Unexpected Friendship

Chapter 13: Truth

JORDAN POV

I let the warm water hit my tired body. I slept over Jacob's room last night. I kissed him again. I really don't know why, it isn't something sexual to me though. I just did it.
"Jordan, there's a young girl looking for you," my dad yells from the bathroom door.
Which young lady?
I turn off the water and get decent. I put on a pair of jeans with a white spaghetti strap shirt. I get my sandals on and walk to the living room with a towel wrapped around my head.
I see Hailey quietly siting on the couch. How did she know where I live?
"Hi," I say.
She stands, "Hey, we need to talk."
"About?" I cross my arms. "Oh about how you just dumped Jacob?"
She rolls her eyes. "He knew I still love my boyfriend and he encouraged me to talk to him. But no, it's not about that."
"Then?"
"I think Juliet slept with Thomas," she quickly says.
What? When?
"I-I saw him drive out of her house and he was putting on a button shirt as he was walking out of the house. His hair was messed up too," Hailey says. She walks towards me. "I'm sorry. I just want to help you like Jacob helped me. I know your his best friend."
No. Thomas is kind and respectful. He will never go for girls like Juliet. He can't.
"Jordan?" Hailey asks.
I shake my head. "No! Thomas said he likes me. He said he didn't like Juliet because she was too impatient and desperate."
"I have no idea. I know they did go out on dates, but I don't think they ever were a thing."
I'm going to figure that out. No one is going to make a fool out of me this time.
"Thanks then, you can leave now," I say.
"Wait, is Jacob okay? Are you okay?" Hailey asks.
I nod. "Yeah." I walk into my room. I need to figure what's going on with all this crap!
...
JACOB POV

My mom is sipping on some tea. We are in the dinning table. I'm waiting for her to start.
She gives me a folded piece of paper. I open it and see it's covered in words. I read it.
My brain can't process what I just read. I can't believe it.
My mom touches my shoulder and tries to make me react.
I look at her. Should I be happy or angry of what she did for me? Was she right or wrong?
"Sweetie," she says.
I look back at the paper again.
(HE WAS IN JAIL.)
My father couldn't be with me because he's a criminal.
(HE GOT DRUNK. WE FOUGHT. I LEFT YOU WITH HIM. I WAS SICK AND TIRED OF HIS ATTITUDE.)
Why did he do that to me?
(HE SAID HE WASN'T IN CONTROL. HE GOT SO STRESSED AND ANNOYED BY YOUR CRIES. HE BEGGED YOU TO STOP. HE FEED YOU BUT YOU DIDN'T STOP. HE JUST LOST IT. HE BEAT YOU UNTIL YOU ALMOST DIED. HE HIT YOUR HEAD SO HARD.)

Did he ever love me?

(I SAW YOU SO BEATEN UP. YOUR LITTLE FACE WAS SO BRUISED AND SWOLLEN THAT I COULDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU. HE LEFT YOU FOR DEAD. HE SAID HE PANICKED AND RAN. THE DOCTORS HELPED SAVE YOUR LEFT EYE AND HEALED YOUR SMALL RIBS. BUT HE HIT YOU SO HARD IN THE HEAD AND SIDES THAT HE LEFT YOU DEAF. THE DOCTORS TOLD ME YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HEAR AGAIN.)
My hands are shaking. My eyes can't stop making tears. My head hurts. I can feel physical pain like if he is hiting me again. Why couldn't I remember? Why didn't she tell me?
I look at my mom. She is crying. "I'm so sorry," she cries. "I didn't think he will ever harm you."

She left me with a drunk angry man and she didn't think I was going to get hurt?! Maybe he was going to beat her up instead of me.

It's too much to take in.

....

JORDAN POV

NEXT DAY A TUESDAY IN OCTOBER

I didn't see Jacob walking to school. I guess he still has to talk to his mom. For now, my focus is on Thomas. I didn't want to call or text him about Juliet. I want to see his face when I question him.

I see him talking to his golf friends.
I poke his arm and say hi. He turns to me and lightly smiles.
"Hey Jordan, what up?"
"I need to talk to you."
He nods. "Where?"
"Follow me."
We walk towards a small janitor room. I know the old man doesn't lock the door because he is constantly being called to clean so he forgets. I hang out there in my first days of school.
We get in and I lock the door.
"What's up?" He asks again.
I drop my bag. "So, rumor has it you had sex with Juliet."
"What?" He chuckles. "No way."
"Hmm, you sure Thomas? I mean you did take her out on dates before, you aren't going to deny you kissed her right?"
"Well, no, but nothing has happened between us,"
"Hailey saw you coming out of Juliet's house looking like if you just did a porno."
He frowns. "I-I just, it was a mistake. Like nothing happened, I swear."
I slap him. "Liar! Never talk to me. I won't get played again. I will not let Juliet or you make fun of me. She hurt my friend and I won't allow her to hurt me more. Fuck off." I open the door and jog to Mr. Jeff's class. I hear him yell my name but I ignore him. Even if he didn't have sex, he still kissed her and probably let her touch him. He is still tempted to take a bite of the apple.
I get in class 5 seconds after the bells rings. I don't see Jacob though. Where is he?
I sit and look around again. I text him.
(HI. ARE YOU COMING TO SCHOOL?)
I don't get a reply throughout the class. Man, I wish he is okay and doing better than I am.
I feel like crap. Maybe Juliet is right, I'm a weirdo. No guy will ever like me. I have a stupid disorder. I'm not pretty. I'm stupid. I can't control my anger.
I barely made a friend. Who else will like me?
Jacob didn't like me in the beginning. Now he tolerates me ..I think.
...
I take a look at Jacob's friends table. He isn't with them. I ask Maria if she has him. They all say no.
The deaf girl signs and her boyfriend translates.
"She says he might be sick,"
I say no. "I don't think so. But I guess I go after school and see him."
Maria's boyfriend nods. "We will go with you. He's our friend too."
"Cool."
"Sit Jordan," Maria says.
I guess I made friends after all.
Soon, school ends and we all walk to Jacob's apartment.
I knock on the door.
"Jacob?!" Ms. Welch exclaims as she opens the door. She looks disappointed when she sees us.
"He isn't home?" I ask.
She says no. "I think he ran away. I told him what happened. I lost my baby."