Boarding School

Jake sighed. "I guess I should get this over with." He stepped out of the room, walking down the hall. He walked past Alyce flipping through one of her sketch books and stopped. "Hey, Alyce? What's up?"

 

Alyce paused on a page, and looked up. "Avoiding teachers. I skipped out about half my classes."

 

"No worries. The techers here are like zombies. I doubt they noticed you were gone at all." Jake smiled and sat down next to her. "Wachya doing?"

 

Alyce smiled and shrugged. "Just looking through old sketches."

 

"Yeah?" Jake leaned against the wall, pretending to be interested with a hole in his sneaker. "So...have you thought about my...suggestion earlier?"

 

Alyce stared at her sketchbook for a second. Of course I've been thinking about it...it's been on my mind all day. "Um...yeah, of course I have."

 

Jake waited patiently, pulling at a loose thread in the ratty sneaker while his mind buzzed. The silence was pounding on his ears. "And...?"

 

Alyce was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath and answering. "I think I'll take it up."

 

Jake let out a breath. Breath that he had been holding since he'd asked her the question. "You know...you don't have to if you don't want." He said suddenly, wondering if she was just being nice again. "It's your choice."

 

Alyce smiled faintly. "I...think I'll stick with you just a little longer."

 

Jacob smiled clumsily. "Thanks. Good to know you aren't sick of me already."

 

"Well, you're not that annoying. I've met worse guys." She gave him a bright smile.

 

"How much worse?" He mumbled, remembering how she'd reacted to their fake fight a few days ago.

 

Alyce's smile faltered and she was silent for a moment before quietly replying, "Let's just say...worse as in that fake fight a few days ago hit a little too close to home."

 

Jake put a comforting arm around her and hugged her, unsure what to say. He smiled at her gentally.

 

Alyce hugged him tightly, a few tears sliding down her face. Everything seemed like it came out then; her fears over the past few days, her homesickness. "I just...I feel so stupid." she muttered softly.

 

Essence was rumaging through Jasmines room.

 

Jake kissed the top of her head. "It's not stupid at all." he whispered to her.

 

Alyce smiled faintly, rubbing her eyes. "You're just...amazing, Jake. You know that, right?"

 

Essence slamed the wall in fustration.
Where is it she yelled.