The pact

6 months past after my afternoon in Tony's garage and my life was slowly becoming more stable. Me and Vic both past that important test we were studying for, but I was still regularly tutoring him. Well, we were mostly chatting and listening to music instead of studying, but you get my point. He kind of became my person of trust, I told him about all my trouble with my mom and everything going on with Casey. I also told him about what was happing in my group with Mike, Jaime and Tony, but I noticed that it hurt him to talk about his little brother, so I didn't do it that often.
I also became his point of trust. He told me about the grades he got for tests and sometimes he even told me about his self harm issues. He told me that it first was a way to get attention, for people to notice him and offer him help, but it soon became an addiction which he would rather hide than anyone offering him help. He was ashamed of it and of the reason why he started it and even though I didn't think attention is a good reason to start cutting yourself, his situation was kind of an exception. He had so little interaction with people, that I can kind of understand why he was doing extreme things to get it.
I also think he does it out of self hate, but he never told me that, it's just an instinct of mine.
My friendship with him was the weirdest friendship I had ever had. We ignored each other in school, but when we were alone it was like we had known each other for years.
My bond with Mike, Jaime and Tony became stronger too. I was sitting with their group in the breaks and I was with them after school a lot too. I soon became an expert of sneaking out of the window at night to go to parties they threw or jam sessions. until now I had gotten away with it.
Jaime also still walked me home after school every day. He was the only one who knew about me and Vic being friends and he kept it from Mike and Tony for me. Which was quite special, because he told Mike and Tony everything.
After a while my mom wanted to meet Jaime, because I was forced to tell her about him. That was because she asked me why I knew the way back home so soon. I told Jaime to show up in normal clothes instead of his usual clothes and it was...well hilarious.
The button up shirt he was wearing didn't suit him at all and his hair was in front of his face.
My mom approved of him being my friend but since that day I'm still laughing at him for his look of that day. I'm actually happy that he did it for me, though. I truly thought I could count on him.
It was mid December, but it was only a little bit colder. I could still wear short sleeves to school and it still felt too hot for my skin. Casey was visiting for Christmas and I couldn't be more excited. I still had to wait a whole week for that, though.

I was sitting in Spanish class when I asked Mr. Posey if I could go the bathroom. I walked into the halls with the lockers and there was no one to be seen. So it kind of came as a surprise to me that I suddenly felt hands pushing me against a locker. My head bumped against the locker and pain shot through the back of my head. ''Dude!'' I screamed to see that it wasn't a dude at all. I looked Right into the angry blue eyes of Jessie, pushing her arm against my throat so I couldn't leave. She was way stronger than I could've ever imagined.
'Jessie what are you doing?' I yelled at her trying to push her off me, but she was too strong. When I noticed that moving only hurt more, I stopped.
''Look Luna, you've made a mistake letting me down for those emo losers.'' she said not moving her arm a single bit. ''I truly wanted to become your friend and you just stopped talking me! You think you can get away with that?''
It was wrong of me to let her down, I admit that. I just let her down without any goodbye or anything. Maybe she really wanted to be my friend. ''I'm sorry, Jessie. I really am. That was wrong of me.''
Her eyes neared a little. ''You think you can just say sorry? That'll work for those stupid unpopular girls maybe, but not for me. You are going to pay for this! Mark my words.''
The fire in her eyes scared me a lot. I knew not to mess with this girl as she was the most popular girl in school and she could turn everyone against me. At the other hand, I had Mike, Jaime and Tony behind me, who were also quite popular and they could probably get all the freshmen, some of the sophomore and a lot of the 'alternative kids' by my side if it would become a problem. I didn't have that much to fear about as I first thought.
''You're making too much of a problem of it, Jessie.'' I said calmly even though I was being suffocated. ''Friends grow apart, that's how the world works get over it.''
She put her arm closer against my throat and I made a suffocating sound. ''I am going to end you.'' she said as she put her arm away, flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and walked away from me.

''Did she really say that?'' asked Tony while the guys were doing the preparations for the party they were going to throw that night at Mike's house.
''Yes! and she almost suffocated me! I even got a big bump on the back of my head.'' I said while rubbing it with my hand.
Jaime walked up to me, took my hand away from my head and pulled my hair away from my head to look at my bump. ''Yup, I'm going to punch her.'' He said as he let my hair go.
I laughed. ''You can't do that, Jaime.'' I said. ''You can't just punch a girl.''
''We can if the girl in question deserves it'' said Mike as he handed me a glass of coke. I took the glass from him and took a sip.
''That's sweet, but let's keep it neat. No blood, no beating.'' I said and Mike sighed. I laughed. He had a certain obsession with violence, though he wasn't aggressive at all.
''Are you scared?'' Tony asked, he was always the one who seemed to notice these kind of things about people.
I looked to the ground. ''To be honest, yes I am. That whole group of people scare me so much. I think they have no boundaries. There's something about them...''
''Of course they don't have boundaries.'' Jaime said. ''They are popular because they threaten their enemies and physically and mentally bully them. They have beaten up people, pushed people to the edge of depression and turned the whole school against one person.''
My heart sank. ''Thank you, Jaime. Like I wasn't scared enough yet.''
He sighed, walked to me and put his hands on my shoulders. ''we won't let that happen to you.'' he said and I looked into his eyes, he seemed to mean it. I allowed myself to have hope. Even though I thought that she couldn't turn the whole school against me, I was still scared for something horrible to happen. But Jaime seemed to take that fear away from me, for at least a little while.
At that moment the door to the living room in which we stood. Vic stood there. I looked up to Mike and he looked at Vic with an angry look.
Vic just rolled his eyes and walked to the kitchen. ''Jeez Mike, I'm just grabbing some food, you can just keep ignoring me.''
But Mike didn't seem satisfied. ''I want you gone for the party, no one can see you.''
I really hated Mike in that moment. I had never seen Mike interact with Vic. I was always either with Mike or with Vic and I hated to see this, because I knew from Vic that their bond used to be really good. I liked Mike and I trusted him, but the way he threaded his brother was horrible. I was too much of a coward to stand up to him, though. I made my hands into fists and Jaime who was still standing with his hands on my shoulders noticed. He shot me an 'are-you-okay-look' and I gave him a sad smile to confirm.
Vic smiled sarcastically. ''Whatever you want, little brother.'' he said. He took a bag of crisps out of a cabinet. ''I'll be in my room, pretending I don't exist, just like you want me too.''
Mike didn't say anything as Vic walked out of the living room and walked upstairs. None of us dared to ask him anything, but it did do something to me. This whole scene.
I wanted to stand up for Vic, but I was a coward like always. Just as I couldn't stand up to my mother, I couldn't stand up to Mike.
The rest of the afternoon went by pretty soon. We made the last preparations for the party and at nine pm the first people arrived. It was a cool party. The music was amazing, mostly linkin park, blink 182 and nirvana. I mostly just sat on the couch, watching people dance and drink while I was listening to music and sometimes even singing along. I liked it though. I liked to watch what was going on at parties. Sometimes Mike, Jaime or Tony forced me to dance and then I'd dance for a while and then sitting down again.
I didn't drink, because I was still a little scared of it. The others did, though and I didn't mind. It was actually quite funny, especially Tony became really funny as he was drunk. He normally was very shy, but when he had drunk a few drinks he was really outgoing and started talking really loud. Mike was mostly making out with some girl when he was drunk and also getting lots of slaps in the face when his current girlfriends found out about it. He always got caught. I was the only one who could laugh at him for that. When I did he just lifted me up and carried me around the room. I loved it when he did that.
Jaime didn't change that much when he was drunk, but he did became a lot more open. Jaime was quite a closed person and he mostly found a way to change to the subject of the conversation to something else when someone asked about his past or emotions. But when he was drunk or tipsy, you could possibly get something out of him. Also he started dancing really weird when he got drunk.
As I was watching him making really weird arm moves, he saw me looking at me, walked towards me and sat next to me on the couch. ''You're really boring, you know?'' He said. ''No drinking, no dancing, you don't even join spin the bottle.''
I laughed at him. ''I don't agree with you, I consider myself a fun person. I'm amusing myself out here.'' he rolled his eyes.
''Okay, play a game with me then.'' He said taking sip of the beer in his hand.
''Uhm, alright, but I chose the game.'' I said.
''Okay m'am, what may the game be?'' He asked poking in my cheek. I chuckled.
'' I chose...truth or dare.'' I said.
He laughed. ''oh please challenge accepted'' he said like he was told to name the letters of the alphabet. ''You start. Truth or dare?''
''Truth'' I said without hesitation. If I'd chosen dare he would've probably let me do something embarrassing.
''Ugh! coward'' he said. ''Okay, uhm, have you ever forgotten to put on pants to school?''
I could definitely notice that he was drunk, by the fact that this question sucked.
''Uhm, well, you would've noticed it If I ever did it here and in England we wore skirts to school, so no'' I said.
He shot an annoyed look at me. ''Well then, ever forgot to wear a skirt to school?''
''Only one question per turn, Mr. Preciado.''
''Ugh, okay. Your turn.''
''Truth or dare?''
''Truth.'' he took another sip of his beer.
''Who is a coward now, huh?'' I laughed pushing his shoulder.
''Yeah yeah, just ask the question, lady.'' He said poking in my cheek again.
I thought about the things I wanted to know about him. ''Ever had a girlfriend? Or boyfriend, I don't judge.''
He chuckled. ''Yeah I did, a girlfriend. We ended it a few weeks before I met you.''
''Oh, I'm sorry, Jaime.'' I said and I patted his shoulder.
He took my hand of his shoulder and held it in his. ''It's okay, we weren't doing alright anymore. And she was in love with another boy. That was a big reason too.''
''Who was it?'' I asked but he shook his head. ''Only one question per turn. '' he smiled at me.
''Okay then.'' I said. ''Your turn.''
''Truth or dare?''
''Truth.''
''No you can't chose truth twice!''
''Why not? and Why do you even ask me then?''
He shot me a disappointed look. ''Alright then, dare.'' I said.
''Get another beer for me.'' he said as he handed me his empty bottle. I raised my eyebrow to him. That was it? Jaime seemed to notice. ''I could also give you another way more embarrassing dare...''
I stood up. ''Never mind, already on my way.'' He laughed and I walked to the kitchen took a bottle of beer out of the fridge and walked back to the couch. I let myself fall on it and handed him the bottle. '' dare completed. '' I said. '' My turn. Truth or dare?''
''Truth.''
''You can't chose truth twice!''
''Why do you even ask then?''
I sighed and closed my eyes. ''Jaime...''
''Alright, alright. It was worth a try.'' he said laughing. ''Dare.''
I was not good at thinking of good dares. I wanted to embarrass him, but I couldn't think of good dares to do that, So I ended up saying: ''Do something you've always wanted to do.''
''Like bungee jumping?'' he asked taking a sip of his new beer.
I chuckled. ''No, something you can do right now.''
''I could go bungee jumping if you just gave me a rope right now and...''
''Jaime...''
''Alright, alright.'' he said. He seemed to think about what to do for a while and then suddenly it hit him. His whole expression changed. It was like the thought about what to do suddenly made him sober again. He almost looked sad. Then he looked up to me and gave me a sad smile. He moved his hand up and then back down like he changed his mind. Then he moved his hand and put it on my cheek. My stomach turned around.
Then he suddenly put his lips on mine. I froze, not knowing what to do. His lips felt soft and warm, but it felt like I couldn't move. I was just so in shock.
Jaime seemed to noticed and pulled back. He took his hand of my cheek. ''I was afraid of that already.'' he said looking to the ground.
''It's not that.'' I said. ''I just...That was my first kiss...I didn't know what to do.''
He looked up surprised. ''Your first kiss? You? But you are so pretty!'' he seemed to add the last part on accident and he blushed.
I blushed too. ''Uhm, Thanks.'' I said looking to my feet. I didn't want to look at him. ''I just never got a chance to...'' I tried to find the courage to ask the question that was burning on my tongue. ''Do you like...like me?'' I asked forcing my head to face him.
He looked sadder than I had ever seen him. He nodded. ''I've been slowly falling in love with you...' he said almost too soft for me to hear.
My heart sank at the word 'love'. I hated this, I hated life. This was one of my best friends in the whole world and I had to break his heart, just because I can't fall in love with him. I wanted to. I wanted to feel the way he felt. He would've been the perfect boyfriend. He would've been sweet to me and never break my heart. But I just couldn't...the fear was consuming me.
A tear rolled over my cheek. ''I'm sorry Jaime. I don't feel the same way. I'm so sorry.''
He didn't look at me, but I did saw a tear rolling down his cheek too. ''I know, you can't help it. Why would you want anyone like me? I'm a fourteen year old kid, I'm not attractive not manly...not good enough.'' and before I could deny his words he stood up and walked away, disappearing in the crowd.
I put my head inside my hands and started sobbing. Why did it have to be like this? I've never hated myself more than in this moment. I cared so much about Jaime and now I was the one hurting him. Breaking his heart into a million pieces.
I took my head out of my hands and dried my tears with my shirt. I couldn't dwell in self pity, I didn't have the right to. But I did needed to forget this. Forget about my problems, about Jaime, about my mom, about Jessie. I stood up and walked to the kitchen.
Mike was standing there taking a beer out of the fridge.
He looked at me. ''Are you okay?'' He asked. Apparently I still looked sad even though I dried my tears. ''Yeah I just need something to drink.'' I said.
His hand shot to the bottle of coke that was in the back of the fridge and I stopped him. ''I might need something stronger.'' I said.
He looked at me with wide eyes. ''Are you sure you are o-'' He stopped talking when I shot him an angry look. ''Alright.'' he said and he grabbed a bottle of tequila from one of the cabinets he pored it into two tiny shot glasses, handed me one and took one himself.
The drink felt like it was burning off my throat, but I immediately felt better and a little dizzy. The reason why the effects began so soon by me, was probably that I had never drunk before.
I gestured Mike to poor me another one. I needed more to get through the rest of the night. He raised an eyebrow, but didn't protest and pored me another shot.
Me and Mike did a few shots and after like four I was completely gone. I was dizzy and my sight was blurry, but I felt happy. I hadn't forgotten about Jaime, but it seemed far away, distanced.
I didn't remember much of the rest of the night. I danced with a few people I didn't know and at some point I was even dancing with Mike. I didn't sit down for a second and I didn't see Jaime the rest of the night. At least, I couldn't remember it.
At one moment I was walking up the stairs. It took me a while to get up it, because my sight was so blurry, but I managed to get upstairs eventually, tripping once or twice.
I opened the familiar door to Vic's room and walked in. Well, I tripped and almost fell in. Vic was sitting at his desk reading a book. He looked surprised at me. ''Luna?''
''Vic!'' I said enthusiastically and I walked towards him trying to hug him but I grabbed in air. ''I'm so happy to see you.''
Vic stood up and put his hands on my shoulders to steady me. ''Are you drunk?''
I giggled. ''Yeah I am. Everything seemed to go wrong and now everything is better. Being drunk is awesome.''
His face looked worried. Why was he being so serious? This is a party! ''I see'' he just said letting go of my shoulders.
If I weren't drunk, I would've never done what I did after that. I had no reason to. But I put my arm around his neck and pushed my lips against his.
First he froze, like I did when Jaime kissed me, but then he joined in moving his lips along with mine. His lips felt like the inside of a rose so soft. The kiss was tender, but passionate and shivers went down my spine. My stomach seemed to do back flips in my belly. Was this what butterflies felt like?
He put his hand on my back and my skin went hot at the place his hand was. I moved closer to him, not wanting to have any space between us. My head was completely empty. I forgot about everything, about Jaime, about Jessie, about the alcohol I had consumed. The only things that existed were me, Vic and our kiss.
My lips leaving his was the last thing I could remember of that night.

Notes

heyy guys!!

EEEEEkk I'm actually pretty proud of this chapter!! What do you guys think? What should happen? Are you guys team jana or team lunic? :')

thank you all so much for reading it! I love you!

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xxxxx

Nicky