Jason
hey, you guys remember jason from the movie? the one gretchen hooked up with but he didn't actually care about her? yeah :) ALSO REGINA POV?!?!? tw: bullying, suffocation, manipulation, shane omen mention g/t mean girls
I wasn't controlling.
Well- let me rephrase that.
There were rules for being plastic. I made sure Karen and Gretchen followed those rules. That wasn't controlling. Just, guidelines. They're rules in place to help the other plastics. Dress codes, what clubs you can and can't join, you can't buy a dress without the others approval, don't date your friend's exes-
but totally new boys were fair game.
So before you ask, no, that's not why I'm against Gretchen dating Jason.
On surface level, Jason seemed like a nice guy.
But he constantly blew off Gretchen, he flirted with other girls, and overall was totally using her.
And that's not even getting into how he treats tinies.
That's right.
Jason is a two-faced fucking asshole.
And none of the giants can see it.
I mean- I'm sure they're suspicious. I know Damian notices when Janis stiffens the second Jason walks in the room. And, Cady has probably picked up on the way Aaron gets quiet. If Gretchen has caught on to anything, she totally ignores it. I mean- Janis, Aaron, and I tried telling our friends in the begging. Gretchen didn't want to hear it. She's got a huge crush on the guy and totally ignores all red flags.
So we gave up getting through to her.
Besides, who would believe us? Jason was so sweet whenever our giants were around.
I guess when we collectively decided we couldn't get through to Gretchen- all the other giants were a lost cause too. And that was months ago. We're in too deep now.
"Allow me to take it back to the drawing board and suggest the best idea we've had since day one," Janis huffed. We were in an empty hallway after school for 'english help'. We've been staying after a lot more recently.
It's been getting worse.
Jason isn't trying to be sneaky anymore. He'll pick up Aaron without asking, conveniently drop his textbook on the cafeteria table right next to Janis, wrap his arm around Gretchen when I'm on her shoulder.
Yet nobody has caught on.
Janis continued. "Why don't we just tell our giants what he's doing?"
"Because Gretchen won't listen to me."
"Good thing there's three other friends." Janis points out.
I rolled my eyes, waving my hand dismissively. Of course, Janis didn't understand how it felt not to have her giant listen to her. Her and Damian practically share a mind, if anything it's a shock he hasn't started asking questions. "Fine, if you know what's best for everyone, go talk to Damian. I'm sure you two will solve everything with your buddy buddy perfect communication skills. Janis has a giant who actually listens to her! Wow! You don't have to rub it in." I cross my arms over my chest, leaning back against the wall.
Aaron blinks, his gaze bouncing between both of us nervously.
"I wasn't-" Janis pauses, letting her hands fold in her lap. "I wasn't rubbing anything in. Listen- Regina, I'm sorry Gretchen won't listen. Truly. I'm being genuine right now. But don't make me feel guilty for trying to come up with a solution to something affecting all three of us."
"Right," I mumble, guilt rising in my stomach. "Sorry. I just-"
My voice trails off but neither Janis nor Aaron push for me to continue talking. Gretchen was somebody I could always trust to be there and listen to me. Now she didn’t. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to make her listen. We're silent for a while while I regroup my emotions, not wanting to snap for no reason again.
"I have tried talking to Gretchen recently."
"And how did it go?" Aaron prompted.
"Well, it fucking went." I shrug. "Gretchen isn't used to having boys like her. I love her but crushes directed to her don't happen often. So of course she accused me of being jealous a boy finally liked her and not me."
"Maybe it had to do with how you worded it?" Janis suggests.
"Well, how else do I word 'hey maybe you should break up with the boy you're not even officially dating yet because he's toxic, a cheater, not actually in love with you, also harassing your tiny friends'?"
"Literally any way but that." Janis mumbled.
I shrug again, pulling out my phone. "Well, I did my best. You know emotions aren't my thing." I want to cry a little just thinking about the talk last week. But I don't. Crying won't fix anything.
"Regina, why can't you be happy that a boy likes me for once?! I know you're used to all the boys falling head over heels for you, but this is the first time a cute boy has put in the effort to care and call back and-"
"But he doesn't, Gretchen! He doesn't call back. He. Doesn't. Care! I'm doing this for you because nobody else is gonna tell you. Jason is bad news. He doesn't care about you, or Karen, or Cady, or Damian, and he really doesn't give a shit about Janis, Aaron, or I!"
"Just let me be happy, Regina." Gretchen says dismissively, ignoring everything I just said.
There's a hand on my shoulder, jolting me out of my thoughts. Aaron looks at me worriedly but retreats his arm. "Gina, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just-" I wipe away a strand of hair that's been matted to my face by tears. Wait-
-tears?
I use my sleeve to dry my face quickly. I didn't even realize I started crying. I was just so tired. I was supposed to feel safe around my friends. Even when the rest of the school sees me as an emotionless bitch I should be able to turn to my friends and be okay. I couldn't do what when my current number one source of fear has intruded into our group.
"So," Janis says awkwardly. "We don't tell our giants directly. How do we get them to see the side of Jason we're seeing?"
"We catch him in the act." Aaron suggests.
Janis shakes her head with a sigh. "I am tired and quite frankly sick. I don't want our plan 'a' to be; lets put ourselves in danger in hopes that our friends stop by to witness. Let's make that plan 'y' or 'z'."
"Well, we already have plans 'b' through 'z'. We need and 'a', I'm just spouting ideas." Aaron points out.
Janis sighs, shaking her head. "I should have stuck with Damian. I need a nap and maybe an Advil."
I chuckled dryly at the girl sitting across from me. "Always have your priorities sorted, huh Janis?"
"If my priorities include being sick and not wanting to deal with Jason ever again then yeah."
"It's getting harder and harder 'not to deal with Jason ever again'," Aaron pointed out. "Remember lunch last week?"
"Don't remind me." Janis huffed.
Last week Jason decided to be a lot more careless with how he treated us around our giant friends.
I cringe just thinking of the memory.
"All I'm saying is the tiny soccer team is so underfunded. We're even better than the giant soccer team but you wouldn't know it because we've set up to fail."
I raise my eyebrow as Aaron sits next to me, passionately explaining how he swears the tiny soccer team is not a total failure.
I sat in front of Gretchen and across from Janis, who was flopped against Damian's forearm clearly struggling to stay awake.
I grin as she yawns.
"Am I boring you, Janis?" Aaron teases.
"A little," Janis says with full honesty.
Before Aaron can remark, a stack of textbooks is dropped in between him and I, narrowly missing me as I push myself backward.
Jason.
Janis's eyes widen and I instantly rush around the textbook to make sure Aaron is okay. He is, just looks equally as shaken up as I do.
Jason sits in the seat between Damian and Gretchen without bothering to great the tinies he just nearly crushed. It's where Cady normally sits, but she isn't here today.
"Jason!" Gretchen grins, pecking him on the cheek like I didn't just almost die.
I throw and exasperated look to Janis who laughs at my expense.
She wasn't the one almost fucking crushed.
Janis pushes off Damian's arm, making her way over to Aaron and I.
Or tries to.
She doesn't make it very far before shes intercepted by a hand scooping her up.
Janis makes a noise of surprise as Jason lifts her off the table without asking.
I push myself closer to Gretchen as Janis instantly tries to get back down to the table. Jason's thumb knocks her down and I cringe because- that looked like it hurt.
Damian eyes Jason wearily but doesn't vocally say anything. But neither does Janis so why would anyone worry? It's just Jason. Sweet Jason. The boy who's probably gonna ask Gretchen to spring fling. Innocent Jason.
Janis sits up again, clearly uncomfortable, as Damian speaks. "Maybe I should hold Janis?"
"No," Jason says simply before Janis can even open her mouth. "She's fine."
"Janis," Damian ignores the boy next to him. "Do you want Jason holding you?"
Janis is silent for a while, and I don't blame her.
She's in Jason's hands.
One wrong more and shes getting hurt-
badly.
"I- I uh, kinda want to be with Damian right now? If that's okay?" Janis speaks slowly, picking her words wisely.
"That's okay!" Jason reassures her sweetly, passing the girl to her giant. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Aaron and Janis make an identical face of discussed at the sickly sweet tone and I can only assume my face is similar.
"It's okay." Janis says softly, visibly more relaxed in Damain's hands.
Jason forces a frown. "Well- I'll go give you space. Gretchen, I'll see you next period."
He gets up, walking away but I don't feel very bad for him. If anything, I feel safer. And if the collective breath of relief from Janis and Aaron was an indicator- they felt the same.
As soon as Jason was out of earshot, Gretchen turned to Janis. "Jason was just trying to be nice, Janis. You need to be willing to welcome him into our friend group."
Janis' jaw slacked. The 'are you kidding me' went unsaid. Instead, Janis forced out an "Of course, it's my fault."
"I'm serious, Janis. Be nice."
"I'm serious too." Janis shot back.
Aaron and I shared a look of helplessness. We couldn't just tell them. Our giants would never believe us.
To them, Jason could do no wrong.
"The only solution is to never go to lunch again." Janis speaks up, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Mhmm, sure. That's a reasonable solution." Aaron teases.
"You got something better, soccer boy?" Janis raises her eyebrow.
Aaron shakes his head. "We've reached a dead end. Gina? You got any ideas?"
I shake my head with defeat. "Unfortunately, no. All I know is Jason hates us and his goal is to make our friends hate us too through lying and manipulation."
"Go girl, give us nothing." Janis rolls her eyes. "We already knew that Regina."
"Okay, I get your sick and cranky, Janis, but I don't need you-"
"Okay!" Aaron interrupts me. "The three of us are stressed! We're worried. We're scared. But we're also all on the same page. Let's not go at each other's throats right now. We're the only ones who understand each other's struggles. Please stop fighting."
Janis and I both mumble a weak sorry.
Aaron was right. We were all scared. Can you blame us? Jason was doing everything in his power to isolate us from our friends. For no other reason other then we're tinies and see-through his act. Why he wants Gretchen so bad is beyond me. But hell am I gonna let his toxic ass have her.
"Do you guys remember that scarf Gretchen wore last week?" I ask.
Janis tilts her head. "Yeah?"
"I don't pay enough attention." Aaron shrugs.
I grin. "Well, it was a baggy infinity scarf to refresh your memory. There was enough fabric that I could sit on Gretchen's shoulder next to her neck and not be seen. So I obviously skipped my boring history lecture. But also- Gretchen talked to Jason. He didn't know I was there."
"You're like a spy!" Janis grinned, invested in the story. "What happened?!"
"Hey, Gretchen!" Jason smiles, slipping his hand into Gretchen's as they walked down the hall.
I sunk lower into the pool of fabric, hopping Grethen didn't point out I was here.
"Hey, Jason!"
I let out a breath of relief when she doesn't.
"I have to ask you something," Jason asked.
My ears perk up as I wait for him to continue.
"Is that Janis girl always so- unfriendly? I get the feeling she doesn't like me. I just don't know why. Like Regina clearly doesn't like me very much but she might just be jealous you've got a boy and she doesn't-"
So that's where the seed of jealously in Gretchen's head was planted from. It takes all of me not the stand-up and call Jason out on his bullshit.
He continues.
"But I don't understand why Janis or Aaron wouldn't like me. Aaron just gets quiet and hey- maybe he's shy. But Janis lashes out every time I try and talk to her."
"Janis can be like that sometimes." Gretchen says, nodding in agreement.
Jason could tell her the earth is fucking flat and this bitch would nod in agreement.
I wouldn't be surprised if Gretchen is even really listening to what Jason is saying.
All she's thinking is 'hot boy's lips are moving'.
Ugh.
"At least he's caught onto the fact that I don't fucking like him." Janis crossed her arms.
"Janis, he's painting you to be the bad guy. He's trying to turn Gretchen against you, what don't you understand about that?" Aaron asked.
"Oh no, I understood. I just don't care. I hate Jason and I'm glad he's caught on."
"He hates you more." I point out.
"Impossible." Janis shook her head.
We go back and forth about who hates who more before settling on the fact that our collective hate for him outweighs anything he feels for us.
"Let's go meet our giants, it's getting late." Aaron said standing up. He holds out his hand, helping Janis up first, then me.
Janis groans holding her head. "Still feel sick as fuck and standing up so fast did not help."
"Woe is you." I roll my eyes. "Let's go."
We walk through the school, making our way to the tiny pick up zone. We're halfway there as Aarons phone dings.
Its a text from Cady.
Aaron reads allowed: "Gretchen went home early so Karen is driving Regina home. Damian and Karen are still in after school help and I might be a bit late to pick you three up. Wait there for me, I swear I didn't forget about you guys."
I laugh. "Cady could never forget about us."
"I mean-" Janis starts. "There was the one ti-"
"Shut up." I cut her off. "Cady would never forget about her tiny friends."
We make it to the tiny pick up zone and sit against a wall to wait. It's no surprise that the hallway is empty. It's late after school on a Monday. Who would willingly still be in school?
There's footsteps down the hall and we all look up, expecting Cady.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Janis groans.
"Ever the pleasant one, Sarkisian." Jason jeers.
"I'm tired, and sick, and will literally cry if you even touch me. I will bawl. And maybe bite. Don't come the fuck near me." Janis threatens, holding up a sharpened pencil like its a knife.
Jason doesn't seem intimidated by this action. "Whatcha gonna do? Nibble my finger?"
"Fuck off!" Janis whines, throwing her head back. "Literally any day but today."
"Listen whiney and friends. I just hear to pick you up for your friends. So stop being such a bitch Janis."
The friends that told us to 'wait here for Cady'?
Riiight.
I share a knowing look with Aaron while Janis gets up, making her way back into the tiny halls.
"Not fucking dealing with this. Good day asshole."
"Nope." Jason reaches forward, picking Janis off the platform. "You're coming with me bitch."
"This is kidnapping," Janis says flatly. She doesn't fight Jason or thrash. She looks tired, like death is appealing at this point. "I'm being abducted."
Jason's fingers tighten around her. "Thought you were the fisty one? Huh? Shane said you put up a pretty good fight. Where's the fight, Sarkisian?"
"You talked to Shane?" I gawk. I don't know why I'm surprised. They definitely seem like best friends.
"Can you put me the fuck down?" Janis huffs. "Kinda hard to breath."
"Oh, is it?" Jason said with feigned worry. "Shame."
Janis cried out as the hand around her tightened, and Jason grinned at the first real signs of fear Janis has shown yet.
"Put me down- asshole!" Janis wheezed.
"Let go of her!" Aaron yelled.
It was moments like these when you really realize how helpless you were as a tiny.
All I could do was sit and watch as Aaron yelled and Janis squirmed. All I could do was pray Cady or really anybody would walk past and see what's happening.
Yeah, we've been threatened with death before.
Every tiny in Northshore has at least once.
And yeah, we've been pushed around before.
But I've never legitimately feared for my life of a friend's life.
I know maybe that's just a perk of being Regina Geroge, but this was new territory. And scary as fuck territory at that.
Jason seems pretty fucking pleased with himself and it makes my stomach twist. It's never gone this far before.
Somebody is going to get really hurt.
And I can't do anything.
I can almost feel my heart stop as Janis goes limp. I can't see her face.
But she's not fucking moving.
"Oh whoops." Jason shugs. "You tinies really are weak."
Aaron looks like if he could he'd fucking kill Jason.
Wouldn't we all.
"Put her down!" I yell, snapping out of my helpless funk.
Jason loosens his grip on Janis but she doesn't move. My breath feels caught in my throat.
My eyes were trained on Janis and I didn't see Jasons another hand till his finger flicked into my side, sending me falling backward.
I felt like I was living through one of those dramatic fight scenes in the movies.
Expect isn't it the villains who are supposed to be defeated?
I'm curled into myself on the floor, Janis is knocked out in the literal hands of the enemy and Aaron looks ready to kill or cry, whichever is possible first.
Never thought I'd die in high school.
"Hey, Jason, is that you?" A voice calls from down the hall.
"Cady!" Aaron runs to the egde of the platform.
Jasons condescending nature and snarl disappear. "Hello, Heron!"
"Is Janis asleep?" Cady asks as her eyes fall to Jason's hand. "She only ever falls asleep with Damian, either shes exhausted or really trust you."
The bitter laugh is out of my mouth before I can stop it.
Cady looks at me and tilts her head. "Regina, why do you look like you've been crying on the floor?" She pauses, her eyes trailing back between the four of us. I can almost see the doubt set in her mind. Yes! "What's really going on here?" She asks. "And uh, I'm gonna take Janis-"
Jason shakes his head. "She's fine, it won't be necessary."
"No, I wasn't offering." Cady's voice is an unfamiliar cold. "I'll take Janis."
I stand up and make my way closer to Aaron as Cady takes Janis away from Jason. "Now, what the fuck is going on.
"Literally nothing, we're just talking and-"
"No! He's a fucking asshole and he-"
"Regina, what did I ever do to you?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
Cady looks between us nervously. "Uh, Aaron? Wanna tell me what's going on?"
"Gladly."
Cady steps over, picking both Aaron and I up. My mouth is still open from shock.
What did I ever do to you?!
Fucking bitch, want me to list it?
"So uh," Aaron starts nervously. Cady cups her hands so I'm next to Janis who looks like she's beginning to stir but uh- I've never been suffocated before, maybe she's just sleeping at this point.
But she's breathing. It's reassuring enough for me.
"It started a couple months ago." Aaron continues. "Jason actually isnt very nice? To the tinies at least." He laughs nervously, leaning closer into Cady's hand and away from Jason, who isn't bothering to keep the nice facade up anymore. "He's actually like- Shane Omen but worse?"
"Worse?" Cady's jaw drops slightly in disbelief.
"I mean- he held Janis so tight that she passed out so I'd fucking say so." I snark.
Aaron nods. "Yeah, heh- like, I dunno. Just- not nice? He uh, flicked Regina, which is why she was laying down when you walked over. And like its not the first time he's done this? Especially when we're alone."
There's an unreadable look on Cady's face as she looks up to Jason.
It almost scares me.
"I'm gonna walk away. Just-" Cady gives a low laugh. "Jesus, I almost feel sorry for you, Jason. You deserve everything coming to you. Starting with Gretchen and Damian when they find out."
Despite everything, I can't help but smile at the way Jason's face falls with realization.
It's not a big secret that Gretchen loves an excuse to slap someone.
And this is hell of an excuse.
I look at Janis who is still laying next to me, breathing shallowly.
We might have to bail Damian out of fucking jail.
Cady turns on her heels without saying another word to Jason and walks down the halls. Once he is out of earshot she looks down at us. "How long?!"
Aaron shrugs. "Since Gretchen first met Jason."
"That's like three months guys!" Cady looks genuinely heartbroken. "I can't believe we didn't notice."
Janis stirs next to me, weakly propping herself up. "Huh?"
There are tears in Cady's eyes as she stops walking. "You guy have been enduring this for three months?"
"No," I say. "Well- yes but not really. It was a build-up. He didn't just start attacking us to the point of death one random day. It started with little things. Like pushing us around and knocking us over."
"That shouldn't happen anyway!" Cady says sadly.
"But it did," Janis mumbled. She seems to have caught onto whats going on. "My chest hurts."
"I'm so sorry you guys," Cady whispers sadly. "I- how did we not notice?"
"Not notice what?"
I turn around to see Karen and Damian walking over. For a second my eyes trail behind them in search of Gretchen but- she went home. Of course.
"Cady, are you crying?" Damian asks, instantly worried. "Is everything okay? Where's Janis?"
"Right here, dude." Janis mumbles. She's looking down at her lap, her arms wrapped loosely around herself. She's still wheezing slightly and tears threaten to spill over her eyes. I don't blame her. That was almost death.
Janis almost died.
My breath hitches at the realization.
As a tiny, you almost die a lot. But- it's accidental. It's falling or almost being crushed. Never malicious actions of bigger peers.
Cady offers her hands out and I step backward, letting Damian gently scoop up Janis.
"What happened?" Karen asks, peering over Damian's shoulder at Janis.
I look back to Cady trying to figure out if she's gonna talk or if Aaron and I have to explain. She's staring at Karen with a crestfallen gaze, tear tracks down her face. "Guys-" She starts.
I know this is hard for her because she's taking it personally and blaming herself, but we really don't need the fanfare.
Not that I'm gonna step up and tell the story.
Karen steps towards picking up me and Aaron. Cady doesn't fight it, she just lets her hands fall to her side. "Y'know, Jason?"
"Yeah of course. Smile emoji." Karen says from above me.
I look over to Janis, who has her arm around Damain's finger. She's doing pretty well for passing out. God knows I'd be sobbing if that were me. Hell, the ache in my side is enough to make me want to cry right now.
"Not smiley face emoji, Karen," Cady explains softly. "I don't know the full thing, you're gonna have to ask the tinies but-"
Cady explains what she walked over to see and the minimal information she got out of us earlier. She left out a lot, but she didn't know a lot to be fair. The look of utter horror on our friend's faces almost made me feel bad. We barely scraped the top layer.
Damian is looking down at the girl in his hands who at some point in the bad retelling started crying again. Karen had held Aaron and I even closer and Cady looked ready to sit down and cry. Me too, Cady.
"Three months?" Damian whispers weakly. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Why would you believe us? Jason's fucking great." Janis said bitterly, still clinging to his finger.
"Of course we would believe you, Jan."
"Gretchen didn't." I say softly.
I didn't really think about what I was saying. I was just mumbling to myself. But Karen heard.
"You told her?"
I shrug. "Tried to. She didn't listen."
"Well, she's gonna listen when we tell her tomorrow," Cady says. "I can't believe you didn't tell us."
I shrug dismissively, not wanting to talk about it. "It's not a big deal."
I didn't mean it. Of course, it's a big deal. But I said it wasn't anyway.
"You're telling me Janis almost died today and it's not the first time you guys have been through something like that, but don't worry it's not a big deal?!"
I pause, looking at the three giants. This was Aaron, Janis and I's normal. It's what we went through every day. Yeah, it's shitty but we're used to it. I forget sometimes the giants don't understand the fact not getting shoved around is normal for us. Being threatened and made fun of for our size is just part of an average day.
"Can we continue this with Gretchen at lunch tomorrow? I don't want this conversation twice. I feel even crappier than I already did before and I just want to sleep." Janis speaks up from where Damian held her protectively close.
"You all better tell us everything tomorrow." Cady says.
"Cady are you taking Aaron or should I get these two home?" Karen asks.
-
"This was a really funny joke guys." Gretchen says from above me. Despite her words, her voice is void of all amusement.
"Yes, because we're the type to make jokes about our tiny friends almost dying." Damian deadpans. Janis is sitting on the table in front of him looking like she'd rather talk about anything other than this.
I don't blame her.
But this could finally be my chance to get Gretchen to listen and believe me.
"Gretchen." I turn around to look up at her, but I'm on the table I need to crane my neck. "I know this isn't what you want to hear, but you have to believe us. Cady witnessed it with her own eyes if you don't believe me. Janis sure as hell can vouch since she nearly fucking died yesterday."
Gretchen doesn't respond for a long time. I feel like I can see the seed of doubt settle in on the situation. She reaches forward, scooping me up and bringing me to her shoulder.
"I- I'm not sure what to believe," She admits. "but I'll listen. I'm sorry I didn't do that before."
That one sentence felt like so much weight being lifted. Jason had Gretchen around her finger. His word was law and everyone else could fuck themself.
But not anymore.
I open my mouth to speak but get cut off by a familiar and unwelcoming voice.
"Hello everyone!"
Cady's eyes widen in disbelief. "You aren't actually stupid enough to think about sitting with us today, right Jason?"
"Aw, why not?" He asks, sitting next to Gretchen and slinging his arm over her shoulder.
I gasp as I'm knocked forward, gripping onto Gretchen's shirt underneath me as I try to stay on.
Gretchen bats Jason's arm away and scoops me up. "Jason we were talking about something private maybe it's better you join us again later."
Jason's eyes narrowed, as he looked across the table. I sunk lower in Gretchen's hand as his eyes landed on me but he moved on without trying anything. I mean- obviously, Gretchen was right here but still.
Cady's hand was resting wearily by Aaron if Jason tried something and Janis had been transported to Damian's pocket when I wasn't looking. How could Gretchen not pick up on how stressed we all are?
"What's wrong?" Jason asked, turning to Gretchen.
"It's nothing for you to worry about. I just-"
"Did I do something wrong?" Jason's face fell and I almost felt bad for him. Almost. He should pursue an acting career.
Gretchen looked at loss for what to say for a second before speaking up. "Where were you yesterday after school?"
Jason scoffed. "Whatever Cady said was a lie, Gretch."
"I-" Gretchen froze. "I didn't mention Cady."
Jason's eyes widened as he began to backtrack but- it was too late.
"Jason I need you to leave, please." Gretchen's hand was shaking as she placed me gently on the table. "There are some things I need to rethink."
"You really believe those tinies?" Jason's face morphed into utter disgust.
The mask was off, the act was over. Karen reached over, tugging me away from Gretchen and Jason and closer to her.
"I should have believed them a while ago, apparently." Gretchen snapped.
Jason rolled his eyes. "Please. They're just tinies. What makes them so trustworthy? Actually- what makes them worthy?"
Karen lets out a legitimate gasp from above me. Gretchen looks to me with an expression I can't read. My breath feels caught in my throat. I can't shake the feeling that this may be where I lose my best friend.
But she looks back at Jason. "I can't believe you really just asked that. Did you think that would help your point? What made you think- oh this will totally get Gretchen on my side? What is wrong with you?"
Jason looks dumbfounded at Gretchen's outburst. "Gretchen-"
I knew it was coming, so it was no surprise as Gretchen raises her arm, and a loud smack echos through the cafeteria over all the oblivious conversations. Jason gasps, his hand shooting up to his cheek. "You fucking bitch-"
"You have treated my friends awfully for too long. Go fuck off and find somewhere else to sit for lunch." Gretchen says simply, turning away from Jason.
Jason doesn't say anything as he looks across the table one last time. Aaron was still on the table but Cady had her hand cupped around him defensively, Damian's hand rested over his chest pocket and Janis gripped onto his finger. Karen had pulled against her arm where I sat pushed away as far away from Jason as possible. It was pretty clear he wasn't wanted here.
"Whatever." He bitterly admits defeat, pushing away from the table and walking away. Gretchen watched him leave before turning to me, wide-eyed.
"I can't believe I didn't believe you." She said sadly. "I can't believe I didn't believe any of you." I hold my arms out and Gretche complies, reaching over to scoop me up. "Regina, I'm so sorry."
I don't try and stop the tears that burn in my eyes as Gretchen holds me close to her.
We still have a lot to talk about after this but-
I've finally won after a long and painful battle. All our giants are awake and no longer oblivious to the suffering.
I'm safe.
I cling to Gretchens's shirt as the tears poor over my eyes. Gretchen shakes and I realize- she's crying too.
I wouldn't be surprised if I turned around and the whole table was.
Jason was an asshole. He manipulated his way into the friend group and made my life miserable. Plus Janis and Aaron too, I guess. But he's gone now.
We don't have to worry anymore.
We're okay.
It will be okay.
2.5/10 not my best work but fun to write @realmisspolarbear @smallsoysauce @musicallygt