Makayla sat on the bench under a sycamore tree eyes darting from left to right. Her lunch sitting on her lap untouched as she didn't want to begin eating until he arrived. Makayla looked down at her phone 'read at 11.50'.

She had texted Jessie to eat with her for lunch as she wouldn't see him properly till Friday afternoon where they shared English Lit., before the weekend began.

Seeing that he had read message usually meant that if not said otherwise he'd come, but since everything that had just happened she wasn't sure the same rule applied.

After the funeral, Jessie had decided to take a week off school. The school understood and so did his mother, and the two concluded to leave the town in that week to somewhat help them mourn.

In that time Jessie hadn't spoken once to Makayla. In fact, he didn't reply to any attempts she made to communicate with him. So when her mother told her that the two had taken an impromptu trip south, Makayla couldn't help but feel hurt, albeit she understood why they did so.

The soft crunching noise took her from her thoughts, and she saw Jessie approach her. She lit up but immediately dimmed when she caught sight of him.

Still, in dark colours, his navy beanie was on his head covering his dark brown hair from showing making his face appear paler than it naturally was. His bag was practically dragging on the floor no doubt from his laptop he carried and in his other hand an apple. Good, he's eating. Makayla thought to herself.

He sat down legs outstretched head hung back as he took a deep breath in. Makayla waited until he finished before she spoke, "I didn't think you'd show."

He bit into his apple not once glancing at her, surveying the baseball grounds as the school team practised.

"I wasn't sure either, I guess I just woke up and found myself at school."

"Autopilot Jessie, I've told you many times that that's a dangerous habit."

He shrugged.

"It gets me from A to B Mak."

"Providing that on the way-"

"No one knocks me over," Jessie finished having heard her concerns many times before. "I wanted mum to get back to work, she wouldn't do so if I stayed at home."

"You would've missed out on Mr Larpenden's annual rant on why we shouldn't be reading books post the 1950s."

Jessie threw his apple in the bin managing to catch the core on the rim before it fell in.

"Nice shot," Makayla commented. Jessie stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"You finished eating?"

Makayla looked down at her uneaten lunch.

"Yeah."

Jessie drew in a breath, he was hoping she would say no, and he could leave without feeling bad.

Having not seen her in a week it felt challenging to get back into their usual friendship. As though the locks had been changed without their notice, and instead of handing him the correct key he was instead riffling through a tray of discarded ones.

"Cool, you've got biology, right? I've got chem so let's walk together."

Makayla stuffed her lunch away, obviously forgetting her rumbling stomach, but that last sentence uttered by Jessie reminded her of his old self.

The friends walked past the crowd stands of the baseball field, and headed into the north section of the school. It was an uncomfortable silence the pair walked in, Makayla deciding not to attempt conversation which Jessie matched by not trying as well.

She followed meekly to their lockers which were placed side by side. At this point, Makayla wished her's was somewhere else so she could rid herself of this unease she felt.

Jessie opened up his locker, placing his bag in and replacing it with his chemistry book. As he went to shut the door, a note slipped out from the bottom and floated to the floor.

The pair looked at the letter as it descended slowly to the floor before resting by Jessie's feet. He bent down to pick it up and flipped the card onto the other side.

A straightforward sentence but it forced the colour to drain from Jessie's face and then be replaced quickly with brimming rage-- rage which Makayla didn't quite understand.

He slammed the locker shut, with enough force to startle Makayla and a few others students nearby.

"Jesus Jessie, what's wrong? What does it say?"

"Leave it, Mak." His eyes were still glued to the note. However, from where he was holding, it had become crumpled with the force he was applying.

"Is it something bad? Is it a threat? Something to do with your dad?"

"Makayla." Though his voice was no louder than usual, he said her name through gritted teeth spit flying out from his mouth. Makayla's lips pressed together as Jessie had never said her name with such anger before.

He turned on his heels and walked off note still in hand, leaving a confused Makayla standing there alone.