Chapter 16: Sophie to the Mud 1

Waking up to experience Mondays was one of the things Jessie dreaded the most and it was, here again, another Monday. The Squeaky ring from the alarm shrieking on and on calling her out of the realm of fantasy she was immersed in and bringing her to the realization that it was a new day and a Monday at that. Many times Jessie wished she could fall into a deep slumber or a coma on Sundays and then wake up on Tuesdays. Maybe that way, she won't get to pass through the whole stress of the first school day of a week Mondays brought along. After each thought, she still felt it was useless as the activities still rolls over, and experiencing Mondays was a major part of her existence.
After struggling to ignore the ring of the alarm, she woke up after two snoozes. It wasn't a good thing for Jessie to start Mondays late, so she woke up anyway as she had to prepare for college.
Languidly carrying herself out of the bed, Jessie made her way to the bathroom and brushed her teeth while listening to the daily mantra that buzzed out from her phone.
While washing up and doing the usual routine of staring at the mirror and admiring herself, Jessie got lost in thought thinking about her life before meeting the Ranez, and then she realized it was not so good after all. She began to get a clearer image of what she went through staying with her Parents, the Gibsons. Scrutinizing the whole memories with them, it began to dawn on her that it was not perfect as the smiles and fake charades she was shown as care, were an illusion.
Consummated in her thoughts, Jessie did not realize she had spent so long washing up and she still was not ready for school.
"Jessie!", Luciana hurriedly spouted out, "it's late and you are still staring at the mirror? We have a test today, Mr. Hills will be giving us a thirty percent assessment test and you still are not ready?"
Jessie who had already drifted into wonderland with her thoughts was startled as soon as Luciana called out her name and hurriedly finished with what she was doing, not forgetting to scream, "I'll be out in a few seconds", to Luciana who had already rushed out to finish preparations for school.
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Different cars made their way to the parking lot of Chelan college while a few others just halted in the front of the college and drove off as soon as whoever they carried alighted out of the car.
Jessie and Luciana stepped out of Mrs. Ranez's car and quietly made their way to the hallway where other students walked, some chatting at a corner, a few gathered around at some corner squealing with their friends for some uncalled reason. As Jessie walked, she admired every scenario that played out in school and she remembered how her first day at Chelan college went, when she stood staring at the school for some minutes before gradually deciding to step into the school and accept it, as she was still having a hard time adapting to the new environment.
"See you at class", Luciana said out to Jessie as she scurried away into Miss. Selene's office, her guidance Counselor as they had some unfinished business.
"Okay, okay... I will save a spot for you", Jessie jabbered out with the hope that Luciana heard her before she made a turn to her locker.
Shoving her bag into the locker, Jessie picked up a book that had 'Happy Memories' inscribed on the cover page and shut the locker, only to turn around to face Charles who just stood a few feet away from her.
"Hey....", Jessie said shakily, giving off forced smiles.
Charles just flashed a smile at her and kept on staring like he was waiting for her to say something more.
"Umm... You want something? ", Jessie stammered.
A wide smile appeared on Charles' face as he said, " I was just waiting for you".
Jessie who was surprised at seeing him there, realizing he wanted a walk with her, gulped, turned back to check if her locker was closed, and accepted the walk. She walked with him as he moved to his locker and dropped the backpack he was with, picking up his laptop and a few other devices as he made his way to his lecture hall. Jessie who walked close to him could feel prickling sensations on her neck from eyes staring at her and she just hoped a distraction could happen, which started just right in front of her.
"You are an insolent fool, so you are still spending time with Raymond?", Jessie heard Sophie scream while trying to pull off Alyssa's hair from her head. Students began Sauntering to the hallway and the place which had few persons in it minutes ago slowly began to turn into what seemed like a marketplace. Jessie exhaled a sigh of relief as she no longer felt the glaring eyes of people on here but then a deep frown formed on her face seeing Alyssa that way. It was bad because it felt like a one-man fight against a team. She felt sorry for Alyssa and she hoped someone would intervene. She turned to look at Charles who just stood there staring like he was in some thoughts and he didn't look like someone that wanted to make a move soon.
"Sophie let go", Alyssa yelled frustratingly while trying to force herself out from the grasp of Sophie's clenched fists. Alyssa kept on yelling as it seemed like no help was coming for her. The other girls of the sassy Snitches crew just stood surrounding Alyssa taking videos and photos, probably to create a stupid hashtag with it and cause a terrible week for Alyssa, as they were pros in doing that.
Jessie's heart raced with emotions seeing Alyssa's face filled with exasperation as she desperately tried to wriggle herself off Sophie's grip and she knew she had to do something. Moving her feet forward to go save Alyssa, Jessie paused in her track as she felt someone tug her back.
Charles who stood unperturbed watching the whole drama playing in front of him caught Jessie from the side of his eyes staring at him. Trying to act so unbothered, he intentionally stayed glaring at the scene that had attracted attention till her eyes rolled over. He observed her and noticed how the display troubled her, he acted so nonchalantly till he saw her stepping out towards Alyssa and he reached immediately to her, holding back Jessie's hands. Charles was certain he did not stop her because he cared about her or had whatever feelings for her. He just did not want to watch her enlist herself in the lineup of names the Sassy snitches crew would want to torment as that was all they did. He wanted to be the only one seeing her get hurt. Charles had no right over her, but then, he alone desperately wanted to be the cause of her pain and he felt he will gain satisfaction doing it that way.
Jessie noticing she was held back by some person turned to see Charles tugging at her arms slightly. She wondered why he held her back and wasn't saying anything till she saw his face move, calling her attention to Raymond who was already rushing out to meet Alyssa.
Raymond, a sophomore student in Chelan college majoring in Computer science as well as Charles was in the Computer room speaking with the Computer lab instructor, till he heard beeps from notification sounds on his phone and he opened his Reddit only to see videos and not so good photos of Alyssa on the internet. He loved Alyssa and it was something everybody knew even as Alyssa kept on denying it and refusing to own up to her feelings, choosing to keep him as a friend. Raymond just did not enjoy that Sophie derived joy in making troubles with Alyssa, immediately he was filled with rage and scurried out to the hallway.
Raymond rushed to Sophie and his hands collided with her cheek intentionally, the sound ringing out in the air. Every single person in the hallway was shocked at the sudden turn out of events and some started murmuring with Alyssa running away from the hallway in tears.
Jessie gasped and raised her palms to her parted lips in shock as she did not expect the whole drama to turn out that way. She was the same person that wanted to step out a few minutes ago, but slapping wasn't part of the help she intended to offer. She saw Raymond rushing towards Sophie but she had no idea he had been pushed to the extreme by going as far as slapping Sophie.
Jessie's lips that were parted from shock began to take shape and curved upwards into a sinister smile. Someone had to teach Sophie some lessons and Raymond turned out to be just the perfect person.