15 15: The Day I Explained Myself

JADE

She accidentally listened in. She didn't mean to.

The door was left open. No one bothered to close the door.

The voices were loud.

No one else was around, not even a secretary or another middle school student.

So how could she not listen?

Jade huffed and covered her face with the pillow. She stared at her ceiling, mind running with different thoughts from seeing Jackson interact with his little sister, who seemed feisty and had a no-nonsense attitude.

Someone from the other side of her room knocked, Jade throwing the pillow back to the bed as she sat up and pushed strands of her hair out of her face.

"Come in!"

Nick peeked in and said, "Dad wants to talk to you."

Jade cringed as she quickly stood.

"Well, okay." Her eyebrows furrowed at seeing the frown on his face. She sat straighter. "Why do you look like that?"

Nick tilted his head, frown becoming deeper. For a second, he avoided her curious stare before speaking again. "He doesn't look too happy, you know."

Jade blinked. Swallowed nervously.

"Ooh that doesn't sound good," she admitted.

"Yeah. Good luck with whatever he's gonna say."

He left.

Jade took a moment to clear her mind and rush down the stairs, Maya silently pointing toward the kitchen and Jade giving her a nod of thanks before entering the kitchen and announcing her presence.

"Hi, Dad."

"Sweetie," Ryan returned, his back turned and one hand holding a glass of juice. He turned and smiled thinly. Jade beamed back, though she twisted her fingers in nervousness, not knowing what to expect. "I received something from your school saying you skipped the afternoon classes."

A breath escaped Jade. Oh no...

Well, she couldn't exactly say she didn't expect this because she voluntarily moved to be by Jackson. He might have a valid reason for walking out of school but Jade honestly had no justifiable reason. On what earth was 'oh I was worried about him and tagged along on my own free will' acceptable? Of course her father would be disappointed.

"Why did you skip school?" Ryan asked, rather dumbfounded as he took a chair and heavily sat on it, glass of juice unsipped. He shook his head as if still in disbelief. "Did someone force you? Did someone bully you? Did someone test your patience and you had to 'walk it off'?"

Jade found herself slightly laughing. She scratched the back of her head and leaned her hip on the counter.

"As much as I love the concern, I have to be honest and say it was none of those things."

Ryan blinked owlishly. He took a sip of the juice.

"Then... if it's not those things, why?" He gazed at her again, as if searching her eyes. As if it would reveal some secret kept from him. "I know you don't enjoy school as much. I know it stresses you out and I know you have your moments." He paused. "I also know there are days you enjoy being in school. You like the activities held and you got your friends there. So... is—is there a boy?" He raised his brow and asked this straight on as he directly met Jade's eye, her breath hitching at the look her father gave her. "Or a girl?"

Jade bit her lip and ducked her head. After a moment's pause, she nodded timidly.

Ryan let out a heavy sigh. Jade chanced looking up.

"Wha—okay. So you decided to skip school to hang out with some boy?"

"I... well, that boy had a valid reason to walk off and I admit it's stupid of me to skip class just because of this one boy who had a problem. Even I know how it sounds almost impossible or unbelievable to my younger self. I know it's insignificant and I know it's against school rules. But... I wanted to tag along, for some reason. Before you jump to conclusions Dad, no, I'm not in love with him. No, he's not my boyfriend and no, he's not some fuckbuddy."

"Language, miss!"

"Sorry." She raised her hands but her tone was far from apologetic. "But I want to clear misconceptions before you had anything to say. He's an acquaintance. We actually started off on the wrong foot. We disliked each other."

Ryan's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"So... if you both don't like each other then how..."

Jade threw her hands in the air. "I don't know, some restaurant incident happened and we're both... tentative friends?"

Ryan pursed his lips.

"Jade, I'm not interested in your love life."

"No it's not like that!"

"I just want to know why you skipped class. Why are you giving me a monologue?"

Jade swallowed. She took a moment to think. Why was she saying so many things when her father only asked for a simple explanation? Well, most of her reasons involved Jackson so it made sense she had to mention him at some point. But why couldn't she explain clearly? Why did she have this urge to say Jackson wasn't a bad guy or something even when they weren't close friends?

She sighed, torso slumping forward and a low-pitched whine of frustration escaping her lips.

She heard the chair scrape and soon large and warm hands were on her shoulders, grounding her.

"Hey. Hey sweetie. I'm not mad. I'm disappointed but if you're struggling like this, then maybe I should write to the school on how you're unwell?"

"No Dad," she said, voice still laced with a whine. "I don't want to lie to you but I can't really explain it myself." She lifted her head, looking into her father's concerned eyes. "And I don't wanna lie to the school when I'm clearly in good health."

Ryan hummed in contemplation.

"Okay so if you're having a hard time to really express, then I won't push." She gave a wobbly smile of gratitude. "But unfortunately, your detension has been scheduled—"

"Yeah no it's fine," she assured, patting his shoulder and sniffling. "I totally deserve it anyway. No one forced me to skip. I wasn't coerced into skipping. I want you to know I really walked out of those school doors on my own free will simply for the reason I was concerned about this school mate and his younger sister. That's it, nothing less, nothing more."

Ryan nodded determinedly.

"Okay. I believe you. But this boy..." fear gripped her heart, "I have to meet him so I can somewhat understand what compelled you to walk out school on your own free will, hon."

"Dad!"

"Hey, just saying!"

~~

After the last class, the teacher called her over to the desk. She lowered her half-moon spectacles to peer at Jade. She gulped, her stomach tightening in knots.

The teacher gave her a slip of paper.

"I was asked to give this to you for today's detension after the school hours, Miss Alderson."

"Oh. Right." She took the paper and waved it. "Thank you, miss."

She went to the designated classroom and saw five more people along with today's teacher-in-charge by the desk. Surprise colored his features and she went in, handing the slip.

"Hello good afternoon, sir."

"Uh... y—yes good afternoon, Miss Alderson." He addressed the other students when he next spoke. "For today, all six of you are to clean the school windows for an hour before you head home." He cleared his throat and passed by Jade, leaving the room and urging the other students to follow.

A tall and burly teen passed by her, followed by a skinny student, a girl huddled over a sketchbook, a coughing senior, and finally Jackson Arden himself.

He shot her a smirk. Automatically, Jade's response was to scowl. He seriously had a way of pushing her buttons without saying anything. It was a talent, she swore.

"I warned you. Now look where you are."

Jade sniffed and held her head high, walking out the classroom in purposeful strides. He caught up to her easily. Ugh... long legs.

"I remember how I said I knew what the consequence was and still, I went along." She raised a brow at him. "So I did this to myself."

"Yeah, that's what I said."

"Whatever. C'mon."