Page 26 of Jain

I couldn’t move.

I began to walk backwards, but the crowd had followed me, meaning I had no option to walk forward. I knew the crowd wanted a reaction, but I wasn’t going to give them one.

“It’s alright, Doe, I’d still do you,” called out one of the guys as I cringed inwardly. Arden dropped the girl’s leg like it was on fire, his arms releasing her as my stomach dropped.

Kate!

Kate glared at me, folding her arms as she raised her eyebrow defiantly. I met her eyes and saw no regret, no emotion, nothing other than pure smugness.

She didn’t care about me. She never did.

“So, he’s that much of a deadbeat you decided to have him yourself?Wow.” I shook my head in disgust, ignoring the way my body trembled.

Arden walked over to me, but I brushed him off, refusing to make eye contact with him.

“Why are you pissed off? We weren’t exclusive—”

I stopped then, turning to him as I noticed everyone around us waited with bated breath.

“No, you’re right. We weren’t. But now, we’re nothing. Good luck to you both. I’m done.”

“Ah fuck, Doe-”

“My name isJain.” I snapped back as Kate smirked.

“With an I, typical teenage mother.”

I stopped as Arden stared at Kate in anger.

“Is that what this is about? You hating her? What the fuck Karen?”

I let out a laugh then, as Kate’s face turned puce with anger. He didn’t even know her fucking name.

“I’m done.”

I walked away blindly, refusing to turn back. I walked despite the tears, and I didn’t stop until I was off school property. I couldn’t face the stares or the questions. I didn’t want the sympathetic looks, and I damn well didn’t want his explanations. I realised I was aimlessly walking until I found myself waiting at my bus stop.

I couldn’t help but cry, but I did it silently so as not to draw attention to myself. Finally, the bus came, and I huddled in the back seat the entire journey. I turned my phone off before finally getting off near my house.

My mum was on her day off, and I knew she wouldn’t take kindly to me coming home from school because of an incident with a boy, so instead, I told her I didn’t feel well. After grilling me to make sure I wasn’t pregnant, she leftme to my own devices. I showered before climbing into bed.

I hated Kate.

I hated Arden.

But most of all, the man with the green eyes seemed to anger me the most, and I wasn’t entirely sure why.

Chapter Twelve

My mum had gone to work, and I decided I needed to face the music at school.

Sarah promised to meet me at the school gates, and I mentally prepared myself to see Arden or Kate. Surprisingly, though, the gossip seemed to have died down, and I made it through my classes unscathed.

When I reached my English class, where Mr Silver barely paid any attention to me, I was grateful for that.

The last thing I needed was further confusion.

“Sir, I saw you last night with your bird,” Harley smirked as I lifted my eyes to Mr Silver. “She’s fit, well done.”