Chapter Sixteen

The school bell rang. Students filed into the Science classroom. It was Justin's last period of the day. He had that period with Jana, unfortunately. Ever since the restaurant incident, she had ignored him completely and always scowled if she saw him. He deserved it.

Justin watched as Jana entered the classroom with two of her friends, Marie and Stacie. They took their seats and started talking. Luckily, the teacher wasn't present yet. Justin reluctantly stood up and made an effort to walk to her desk. Jana looked up and saw him. Her expression then turned stony.

"Hi," Justin replied, shuffling to her seat. Marie and Stacie were silent. They both knew what had happened to Jana.

"Um, hi." Jana's response was brief and she didn't look at him as she had said it. "May I help you?" she added caustically in a snobby tone.

Justin gulped. Ouch! he thought. "Jana, can we talk please?" he blurted out.

Marie and Stacie exchanged glances. "I don't think she wants to talk to you, Justin," Stacie interrupted with an unwelcome look on her face.

"Okay, sorry to bother you three," Justin responded sadly, turning to walk away.

"Justin, wait. I will talk to you." Jana stood up and excused herself from her friends for a moment. She and Justin walked over to the back of the classroom.

Justin pulled up a stool as Jana sat on one of the tables. "Okay, talk," Jana said in a commanding voice, folding her hands over her chest.

"I'm sorry we didn't end our relationship on good terms," Justin apologized. "But I still want to be friends with you, Jana. If you can find the kindness in your heart to forgive me, then that would relieve me so much.. I don't want you to have a grudge against me. I feel so guilty about it still."

Jana's expression was still grim. "I don't know what to say," she said simply. "I want you know that I trusted you. It never occurred to me that you were doing this behind my back. Gosh, you were playing me for a fool."

"No, Jana! I didn't want it to end this way," Justin confessed, searching for the right words. "I really really liked you."

"You said you loved me!" Jana protested. "Not like, love. Didn't that mean anything to you?"

"Jana, wait-"

"No, listen to me please," Jana told him strictly. "You wanted me to be your girlfriend. You wanted a commitment. So I gladly agreed because I also loved you. And then I find out what's really been going on!"

Justin groaned, feeling shattered. "No," he replied. "It wasn't going to be like that. I was going to tell you sooner or later."

"That what!" Jana cried, her voice going up several notches. She didn't want her classmates to hear her. "That you wanted to break up with me?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, you are so…so full of it," Jana snapped, not believing his choice of words. "I think you just used me! You thought breaking up with me would solve the problem so that you could be with your other girlfriend? Justin, I don't understand the logic in that." She folded her arms over his chest crossly.

"I didn't want to hurt you any longer," Justin postulated despondently.

"So what you're saying basically is that you thought dumping me would be the best idea!" Jana scoffed.

"If you put it that way…" Justin responded.

Jana's throat felt dry. She wanted to scream at him but she would only make a scene. "I can't believe you did that to me. I think that we should have never dated." She slid off the table and walked back heatedly to her seat. Jana was miffed by her heated conversation with Justin. Marie and Stacie asked her what was wrong, and Jana just shook her head and told them she would tell them later.

Justin sighed and walked back to his seat. Just then their Science teacher, Mr. White, walked into the classroom. "Okay, class. Pop quiz today on that video we watched yesterday!" he said in a cheerful tone.

The class groaned, including Justin. Justin had totally forgotten to talk notes on yesterday's video. Aw man, I'm screwed, he thought. Jana would have gladly shared her notes with him if they were still at least friends.

Justin slumped down in his seat. Marie giggled and whispered something into Jana's ear. Jana shot her a disapproving look. Justin immediately knew that they were talking about it. He hated that.

He sat back up, ignoring their nasty secretiveness. Mr. White handed out the quiz papers. Justin desperately searched around for a Good Samaritan. Jana wasn't looking his way at all.

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JC sat on the beach, watching the sunset. It was beautiful afternoon. He gazed into the horizon, seeing the marvelous colors of the sky. It was a hazy pink and orange. The breeze fluttered all around him and the waves crashed upon the sandy shores. JC loved the beach. It was one of his favorite places to be, alone by himself. He had gone there a few times with Jana, and it had been their spot too. But that was all in the past.

JC sighed, feeling lonely. He had had a lot on his mind lately. He had to cope with all the devastation around him. He needed time to be alone.. He needed to breathe and cope with all of it. Everything around him seemed gloomy. Suddenly he heard the shuffling of feet from behind him.

"Hi," a shy voice said from behind him.

He turned his head around, a smile coming onto his lips. Jana was standing right in front of him, smiling. Her face was glowing, and her hair fluttered in the wind. JC had forgotten how beautiful she was. She was wearing a yellow sundress, which defined her figure.

JC sucked in his breath in awe. She kneeled down. "May I join you?" she asked him.

"Sure," he replied. He moved over as she sat down next to him.

"Thanks," she responded. She hugged her knees with her arms.

"How did you know that I would be here?" he asked her.

"I didn't," she replied with a grin. "I was just…hoping, I guess. Call me crazy. I walked here from my house. This place brings back memories, JC."

"Yeah." JC stared out into the endless ocean. "Isn't the sunset great?" he said, trying to make conversation.

"Yep, it's pulchritudinous," she answered, gazing out also.

"Pul what?" JC asked, giving her a weird look.

Jana smirked. "I learned that word yesterday," she explained sheepishly. She and JC chuckled.

JC stole a glance at her. She looked so radiant. He wanted so bad to touch her cheek or wrap her in his arms forever. He wanted to kiss her. Jana looked so vulnerable, so innocent and fragile. But they were just friends now. His mouth went dry with disappointment.

Jana started making lines in sand with her finger. She made a heart, and JC stopped her just as she was going to go over it with her hand. She gave him a startled look as he starting writing their names in the heart. JC looked into her eyes hopefully.

"Why did you just write our names in the heart?" Jana asked him.

JC felt humiliation come over him. "I…don't know," he answered, feeling stupid. "Why did you just make a heart?" he returned.

"What!" Jana retorted in disbelief. "What kind of question is that?" she said, ready to stand up. An awkward silence fell upon them. Jana moved over, feeling uncomfortable.

"Never mind," JC answered. "Forget it." It was hopeless. He had to face it. There was no future for Jana and him.

"JC, I want you to be truthful," Jana replied. "Do you miss 'us'?"

"Yeah, I kind of do," JC admitted, embarrassed. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Jana told him. She put a hand on his shoulder. She sighed. "I don't know what I'm talking about, but I've missed you too."

"I thought you hated my guts!" JC protested.

Jana laughed. "Oh, believe me. I hated your guts. But only because I was hurt."

"At least we're still friends," JC said. He was hoping that she'd tell him that she loved him. That would be too much to ask for. Suddenly, they heard thunder erupt. The both looked up and saw that the sky was gray and cloudy. They immediately stood up as rain started to drizzle.

Then more rain developed and it started pouring. JC grabbed Jana's hand as they got stuck in the rain, running. JC's jacket was able to cover most of his body, so he wasn't as soaked as Jana. They both laughed as they got soaked. "JC, this is crazy!" Jana shouted as she wiped the drops from her face. She laughed.

JC grinned, mussing up her wet hair. Jana screeched and swatted his arm. JC then let go of her hand and ran to his jeep, reaching into his pocket for his keys. He saw Jana run towards his car, and he unlocked his jeep and climbed in, locking it. He turned on his engine.

Jana approached his car, knocking on his window. JC made faces at her as she stood there, jumping up and down like a little child. She was soaking, and he knew he was being cruel. She didn't have a ride. JC stuck out his tongue at her, and Jana gave him a dirty look and pounded on his window.

JC chuckled in delight as he rolled down his window. Jana flung her wet hair at him. "JC!" she whined. "C'mon, can you give me a ride home please?"

"Aw, sorry," he joshed, wiping his face. "I can't."

"You are so evil," she said, eyeing him.

JC laughed and unlocked his doors. Jana went around the other way and climbed inside of his car. "Thanks," she said, shutting the door. Then she leaned towards JC and wrung out her wet hair onto JC's damp lap.

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The next day at school, Britney marched into the halls happily. She had just gotten a new haircut, which she thought looked fabulous. She was also sporting a brand new outfit, which consisted of a bright green halter-top and a slinky short skirt, which hugged her hips. She had decided to impress Justin instead of JC since JC was being such a jerk to her. "I guess Justin will have to be the lucky guy!" Britney chimed to herself as she entered the gym.

She found Justin shooting hoops with a bunch of guys. "Oh Justin!" she called, sauntering into the gym. She swung the gym doors open. Come on, where's the drool? she thought. Britney was surprised that Justin wasn't drooling over her or at least paying attention to her sexy outfit. She had spent her allowance money just for him.

Justin, who was distracted, got the ball stolen away from his hands. He flinched when he saw Britney, surprised. She was headed straight for him.. Uh-oh, I have to get away from here! he thought. Where is the nearest exit? Justin slapped his forehead.

Britney was heading his way. "Hey, Justin," Britney said in a seductive tone. She stood in front of him with her arms folded over her chest.

"Hi," Justin said as he caught the basketball from his teammate. "What's up?"

"Oh, not much," Britney replied, looking down at Justin's hands. "Big hands," she inspected with a wink. "Strong arms." She walked her fingers up his biceps.

Ugh, don't touch me. In fact, please get away from me! Justin thought, looking around him. His friends were giving him the thumbs up sign and encouraging looks. Justin was mortified. Britney was coming onto him again. He didn't like it one bit. But he had to try and be civil towards her. "Uh, Brit? Can we talk another time please? I'm sort of busy right now," Justin replied.

"I understand," Britney said in almost a whisper. She put her arm around his waist. "Well, I was thinkin'…well, maybe we could do something after school?" It was more of a plead than a question.

"Can't. Sorry, I'm busy." Justin purposely dribbled the ball away from her and did a lay up. The ball went in the basket, and Justin grinned.

"Brick!" Justin yelled as his friend, Cary Adams, made a shot from the half-court. Cary's ball hit the rim but didn't make it in. Cary shot Justin a menacing look. Justin gave him a cheesy grin.

Britney jogged over to Justin. "Justin! How about my party? I'm having a party at the end of the month and I really, really want you to come!"

How about you get away from me? Justin wanted to say. Britney was getting more annoying by the second. He had to get away from her. Justin finally groaned and jogged away from her. "Busy!" he called without turning his head.

Britney glared at him and stamped her foot. "What's with you?" she whined. "Justin, why are you acting all pissed today? Is it me?"

"God, how long did it take you to figure that out?" Justin muttered. "Yes, it's you!" Justin growled, turning around. His face was furious. "Can you just sort of get away from me? I know it's mean of me to say this, but I'm going to say it anyway. You are really irritating the shit out of me right now. I just want to be alone, okay?"

Britney gaped, humiliation written all over her face. She shook her head indignantly, refusing to be put to shame. "The least you could do is talk to me!" she protested,