♦️ Chapter 44 || TLC ♦️

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Chapter 44 || TLC
🔹🔹🔹🔹

{Really Quick Author's Note}

II don't like to do A/N at the beginning but I just wanted to thank all of you for your kind words and positivity. 

They really have helped.

Today was a really really bad day today so I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Love you all and thank you <3 

Without further ado, I bring you Operation Stay Alive Chapter 44!


* * Nicole's POV * *

"And that's our book vs. movie comparison of  The Power of One," I say as Jake and I end our English presentation. 

The class did their routine end of presentation applause before we sat down.

I huffed as I sat in my chair, "I think we got an A"

Jake laughed as he sat in the chair next to me, "I think it's safe to say we got an A" and I smiled back at him.

The rest of the class did their presentations and soon enough the bell was ringing signaling the end of school, which means time to go to the library with Jake.

To work on our reflection essay of course.

The class quickly empties and I walk to my locker, telling Jake I will meet him at the Library when I am done.

I open my locker and grab my backpack shoving everything inside of it. 

"Hey, Nicole, you did a great job on the presentation today," I hear from behind me.

I shut my locker door and turn around to find Ashley. Her voice wasn't malicious or sarcastic, it was genuine which threw me completely off.

"Umm... Thanks" I say with awkwardness to it.

Not only did her voice throw me off but she looked completely different. She wasn't wearing her usual show off popular girl attire. Instead, her hair was up in a neat ponytail and she was wearing casual comfy clothes... not judging... just surprised.

She takes a deep breath before speaking again, "Nicole I wanted to apologize for everything I put you through. It was an awful thing to do, and honestly, I have no idea why I did all that you. I don't expect you to forgive me but I just wanted to apologize and let you know that I am done with all that now."

I stare blankly at her not knowing what just happened, "Thank you for your apology, but out of curiosity why the sudden change of heart?"

She sighed, "Being apart of the cheerleading team was turning me into some kind of a jerk and the longer I was hanging around Bridget and Liam... I was turning into a monster. At Prom when I saw you and Jake dancing, it was like realization all of a sudden hit me. Bridget and Liam were trash talking and plotting as usual and I thought what am I doing this for? You never did anything to me!"

Tears began to form in her eyes as she continued speaking, "I was trying to make you miserable and destroy your happiness for no reason at all. I don't want to be like that anymore," she paused for a moment, "I just wanted to let you know that I no longer associate myself with Bridget and Liam, and I quit the cheerleading team. I'm turning over a new leaf, and I am so very sorry for everything."

She wiped the tears from her eyes, smudging her mascara in the process, "I don't expect you to forgive me. I just wanted to apologize for everything."

I place my hand on her shoulder with a kind smile, "I forgive you."

She looked up at me dumbfounded, "You do?"

I nod, "Thank you for apologizing."

"Could we maybe start off with a blank slate?" She asks hopefully.

I smile, "I'd like that."

She smiles back and unexpectedly pulls me into a hug.

"OMG I almost forgot this," She takes off her backpack and begins searching for something, " I bought you some Godiva chocolate!"

She hands me a small little bag filled to the brim with chocolate.

"Thank you, Ashley," I say.

"It's the least I could do," She says, "And I'm not saying we need to be the best of friends but if you need anything let me know okay?"

"Okay. I will."

And with a smile and a renewed sense of self, she skipped off.

I smiled, maybe the two of us be friends in the future; And with that, I made my way over to the library.

When I enter the library, I see Jake sitting at a table with his feet resting on a chair while reading a book.

"Hey Stranger," I say as I push his feet off the chair and sit in the chair.

"Hey, Princess. What took you so long?" He asked while putting the book down.

"I was just chit-chatting," I say nonchalantly as I place the bag of chocolates on the table.

His eyes widen, "Score! Where did you get those?"

He unwraps a piece and puts some chocolate on his mouth as I say, "Ashley gave it to me."

Immediately, Jake spits it out and gags. "Ashley?!" Jake gargles some water before continuing, "Why would she give you chocolate? Why would you ACCEPT chocolate from her?"

I pop a piece of chocolate in my mouth and as I was about to speak Jake leaps over and squishes my face with his hands, "Don't eat that! It could be poisoned!"

"It's not poisoned," I say.

"It's from Ashley!!!" Jake shouts as he looks at me as if I had completely lost my marbles.

"You'll never believe it. She came up to me and apologized to me!" I say cheerfully as I gently pulled his hand away from my cheeks.

Jake furrowed his eyebrows, "And you forgave her?"

I nodded, "I did."

"She was probably messing with you! So the next time you see her you won't expect an attack."

I spoke my head, "I believe her."

Jake looks are me questionable, "Oookay?"

"She started crying and-"

"Just because she started crying doesn't mean she really meant it!"

 "Jake... I know I shouldn't forgive her, but where will that get me? I can hold onto grudges and stay made at her forever or I can try to make things right between us."

Jake ponders my words before saying, "I'd say hold onto grudges and stay mad forever."

I shake my head, "She left Bridget and Liam and quit the cheer team."

"She quit the cheer team?" 

I nod.

"We are talking about the same Ashley right?"

I laugh, "I know it's crazy but maybe she really has changed. Maybe we can be friends."

"I know one thing. I definitely am not being friends with her!" He says with a snap of his fingers and sway of his head.

"I'm not saying you have to. I'm just leaving room for possibilities."

"I'm not saying your wrong. I just don't trust or like Ashley," He says as he pulls out his laptop, "Now let's finish this essay so we can go make out in the Encyclopedia aisle."

"What no?"

"Okay fine, we can go make out in the fiction aisle. I'm flexible."

I groan, "That's not what I meant! There are people still here?"

"Like anyone is going to get up to use an encyclopedia when we have Google"

I laugh at his comment.

"Am I wrong?"

I shake my head, "Shut up, and let's finish the last part of the protect."

"If I shut up will you kiss me?"

I groan as I open up my laptop.

"There is only one way to find out," He says causing me to look at him with a glare, only to find him looking at me with a cheeky innocent look on his face.

I roll my eyes and start typing on my laptop.

Jake laughs and does the same.

We spent the next hour or so writing our essay until we were done.

"My fingers hurt from typing," I whine as sit back and grab some more chocolate.

"At least we are finally done," Jake smiles as he shuts his laptop.

I nod, "Let me just print it and we can get out of here."

After I send it off to the printer  I see Jake who has a frown plastered on his face.

"What? Did you want to print it?" I question.

He rolls his eyes.

"Then what?"

"So we're not heading over to the encyclopedias?" Jake jokes.

I roll my eyes, "No."

I skip over to print where the two copies of our essay were neatly resting. I pick them up and head to the stapler to staple the two essays so we won't lose any papers or turn them in in the wrong order. 

I look up for a brief moment to find Liam sitting at a table staring at me with this weird look. It wasn't a full-on demonic glare... He looked like he was questioning something as he looked at me. You know maybe he wasn't even looking at me... maybe he was stuck on a really hard math problem and just staring off into oblivion trying to figure out how many dish soaps Jonny has.

Either way, I quickly skipped back to the table where Jake is.

"Time to go," I say hastily as I begin shoving everything carelessly into my backpack.

"Woah Woah Woah. You ok?" Jake asks as he starts putting his things away as well.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just saw Liam over there and now think its best to leave."

"Liam? In a library?" Jake questions seriously as he zips up his back.

"Yeah I know right," I reply.

Just as we were about to exit I snuck a look back at Liam's table one more time... and I wish I hadn't because I found Bridget aggressively making out with Liam.

"I'm gonna barf," I say instantly and run out of the library.

Jake looked at Bridget, cursed under his breath, and then ran after me.

"How could she even kiss him... He is a creep... He tried to..."

Jake cut me off, "Hey hey hey. Don't think about them. They are both f*king low life b*tches and deserve each other cause they can't get anyone else."

I laugh at Jake.

"Say it." He says.

"Say what?" I question.

"I'm right."

I shake my head, "I guess your right."

"D@amn right I am!"

I laugh as we walk out of the school and to Jake's motorcycle. We put on the helmets and head off to my house.

As soon as we arrive, we hop off his bike and walk to my door.

"Want to come in?" I ask with a smile.

"I'd love to" He cheekily smiles back.

The second I open the door I am surrounded by the yelling of my mom's voice, "Where the hell were you?! School ended hours ago!"

"I told you I was staying after at the library to work on a project with Jake," I say.

"You expect me to believe that bullsh*t!" She furiously looks at Jake and then back at me, "Get out of my house." She shouts at Jake.

Jake rolls his eyes and kisses my cheek before walking out of the. house, "See ya later Nicole."

Once Jake closes the door, my mom starts yelling again, "I forbid you to see him after school anymore."

"What?!" I strike, "I was literally working on a project! I will show you my essay with a time stamp on it!" I go through my bag to find my laptop and pull up my essay of google slides which low and behold read last edited 28 minutes ago, "See!!!"

She grunts, "Fine then you are grounded for a week."

I groan, "WHY!?"

"You knew I needed you home immediately after school!"

"Yeah, but I figured you could start cooking your party entrees and I could finish it when I came home."

She rolled her eyes, "You know what just go to your room! I'm ordering take out tonight... ut next time you better be home!"

I groan and immediately sprint to my room.

I slam the door and of course, I hear her yell from the kitchen about ruining the wood but I ignore her.

"What on earth happened to her?!" I pace as I think out loud.

"If you ask me she was always like that. You just always see the good in everyone."

I look up with wide eyes, "Jake what are you doing here! If she sees you in here I-"

"You'll get grounded?"

I stop mid-sentence.

"You already are. There's not much else she can do to you."

I groan and plop on the bed face first, "I don't know what else to do. She's like this every day now."

He lies down next to me, "Honestly, there's not much else you can do. You've already tried everything."

I rest my head on his chest and say nothing.

It seems like everything I say offends her. I can't talk to her without her yelling at me anymore. 

"Maybe she got fired?" Jake blurted out.

"Fired?" I question, "But my Dad is still working for their company."

"She can get fired and he can still have his job."

"But they were partners."

"Maybe they got your Dad a newer better partner."

"I guess there is only one way to find out," I pull out my phone and dial my dad's number.

"Hey, Nicole! How are you doing little Angel?"

"I'm good dad how are you?'

"Great! We just signed another contract!"

"That's great!" I cheer before clearing my throat, "Hey Dad did Mom get fired?"

"No, she didn't," He answered questionably, "Why do you ask?"

I shrug, "I was just wondering why she came home and you didn't. She's been acting a little... different lately."

"They didn't need her for the rest of the trip, so they sent her home, but she didn't get fired. It's probably just jet lag."

I nod, "Your probably right. Miss you."

"I miss you too."

"I'll see you soon right?"

"I'll be home before you know it!

"Bye!"

"Bye. Love you!"

"Love you too." and with that, I hung up.

**Jake's POV**

"Maybe she just needs a few days off to cool down ya know?" I try to encourage her as she shoves a pillow over her face.

I shake my head, "You know what you need?" I say as I slowly lift the pillow off of her face.

"What?" She mumbles.

"Some TLC."

"Total Lung Capacity?" She innocently questions.

I chuckle under my breath. She was just too cute.

I pull my head closer to hers and whisper in her right ear, "Tender," I then go to her other ear, "Love," and then rest my lips on her forehead "and care."

I pull my head back with a cheeky grin as she stares at me with wide eyes.

God, she is the only person who can make my heart race like a f*cking mad man.

• • •

{A/N}


I caved in and made a TikTok 

Which has helped in making me smile lately 🤣
My username is 16Alyssa Rose
So if you have one and want to check mine out go ahead!

DROP YOUR USERNAMES BELOW!!


Thank you all again for being so supportive of me!

Shoutouts to @pall_srik27 @hiimwatchingu2 @crapmcnugget @ur_missing_sparkle @kbaig17 @minniemochieffect @seniorwoofers_uwu @hhxpelessrxmanticc

Don't you worry Yessss I will be finishing this book!! ❤️

Don't be a silent reader 🌸

*Vote and Comment*

Alyssa Rose

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net