12 12: The Day I Found Out About Lillian

JACKSON

"Yo dude where are we supposed to put these boxes again?"

Jackson peeked through the stacked boxes in his hands to see in front of him, Gray leading the way.

"Oh a teacher said to drop them in the faculty room."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" They both laughed as the roamed the hallway, devoid of students as it was the lunch hour. "I sped through my lunch since I thought we were going to do something that'll take us a while."

Gray threw him a glance over his shoulder, eyes and smile apologetic.

"Sorry about that, Jackson. Next time, I'll tell you how long it'll take us so you don't rush through your food again."

"Yeah dude thanks for that!"

It had been about a week since the first tutoring session and Jackson honestly still didn't know what to make of his and Jade's relationship. They had a rough start which transitioned into something tentative most likely brought about by instances like being her fake boyfriend, helping her with guys who flirted with her, and being pepper-sprayed. Ha, who could forget that? They hadn't been in contact since and well, Jackson wanted to know where he stood in the girl's life. Were they enemies? Were they just tutor buddies? Was there a possibility for a friendship?

But wait... what about that guitar?

Come to think of it, Lillian had told him to look for the owner of that guitar. If he were being honest, he wasn't looking forward to chase for the unknown owner. What if they didn't want it back? What if they had purposely left it since it had a lot of dents and missing strings?

Ugh... maybe he should talk to Lillian again to try and convince her to just chuck the thing out. It's not like anyone would want it back, right?

"Hey Jackson?"

Jackson blinked. Oh right... they were putting away all these boxes in the faculty room. They were already walking back to the cafeteria. Hmm... his body must have acted on autopilot.

"Hey, you all right? You seem worried."

Jackson glanced at Gray, his thick eyebrows furrowed in concern. Jackson bit his lip, not noticing how Gray's eyes darted toward it before focusing on his own eyes again.

Should he tell his class president?

Well, he guessed it wouldn't hurt. Maybe Gray could offer some advice as well.

Jackson slowed to a stop, Gray following suit.

"Um yeah so you remember my bratty sister Lillian?" Gray scoffed a laugh before nodding. His reaction made Jackson relax more as he continued speaking. "So for some reason, there are two guitars in her room. One, she owns. The other one, well... it's not hers and she told me to look for the owner of that guitar even though the thing's pretty busted." He ran a hand through his hair, mildly frustrated. "Y'know, I don't have any plans to follow through 'cause it's not my business but Lillian can be a terror when she wants to be so I'm asking for an outsider's opinion. What do you think I should do?"

Gray hummed thoughtfully. Jackson waited patiently but his mind wandered to food and how he could buy a few snacks before the lunch hour was over.

"Well it's not really my place to say so," began Gray, sheepishly rubbing his nape. Jackson gave him an unimpressed look. "But if you want my opinion, maybe try talking to your sister again and see if she changes her mind. She likes facts and logic, right? Maybe she'll consider your side if you tell her your work hours in a day, your assignments, and everything else." Gray shrugged. A playful grin crossed his face. "Or you could just outright ignore her. Would she know the difference?"

They both laughed.

"You've got a point. Thanks." Jackson nodded in determination. "I'll try beating that girl with my logic, see if she considers something else."

They head back to the cafeteria where most of the students are going their opposite ways to the classrooms and their lockers.

Some greet them with a simple 'hello' while others take the time to make small talk with them. Jackson excused himself to buy a few snacks but it was too late as Jett suddenly yanked at his collar to lead him toward the lockers, slinging his arm around Jackson's shoulders.

"Hey I wanted a snack!" protested Jackson.

"I saved up some 'cause I know you'll go hungry." Jett looked at him then. "Hey where you been? You missed Jade's awesome anecdote."

Jackson rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

As he winded his best friend's arm away from his neck he said, "Oh I'm pretty sure if I ask her nicely, she'll recount to me the incident."

Jett's eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh? What's this? Are you and Jade besties now? Gosh, my own best friend's betraying me. Oh, the hurt! Oh, what a traitor!"

Jackson, amused and annoyed, shoved at Jett's shoulder. Gray was still standing there by the doors to the cafeteria, giving them a weird look.

"Sorry about this guy. He's crazy, isn't he?"

Gray chuckled. "Our class is full of crazy dudes. You guys are no different." He started walking away. "See you in class!"

"Yup!" Jett's voice lowered when he next spoke. "Hey seriously, where did you guys go? You normally don't spend such a short time on food and you ate today like it's your last meal then vanished! What was that about?"

Jackson laughed, waving a hand to indicate it was nothing.

"Gray wanted me to accompany him to the faculty room to return some stuff. If I had known it was just that, I really wouldn't have rushed through my lunch." He let out a resigned exhale. "I was planning to buy a few snacks too but then you came along and pulled me!" He pouted and his eyebrows knit in frustration. "I'm never forgiving you for that."

Jett only rolled his eyes and laughed.

"You don't need to be so dramatic; I told you I got food! I was willing to share with you but since you're attacking me like this, I'm suddenly having second thoughts on whether or not I should share with you."

Jackson blew him a raspberry. With Jett, it seemed he could be himself and act childish and petty. It must have something to do with how Jett was a few months older and Jackson in his household was the eldest child.

As they stopped at their lockers to get their things for the afternoon classes, running footsteps made them both turn to a girl, hair swinging about with each step.

When she got closer, Jackson blinked.

"What are you doing here, Jade?"

Panting for breath as she stopped she gasped, "The office. It's calling you 'cause your sister got into a fight or something."

"What?!"