[CryCandice]

Synopsis: How do you deal with loss, emptiness, unwanted emotions? How can one life be so tragic? Jack wants happiness, something he'll never get. Jack wants revenge, something that seems all too possible. Jack wishes he could take it all back, something we all want. Jack wants to go home before home was erased.

The next morning, I wasn't late for the bus. When my alarm clock buzzed my sleep away, I was ready to go. I hopped out of bed and pulled on the first clothes I saw hanging up in my closet. I brushed my teeth, skipped on my hair again, and slid out of the door.

She was there. That girl from yesterday. She looked just as beautiful as she had yesterday. I jogged across the street to the bus stop and halted right in front of her.

I opened my mouth, about to say something, when a finger tapped gently on my shoulder. I realized that I hadn't noticed the group of gigglers. I'd been too busy looking at her.

I spun around and glared at the girl who'd tapped my shoulder. It was the main giggler.

"Hey, you were looking at me yesterday," she smiled, "Want to ask me something?"

"I—" I started.

"I'll ask for you then, silly. Want to go out sometime?" Wow, this girl is straightforward. Pretty bold for a giggler.

"I'm sorry. What's your name?" I didn't wait for an answer. I turned around, ready to talk to the girl behind me.

"Jessica. I'm Jessica," she and her friends started giggling again, "What's yours, cutie?"

I spun around, mad now. "Jack. Can you just wait for a second?" I said through gritted teeth.

"Ooh, sorry. No can do, Jack. But I can give you my number," I stared at her, gaping.

"Look, princess, do you mind?" I wished that this girl would quit with the I'm-so-hot-and-I-get-everyone-I-want act.

"Aw! Pet names already?" she giggled at her friends. This time, they didn't giggle back.

"Look, just back off. I have no use for pushy girls like you." I looked at her. She smiled at first, like I'd just delivered a somewhat funny joke. But then the smile faded, and she didn't look so confident anymore. Tears swelled into her eyes and started to spill over.

At first I didn't care, but then I saw something in the look on her face. It reminded me of something I'd seen before. Suddenly, I felt terrible.

"Look..." I struggled to remember her name, "Jessica, I'm sorry." From the look she gave me, sorry wasn't enough.

Just then, the bus pulled up. I was torn between two choices: talking to the girl I'd been wanting to talk to since yesterday, or getting that sad girl to quit crying.

Talk could wait, I needed to get that look to go away. I walked up to Jessica, our faces just a few inches apart. She stared up at me, cheeks wet and eyes red. I pulled her up against my chest and rested my chin on the top of her head. I didn't like this girl, but from experience, I knew this sort of thing worked.

I looked behind Jessica at her friends and saw envy. Their eyes were like daggers, but not pointed at me. They were pointed at Jessica's back.

Although this girl was in no way my type, I suddenly felt protective. I guess petty girl fights started over these types of things.

I just pulled my arms away from her back and grabbed her hand in mine. I took her to the open doors of the bus and leaned my head in toward hers before she went up the steps of the bus. "Just go find a seat real quick, I'll be right in there," I whispered.

I turned around as she went in and blocked the door of the bus. Jessica's friends stopped right in front of me.

"Okay you all, all I did was hug her. I don't know what your deal is, but she didn't do anything to you, so just leave her alone." I turned around and walked up the steps, not caring what they had to say for themselves.

I found Jessica at the back of the bus, happy this time. I sat next to her, hoping she'd learned her lesson.

"So, are we, like, official now?" She hadn't learned anything at all.

"Can we just try to be friends first?" She looked down at her hands, her confidence not quite restored yet. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with you. It's just that... I'm not looking for anyone right now."

"Oh... okay. I guess." She still hadn't looked up.

This time, it wasn't going to be so easy. I just turned my head to stare out of the window across the aisle. After a few minutes, Jessica started crying again. I decided not to give in and moved to another seat near the front of the bus.

It was only a few moments before I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Not again.

I turned around, slowly.

"Hey, you were looking at me yesterday," this amazingly beautiful girl flashed a brilliant smile, "Want to ask me something?"

[dearest]

Another great installment, and what a clever ending. This is great; can't wait for the next chapter. ^_^