The bowling alley was buzzing with music and the sound of pins crashing. Jessica and Steven walked in chattering. They had barely gotten to the bowling pins when she spotted them, Ava, Taylor, Chloe, Zach, and two of his friends, huddled around one of the lanes. Shoot, she thought to herself. She should've known the chances of not meeting them here were slim. They always hung out here together, anyways. It was their spot.
Jessica hesitated. It wasn't like she was ashamed of Steven, but… she knew how they would react. And she wasn't wrong.
'You okay?' Steven asked her, noticing her countenance change, then his eyes followed hers, and he saw them.
'Not again,' he muttered under his breath. He knew what was to come.
Ava was the first to notice Jessica. "Jess?" Her voice held the confusion of someone seeing a glitch in the universe. "What are you doing here?"
Taylor and Chloe turned, eyes flicking between Jessica and Steven. "And with him?" Chloe added, looking at Steven like he was a lost puppy Jess had found on the street.
Jessica sighed, already feeling the pressure of their stares. "We just… ran into each other," she started, trying to find an excuse, any excuse that made this look normal to them.
"Girl, we've been trying to reach you on the phone since you ditched 'ditch-day', and you just happened to run into… him?" Taylor asked, with a grimace.
"Oh, come on," Taylor scoffed. "I thought you two were only talking because of the project."
Zach, leaning back against the ball return, smirked. "Guess the nerd grew on her."
His friends chuckled, but Zach wasn't done. He turned to Steven. "So, what's the deal? You tutoring her in secret or something? Maybe she's helping you upgrade your wardrobe? God knows you need it."
The laughter that followed was sharp, cutting through the air like glass. Jessica felt a flicker of irritation, but it burst into full-blown anger when she noticed Steven's silence. Was he weak and scared of them, she couldn't tell. But she could not let this slide. It was too much.
Her hands clenched. "You guys are so pathetic."
The laughter died immediately. Ava's brows furrowed. "What?"
Jessica turned to face them, her expression cold. "You sit here, making fun of someone who's done nothing to you, like it somehow makes you better. Newsflash, it doesn't. Or is it because he's quiet? Or are you all just doing this to feel better about yourselves, cause he's smarter than you?"
She continued,"Steven is actually a great person.He's real, understanding, and no one has to fake their lives around him, which is more than I can say for any of you."
Ava looked taken aback. "Jess,"
"No," Jessica cut her off. "I'm tired of pretending this is okay. You guys think it's funny, but it's not. And honestly? Steven's a better friend than all of you combined because at least he's not two-faced and shallow."
Silence.
Zach's smirk was gone. Ava, Taylor, and Chloe looked like they had just been slapped.
Jessica let out a frustrated breath and grabbed Steven's arm. "Come on. We're leaving."
And just like that, she walked away, pulling him toward the arcade section, leaving her so-called friends behind, looking both angry and stunned. But she didn't care. Not anymore.
The flashing neon lights of the arcade softened Jessica's frustration, but it still lingered. She leaned against one of the machines, arms crossed.
"I can't believe I was actually about to defend hanging out with you," she muttered. "Like I needed an excuse. That's so stupid."
Steven shrugged, then chuckled. "It's fine. You made up for it by going full mama bear on them."
Jessica blinked before laughing. "Mama bear?"
"Well, yeah. You totally ripped them apart." He nudged her playfully. "Not that I'm complaining."
Jessica rolled her eyes, a small smile forming. "Still, I shouldn't have hesitated in the first place. I guess I just… care too much about my image sometimes." She sighed. "Anyway, I'm sorry for that."
Steven shook his head. "You don't have to apologize. And honestly? I know you think I'm timid, but I didn't keep quiet because I was afraid of them, I just don't like conflict. It's usually not worth it."
Jessica gave him a knowing look. "Sometimes it is worth it. Conflicts are bound to arise. It doesn't even have to come from high school bullies. In life, generally. You've got to stand for yourself sometimes."
He considered that, nodding slightly. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
She smirked, nudging him toward the game console. "Of course I am. Now, come on, let's see if you can actually beat me at something."
Steven rolled his eyes but smiled. "You're on."