♡ Jessica Woods ♡

I got a notification while I was playing Subway Surfers and when I noticed it was a text message from the board of prefects group, I instantly tapped it and read the message which was sent by our prefects' in-charged teacher.

Attention Guys!

Tomorrow all the prefects should be presented in school on time and no one could get absent tomorrow. Plus, don't forget to bring your blazers.

My face brightened a little when I saw the thumbs-up emoji Jace has sent below this message. So that meant, he would come to school tomorrow.

I think I'm slightly excited about tomorrow.
----

"Aren't you happy that we both have same duties?" Louise squealed, looking at the notice board and I forced out a smile, nodding my head.

"I am."

"Well, well. Let's go in then." she told, linking her arm through mine and I sighed as I wasn't too excited about this talent show as much as Louise was.

I haven't seen Jace since now but I knew he wouldn't get absent today as today was one of our greatest fund raising event, The Talent Show. Plus, The board of prefects were so glad that the whole population of our school was buying the ticket and attending the show today.

"Oh crap." Louise abruptly stopped walking and turned to look at me. "Jessie, can you wait here for me? I'll be back in a minute." she said hurriedly and I frowned.

"Why? What happened?"

"I brought the blazer with its hanger, so I have to go and keep it." she replied and I let out a loud sigh. "So just wait here for me. Don't go anywhere okay?" she ordered and I nodded, rolling my eyes.

"I won't. Just come soon, Lou. We don't have much time to waste." I stated and she gave me thumbs-up sign while scurrying down. I sighed inaudibly and leaned against the wall, staring at the direction she went.

Then I glanced around the empty place, tapping my foot on the floor as I started to lose my patience when the seconds turned to minutes.

Suddenly I felt a shadow beside me and when I turned the other side to look who it was, I jumped in surprise when I met the chocolate brown eyes of Samuel who was standing extremely closer to me.

"S-Samuel?" I stuttered, trying not to make an eye contact with him. What's he doing here? He smirked a little, placing his hand on the wall next to my head, and my heart started to pound in my chest already.

"To be frank, I actually underestimate you." he whispered, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear and I gazed down, gripping my blazer tightly. I was a bit relieved that nobody was around right now. "You're really good at such things. Even Claire Danes would get jealous of you." He stated mockingly and I looked up at him, wondering why he was bringing up a celebrity's name out of the blue.

"Why? Because I could live happily ever after with my Romeo?" I asked and it made him scoff in response.

"You wish. It's because.. you can break a long-term relationship just like that as if it's a child's play for you."

So he thinks I'm a homewrecker?

"What are you talking about? What did I do?" I asked with a frown on my face.

"Tell me something you didn't do." he retorted and his face slowly began to harden. "The four of us were so close and have a bond with each other. And eventhough we insult one another, we don't let any people to hurt or insult any of our friends.." he paused, staring straight into my eyes. "But I don't know what happened after you came. It was like you cast a spell on us or something. Because the four of us were split apart in a short span of time. Ryan's so busy with your bestie and Jace's hating me with passion because of you and above all, you tainted the good soul of Tash." he told, clenching his jaw and I bit my inner cheek as I had no idea why he was saying all these stuffs right now.

"Your mission accomplished huh?" he hissed and I groaned underneath my breath.

"I'd like to agree with each and every thing you said but if I did, it'd make the two of us wrong." I stated as calm as I could and he sighed exasperately, running his fingers through his messy hair.

"Jessie?"

I glanced over his shoulder and found Louise standing a few feet away from us and Samuel too turned around and when he acknowledged the presence of Louise, he stepped back from me.

"Hey Louise. What's new with you?" he asked her casually, tucking his hands in his pants.

"I'd surely tell you when I figure it out." she deadpanned approaching us and Samuel rolled his eyes while she was looking at him and me back and forth. "Well, Sam, you need anything?"

Samuel peeked at me before shaking his head at Louise. "Uh, no. I was searching Josie and when I saw Jessica standing here alone, I decided to say a hello to her." he told, giving us a tight-lipped smile and I was really surprised about the fact that he had remembered my name.

"Aw, how sweet!" Louise cooed, smiling sarcastically but only the closed ones would be able to know that she was mocking him right now. "Anyways, we gotta go now. See you later okay?" she said and Samuel nodded at her in response.

I looked up at him one more time and when I caught him staring at me back, he quickly averted his gaze to the floor until we left the place as if he couldn't be able to make an eye contact with me. I can't understand what's up with him.

When we both made sure that Samuel was out of hearing range, Louise spoke. "Is he bothering you or something?"

"Err.. no. He's just telling how much he misses his friends." I replied causally and she gave me an 'oh' look.

When we got closer to the auditorium, I felt pretty excited as I was going to see Jace after almost three days.

Louise pushed open the entrance door and flinched slightly when she collided with someone who was none other than Jace. Instantly my brows shot up in a bit surprise when I noticed Jace clad in formal attire. He was wearing a vintage-brown cotton waistcoat with a white plain shirt and a red tie underneath. Additionally he was wearing a flat cap which made me wonder what would be his upcoming performance.

"Watch your step, Louise." Jace advised without looking at my way and I shot daggers at her arms, which were being wrapped by his hands, until he let her go.

"Oh Jace, I'm sor-" her words fell short when she looked up at him. "Heavens above! You look extra handsome today." she beamed and Jace quickly stole a glance at me which I didn't fail to notice, before smiling at her awkwardly.

"Well, thanks. Err.. you both know what your duties are, right?" he asked and Louise nodded while I was observing his every actions. "So, get going then." with that he walked past us hurriedly and bumped my shoulder in the process.

I quickly turned behind but he was already gone which meant he didn't do that intentionally.

I looked around the auditorium which was crowded with prefects and the in-charged teachers. All of the prefects haven't worn their blazers as Jace didn't put on his blazer yet.

Most of the prefects were decorating the auditorium and adjusting the stage curtains and wall projector screen while the teachers were standing on the stage and instructing the students, who were participating in the talent show, to do something.

"Louise!" Leah called out and we both glanced towards her direction at the same time and noticed she was holding a huge cardbox.

"Can you lend me a hand carrying these boxes?" she requested and Louise nodded instantly.

"Of course, yes. Jessie, c'mon." she said and before I could nod my head, Leah interrupted.

"Only you're enough." she stated and I let out a sigh, trying not to care about the fact that she's straightforwardly saying I was good-for-nothing.

Louise gave me a sympathetic look and I faking smile at her, waving my hand dismissively.
----

"Can you please stop talking?" I almost begged the little brats who seemed like mid-teen guys, for the tenth time but they just ignored me like I wasn't scolding, standing right next to them.

Alex is way more mature than these people.

I was standing on the seventh row of main floor where I was assigned to do my duty. Still a group of students were getting inside and most of the people preferred corner seats eventhough there was enough room in the middle area as the teachers and judges were being sat on the upper floor.

"Jessie!" Louise whisper-yelled who was standing on the step walkway a few metre away from me as she was doing her duty on the left side of the seventh row while I was doing mine on the right side. "Put on the blazer. Everyone has already worn it." she told putting her blazer on and I looked around and realized what she said was correct.

"Did Jace wear his blazer?" I asked in a hushed voice and she nodded.

"I guess so. Now speed up." she commanded, buttoning up her blazer and I too quickly started to wear mine as the talent show was about to start.
----

"Good morning everyone! I'm Kiara Scott and guess what? I'm that prettiest and the cutest hostess for today's special programme." the girl who was in a black pencil dress announced which made everyone clap their hands and chuckle in response. "Well, well, let me come to the main point, I warmly welcome y'all for today's talent show, The Talent Tamer and we're so honoured to have these amazing judges, aka our chief guests-"

"Hey!" one of the mischievous guys called me out which diverted my attention and I sighed exaggeratedly, looking down at them.

"What?"

"Nothing. I was just missing the sweetest voice of yours." he teased and the other guy who was sitting next to him snickered. I huffed in annoyance and decided not to pay attention to them.

When I turned to look at the stage, the curtains were slowly closing and I guess, the speech of that host has finally finished.

Once in a while, the three judges could be seen through the telly screens that has attached on the either side of the theatre.

Sooner the talent show began with the lengthy speech of Mr.Henderson, our school principal, and along with him, the three judges too delivered their speeches. But the last female judge spoke unstoppably as if the time would wait for her. At one point, I wanted her to shut up and start the show already as my legs have gone numb, standing for a long time. And the stupid guys too were annoying me by giving me flirty pick up lines whenever I told them to be quiet.

Being a prefect is not so an easy task.

Finally the real talent show began when Kiara announced the first performance of the talent show which was the ballet dance as expected and the entire people applauded loudly, but when the curtains slowly opened, they all became quiet and started to watch each and every show keenly.

Even the blabbermouths who were sitting next to my figure, have zipped their lips as they were totally engrossed in the skillful performances of our students. At intervals, the prefects would get a chance to sit on their allocated seats as they couldn't be able to stand till the show ends.

The comedy skit had the audience howled with laughter while the play of Pride and Prejudice received a standing ovation from the judges.

Once any of the programme was finished, the judges would comment about their performance before the host could announce the next play.

"Alright! Now we're going to welcome the leading light of our school and the dream boat in every girl's opinion.." Kiara paused, grinning ear to ear. "..The one and only, JACE PARKER!" she announced his name in a strong accent and the applause burst from the crowd.

I too clapped my hands along with others, pretending to be normal when I saw Jace slowly appearing to our view, carrying a brown-coloured guitar.

Finally the long awaited event was going to happen. Hold on, a guitar? Is he going to play guitar?

The host went inside as Jace slowly approached the mic stand which was placed on the centre of the stage, and gripped the microphone with his right hand while the other hand was holding the neck of his guitar.

"Hey all! I'm Jace Parker. The head prefect of our school." he began and I could see the judges nodding their heads through the telly screen as if they were listening to him attentively. "Well, if y'all still don't know what I'm gonna do, I'm glad to inform it by myself. Er.. I'm gonna play guitar and sing at the same time for, uh, three songs." he declared and everyone gasped dramatically.

"Wow that's cool." the male judge exclaimed and Jace gave him a tight lipped smile. "Alright young man, Go ahead."

Jace scratched his back of neck and gripped the mic again as he spoke. "Let me say one more thing. Most of the people here know that I'm not a skilful guitarist or singer. But still I chose to do this for her."

"Hm-hm? Sounds pretty interesting. Who's that girl, young man?" the middle-aged woman who was one of our judges asked him with a sly smile.

Jace took a deep breathe before replying. "She's the one."

He turned slightly, pointing his finger at the huge projector screen that has attached to the stage wall. We all glanced at the screen curiously, especially me, to see who that girl was eventhough I knew it was Natasha.

Instantly a picture appeared to the screen and I stiffened with my mouth agape as I saw a picture of mine which I didn't own and which I didn't know when and who has taken it.

What in God's name is happening here!?

I was wearing a big leather jacket and hugging my arms with a childish pout on my face.

Woah! I'm looking like a maniac in this picture.

Hold on.. if my picture's appearing on the screen means.. Oh My God no, no, no! He's got to be kidding me!

"Oh My Goodness! Jessie!? It's you, isn't it?" I heard Louise whisper-shout and the whole people started to mutter with each other; even the little brats too motioned at my figure and whispered something which was obviously about me. But I didn't tear my gaze off of the screen as I stared at Jace and the screen back and forth in utter shock.

"Aww.. will you tell us who this bonny lass is?" the female judge requested and I could see Jace's lips tugged into a grin through the telly screen as he lowered his head and stared ahead which made my heart skip a beat.

Oh My God! Oh My God!

"She's one of the house prefects and, uh," he paused, pointing his finger directly at my way. "She's standing at the seventh row now." he stated and my eyes got bigger than my mouth. Woah, When did he notice that? "And her name is Jessica Valentina Woods."

Oh Sweet Jesus! He knows my middle name too!

But wait- what the hell is going on here?

Hey Lovely Readers!

I'm really sorry for the late update! Actually this is a half part of the work I did.

The rest is still needed some changes so I decided to upload a half part and make y'all keep on the edge of your seats.

So.. what's your reaction after reading this chapter?

Anyways.. Vote, Comment and Love Me!