VERY PINK

Willow

At lunch, Ava and I are seated at our usual spot in the cafeteria, which is away from the jocks and the population, but we could see their tables from this angle.

I'm pushing around the food on my plate as my mind races with different scenarios on how I would approach Jack.

Am I overthinking too much just because I want to return a tracksuit? Maybe I am, but I can't help it.

My eyes wander around the cafeteria, seeking the familiar mop of brown hair, but I sigh when I notice his absence.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” Ava asks, shovelling a forkful of pasta into her mouth, and my eyes snap up to meet hers.

I reached for my water and took a few gulps before setting it back down.

“Nothing,” I mutter, shrugging nonchalantly, but she sees through my lie as her eyes narrow, but before she can comment on it, Chase slips into the empty seat close to hers and opposite from mine, his grin wide as he leisurely places his arm over the headrest of her chair.

“Hey babe, I was looking everywhere for you,” he says sweetly, but Ava frowns while away from him while I watch the scene unfold before me with a straight face.

He doesn't bother to acknowledge me, though, because all his attention is glued on Ava, which for some reason I don't mind.

“What the hell are you doing?” she sneers, her eyes wide while confusion crosses his features like he wasn't expecting such a reaction from her.

“What do you mean, babe?” he asks, hurt flashing on his face this time.

Chase is a fucking douchebag. I thought I was a good judge of character, but it turns out I was wrong after all. First he says he has a girlfriend, then I find him kissing some girl at his party, but as if that wasn't enough, he decides to ask my best friend to be his girlfriend.

It is laughable that I had a crush on him for years; I feel fucking stupid.

Instead of being hurt, though, I'm angry, beyond livid even, as I watch him act that way with Ava.

I should lash out and maybe claw out his fucking eyes just to sate my anger, but instead I swallow all those emotions and rise from my seat, my sudden movement making both eyes turn to me.

“I'll see you later, Ava,” I say, ignoring her panicked expression and grabbing my tray where my lunch remains untouched and walking away before she has a chance to respond.

***

The rest of the day goes by fast, much to my chagrin, as I have yet to run into Jack like I wished.

The hallway is almost empty as I walk towards my locker.

I sigh as I begin to shove some books into my leather backpack absentmindedly; just as I slam my locker shut, a text notification goes off on my phone. As I sigh, I fish it out of my bag to see a text from Owen that says he's already outside waiting to pick me up.

I sigh and shove my phone back into my backpack only to turn and bump into someone, hard.

I gasped; the force pushes me back, but they are fast to steady me by wrapping an arm around my waist.

“Easy there, Blondie.” Jacks's usually playful tone makes me snap my head up to see him standing before me with that smug grin of his.

I blink back the surprise that had me frozen in his arms for a moment and step away from him, sighing in disappointment as the warmth that his arm brought disappears as it falls to his side.

“Uhm Hi Jack, I didn't see you there,” I mutter, looking away from him, and he chuckles, shoving his hands into the side pocket of his jacket as he tilts his head to look down at me.

He is a full head taller than I am, and I am a tall teenager.

“I figured," he mutters, trailing off as I bite my lips nervously, but he just stands there, his gaze digging a hole into the side of my face.

“Y—your tracksuit,” I sputter like a fucking idiot, turning around quickly to put in my locker combination before grabbing the gift bag I'd stashed in there all day and turning back to see a ghost of a smile tugging on his lips.

“It's... It's very pink,” he mutters, blinking in surprise as he takes the bag from me, and I blush hard.

“I can change it if you want,” I offer, but he chuckles, shaking his head as he clutches the bag to his side, the colour a stark contrast to his dark male aesthetics.

“It's okay, Blondie; I mean, it's cute, like you,” he smirks and turns even redder. God, why am I reacting this way over a simple compliment?

My phone notification goes off again, and I sigh, smiling apologetically as I fish out my phone to see it's a text from Ava.

She apologises for Chase's intrusion during lunch and promises that she has given him a piece of her mind not long before her text.

I sigh and shove the device back into my bag as I try to mask my irritation at the mention of that douchebag.

“Is everything alright?” Jack asks, concern flickering across his features, and for a moment I'm stunned that he feels such emotions for me, but then I shouldn't be surprised, not after how much he had helped me when he didn't have to.

“I—

“Willow! Thank God I found you.” Chase’s voice cuts me off, and Jack and I turn to see him standing a few feet from us.

Jack's features harden at the sight of Chase, and I briefly wonder what it would be like for that simmering anger to be directed at me.

“What the fuck do you want, Chase?” he seethes, and I fidget on my feet, feeling Jack's anger coming off of him in waves.

Chase frowns, his eyes flashing between Jack and me, not to mention how close we had been standing to each other.

“This has nothing to do with you, Jack,” he counters, taking a step towards me, but Jack takes a step in front of me, shielding me from Chase totally.

“What's your problem, man? I just want to know if she's seen my girlfriend around,” I heard him say, and my brows furrow in confusion.

“Your girlfriend?” I echo, and Jack turns to meet my gaze briefly as he grits his jaw, turning back to face Chase.

“She doesn't have to answer that,” Jack responds before I can, but slowly I reach for Jack's arm, touching him through the sleeve of his jacket.

He turns slowly, concern flickering across his features as he looks down at me.

“I've got this,” I mutter, and he gazes searchingly into mine for the longest moment before he nods slowly, taking a step to the side so I could come face to face with Chase.

“What are you talking about, Chase?” I ask, and he sighs, running a finger through his hair.

“I've been looking everywhere for Ava, but I can't find her, so I figured she'd be with you.” His eyes flicker to Jack's briefly before meeting mine again. ”But clearly I was wrong.” I still stare at his words; he said girlfriend.

Is Ava Chase his girlfriend, or is he obsessing over her like some psychotic person?

Ava wouldn't do that. She's my best friend; she wouldn't. I exhale a slow, shaky breath as I feel my hands trembling by my side, but I clench my fist to hide the fact that his words shook me to my core.

“No, I haven't seen her since lunch,” I mutter in a hoarse tone, and he nods, turning around and walking down the hallway until he turns a corner, going out of sight.

“Are you good, Blondie?” Jack asks, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I snap my gaze to his that were already on me, mustering a forced smile to hide the turmoil inside of me.

“Yes”, I whisper in a breathless tone, “I—I have to go; thanks for your help, Jack.” I don't bother waiting for his response as I slam my locker shut and head for the exit without a backward glance.