Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was 5:00 pm and I was bored so I decided to walk around the school, the halls are mostly empty since the school day was over, but the school didn't close its doors until 8:00 pm since high school students are forgetful, and some of them want to stay away from home as long as possible.
I am neither I'm just bored, Zanders having a family movie night with his family I have nothing to do. So, I chose to wander the halls of the school, but then I paused.
I heard something.
I couldn't quite find out what it was, but I knew it was coming from around the corner.
I walked closer to the noise and then I was able to make out what it was, it was the sound of someone crying.
Who could it be though? Should I get into their business?
Oh well, I just have to see, I turned to see who it was and was surprised to see Jake, he was on the floor with his back against the lockers, he had his face buried into his knees and his body was shaking as he cried.

I walked closer and noticed how Jake stiffened,
"Jake? Are you okay?"
Jake quickly tried to wipe his tears away,
"W-what? Oh yeah I'm fine."
I sat down next to Jake and looked at his face, his eyes were red his lip was trembling a bit and some small tears were on his face,
"No, you're not. What's wrong?"
Jake looked away from me hoping I would just go away.
But I didn't, I just sat there next to him, waiting for his reply.
"Jake please talk to me, I'm your friend."
Jake sighed as tears began to form in his eyes again.
He wasn't prepared to talk to anyone about this.
"I-I. I don't feel like I'm good enough to be your friend though." He moved his head and stared at his knees. "What do you mean?"
"I'm a jerk. I don't deserve anyone."
I sighed as tears rolled down Jakes cheeks again,
"Jake, you do deserve people. Youve shown everyone a different side to you. You're not a jerk."
Jake didn't answer me, I put my hand on his shoulder Wich caused him to look at me.
"Jake if you asked anyone of us what we thought of you, well except Zander."
That caused him to let out a weak chuckle,
" What we thought of you. We wouldn't tell you a single bad thing. You are an amazing singer and a really good friend."
"You even gave me the idea to write a song for Zander and you offered to sing it. Your an awesome friend." I looked at Jake and gave him a soft smile hoping to calm him down a bit.
Jake gave me a weak smile and sighed.
"Jake your not a bad person." He didnt reply and looked away from me again. "Dont listen to what people might say. Not even Zander, he just has trust issues." Jake let out a defeated sigh. "O-okay." He turned his head to look at me again. I stood up and held a handout to Jake.
He hesitantly took it and I helped him stand up.
"You're not a bad person Jake, you're a good friend, and your funny and smart. You're also a really good singer."
Jake gave me a weak smile and I walked him to the school entrance
"Bye Jake."
I waved as he walked out of the school.
I sighed hoping he was okay, and I pulled out my phone to call my mom to come pick me up.

Chapter Text

I noticed something seemed off about Luke and Jake today.
Luke seemed to constantly be asking if Hes's okay, heck he could barely keep his eyes off him.
He seemed to be worried about Jake all day.
Even Sean noticed it, heck I could even see Zander eyeing Luke a few times.
I tried my hardest to brush it off, but it was hard.
After the bell rang, I was walking to my dad's car and noticed Luke pulling Jake to the side to talk to him.
Luke looked worried and Jake just looked sad.
I brushed it off and got in my dad's car.

Great, I forgot my Phone at school and my dad made me walk to get it.
It was around 7:00 Pm now so I have to hurry since I only have an hour until the school closes.
I walked to my last period class to look for it.
Just my luck it's not there.
"Ugh, I guess I have to go to the office and check."
I grumbled under my breathe and walked out. I'm walking down the hallway and then something makes me pause.
I heard a noise.
I don't know what it was but it's coming from the music room.
I walked closer and now I was able to make out what is it.
Its crying! Someone is crying in the music room.
Should I go in there? What if it's one of those jerks though?
You know what oh well I can deal with them. No matter who it is.
I twisted the doorknob and opened the door.
I looked around and noticed a figure in the corner of the room.
Whoever it is was sitting on the floor with their knees to their chest and their hood covering their head.
I looked closer and then I recognized the jacket.
"Jake!"
I quickly ran over to him.
"O-oh Milly!"
His voice was hoarse and raspy due to crying.
"Jake what's wrong?"
Worry filled me as I put the pieces together.
Luke must have found him crying at some point too.
Most likely last night as he only started acting that way to Jake today
Jake was looking at the wall away from me, clearly afraid to talk to me.
"Jake please talk to me."
I sighed and crouched down next to him.
"I-I.." He seemed to be struggling to form words.
"Jake please, just talk to me."
I put a hand on his shoulder put he shook it off.
I sighed and switched my position to sit on my knees.
He turned to look at me and gave me a confused look.
"What's wrong? Is there something up with how I look?"
I readjusted my jacket; I don't really know why I think it's just out of what I'm used to doing when people look at me like that.
He let out a soft weak chuckle.
"N-no there's nothing wrong with how you look."
"Then what's wrong?"
I returned the confused look as he averted his gaze.
"I-its just."
I made a hm sound to tell him I heard what he said but was confused.
"Why are you still here? Why haven't you left?"
My eyes widened and I noticed how he started to shake a little again.
"Why would I leave! Your my friend and your upset!"
Jake sighed and slammed his fist on the floor, it wasn't very strong but was strong enough to startle me.
"W-woah!"
I fell back on my butt at the sudden movement.
"Jake what the heck!"
I regained my composure and steadied myself back onto my knees.
"Why do you guys have to do this! You and Luke! You just wont leave! You guys.. You guys care to much.. Why cant you guys be jerks, like my other friends and just leave me here."
"J-jake." I didn't know what to say to that.
But my heart ached. His other friends would do that to him?
Hes so used to no one being there for him that he gets angry when people are.
I let out a soft sigh as I felt tears form in my eyes.
I felt so bad for him.
I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder, steading it there this time so he cant shake it off.
"Jake. We don't leave because we care about you. You're our friend, and friends care about their friends."
I could feel him start to shake as I said that.
I could hear his sobs start up again and that just made my heart hurt even more.
To me he was like a brother, and seeing him hurt like this hurt me.
Then all of a sudden he pulled me into a hug.
I didn't know what to do for a second and froze.
I wrapped my arms around him as he cried into my shoulder.
"Shh. Its okay Jake."
I could feel his tears sink into my shirt since my jacket was fairly thin.
"Jake what's going on?'
He sighed a defeated sigh.
"I-I"..
He tried his best to speak but it was hard as he was still crying.
"I just don't understand!" was all he seemed to be able to choke out.
I felt confusion fill me, what didn't he understand?
"W-what don't you understand Jake?"
He froze for a moment.
"I don't understand why your friends with me. Why any of you guys are."
"Why wouldn't we be friends with you Jake?"
"God damnit. Why must you guys be so nice, why can't you just let me suffer. I deserve it, I deserve to be alone and to just suffer."
"Jake no you don't! You don't deserve to be alone or suffer! I would never do that!"
He let out a bit of an angry groan
"I'm a jerk Milly, I'm a terrible person. I'm such and egotistical jerk that doesn't seem to care about anything! I don't deserve you guys; I never stop my jerk friends from bullying you guys! I even made fun of you guys for liking music. So why do you guys' care!"
My eyes widened
I didn't know what to sat for a mom and just sat there.
Then I pushed him back, but held my hands on his shoulders.
"Jake what the actual heck!"
"W-what?"
"I said what the actual heck!"
His chestnut eyes were filled with confusion.
"Jake listen to me because I'm going to tell you exactly what you are."
Jakes eyes moved to the floor beside me, clearly to afraid to look at me incase I basically repeated back to him what he said.
"Jake you are funny, your an amazing singer! Your an awesome friend! Heck you blackmailed Zoey for me when you had just joined the club!"
His crying had stopped but I could see on his face that he didn't believe it.
I pulled him back into a hug and his eyes widened at the sudden movement.
"Jake your loyal and caring. You hate it when people are rude to us or make fun of us. You are absolutely not a horrible person. I mean it, and I will keep repeating this to you if I have to, whatever will make you believe it because its true."
Jake sighed and I let him go.
He pulled back and looked at me.
"Jake it's okay to not be okay, everyone has issues."
"Its okay?"
He looked at me, his eyes were really red and his hair was a mess.
I gave him a soft smile and nodded, yea its okay.
He gave me a weak smile back, it looked real, so I didn't feel the need to repeat what I said
I grabbed his and we stood up together.
"Your an awesome friend."
I smiled at him as we walked out of the music room, my arm around his shoulder.
As we reached the office and the front door I removed my arm from his shoulder and he walked out of the school.
"Bye Jake!'
I waved goodbye as he walked away and he gave me a small wave back.
I walked into the office to get my phone back, and when I checked the time it was 7:56
"Shoot!"
I ran out of the school, my dad was going to be pissed.
I was gone for almost an hour!

Chapter Text

I've been noticing some weird things over the past few days.
I can tell Hailey and Zander have noticed it too, but they seemed to brush it off.
I can't brush it off though, something is telling me that one of them isn't okay, and I have a feeling its Jake.
I noticed how originally it was just Luke, he would constantly be staring at Jake and asking if he was okay.
He always had worry in his face each time.
Then the day after Milly started to show worry as well.
They both would look at Jake, and then give each other a look.
Milly didn't ask him if he was okay as much though, she only did it before and after practice.
I also noticed how sometimes after school they would all group together or they would all stay late after lunch.
Jake seemed to get more upset whenever they would ask him if he was okay, and when they would talk to him after school and practice.
So, I've decided I'm going to get to the bottom of what's going on.

We had just finished our after-school practice, and everyone was saying their goodbyes.
"Bye guys, see you guys tomorrow."
Hailey waved as she disappeared from the doorway
"Bye."
Zander followed close behind her.
"Byee!"
Milly ran out of the room and seemed to turn towards the front exit but everyone in the room knew that she just ran to hide in a classroom until everyone was gone.
Well, they didn't know that I knew.
"Bye guys!" Luke walked out and turned to follow Milly.
I had finished putting my computer away and walked towards the door.
"Bye Jake!"
I gave him a smile and he gave me one back.
But the smile he had on just made me hurt, I could tell it was fake, but it looked so real.
How long had he been faking smiles?
I sighed and walked towards the exit, I stood in front of the doors for a moment trying to figure out what I should do.
I pushed open the door and walked out, but instead of going home I circled back around and snuck back into the school once Milly and Luke had gone back to the music room.

I walked over to the door and tried to listen, but I couldn't make out what they were saying.
They were whispering, probably to make sure any passer Byers couldn't hear them.
I could hear the worry in Milly and Lukes voices though and the slight sadness in Jakes.
Then I heard footsteps.
I panicked; they couldn't see me.
I decided to run and hide in the bathroom until they left.
I peeked into the hallway and saw Milly and Luke walking towards the exit, but Jake turned the other way.
He turned towards me.
I ducked back into the bathroom until he was far enough away for me to follow secretly.

Jake had walked all the way up to the roof, and by the time I got there he was already towards the edge.
He was holding the chain link fence that guarded the roof and his other hand was in his pocket.
I stepped onto the roof and shut the door as quietly as possible as to not alert Jake.
I seem to have succeeded as Jake didn't make a reaction at all.
We both just sat there for a moment, neither me nor him were moving.
I walked closer doing my best to stay as quiet as possible.
Jake didn't seem to react at all to the footsteps, so I got a bit closer.
Eventually I was behind him, but somehow, he still didn't notice me.
Despite not being able to see his face I could still tell he was sad.
I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder Wich caused him to stiffen.
"W-who is it?"
His voice sounded hoarse as if he was crying.
"Its Sean."
He groaned angrily
"DAMNIT!"
He kicked the chain link fence Infront of him Wich caused me to retract my hand.
"Damnit.."
Wait, was he crying?
His voice had grown softer and I could hear a small sob when he spoke.
I put my hand back on his shoulder, as he removed his hand from the fence.
"Jake what's going on?"
He started to shake.
"W-why. Why cant you guys just go home and stay home?"
"What do you mean?"
He sighed and turned to look at me.
Tear flowed down his cheeks, and his eyes were filled with a mix of anger and sadness.
"Luke Milly and you. Why did you guys have to find me?"
Suddenly it all made sense, Luke and Milly had found him crying Aswell.
"Jake why don't you want us to find you?"
"I-I."
He couldn't finish his sentence.
Seeing him like this hurt, I didn't know what was going on but Jakes my friend.
Why doesn't he want us to find him?
"I don't deserve your guy's sympathy; I don't deserve to have you guys' care about me."
My eyes widened, of course he deserved us.
"Jake why would you think that?"
He sighed and looked down at his feet, tears falling down onto the ground.
"I don't think too highly of myself. I shouldn't anyways, I'm not a good person."
I sighed and put my hands on his shoulder.
"Jake, everyone thinks bad about themselves. But that does not make you a bad person."
He sighed a defeated sigh.
"But I am, I was so rude to you guys."
"Jake. You were rude to us. Your not anymore."
I took my hands off his shoulders and sighed.
He looked up at me and I looked at him in the eyes.
"Jake, why don't you me Milly and possibly Luke all get together tomorrow night, and you can talk to us."
He wiped his tears away.
"I don't really want to talk about what's going on..."
I gave him a smile
"Then we can just hangout, we don't have to talk about what's wrong we can just do stuff to get your mind off it."
Jake smiled back, a real smile.
"Id like that."
"Okay then ill ask them."
I walked towards the exit of the roof and opened the door.
Before I left the roof I looked back.
Jake was back to looking out at the sky but he didn't seem as sad.
"Bye Jake!"
"Bye."
I shut the door and walked downstairs.
I left the school and went to text Luke and Milly.

Chapter Text

After school practice was over and everyone had already left.
I did notice Jake, Luke, Milly, and Sean acting a bit strange, but I brushed it off.
The competition was coming closer, so they are probably just nervous.
I have a test tomorrow so I decided to go to the library.
Hopefully there's a book in there that can help me.
"Ugh I hate tests."
I grumbled as I entered the library, I scanned the shelves to see where the book I need might be.
Eventually I found it and I walked over.
I was looking through the shelves until I found a book.
I pulled it off the shelve and went up to the desk.
I put it in so I could take the book home now and walked towards the exit.

I paused.
I heard something.
No I know what I heard.
It was crying.
And I could somehow recognize who it was.
I slowly turned around and scanned around to find him.
Eventually I landed on the far back shelves and I walked closer.
Then I heard it again, it was to my right.
I turned the corner and there he was.
It was Jake just as I had thought.
He was sitting on the floor with his face buried in his hands.
The crying wasn't horrible he wasn't sobbing but he was still crying.
The moment I actually saw him I pieced together why everyone had been acting weird.
Everyone except me and Zander was worried about Jake.
This must be why.

I took a step closer, then paused.
I waited to see if he would react.
Wich he did.
He removed his hands from his face and wrapped them around his knees.
"H-hey Hailey.."
I stepped closer and looked down at him.
I was filled with worry as he sat there.
I slipped down next to him and sighed.
"Jake what's wrong?"
He didn't respond.
We both just sat there for a minute.
Quiet.
Finally he took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Why do you guys always have to be where I am?"
He let out a weak defeated laugh.
"What do you mean?"
"First it was Luke. Then Milly. And then Sean. And now you."
I thought for a moment as the silence filled the room once again.
So I was right.
They were worried about Jake.
And now I was too.
"Jake why are you crying?"
He sighed and looked me in the eyes.
"Honestly, my life just sucks."
Wow, very blunt.
I wonder if that's how the interactions with everyone else went.
"Why does it suck?"
"I'm just going to tell you the same things I told them. There's no point."
He looked straight ahead, tears filling his eyes again.
"Just ask, Luke or Milly or Sean."
I sighed and did the only thing I knew to do.
I pulled Jake into a hug Wich caused a little gasp from him in Suprise.
"Jake talk to me. I'm not them, you can tell me more than them."
I could feel him start to shake as he cried.
"I-I."
He couldn't get his words out as he choked out sobs.
"Drew doesn't even care about me."
My eyes widened.
I knew Drew was a sucky person, but I thought he at least cared about Jake.
"How do you know?"
I kept my tone soft as he cried into my shoulder.
"Just the way he acts. He hasn't said it, but I just know it."
This hurt.
Hearing him say this.
It hurt me.
I hurt for him.
Maybe I didn't like Drew.
Maybe he sucks.
Maybe Hes a douchebag.
But he was Jakes first friend.
I wonder if Drew knows about Jake being bullied in middle school.
Why would he do this to him.
"J-jake.."
I didn't know what to say.
So I just held him tight as he cried.
"Jake I'm sure he cares about you. Maybe your just overthinking things."
Jake was still sobbing; he didn't know what else to do.
He couldn't control it.
So I just held him.
And we just sat there.

We sat there in silence until he stopped crying.
"Y-you really think that m-maybe I'm just overthinking things?"
I nodded and smiled softly even though he couldn't see me.
"M-maybe I am.."
"Jake you are my friend. And I care about you."
I could feel him relax as I spoke.
"I know it's hard to talk to people, but I'm always here. and ill always listen."
He nodded to let me know that he understood.
We both sat there for a bit longer as his breathing slowed. (From crying)
Eventually we both pulled away.
I put my hands up to his face and cupped his cheeks in my hands.
I wiped away his tears using my thumbs and smiled.
He gave me a smiled back and I pulled my hands back down.
"Do you feel better?"
"Yeah, thanks Hailey."
I smiled and I felt warmth fill me up.
Seeing him that sad broke me.
But seeing him feel better now, it makes me happy.
It fills me with joy.
"Do you want to go get boba?"
I offered as I stood up.
"Sure."
I stretched for a moment due to sitting down for so long then reached a hand out to help Jake up.
He took my hand and I helped him stand up.
He did a few small stretches and then we walked out of the library.
We talked the whole way to the boba place.
and we had a very nice time.
It made me happy to know I could make him feel better like this.
I smiled as he walked away from my house.
I went to enter and then I remembered.
"I forgot my book!"

Chapter Text

I had just finished afterschool practice with the music club and Hailey walked up to me.
"Hey Jake, are you feeling better today?"
I smiled and nodded.
She smiled back.
I could see Luke, Milly, and Sean in the background with a sort of confused expression.
Then Milly walked up to us.
"Jake you really need to stop crying in school."
She let out a small laugh.
"Well, I wasn't used to people finding me almost every time."
Sean had joined us as Luke left with Zander.
Thankfully Zander hadn't heard what Milly said.
"Also did you have to say it while Zander was still in the room?"
"Oh sorry! I kind of thought he had already left."
She let out an awkward chuckle.
"So how come Hailey was actually able to make you feel better?"
Sean put his hands on his hips and Milly gave a familiar look.
"It's not like that, Milly."
She crossed her arms and sighed disappointingly.
"Finee."
Me Milly and Hailey walked out of the music room saying goodbye to Sean as he started to clean.
"Bye guys!"
Milly ran out of the school causing Hailey to let out a small laugh.
"Bye Jake!"
"Bye Hailey!"
Hailey walked out and did her best to catch up with Zander and Luke.

I sighed and walked over to my friends.
I had agreed to hang out with them today since I hadn't hung out with them in a while.
But what I heard made me pause.
They were in the cafeteria for some reason, and I was still in the hallway.
They clearly didn't notice me as they didn't stop talking.
Why didn't they stop.
"I really can't believe we actually agreed to hang out with him."
Drew let out an annoyed sigh.
"You're the one who kept pressuring him to hang out with us and not the music freaks."
Liam chuckled a bit.
"Because I'm trying to find a way to ruin his relationship with them."
"Why?"
Henry had confusion in his voice but also a knowing tone.
It was confusing.
"Because he deserves to be alone. Ill ruin his relationship with them and then ill ditch him."
I felt tears fill my eyes, then our eyes met.
Liam had seen me.
"U-um Drew..."
He stuttered.
"What?"
Drew sounded annoyed.
He probably expected Liam to go against his plan or something.
Liam pointed at me, and Drew turned around.
His eyes widened.
Henry turned to look Aswell.
"O-oh Jake!"
Drew gave a fake smile.
"W-what..."
Was all I could get out as I felt tears stream down my cheeks.
They were my first friends.
The first people that didn't bully me didn't care about me.
"Ugh. Well, no point acting anymore."
Drew rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips.
"Y-you guys. Don't actually like me?"
Henry and Liam let out a laugh as Drew smiled.
"It took you two years! Two years to realize it!"
He let out a small laugh.
"You're a freak! Especially now that you're in the music freak club!"
I didn't know what to do.
I felt like my legs were going to let out and I was going to collapse.
It took every ounce of strength I had to keep myself standing.
"Dude you're a freak! Of course, we don't like you!"
Liam spoke between laughter.
I didn't know what to do.
It hurt so bad.
They all three stood there laughing at me and calling me a freak.
I stood there for what felt like forever as tears rolled down my cheeks and they laughed.
Then I heard a voice.
"Hey! What the actual heck!"
I recognized it.
But I thought he walked home with Luke?

Chapter Text

After school practice was finally over.
It seemed excruciatingly long due to everyone in the club showing worry for Jake for some reason.
First it started off as just Luke, he constantly asked if Jake was okay and was constantly looking at him.
At first it angered me, I felt jealousy filling me.
Until Milly did it the next day.
She asked if he was okay less but still gave many worried looks.
Her and Luke would both look at each other often Aswell.
Then it was Sean a few days later.
and then Hailey.
It had become a bit annoying.
Why were they all so worried about Jake?
I waited by the door and watched as Hailey walked up to talk to Jake.
Milly, Sean and Luke all seemed confused for some reason.
Then Hailey walked up to join their conversation.
I sighed annoyed.
Luke had been staying afterschool every day now, so I never got to walk home with him anymore.
Then he came up to me.
"Zander do you want to walk home together today?"
Finally!
"Sure."
I smiled slightly and looked back one more time, Sean was walking to join the others over by the microphone.

Luke and I had gone our separate ways by now and I was making my way home.
Then I paused.
Something gave me a feeling that if I go back to the school, I can find out what's going on with everyone.
Then I heard Haileys voice.
"Zander!"
I turned and saw her running up to me.
"Oh hey Hailey."
"Why did you stop?"
I sighed thinking of a lie so I could back to school.
"I'm pretty sure I forgot my math notebook; I have to go back and get it. I'll see you at home?"
She let out an annoyed sigh and nodded.
"See you at home I guess."
She walked towards our house and I walked the other way.
Hopefully I can finally figure out what's been going on.

I had made it to the school finally.
I entered and walked to the music club first.
Sean and Daisy were in there cleaning, like always.
I sighed and walked the other way towards the cafeteria.
Then I heard what sounded like laughter.
Wait I recognize that laughter.
I rolled my eyes.
Its Jakes douchebag friends.
I walked a bit closer and noticed Jake was standing still in the hallway as his friends laughed.
But I noticed something off.
They didn't seem to be laughing with him.
They were laughing at him!
My eyes widened in shock.
Then I noticed something about Jake.
He was shaking a bit, as if he was...
Was he?
Was he crying?
I walked a bit closer and I heard them start to say something.
"Dude your such a freak!"
What.
I thought they were his friends?
Maybe they suck but I never thought they would do that.
Eventually I felt anger fill me.
I don't even know why.
I don't even really like Jake.
I don't hate him though.
and he definitely didn't deserve this.
So I decided to speak up.
"Hey! What the heck!"
I could see as Jake stiffened up.
His friends gave me a disgusted look.
"Of course, its another music freak."
His dumb Magenta haired friend laughed.
"Why don't you just go away? You obviously don't care about Jake. Why don't you guys just let him be alone like he deserves."
After he said that Jake whirled around and ran off.
I was pissed.
Maybe Jake wasn't the nicest to us before.
But everyone else in the club seemed to like him.
And he seemed to have changed
He also didn't deserve this.
"He doesn't deserve to be alone! What the hell is wrong with you three?"
I shouted.
"I thought you didn't like him."
The brunette crossed his arms and gave a small smirk.
"You three are assholes!"
I turned around and ran to find Jake.
"Whatever music freak!"
I could hear one of them shout as I ran off.

It took a while to find him.
I don't know why I didn't check the music room first.
I guess I just assumed he wouldn't go there.
I walked in and stared at him for a moment.
Sean and Daisy must have left already. I don't know what to do.
I've never seen him like this before.
Hes sitting in the corner of the music room with his hood covering his head.
He was audibly sobbing.
He had his arms around his knees as he cried into them.
I'm not the best at comforting.
And definitely not Jake.
I sighed and walked over to him.
He didn't react.
I slid down next to him and looked at him for a moment.
I was trying to figure out what to say.
"Jake."
He lifted his head and looked at me.
Tears still flowing down his cheeks.
"What happened?"
That was all I could think to ask.
"I-I. I don't even know..."
He was choking his words out between sobs.
I've never seen him cry before.
Especially not like this.
"When you first got there what did they say?"
He sighed and turned his head to look at his knees.
"T-they didn't notice me at first. They were saying h-how."
He paused as more tears flowed down.
"How they didn't care about me.. And that they just wanted to r-ruin my relationship with you guys, then l-leave me alone."
What kind of friends do that.
I sighed and thought for another moment.
Then I put a hand on his shoulder.
Wich had caused him to turn his head to look at me again.
"Jake.."
I paused.
How do I comfort someone who used to bully and tease me and my sister, my friends for so long. Especially someone who seemed so cocky and happy. I sighed and spoke up again.
"Maybe I don't fully trust you. But I know this. You don't deserve them, and you definitely don't deserve to be alone."
His eyes were wide with shock.
"B-but... I'm a jerk to you guys."
"I mean. Maybe, I don't know. You seem to have changed since you joined"
He sighed and stared straight ahead.
"Jake, everyone in the club is here for you. You don't need those jerks."
Maybe Hes not as bad as I thought.
I pulled my hand off of his shoulder.
I could see a smile form on his face, Wich confused me.
"Why the heck are you smiling?"
Was I wrong? Maybe he was still a jerk. It didn't seem like his normal cocky annoying smile though. "Because it's funny hearing this from you. You're the one who didn't trust me most out of everyone in the club, and now your here comforting when I'm at my worst."
He let out a soft chuckle.
"At your worst?"
He let out a sigh as his smile faded.
"I'm sure you noticed the others acting weird."
I nodded.
Of course I noticed. They could barely keep their eyes off him and I seemed to be the only one playing correctly. "Well, that's because they found me when I was-"
He paused for a moment.
"crying.."
"Wait what?"
He looked me in the eyes and sighed.
"I don't think to highly of myself Zander. And they had found me when I was upset. I told them what happened sure but. b-but. It was nothing as bad as today."
He doesn't think highly of himself?
I always thought he had so much confidence.
I guess some people are good at hiding pain.
"Wow. I thought you had a lot of confidence."
He shook his head and turned to stare straight ahead.
We both sat there for a moment, just staring at the wall.
Somehow a comfortable silence filled the air for a moment.
I've never felt so calm around Jake. If calms the right word. Then Jake took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Hey Zander."
"What?"
"Thanks for being here, I know you don't like me. So, it means a lot."
Another smile formed on his face.
I felt a slight smile creep on my face Aswell.
This Jake didn't seem as bad as the one that bullied us.
He seemed like an actually good person. Maybe I could grow to tolerate him, maybe we could become friends. I don't know. "Maybe that could change."
"What could change?"
"Me not liking you. As long as you don't go back to being a jerk."
He let out a soft chuckle.
"I could never treat you guys that way, not anymore. Not now."
I smiled for a moment.
"If those guys mess with you again you can come and talk to anyone of us."
He smiled as well.
"I will."

Jake had already left but I sat in the music room for a moment.
Maybe Hes not as bad.
But I don't know.
Maybe I could talk to Hailey and find out what Jake said to her.
He seemed less sad today during practices and class so I'm assuming his talk with Hailey went well.
I walked out of the music room and made my way home.
Those jerks better not talk to Jake tomorrow.
I'll have to tell Milly what happened, I'm sure she could stop them from doing anything to him.
I sighed as I reached my house.
I entered and called out.
"Hailey!"