Standing Out

Since becoming ill, I’ve had nothing to do besides groan and sleep. Even worse, my allergies were getting worse; my trashcan was filled to the brim with snotty tissues and mucus.

My parents had assured me that I might just have a sinus infection along with my sickness. They would tell me that that was why it wasn’t going away. I bitterly doubted them. At this point, they had exhausted their medicine cabinet when it came to trying to cure me. Now they just tried a mix of everything.

Fortunately, it was Saturday so I had both my parents and my sister to talk to.

It was noon and I had slept feverishly through the hours. Jeanne came upstairs with some chicken noodle soup and offered it to me. I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t want to concern her. I let her feed it to me and listened earnestly as she told me what happened to her at school on Friday. Every day had been a struggle for me, but maybe if I heard about someone else’s day, my mind would be distracted from my pain.

“So it was Friday, obviously, and I was walking around just minding my own business and I accidentally ran into Jack. Or rather he ran into me.”

She started narrating her story for both characters.

“Oh, uh, hi Jeanne,” Jack had stared at his feet awkwardly.

“Oh, it’s you.” My sarcastic voice made him flinch.

“I’m sorry for what I did. I thought Brianna was meant for me, but I was wrong. Getting with her just made me realize what an incredible person you are.”

“Jack, I can’t just forgive you after you did that to me. If I hadn’t caught you, we would still be dating. You would still be cheating on me and I would be oblivious.”

“I know.” Jack’s face had been one of guilt. “But I need you.”

I had sighed. “I suppose it’s been lonely not having you around. Do you want to be friends again?” I set him up. I knew that he could only respond one way.

“I want to be more than friends. I want to date you again.” He bent over and kissed me.

“Okay,” I smiled deeply as he embraced me in the hallway. I didn’t care that I was attracting attention from prying onlookers. Of course, my special moment with Jack didn’t last too long.

It was Brianna. Here we go.

“What are you doing with my boyfriend?”

“I’m not your boyfriend!” Jack growled. “I never was! Jeanne is who I’m meant to be with.”

His words had made me glow with jubilation. Finally, Brianna had a taste of her own medicine.

“So you just steal Jack from me?” Brianna pushed me. “Not without a fight you don’t.”

I pushed her back. “Jack was mine before you took him. I wouldn’t speak so soon.”

Jack, desperate to end the conflict, stepped in between us. “Brianna, you’re a great person and I’m sure that there is someone out there for you. Jeanne was truly meant to be with me, though. Don’t take your anger out on her, I asked her if she would date me.”

A wild look had sprung into Brianna’s eyes. “You’re right.”

“Good, now we can go our separate ways in peace.” Jack had clearly overlooked her expression.

“I shouldn’t be angry with Jeanne. I should be angry with you.”

Fear sprung into Jack’s eyes. “You voluntarily cheated on me, your girlfriend.” Brianna got so close to Jack that her breath burned on his neck. Jack cowered under her callous stare. “I won’t physically hurt you, of course. There are easier ways to hurt a guy and I know just how to do it.” Brianna stalked away, fury edging her every step.

Jack had looked genuinely disturbed, so I did my best to comfort him. Putting my arm around him, I assured him that now he was with me, things would be different. We would be a team, and not even Brianna could hurt us.

“Thanks, Jeanne.” His eyes were imbued with affection and he added sincerely, “for being my girlfriend.”

“Thanks for saving me from big, bad, Brianna.” I put my head on his shoulder and laughed to myself.

“She’s pretty short.” He chuckled. “The only thing that makes her intimidating is her mouth.”

Jeanne paused and looked at me amused.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Well, while Jack and I were hugging, Mr. Hutchins, the janitor, came up behind us with a broom and whacked Jack on the head.”

“No one romances in this hallway!” He rasped, knocking Jack to the floor. “That ought to teach you not to mess around!” Huffing, he had stomped away.

Ruffled, Jack found his feet and rubbed his neck in embarrassment. “Well, I didn’t see that coming.”

We shared the merriment for a while, until the bell rang and we were late for class. Our music teacher was late too so she didn’t hold it against us for once.

Jeanne’s eyes filled with mirth. “I don’t think I’ve felt this joyful in a long time.”

Coughing into my arm for sanitary purposes, I looked at her warmly. “I’m glad, Jeanne.” I didn’t feel well, though, so when she left the room, I fell into another feverish sleep.