Afterward, I went to the restroom, and after I was done, I tried leaving, but a hand gripped me and pulled me into one of the toilet stalls.

“What the heck!” I gasped, trying to break free, but my world stopped moving for a bit, when I realized it was Jack who had pulled me inside the toilet stall.

I gulped down hard as I stared at him. My body trembling as his soft hand trailed on my face.

“Why did you lie, Jellybean?” he whispered, as his hands gripped my waist firmly.