Page 31 of Jain

Chapter Fourteen

Ispent the rest of the evening texting Harley and Sarah on a group chat we had created a while ago—Kate had been privy to this, but since she had turned into the worst friend in the world, we had deleted her.

Petty, yet necessary.

Harley did his best to make me smile, including coming round one time with copious amounts of chocolate when I burst into tears one evening on the phone.

What’s not to love?

Arden seemed to have got the message, and rumour had it he was now involved with a girl in the year below—Dana or something.

Whatever.

“Kate looks miserable.” Sarah sighed as we sat in the library working on our revision.

I glanced up, noticing our old friend was indeed looking glum.

“If you honestly expect me to give a fuck—”

“No, but she looks ill. You know she has no one at home who gives a shit.”

Sarah couldn’t help but care, chewing on her lip anxiously as she gazed at Kate.

“If you want to go and speak to her, I won’t be offended.”

I frowned at my notes before deciding to highlight something when Sarah stood up.

“I know you fell out with her over a boy—”

“It wasn’t over a boy! She was just a bitch.”

Sarah sighed before standing up.

“I’m going to see her. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”

I shook my head, making a face that told her categorically that no, I didn’t want to. I watched as she walked away, irritation zipping through me.

Kate glanced over at me before dropping her gaze guiltily. I stared daggers at her before turning my attention back to my page. I scribbled away frantically, absorbing as much as I could whilst the floodgates were open.

“Do you have a minute?”

I blinked before lifting my head slowly to see Kate standing there. She swallowed, her eyes filling with tears as I slammed my book shut.

“Areyoutalking tome?” I asked quietly, my rage bubbling up from the pit of my stomach.

“I’m sorry. I understand if you don’t want to talk to me ever again, but I’m sorry. I liked him for so long, but it was always you. Like Harley.”

I couldn’t reply. Instead, I stared at her in silence.

“So, I got jealous. I’m not proud of it, but I miss you. I miss our friendship and our—”

“Bit late for that.” I snapped bitterly.

I didn’t want her declarations of woe nor her crocodile tears.

“Please. I was wrong, haven’t you ever been wrong?”

Sarah walked up beside her, her eyes pleading with mine as I scowled.