23. The Grudge

I try to be tough, I try to be mean

But even after all this, you're still everything to me

Jenna

"i-i just am not feeling well.." I shook my head as i covered my way to over exposed chest as Blake smirks looking down at me.

Don't get me wrong I'm not one to avoid a boys gaze, or anyone's gaze for that matter, it wasn't the fact that I didn't think I was pretty. It was the fact that I thought I was an object to him, more felt like it. Sometimes around Blake I feel like I'm a competition to be won between him and whoever he's fighting that day lately it's been Paige, as much as I knew Blake cared about me, sometimes I felt like this competition or trophy that he walks around with. I've told him multiple times I wasn't a party girl, and yes, of course I've tried because I'm in college but living with a parent with alcohol abuse, a party is somewhere that didn't make me feel comfortable, especially one I felt extremely suffocated in.

"Cmon baby, give it a chance, you've barely been here for an hour... orr we can go upstairs and have some time to ourselves" He smirks leaning down to kiss my neck softly, as if place my hands on his shoulder I sigh pushing him slightly off me as I smelt the liquor linger in his breath.

"I think it's time for me to go."

"God you're so annoying!" He rolls his eyes speaking out of drunk words.

I shake my head before turning from him to walk towards the door, the last thing i wanted to do was fight with him, especially while he was drunk.

"you know any girl would be lucky enough to have me on their arm, and you throw me around and play with my feelings like I'm some rag!"

"What did you just say to me?"

" I'm saying to loosen up a little bit you're so uptight trying to be fucking perfect!"

"No im not fucking doing this right now Blake!" I begin to walk out of the door as the cold air hits my bare shoulders.

"Dont fucking walk away when i'm talking to you!"

"What are you going to do Blake? Fuck someone else?"

"Well your odviously to much of a prude to take one article of clothing off for me let alone KISS ME so i may as well find a girl who will!" Blake covers his mouth not believing the words he says as my face goes pale, "i-i didn't mean that Jenna.. I'm just—"

"Your just WHAT?" Tears form in my eyes as I look up towards the boy, the crowd outside begins to stare at us, "Stop pretending like i'm a toy to you Blake! News flash those are girls you fuck with, i'm a woman, so you want something easy go back in there and fucking find it!" A raindrop hits my cheek softly as i start to cry, the rain disguising my tears.

"Can't you see what you're doing to me?" Agony ripped through me, fresh and raw and hurting as though it was a wound that had physically afflicted me.

Doing to him? what about me?

"What am I doing Blake? Explain, fucking communicate"

"I dropped EVERYTHING to chase you Jenna Midow."

"I didn't ask you to!"

"You didn't fucking have to!" I cry looking around, I felt like I was being twisted from the inside out, my soul trying to crawl out of my body, find somewhere safe.

Someone safe.

The cold silence was the worst bit of it. The way that Blake's ' eyes settled on me, said nothing other than just how removed from the situation he was, every ounce of warmth leeched from them like on a cold day. Like I didn't even know him; like I meant nothing.

Perhaps that hurt the most. I wasn't sure if it was that, or the cold silence.

"Am i just a ploy in this game for you?"

"Jenna what are you even talking about, your fucking crazy!"

"The girl, the Title."

"You don't know what you're saying."

"I heard it Blake!"

"That was Paige! She made the bet!"

"A bet?"

"Jenna.."

"A fucking BET!"

"It was Paige's idea..."

I shake my head in disbelief as my hair along with my clothes now matted soaked from the rain.

Blake steps in my direction towards me. "Why'd you pick me?" my voice trembles,"Why are you such an asshole!"

"Jenna.. "

We pant in each other's faces for a moment and the he lunges. Our hands know where to go, preventing a collision. Our lips mash together, as much a fight as their words. The kiss is violent, dominating, brutal.

My fingers on the back of Blake's head clutch at hair and skull, trying to force their way inside, latch on permanently. Blake's fingers are doing the same to my back and shoulders before i push him off me at the bitter taste of alcohol in his system.

The only thing tearing from my heart that when i opened my eyes he wasn't her, his lips tasted like vodka as her tasted like mint, his hands rough as hers were delicate. He wasn't her.

"Stay away from me."

And with that I turn on my heals and run anywhere to get away from him.

Not in fear of him, but fear that that kiss meant nothing to me.

Paige

I adjust my jacket as I walk into the crowded KAPPA house, it felt like there was no room to breath let alone stand with the basketball team. I could barely hear myself think as i turn to Azzi.

"First time for everything right?" I chuckle patting her shoulder as she shakes her head.

"I now remember why we don't go to these things" She sighs as we push through the crowd of people, "Split and find her?"

"Who said i was here to find her?"

"I'm not stupid P.. The only reason we are here— dressed like this is for Jenna."

I shrug bitting my lip as a pick up an unopened can of beer handing it to Azzi, "Chill out and have fun." I wink before getting pulled into the crowd, i quickly grab Azzi hand pulling her with me.

"Are you not drinking?" She looks up at me as she sips out of can.

"I'd be stupid to drink right now.." I mutter looking into the sea of people, "do you think this was a dumb idea?"

"Paige— if there's one thing I've learned about you in the years of known you is that you're insanely protective for your own good, you protected things that you treasure and care about."

"Well well well— look what the huskie brought in" A chuckle interrupts the girls as Azzi looks over my shoulder before rolling her eyes, I turn on my heel to meet a very familiar figure.

"Listen we don't want trouble — let alone a conversation Blake." Azzi crosses her arms over her chest as she looks up at Blake before quickly typing something on her notes, "Hey P, our uber will be here in 20 what's your card information.."

What?

"Ub— OUCH Az!" I flinch as she hits my arm handing me her phone with the notes app open.

I'll distract him, go find her.

this is why she was my bestfriend.

Handing her phone back to I nod, "I'm gonna... try and find a bathroom, i'll meet you back down here.."

Azzi nods as I don't acknowledge Blake once as i walk past him hitting his shoulder hard with mine making.

Azzi

"I'm not stupid — i know who your here for, but let me remind you Fudd, i have a lot of secrets of yours under my sleeve and if Jenna finds out, i'll gladly post them on TMIUconn."

"I won't need to tell Jenna when she finds out for herself, your lucky Paige hasn't caught on yet."

"and she won't — the two are so oblivious to everything but eachother, plus Paige and I made a little deal."

Jesus, i can't leave that girl for a second.

"I know it was you that took Jenna's brace, and the one deleting Paige's texts off her phone — also id love to know how Paige got blocked on Jenna's account."

"You have no idea what you're talking about Kid." Blake stutters before looking around the room to make sure no one was paying attention to our conversation.

"Oh I think I do.. and i think you're scared..."

"The last thing i think i'm scared of is the girl i fucked last year when we were drunk sweetheart. Your sweet Paige know about that?"

Silence crept on my face as i look down at my feet,

"Didn't think so— do you stay out of my way and our little secret stayed between us." He winks before turning to walk away, "Oh and remind your girl to

keep away from Jenna, before she looses our deal quicker then she made it."

My eyebrows come together in confusion as i stick my hands in my pocket ruffling around for my phone.

"What the fuck are you talking about Blake?"

"Your little friend made a deal with me, i get the girl, i get her title."

"Paige earned that Blake it's not something you can just get, your just mad she's better at your sport and can run circles around you — so your throwing her off by fucking with Jenna's head?"

"I always knew you were smart, that's what makes you so hot..."

"Well your fucking up two careers in the process then to makes your pathetic one known."

"It won't be pathetic when I have the girl and the trophy."

"Jenna well choose Paige over anything — i thought you were smarter then that St. James."

"Why do you think I keep sabotaging Paige— cmon keep up detective."

"You won't get away with this."

"I think I already did." He smirks before turning his back to me and walking into the sea of people, quickly i take my phone out to make sure it had still been recording from before.

"No.. i'm one step ahead of you.." I smirk down at the video i had taken of our conversation.

Paige

In utter defeat i lean against the wall finally getting out of the crowd before taking out my phone to text Azzi before a familiar voice makes me snap my head up.

"PAIGY!!!" Mia smiles throwing her hands over my shoulders to hug me, "did you bring Nika??"

"No sorry Mi— Nika decided to sit this one out— God you are drunk." I laugh holding her steady as she wobbled around, "have you seen Jenn?"

"Not since she left!" Mia giggles into my arms as she starts to drink whatever is in her cup again before i take it away.

"She left?"

"Yup! Without her phone too!" She giggles holding up Jenna's phone before handing it to me.

my mind wonders like crazy as I hold the drunk girl in my hands. I wonder about the girl that had left the party. Where was she? Why did she leave? Is she safe?

The worst of the worst, crawling into my head as I try to shake them out, trying to help my drunk friend, but I can't help it but worry.

"Alright that's enough for you tonight, why don't we get you home okay?"

maybe find Jenna in the process..

"Do you love Jenna?!" Mia slurred as i walk her through the crowd to find Azzi.

"Your drunk Mi."

"I don't have to be sober to know you two are in love!" She shouts making my head shake, "She's in love with you Paige, like head over heeells! But she doesn't think you love her."

"She'd be stupid to think that—"

"SO YOU DO LOVE HER!"

"Woahhh there.." Azzi chuckles holding Mia up as she stumbles from my arms slightly, "Looks like you found one, what about the other."

I sigh shaking my head, "She left and Mia... has he phone"

"Left ? Like in isn't here? Was she drunk? It's pouring out Paige, what if she walked"

"You two are dumbasses" Mia chuckles looking between us, "Jenna doesn't like getting drunk, and she's wearing heels she wouldn't walk home!"

I bite my lip looking around the crowd trying to get any idea of where she could be before taking my phone out and texting Nikas number.

"Who are you texting ?"

"Nika, to pick you two up— I have to find her."

"MY CRUSH NIKA!" Mia cheers before her smile drops, "God do i look bad.."

"You look beautiful— it's the middle of the night Paige, what if she's home."

"We got here an hour ago, someone who have told us she was home or we would have passed her while she left,"

"Paige.."

"Jenna just doesn't leave Az something must have happened."

"Her and Blake fought!" Mia blurts before tumbling over.

Azzi and I's eyes meet as I nod towards the door and making my way to it.

I have to find her.

Her keys. Her Airtag!

Caitlin Clark

Do you still have Jenna's airtag location

on your phone?

Always, why what's up?

Is she okay did something happen?

She got in it with her boyfriend

apparently.

Blake's not her boyfriend Paige.

Not the point Clark

Then what is it you need?

Location, she left the party, alone

📍Pookie Wookie's Airtag location

Pookie Wookie?

Don't make me come there and hit you

kidding.

Jenna

One hour.

Who would've thought a little town in Connecticut would feel so big when you're walking home in the rain, especially without my phone I had no idea where I was going just walking in the direction I knew I came from in hopes that I would come across my house, or at least someone that would point me there.

I can't imagine how utterly crazy I look walking home, heels in my hand in the pouring rain looking truly like a failed walk of shame, my mind empty with questions which made little to no sense to me, but I had no way to think .

I couldn't escape the voice in the back of my head that clinged to my brain clawing at the insecurities.

A bright light causes me to put my hand over my head, shielding my eyes as the only thing they've been seeing for the last hour was pitch black, a car pulling up only to roll their window down.

"So help me God Jenna if you don't get in this car right now."

Authors note.

Dropping this chap,

then running away....

HEHEHEH