Chapter Ten

I walk out of the apartment building and put my earbuds in. I start jogging down the street, thinking over what just happened.

For starters, I'm in love with someone else."

"Wha-- Who?" Jackson's voice is quivering.

I raise my eyebrows. "You care?"

Jackson sinks back. "N-No."

Kelli rolls her eyes and sighs loudly. "Can we get out of here?" she says impatiently. He finally sighs. "Who?"

I raise my head in confidence. "My roommate, Amy."

Jackson stares.

"What?"

I nod.

"But…" Jackson says quietly. "She's a girl. You're a girl."

Kelli laughs. She folds her arms. "So you're bi?"

"Yes."

Kelli laughs again.

Anger rises in me; bubbling like a boiling pot of water. "You got a problem with that?"

Kelli snickers. She shakes her head. "Jackson! Your ex is bi!"

I take this as an opportunity. I might be able to save Kelli from him. "You'll have to be specific, he has lots of fun with lots of girls."

Kelli pauses. "Wha--"

"Nothing!" Jackson exclaims. "Alright… Let's just go."

Jackson walks out the door. Kelli follows, but before she can make it out of the door, I grab her.

"Hey!"

"Kelli, listen to me," I say with all seriousness. "I… I meant what I said about him having lots of fun… I know."

Kelli furrows her eyebrows. "You've… He… Did you let--"

"No."

Kelli bites her lip. "You… You don't have any proof."

I look at her, small tears forming in my eyes. "I know, but you have to trust me," I blink away my tears. "You're running with scissors."

Kelli looks back. Jackson peeks in. "Kelli, baby, you coming?"

She looks back at me one last time before going up to Jackson and slapping him hard across the face.

"This is over 'baby,'" She comes back to me. "I, I'm sorry. About--"

"Thanks."

"Um," she says. "Sorry for being a b*tch."

"It's okay," I pause. "This might be weird, but you wanna exchange numbers? Keep in touch?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," Kelli says, handing me her phone. I hand her mine and then we switch back.

"See you," I say. She waves and we go separate ways down the road. I stop, and then turn around, seeing Jackson with his hood on. I march down there and look at him.

"What?" he asks stupidly as he lights a cigarette.

I flip him off. "F*ck off."