Chapter Text
"Mono?!" I screeched
Bella just nodded, grabbing a strawberry milk, "Yeah apparently it's spreading through the reservation like crazy."
"Isn't that the kissing one? " I grumbled, grabbing an orange and banana.
"Not necessary. Could also be from sharing drinks. From how Billy was describing its mostly like all the teen guys who were all out because of it" She pointed to the chicken which the lunch lady placed on her tray. '`Are you going to get salad?'
I nodded and stirred it to the salad bar, continuing, "That doesn't mean much, could still be from kissing." I didn't like the ache that made itself known in my chest.
"I feel like he would've told me if he's been to a make out party with the boys"
"Who's been to a make out party with the boys?" Jessica popped up out of nowhere causing Bella to jump and drop the tongs she had been using.
"Of course you come in just in time to hear that" I laughed chasing the rouge cherry tomato that had fallen. Did a little hoop and landed gracefully in the trash, "3 points!"
Bella chuckled giving a thumbs up before turning to Jess," My friend, Jacob had mono. He's been m.i.a since movie night."
"Really? That was over a week ago!"
We made our way to the table where the gang were mostly already there.
"Yeah apparently it can last a whole. I remember Jacob saying that his buddy Quil was out for a month before. Assuming it's the same thing he got."
Jessica scanned the group before landing on "Eric! You've had mono, how was it?"
Eric, who had been mid burger bite, choked at the seemingly out of no where question, "it was 3 years ago!!"
Tyler who was sitting next to him patted his back, " and we don't judge you for it. Everyone gets mono at band camp" Everyone laughs as Eric punches him in the arm.
"Just symptom wise" Jess elaborated.
"I just remembered being very weak. Could barely leave my bed for like 2 months. Kind of like a flu but longer. My throat was swollen to hell so I couldn't talk at all."
Bella nodded, "Would make sense to go AWOL"
"He could still text?" Jess stated.
I shook my head, "I couldn't when I had the bug, not necessarily."
"Who has Mono?" Angela peeped up from the other end of the table.
"Bella's Jacob," Jess yelled back.
"Oh Mike's crush!" Lauren exclaimed before slapping her mouth closed.
I swung my whole body towards the only other person who knew, "Jessica!"
"In my defense!" She yelled with her hands raised "This is the first crush" her eyes darted to Bella who pointedly was very interested in her salad at the moment, "first viable crush, in a loooong while."
"OK, 1. Rude. 2. That doesn't mean share with the world. It's like putting bad juju out there and jinxing before there's even a chance for anything!"
Jessica looked down, shamed by this break in crush code muttering apologies.
Taking a deep breath, "It's fine. But if anyone, and I mean ANYONE," pointingly looking at everyone in earshot, "says anything else about this before anything happens….Bella is going to kick your ass" I finished shooting a huge smile at Bella who jumped at her name. But after a blink she smiled back and put up her fists for show causing the entire table to laugh.
She turned red but a pleased smile showed how much this little moment meant to her.
The tension broke with Tyler asking "Anyone who had Ms.Smith this morning know of there's a pop quiz today?" Which caused everyone to break off into their own conversations and move on from the topic.
The last week and change has really made all the difference in our little gangs dynamics. The genuine push to include Bella into the conversation with all the help with Jessica and I has done wonders for her confident levels. It was still an effort but the entire group took the change in strides.
"So. What do you think I should do?" Bella whispered to me.
"With?"
"Jacob, even if he's that sick, should still do something"
I squinted down at the orange that was half peeled in my hands, slowly tearing at it thinking of different options. "Youuuuu can bring him some soup?"
"Soup?" She questioned
"Soup." I confirmed
"Soup… yeah" she nodded, then shook her head"…I can't make soup"
"I can make soup" I offered before thinking, squeezing the slice in my hand once I realized squinting the juice all over my palm, "Ah fuck"
"You can make soup??"She exclaimed, offering me a napkin.
In for a penny.
"Yeah I can make loads of things"
Jess interjected, "Yeah, his Italian is to die for!"
"You've lost privileges to enter this, Jess!" Pointing at her, making her pout.
"I said sorry!"
"Deal"
"It would be a way to reintroduce you too. Mentioning you heard he was sick and offered to make it. Showing how sweet and caring you can be even to someone you only met once" Bella lamented, ignoring the whole confirmation.
Jess and I just smiled at her.
"What?" She asked but neither of us said anything in response. Hearing her talk so much was so nice to hear now. Last week it was pulling teeth to get more than two words from her, look at her now. Soon her whole filter will fall, can't wait.
Jess changed the subject entirely, "So Bella, there's this concert this Saturday in Seattle. The girls are making a day trip of it, would you like to come?"
"What kind-"I gently not so gently kicked her shin, "ow, I mean sure!"
We've discussed this before, opening yourself up to more opportunities when they present themselves.
"I have no idea what I'd wear"
I sighed.
We have to work on it more.
Jessica invited herself over to her house to help and the rest of the period was going on about the trip.
All topics of Mr. Jacob Black dropped for now.