33 Is this the end of friendship?

Jake climbed down the stairs and took Veronica to a corner when Zara and her mother were talking to each other in the kitchen.

"I know, we have been over this already. But, I need to know one more time."

Veronica placed the coffee cup on the corner table and sighed, "J, I have told you a million times. Zara was alright before she suddenly passed out. No one or nothing attacked her."

Jake put a hand on the window, "She went into a coma for a week by only reading a book? It is ridiculous."

Veronica shrugged, raking her hands through her hair. She was flustered and had been as much in worry about her best friend, "Zara is always surrounded by a book- rather piles of books."

Jake's brow was creased and thin lines furrowed his forehead, "Yes, I know, V. I just want to know there was nothing out of the ordinary that happened. I wasn't there-"

Veronica snapped, "See Jake, I have been her friend, best friend for longer than you have known her. Don't you try to patronize me."

Jake looked taken aback at the way Veronica took his full name instead of simply calling him J. He clenched and unclenched his fists, "V, there are things you know nothing about. I am not patronizing you-"

Veronica was growing irritated at the way he tried to calm her down like a girl who was throwing tantrums. "What do you mean by 'there are things I know nothing about'? What makes you think you know her any better than I do?"

She whipped suddenly and pointed a finger at him, "On the contrary, I have a feeling you have been the source of all the nuisance since the moment you stepped in her life. First, she gets nearly sacked by the school, then she goes into a week-long coma. Also, do tell me why someone would attack her? Why do you think someone is after her life?"

Jake threw a surprised look before she saw a flash of hurt in his eyes. Veronica bit her lip. She had never fought with him, and never said any mean things to anyone. Well-except Rebecca.

Veronica was going to open her mouth to apologize to him when a sudden thought occurred to her. She played the scene from the cafeteria in her mind.

"What was the look that you shared with Rebecca?"

Jake gave her a blank stare, "What?"

Veronica pressed on as if she had suddenly found a secret stash of her favorite icecream. "At the Principal's office, you had paused to look at her for a moment, when we were looking for our respective books."

"So?"

"And, when that bit-witch was trying to help me check on Z after she had passed out, you asked her where she had been when Zara had passed out."

Jake turned his back to Veronica, he couldn't lie to her-especially when he didn't know half of the truths himself. "What is your point,V?"

Veronica inched closer to him, "Rebecca asked you to be careful. What did that mean? She hates me and Z like she is our worst enemy."

"Well, did you ever try to find out the reason?"

Veronica waved her hand off, "Girls like her don't need any reason to hate anyone. Especially Rebecca- who is always superpissed at any one and everyone."

Jake considered the thought, "That was my first impression of her as well."

Veronica raised an eyebrow, "Was?"

Jake gave her a small smile, "Let us not fuss about her when Z is up on her feet now. But, I do request you to keep an eye on her for me. I cannot always be around you guys. Keep my number on the speed dial and if you sense any danger, you give me a call directly."

Veronica looked at him with her eyes wide and her voice almost climbed an octave, "Danger? What are you talking about, J?

Jake hissed, "Keep your voice down, will you? You may not trust me with your best friend, but I am her best shot at getting out of this mess."

Veronica felt as if Jake had been high, "J, I think you also need to see Z's therapist. If you keep talking nonsense, I will have to stop you from seeing her again."

Jake's eyes darkened as he plucked an apple out of the fruit bowl. He rubbed it on his t-shirt and took a bite as he responded, "You are too cute, V." He pinched her cheeks hoping that he had provided her enough distraction to stop continuing her train of thought.