Chapter Eleven

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"Mom, don't make this a thing. I already told you I'm not going!" I'm so exasperated and done with the conversation already!

"Jessica Grayson, he is your father. You can't shut him out of your life forever!" She throws her hands up with frustration.

Well, I can try.

"You are not asking me to give him a phone call and have a chat, mom. You are asking me to go celebrate his engagement with the woman that single-handedly destroyed our family. I just can't."

"Actually, your father destroyed our family."

"Exactly my point!"

She sighs.

"He wants you and the boys at the party. It's weeks away, so figure out a way to be okay with it. He wants you there, and you know he always gets his way." She says, and I groan.

"Why do I have to go, mom?"

"We have already been over this. He wants you kids to meet her parents. If she marries him, she'll be your Stepmother whether you like it or not."

I gasp.

"I have a mother. I don't need a stepmother."

"He also wants to take you car shopping after school today." She says, changing the subject.

"Oh, he does, does he? Because he wants me to show up at his fancy party and meet his fiance's fancy parents."

I can't believe he is trying to bribe me! Can he sink any lower?

"You know you need the Car. Steff can't drive you around for the rest of your life!" She snaps.

Why is she yelling at me? She is supposed to be on my side, not his.

"Just because I need a car doesn't mean I will sell my soul to the devil!" I shout.

The resentment I feel towards him isn't something a Car can fix.

"He is your father, Jess. You need to find a way to forgive him. He left me, not you. He wants a relationship with you." She says.

"Are you serious?" I laugh bitterly. "When he left you, he left all of us. He chose that homewrecker fake best friend of yours over us!"

Her eyes widen, and I freeze. I clasp my hand over my mouth. I have gone too far this time. I know how much it kills my mom to talk about this subject. Betrayal from the two people she trusted most isn't something that can heal easily. And unfortunately, I understand that more than anyone. Even though her situation is so much worse than mine.

"Sorry. Mom, I am so sorry!" I stammer.

"Just meet him after school today." She doesn't look me in the eye as she leaves the room.

I sigh and fall face down on the bed. I kick my leg against the mattress with frustration. I feel drained already, and the day hasn't even begun. I didn't want to fight with mom first thing in the morning.

It's been more than four months since I last saw my father. Now he's engaged, ready to leave us all behind and start a new life.

I take the bus to school since Steff is once again too busy to pick me up.

It's been a few days since my heart to heart with Liam, and he's been sort of distant again. Like the moment we shared never happened. I can't seem to figure him out. One moment he is playful and in a good mood, and then the next, he is on edge and emotionally closed off. I am seriously beginning to question if he suffers from borderline personality disorder.

Lately, what I've been noticing is how whenever I am with Jayden, he keeps an eye on me from afar. I tried a few times to ask him what happened between them, but he refused to share. And not so surprisingly, Jayden didn't budge either. I know it's none of my business, but seeing Liam so on edge is frankly starting to worry me.

Jayden has become a good friend. We have things in common, and I like that he is funny and genuine. He makes me relax and forget all the bullshit in my life, especially now that I can't talk to my best friend as much as I'd like to. She is busy making out with Ryan whenever she can.

When I head inside, I don't talk to anyone. I am so angry I'm afraid I will explode like the fourth of July.

"Hey, sunshine." Jayden smiles at me.

"Hey, you!" I smile back despite my bad mood.

"There's an away game today, and I got two Tickets. Will you be my date?"

My face instantly falls.

"It's not an actual date, Jess. Sorry, wrong choice of word." He shrugs.

"No. I mean, I don't like going to football games, but that's not it. I am meeting my father after school because, after all these weeks, he finally remembered that I need a Car." I tell him.

"Ow!" He looks at me sympathetically. I've filled him in on what an ass my father is.

"Yeah, he is engaged, by the way." I lock my jaw.

"To the. . ." He searches for the right word, and I decide to help.

"The backstabbing homewrecker? Yes."

"I'm sorry."

Suddenly I smile at the idea that comes to my mind, hi-fiving myself internally.

"What?" He eyes me, looking slightly scared as I smile sweetly at him.

"Jade, my sweet, sweet, Jade!" I bat my eyelash at him.

"I don't like this." He says.

"You know a lot about cars. You go to all these car conventions and stuff, right?" I ask.

"Yes." He answers.

As he slowly comprehends what I'm asking, his eyes widen, and he shakes his head.

"No!" He says, and starts to walk away.

"Come on, please! Just do me this one favor." I beg, jumping in front of him and blocking the way.

"No way, Jess. You are just scared to face your father. That's all."

"It's just stupid car shopping, it's not a big deal. Plus, I need your expert opinion." I give him the puppy eye sticking my bottom lip out.

He sighs.

"Can't you ask Jeremy or Stefani?"

I haven't had a chance to talk to Steff, and Jeremy is too busy with some school projects. Suddenly, I get an idea. I fake frustration and defeat.

"They are both occupied. But I guess I could just ask Liam," I say and turn around to walk away.

"Wait." He calls after me.

I hide my smile, running a victory lap in my mind.

"Hmm?" I say, turning around.

He glares at me.

"Fine, I'll go with you." He says.

A huge smile threatens my lips, so I bite them.

"Thank you!" I wrap my arms around him, and he kisses my neck.

What?

I hear someone clear their throat, and I turn around to find Liam staring at us with what I can only describe as pure rage.

"Liam?" I gasp, panicking like he just caught me cheating.

It's okay. You are not really his girlfriend. I tell myself.

"Can we help you?" Jayden asks irritably, and Liam's eyes zero in on him.

"Jayden, so help me God!" He threatens, and I see as his hand molding into a fist.

"Liam, it's not what you think," I say, glaring at Jayden. He so did that on purpose. "I was just thanking him."

"For?" He snaps at me.

"Jealousy does not look good on you, my friend." Jayden chuckles.

"Touch her again, and I promise you, I will break your face." Liam takes a step towards Jayden. "I mean it!"

"Liam!" I scold.

"I don't think you will." Jayden challenges, stepping closer. "Stop feeding her bullshit, man. I know that this—" He gestures between Liam and me. "—is all fake." He says.

What the hell?

"What?" Liam turns around to look at me, but I'm as dumbfounded as he is.

"You heard me. I know." Jayden says, glaring at him.

My heart feels like it is about to leap out of my chest. Liam must think I told Jayden.

"What do you think you know exactly?" Liam asks, and I wait for the answer, but Jayden doesn't say anything. He just keeps glaring at Liam. It's like they are having a silent conversation.

Liam finally nods like he understands.

"You don't own her, Liam. I have as much right as you do to be near her, if not more." Jayden says.

What in the world has gotten into him?

"Jayden, don't!" I warn.

He reaches for me, but I step back.

"I told you to not fucking touch her!" Liam steps between us, looking primal.

"How long will your attention last, Liam, hmm? Till you finally get to fuck her?"

My jaw hangs open, and before I can even blink, Liam is connecting his fist with Jayden's nose and sending him flying across the floor. He then hovers over him, throwing more punches.

"STOP!" I yell, feeling frantic.

People start gathering and forming a crowd, but nobody does anything.

Why is everyone just standing?

"Please, stop it!" I yell again, feeling helpless.

Ryan and Elliot run up to us, and they both grab each guy, and they pull them apart. I spot Principal Carter making his way towards us, looking extremely angry.

"Disick, Wilson, my office. NOW!" He screams, and both guys glare at each other, following him through the hall.

Liam gives me one last look before they turn around a corner.

"Jess, are you okay?" Elliot asks, holding my shoulders, checking for any injuries.

Why is he trying to act like my hero when he's the exact opposite?

"I'm fine, Elliot." I push his hands away.

"Are you sure?" He asks, looking into my eyes.

I can't believe these are the same blue eyes I once thought I loved. Now they just look dull to me.

"Yes. I'm fine." I start walking away before he has a chance to say something else. I get away from the hungry eyes of the crowd and head for the principal's office.

"What did you do now?" Brittany comes out of nowhere, and suddenly, I'm being surrounded by the pretty committee.

"Not now, Brittany!" I try to move past her, but she blocks the way.

"You bring nothing but trouble, do you?" She smirks, looking at me like I'm a bug she'd like to squash. "I gotta say, I do admire your valor. But deep inside, you must know that you are not good enough for him. For either of them, in fact." Hate radiates from her eyes, and even though it's nothing new, it still takes me aback. With the way everything ended between us, you'd think I'd be the one throwing insults around.

I can't deal with her right now. I try to walk past her, but she shoves me back. Hard.

"What do you think you are doing?" I snap.

"Why don't you just do us all a favor and go hang yourself?"

I gasp! She did not just say that!!

"God! Why are you so cruel, Brittany?" Tears sting my eyes.

"I am done with you like I'm done with this conversation. You couldn't even keep a simple guy like Elliot happy, and he had to come looking for more. This sounds oddly familiar. Where have I heard this story before?" She looks up as if thinking, mischief clear in her eyes. "That's right. Tell your Dad I said congratulations on the engagement. Everyone's heard. I must say she is quite the catch." She says.

Before I even realize what I am doing, I'm suddenly on top of her, punching and slapping the living light out of her. Years and years of pent-up resentment and anger are unleashed, and for a few seconds, I completely blackout.

I vaguely feel someone pulling me away, but my mind is so clouded with rage that it takes a minute to register.

"Jess, what happened?"

"Jeremy?" I ask, my vision starting to clear.

"Are you alright? What happened?" He asks again.

"She broke my nose!" I hear Brittany yell. "She broke my fucking nose!"

"Miss Grayson, Miss Morgan, MY OFFICE!" The voice sounds like it's coming from a mile away, but in reality, its principal Carter yelling at us from two feet away.

"What is happening to this damn school? Follow me, you two!" He snaps.

It turns out Brittany's nose is actually not broken, and I am both relieved and angry about that. We both end up getting after-school detention for the next week, and I know for a fact that the reason he went easy on us is because her father gave him a call right after Carter called my mother to tell her what happened.

Even though my side hurts, and I have a bruising on my cheek, I know Brittany probably feels much worse. And that makes me feel better. I'm glad I got in a fight. At least now I can avoid meeting with my father.

Thank you, detention!

"Hello," I say, picking my phone up.

"A fight, Jessica, really?" My mom shouts.

"You have no idea what she was saying, mom. Should I have just stood there while she talked trash about our family?"

"Our family?"

"Yes, she also told me I should go kill myself."

She is silent on the other end, and I wonder if we got cut off.

"Mom?"

"I'm here. I will talk Principal Carter into letting you leave after school today so you can meet your father. I'm glad you kicked her ass." She says.

While I'm glad we are on the same page about Brittany, I really don't want to see my father.

"But, mom! I got in a fight. I got detention."

"There's no escaping this, Jess. He is going out of town tomorrow. Just meet him at that car dealership, the one in downtown, after school." And she hangs up.

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L

Could this day get any worse? The only upside to detention was not having to see my father, and now that's gone to shit.

"Jess." I turn around to find Jayden.

I glare at him in warning and stride past him. I have already missed the first period I'm not about to miss the second.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." He follows me, apologizing.

"I'm so mad at you, Jayden!"

"I don't know what to say. He brings out the worst in me."

I stop and spin around to face him. His expression turns from one of pleading to shock.

"What happened to your face?" He reaches for me, but I step away.

"You said pretty nasty things back there."

"I know." He says, remorsefully. "I never meant to hurt you, Jess."

"What did you mean when you said you knew that it's fake?"

He arches his brow in question.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" I snap, and he sighs.

"I heard you talking to Steff about it last week at lunch. You didn't see me."

I study his face for any sign of malice, but there's none.

"And you thought you could just use it to attack him?" I accuse.

"What happened to your face?" He asks, ignoring my question.

"I got into a fight with Brittany."

His eyes widen with surprise.

"When?"

I wave his question away.

"Don't worry, her face looks much worse."

"Why would you fight with her?"

"Long story. You should worry about your own face, and I'm still mad at you!"

"I'm sorry, Jess. I really am. You are the last person I want to upset. Just tell me what I have to do to make it up to you."

"Well, for starters, you can tell me what went down between you and Liam all those years ago."

His face goes blank, expressionless. He stares at me without saying a word.

"That's what I thought." I shake my head in frustration before walking away.

Just for once, I want time to slow down so I can mentally prepare myself for meeting with my father. But time is more ruthless than karma sometimes, and before I know it, it is lunchtime.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asks for the millionth time.

"I'm fine. Thank God for the person who invented foundation, you can barely see the bruise." I smile at him reassuringly.

"Then why aren't you eating?" He asks.

The truth is I have been waiting to see Liam so I can tell him Jayden didn't find anything out from me. I have so much anxiety right now, and I can't bother with food.

"I don't know. I'm just not that hungry, I guess." I lie.

"What's really going on, Jess? What's going on with you three?" He asks, angry, and frustrated.

"You three?"

"You, Liam and Jayden. You're not telling me, but I know you're stuck in this little love triangle. It's so obvious!" He says with exasperation. And it's so unlike him. The day has been stressful enough without being confronted. I can't deal with his emotions when I can barely deal with mine.

"Is it as obvious as your love triangle with Ryan and Steff?" I ask.

He stares at me with wide eyes.

"Jeremy I-" Words fail me, and I immediately feel terrible. Today has been exceptionally hellish. I lashed out at my mom. I lashed out at Jayden, even though he sort of deserved it. Now I am lashing out at Jeremy. It's like everything that comes out of my mouth is venom.

Before I can really apologize, Steff shows up with Ryan. Perfect!

"Jess, I just heard what happened. Oh my God, are you okay? Sorry, I came in just now." She says, sitting down.

"Wait! You just came to school? Just now?" I ask, confused.

"Yeah." She says like it's no big deal.

How the hell did they let her in?

"Is it okay if I join you?" Ryan sits next to her without waiting for a reply.

"I think you just answered your own question." I glare at him, and Steff glares at me.

"Of course, it's okay." She smiles at him.

"Sorry, I kept her to myself this morning." He says, nuzzling her neck.

"You were with him?" I ask, appalled.

"Long story." She says, trying to hide a grin.

"I think I just lost my appetite." Jeremy gets up and leaves the table without a goodbye.

"What's up with that dude?" Ryan says.

"That dude is our friend," I say, not bothering to hide my dislike.

"What happened between you and Brittany? Tell me." Steff changes the subject.

"Long story." I throw her words right back at her before getting up and leaving the table.

I try to catch up to Jeremy, but he is in the halls and lost in the crowd.

"Jess." My heart jumps at the familiar voice.

I turn around to find him staring at me and I am suddenly overwhelmed.

"Liam!" I run and throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He stiffens, caught off guard. Then his arms slowly come around me.

When I finally regain my senses, I pull away feeling embarrassed. But as soon as he feels me pull away, he tightens his hold, burying his chin in my hair and inhaling softly. It's terrifying how much I want to kiss the hell out of him right now.

"Liam, I didn't tell Jayden." I manage to say.

"I know." He says and pulls away to look at me.

He holds my face between his hands, and he frowns. I know what he's looking for, and I'm grateful I found a way to cover it up. After a moment, we both become aware of his hands on me. My pulse quickens when his thumbs lightly brush my now flushed cheeks. He looks at me with something that resembles tenderness, and my breath catches. His eyes drop to my lips, and he swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

Liam drops his hands, and I whip my head around to see the owner of the voice. I find Emily, Elliot's brother's girlfriend, and the redhead that was all over Liam at Ryan's birthday party staring at us.

"Elle?" Liam looks surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Why do you look so shocked?" She laughs at him. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I thought you left for New York last week."

"I did, and now I'm back." She says, and they just stare at each other in silence.

This is awkward.

"Jessica, how are you? It's been so long." Emily breaks the silence.

"I'm fine. You?" I give her a weak smile.

"I'm great. This is Ellyn, my cousin. She's new

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