Though you stepped away, the pull never ceased,
In my thoughts, you lingered, never released.
Paxton spends the hours after the argument replaying it in his mind. Joanne's shocked, hurt expression keeps hounting him. He knows he should have stepped in-should have said something but the moment had spiraled too quickly.
When they're alone at libraryl the next day, Paxtan finally approaches her.
"Jo, I'm sorry about yesterday," he begins, his voice quieter than usual. "I should've said something when Amy went off like that."
Joanne glances at him, her guard clearly up. "You didn't have to. She made her point.
"No, I should've had your back. You didn't deserve any of that." He runs o hand through his hair, his frustration evident. I feel like I let you down."
Joanne softens slightly but doesn't fully let her walls down. "It's not about letting me down, Paxton. It's about what that says. Amy had no right to speak to me like that, and you... you just stood there."
Paxton's determination to make it right grows. Over the next few days, he starts. looking for ways to connect with Joanne-offering to help her with the spreadsheets, bringing her coffee, or even just trying to share small, meaningful moments. He notices her smile gradually return, but the tension between them remains, unspoken but palpable.
Amy, however, is far from ready to let things settle. She sees Paxton's attempts. to grow closer to Joanne and feels her grip on him slipping further. The jealousy she felt during the argument hasn't gone away, it's only evolved.
At meetings, Amy begins creating subtle but effective borriers between Joanne and the group
During a cultural meeting, Amy "accidentally tripped over Joanne's bag, sending its contents spilling everywhere. She gives an exaggerated apology, loud enough for everyone to hear.Amy: "Oops! Joanne, you really need to keep your things out of the way. It's like you want someone to trip.
It was tucked under the choir..." Joanne replied a bit confused and embarrassed due to Amy's words.
"Right, of course. Well, no horm done... to me, at least." Amy replied followed by a shrug.
"Its alright!!" Joanne replied, timidly. Lost in her own thought Joanne left the meeting hall as soon as the meeting concluded, leaving behind a confused. Paxton and victoriously smirking Amy.
Jol Wait... What happened back there? Are you okay? Paxton was quick to get up and follow Joanne trying to catch up with her pace.
"It's nothing, Paxton, I'm just tired." Joanne replied voice filled with deflection.
"It's not nothing if you're walking out upset. Talk to me." Paxton said reaching out to grab Joanne wrist gentle moking sure not to hurt her.
Joanne's gaze flicked to the floor, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. I can't keep doing this, Paxton"
Few weeks, to the argument in quieter moments, Amy started murmuring things to the others, loud enough for Joanne to overhear but vague enough to avoid outright confrontation.
"I think Joanne's taking things a bit too seriously. She acts like she's running the show" Amy mumers trying to sound innocent.
"Joanne's so particular, don't you think? Always acting like she's the only one who knows how to get things done." Amy mumbled right after Joanne put forth her suggestion regarding the upcoming event.
"It's just funny, you know? How some people think they can walk in and take over like they've been here forever." Amy said loud enough for Joanne to hear.
"If you have something to say, Amy, just say it to my face." Joanne snapped having had enough of Amy's bullshit
"Oh, Joanne! I didn't mean you. Why so defensive? Amy replied innocently..
Jennifer didn't walk into a room; she made an impression. At fifteen, she was a mix of vibrant energy and sharp observation, a contrast that made her intriguing to everyone around her. Her long auburn hoir, usually tied in a loose braid, swung with her as she moved, and her hazel eyes seemed to hold a quiet curiosity about the world. Jennifer wasn't loud or overly bold, but her presence carried a weight that was hard to ignore like she was always on the brink of saying something profound or funny, depending on her mood.
Dressed in her usual casual yet effortlessly stylish way-a snug hoodie paired with ripped jeans and sneakers Jennifer had a knack for blending in while standing out. She had a natural warmth that made people feel at ease, yet her sharp wit and quick tongue ensured no one underestimated her. At first glance, she seemed carefree, but those who knew her better understood there was a depth to her a sense of empathy and intuition that set her apart.
Jennifer entered the scene with a light-hearted laugh, teasing her brother Paxton about something trivial. But her laugh faltered slightly when her eyes landed on Joanne. Even from a distance, she could sense something was off. It wasn't just Joanne's forced smile or the way she seemed to shrink into herself it was the air around her, tense and brittle, like an invisible weight was pressing down.
Back then, Jennifer didn't hesitate to introduce herself to Joanne, her voice bright and genuine. "Hey, I'm Jennifer, Paxton's much cooler sibling," she said with a wink, extending a hand. "Don't let him tell you otherwise."
"So, Joanne... What's the most embarrassing thing my brother's done? I need more ammo to torment him." Jennifer asked as they continued with their conversation,
"I'll have to think about it. He's surprisingly composed most of the time." Joanne replied as her loughter filled the atmosphere.
"Well, you'll find something soon enough. He's just good at hiding it." Jennifer smirked.
As the days passed, Jennifer began to pick up on the subtle dynamics in the group the way Amy's words seemed to cut just a little too deep, the flicker of guilt in Paxton's eyes when Joanne was around, and the quiet way Joanne endured it all, Jennifer wasn't sure what the whole story was, but one thing was certain: Joanne needed someone in her corner.
Though she wasn't sure how to help yet, Jennifer decided one thing-she wouldn't stand by and watch. Joanne didn't know it yet, but she'd just gained an unlikely ally in Paxton's younger sister. And Jennifer wasn't the type to back down when someone she cared about was in trouble.
Paxton's younger sister, Jennifer, has always been the more observant one. She's intuitive and sensitive to the undercurrents of emotions in the room, often sensing things others miss. Despite the tension between Paxton and Joanne, Jennifer can tell that something's off with her.
Jennifer plopped herself down beside Joanne in the library, her usual confident energy clashing with the hushed quiet of the room. Joanne barely glanced up, but Jennifer wasn't deterred,
"You know, Jo," she began, flipping through the book Joanne was pretending to read, "people who feel the need to cut others down are usually just overcompensating for their own insecurities. Like Amy. Clossic cose of I-peaked-in-middle-school syndrome."
Joanne snorted, unable to hide her amusement. "Well, she's doing a stellar job at making sure I don't forget it."
Jennifer smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, please. Amy's not half as clever as she thinks she is. Her insults are like a two-day-old latte bitter, lukewarm, and completely uninspired."
Joanne chuckled despite herself, shaking her head. "I wish I could just brush it off like you do. But it gets to me."
Jennifer leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Okay, real talk: Did you ever hear about the time Amy wore mismatched shoes to a debate competition? She spent the entire day walking like she had a limp because one heel was two inches shorter than the other."
Joanne blinked, surprised, before bursting into laughter. "You're kidding."
"Dead serious," Jennifer said, grinning. "The best part? She tried to play it off like it was a bold fashion choice. Kept saying she was starting a trend. Spoiler alert: She wasn't."
Joanne loughed harder, her shoulders shaking. "I can't believe I never heard about that."
Joanne laughed harder, her shoulders shaking, "I can't believe I never heard about that."
Jennifer shrugged, a playful glint in her eye. "I've got an entire archive of Amy fails. Let me know when you need another hit. It's better than therapy."
Joanne smiled, the tension in her posture easing slightly. Jennifer had a way of making things feel lighter, like the weight of Army's words wasn't so crushing after all,
Still, a quiet voice in the back of her mind reminded her how lonely she'd felt lately, like she was walking on eggshells just to keep the peace. But here, with Jennifer, it felt okay to let her guard down, even if only a little.
"That's very poetic, Joanne said, rolling her eyes but smiling. I didn't realize you moonlighted as a motivational speaker."
"Oh, absolutely. My TED Talk's next week. 'How to Handle Mean Girls and Still Look Fabulous.' Tickets are selling fast." Jennifer grinned, her voice dripping with mock seriousness.
Joanne chuckled, her smile lingering. "Thanks, Jen. I needed that."
Jennifer shrugged, her eyes twinkling. "That's what I'm here for. Moral support, witty banter, and the occasional library snack delivery-although I did forget to bring one this time. My bad."
Joanne laughed again, shaking her head. For the first time that day, she felt the fog of isolation lift, replaced with the warmth of friendship. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Jennifer winked. "That's my secret weapon."
Jennifer burst into Paxton's room, arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips.
"Wow, congratulations! You've officially been crowned the King of Cluelessness," she announced, plopping onto his bed without waiting for an invitation.
Paxton looked up from his laptop, already exasperated, "What now, Jen?"
"What now? Oh, nothing big. Just that you're letting Amy run the drama club while Joanne's stuck as the unwilling at the back stage?" Jennifer raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with exaggerated innocence.
He groaned, leaning back in his chair. "I'm trying, okay? It's not that simple."
Jennifer leaned forward, her tone still teasing. "Paxton, do you have a manual. somewhere that says, 'How to Make Every Situation Worse'? Because you're
killing it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he muttered, rubbing his temple.
"Seriously, though," she continued, her smirk softening. "I've seen Joanne light up when you're decent to her. And then there's the other Paxton-the one who just stands there like a houseplant while Amy burns the place down."
He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know how to fix it, Jen/"
Jennifer paused, her teasing expression fading. She shifted to sit cross-legged on the bed, her voice softer now. "Paxton, I'm not just giving you a hard time because it's fun. Joanne's struggling, and you're in a position to help. I get that you don't want to rock the boat, but standing by isn't neutral-it's letting Army win, And Joanne deserves better than that."
Paxton looked away, his jaw tightening. "It's not like I don't see what's happening. But if I coll Amy out, she'll blow up, and then everyone else will get dragged into it. I don't want to make it worse for Joanne or the others."
Jennifer watched him for a moment, her gaze softening. "I know you're in a tough spot," she said, her tone free of sarcasm now "But you're not doing. anyone any favors by staying quiet. You don't have to fight every battle, but pick the moments that matter, Paxton, Show Joanne she's not alone."
He rubbed the back of his neck, his expression conflicted. "It's just... hard. I don't want to mess it up more than I already have."
You won't," Jennifer said firmly, standing up. "Because you care. And that's the first step to getting it right. But if you keep sitting on the sidelines, you're basically giving Amy a free pass to keep being owful. Trust me, I've seen you stand up for people before, and you're better at it than you think."
Paxton glanced up ot her, his lips twitching into a reluctant smile. You really think I can fix this?"
Jennifer tossed a pillow at him, her grin returning. "I know you can. And hey, if you don't, I might just have to step in and do it myself. And trust me, you don't want me running this show."
He cought the pillow, chuckling despite himself. "Noted. Thanks, Jen."
She flashed him a warm smile as she walked to the door, "Anytime. Just don't make me hove to save your butt too, okay?"
As the door closed behind her, Paxton leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. He knew Jennifer was right-he'd been trying so hard to keep the peace that he hadn't realized how much his silence was costing Joanne, The idea of standing up to Amy felt like trying to walk a tightrope, but if he didn't try, what did that say about him?
For the first time in a while, he felt a flicker of determination break through the fog of his indecision.