Finding Solace

Chapter 11

Jillian

I painstakingly trudged down the endless hallways to my classroom. My back was hurting much worse and it's a wonder I was even able to carry myself. I deliberately took a much longer route so that I wouldn't encounter too many students who would no doubt notice my strange gait.

As I rounded a corner, I heard the distinct sound of someone getting beaten up. I tried making myself discreet, hiding behind a nearby pillar. I saw five girls at the end of the hallway, ganging up on a single person. Upon closer inspection, I noticed with shock that the victim was the girl who sits next to me in class. She always seemed so nonchalant, I never would have fathomed she was facing this kind of bullying. No wonder she avoids associating with others.

Normally I wouldn't interfere in situations like these. I already had enough trouble in my everyday life, I didn't need to go around seeking more complications. Yet, she reminded me so much of my own distress from several instances in the past. Even though I didn't want to trouble anyone, the wish that someone would come to my rescue was always so strong. Before I realized it, I was heading towards the scuffle.

Hearing my approach, they all turned to regard me.

"What's your business here?" demanded a haughty-looking blonde.

She seemed to be the leader, so I addressed her. "I need to talk to you for a bit." I stated nonchalantly.

She raised an eyebrow. "Me? Can't it wait?" She said exasperatedly. "As you can see, we're busy right now. Unless, you want to join her?" Her tone was menacing, matching the condescending look she sent me.

I leveled my gaze on her and sighed. "If you're being so impatient, I guess I'll just get straight to the point. I want you to stop bothering her." I pointed to the girl lying prone on the ground.

She scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. "And what makes you think I'd listen to you?"

"Maybe because you'd get in a whole lot of trouble if someone found out about what you've been doing?" I retorted with a smirk.

Her nostrils flared. "You're threatening me now?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Let go of her right now, else I'll make sure you guys regret it."

Her expression contorted with fury. "You damn b***h! How dare you!" She advanced towards me threateningly.

"She has nothing to do with this so leave her alone!" Marissa, my classmate, called from the ground. "This girl is Jillian Brown. Surely you wouldn't want to deal with the consequences of messing with her." Her tone was almost desperate now.

The blonde's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh the famous Jillian Brown with perfect grades and who's also rich to boot." Her voice was filled with animosity as she cast a dispassionate glance over my features, like she was checking me out.

"Since you've already heard about me, you must know that I'm on good terms with most of the teachers, as well as the principal. They will readily believe me if I tell on you guys." I raised an eyebrow challengingly at her.

The girl gritted her teeth, seeming a breath away from tackling me to the ground.

One of her friends grabbed her arm. "Let's leave it at that for today, Sarah." She reasoned. "It would be troublesome if..."

"Shut up!" Sarah snapped, ripping her arm free. "I'll do whatever the hell I want!" Her friends all backed away, obviously intimidated.

She then leveled her condescending look on me. "I don't give a damn about whatever status you have here. So what if the teachers favor you! You’ve probably been sucking up to them all along. I really hate little miss goody two shoes like you who think they can do whatever they want.”

She was steadily advancing on me as she said the words, the promise of pain clear in her eyes. I stood my ground, refusing to show any weakness in front of her. Even though I knew there was no way I’d be able to even evade her blow in my current state. Already her fist lifted and she swiftly descended it on me. However, just as it was about to reach me, a guy’s hand appeared in front of me, blocking the girl’s blow. My astonished eyes followed the length of the muscular arm until they landed on Jake’s face. 

He glared at the girl, shoving her back as he released her fist. “I don’t want to break my principle of never hitting a girl. So I advise you to get the hell out of my sight while I’m still being kind.”

Sarah blinked at him in surprise, her expression quickly changing to a victimized one. “Jake…” she breathed, her voice now coming out exaggeratedly soft. “Those girls were the ones who tried to create trouble first. I was only retaliating back.”

“I don’t care about your excuses.” Jake growled. “Just disappear from here right this instant. And you’d better not try to trouble my friends ever again. Otherwise I won’t let off.”

Her eyes were conflicted as she kept staring at Jake for several more seconds. She then shot me a glare before turning on her heels and marching off, her friends also parroting her  movements.

“She’s a friend of yours?” I asked Jake once they were out of sight.

He raised his hands as if in defense. “No way! I don’t even know the girl.” After several seconds of silence where I eyed him skeptically, he begrudgingly relented. “She might have been among the girls who usually hang around me but I swear I do not even remember her.”

I snorted. “There’s no need to explain yourself.” Just then I noticed Marissa rising from her spot on the floor. I was about to go to her, but Jake preceded me, rushing to her side.

“Are you okay?” He asked with concern, offering to help her up.

She hesitated a bit before taking his offered hand. “I’m fine, thanks. Thank you both for helping me.”

“I wasn’t really of much use." I told her. "If it wasn't for Jake's help, I would have also ended up being beaten by these girls. Thanks a lot.” I gave him a gaze filled with my gratitude.

Jake scratched his head in embarrassment. "I only did what anyone would have done in this situation."

"It's my fault you were involved in all this, sorry." Marissa mumbled dejectedly. 

"I'm the one who chose to interfere, so don't fret over it. Anyway, we should head to the infirmary to check your injuries."

"But I'm feeling just fine. There's no need…" she took a step forward as she said the words but then she tottered on her feet. Jake was at her side immediately after, holding her upright.

"You don't seem fine at all." He grumbled. "I'm taking you to the infirmary right away." Before Marissa could respond, Jake lifted her into his arms and started walking off. 

"Wait! Put me down! I can walk!" She exclaimed in a panic.

"No way. You almost fell down just now. We can't take the risk." Jake retorted stubbornly. "Just be a good girl and stop thrashing around."

My lips hiked up in amusement as I watched the two. It seemed like Jake is interested in Marissa and from the way she was blushing, she wasn't insensitive to his charm. 

"What are you waiting for, Jillian?" Jake asked straining his neck to look at me. "You come along as well."

"You guys go ahead. I'll be right behind you." I called after them as I resumed my slow steps, deliberately dragging them further this time so I could give the lovebirds some alone time.

Jake was overly attentive to Marissa the whole time and seemed reluctant to leave her behind when the school doctor said she would need to rest in the infirmary for a while.

"You're going to check on her during the break as well?" Jake asked me cautiously as we walked back towards the classroom.

"Fine," I drawled. "I'll go check on her so you can find an excuse to go see her as well."

"That's not what I meant at all!" He rushed to say. "I just want to make sure she won't be left all alone."

"Of course." I said jokingly. 

"You're making fun of me."

"I'm swear I'm not. But…" I leaned forward slightly and murmured in a wistful voice. "Marissa is really cute, isn't she?"

"Yeah she is…" he said dreamily but then he caught himself and glared at me. "You're doing it again! I can't believe you went from being the aloof girl who wouldn't give us the time of her day to blatantly teasing me in just the span of a few days.

My body was shaking with laughter. Unexpectedly Jake was such a simple guy. Totally contrary to all the playboy rumors which always go around about him. "I hope everything goes well between you and her. I'm totally rooting for you guys."

"What about you?" He suddenly demanded.

I tilted my head questioningly. "Me?" 

"I'm talking about you and Callum, naturally." He grinned.

"What about me and him?" I demanded, my voice coming out sharper than usual.

"What do you think about Callum?" He asked, still with that wicked smirk.

I narrowed my eyes but still couldn't stop my cheeks from heating up. Only a simple thought of Callum made my heart all jumbled up. "He's a nice guy… just like you all."

"And that's all?" 

I glared at him. "Yes! That's all! What else were you expecting to hear?" 

"You make a nice couple, the both of you. I'm rooting for you guys." He appeared to be barely holding back his laughter as he used my own words against me.

I stopped in by tracks, turning to face him fully and he also did the same. "You…" I was preparing to lash out at him but then another voice which made my heart flutter reached our ears.

"You guys seem to be having such a good time." Callum commented in a strained voice. "Care to share with me what you're talking about that's so fun?"

I turned to find him shooting a killing glare to Jake. His anger was so palpable, he appeared outright scary in that instant. My eyes then went to the bruises on his face which caused an answering pang in my heart. It appeared more serious than what he told me the previous time. Jake also sported a few bruises but they weren't as prominent. Dan was really too much… going this far just because Callum looked at me once. But then another thought occurred to me. If he reacted in this way for such a simple matter, then what would he do if he learned that I had now befriended Callum and his friends?