[|]

"It's not what it looks like," I said, standing to my feet.

"Uh, I believe I am not blind," Maddy said, looking past me to Lucas before looking back at me.

"He was trying to get something out of my eyes," I lied and I heard Lucas chuckle behind me.

"With his mouth?" Maddy asked, a smile on her face. "Come on, Jackie. Have fun. You're weird. Look, I'm hungry and need food. Y'all got anything here?"

I smiled and went to the kitchen to make something from what was left over from our breakfast.

"Don't you have a home or money to eat?" Lucas asked from his spot on the couch and I held myself back from laughing.

These two were going to be chaotic if they become closer as friends.

"Wow, still a jerk as always. Tsk, Jackie hurry up, I'm hungry. I just came from the nail salon and need food," she whined like a child as she came to the kitchen.

As I put down a plate, my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I took it out and unlocked the device then opened the message. My heart sunk at the message.

I flinched when Maddy stood close to me and I felt like hiding my phone away from her but I needed them to know about Tony.

"Guys, I have something to tell you two," I said, getting their attention.

"What is it?" Lucas asked, standing up from the couch and approaching where I stood with Maddy.

I placed my phone on the counter and held the edges of it.

"You all know Tony, right?"

"Tony?" Maddy asked, confused.

"I don't."

I sighed. "Tony... The captain of the swim team in Redside High."

"Oh, Tony Alvarez. I know him. What happened to him?" Lucas asked.

"Remember the guy that was with me in that clothing store? The one that was holding me," I said and I saw realization cross their faces.

"He was the one?! That guy used to bully you in school!" Maddy sounded angry.

"Did he hurt you? Jackie, I swear to God, if you lied that he didn't, I won't be happy with you," Lucas said with a scowl on his face.

"No, he didn't. He was trying to tell me something. Something related to the assault incident that happened at your party. He wanted to tell me he knows who did it but couldn't. He even met me at the park recently and tried to tell me but I was too uncomfortable around him to listen, I still fear him a bit." I anxiously played with my fingers.

Lucas went around the counter and Maddy moved aside for him to come closer to me. He cupped my cheeks and made me look up at him. Worry was heavy in his eyes and I felt touched by it.

"If you don't feel comfortable around him or about anything he's doing, remember to inform the police or tell us. Jackie, you also need to start telling the people around you things. Hiding things for long will hurt not only you but us," Lucas said and I saw a point in his words.

"He's right," Maddy said, getting my attention. "Remember how you hid the fact that you live with Lucas and other things? It hurt me. So, try to always tell us everything."

I smiled at them before taking my phone and showing them the message on the screen.

"He wants to meet up with me but I don't trust him. I can't be alone in the same place with him even if it's in a public place," I said and Maddy placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'll go with you," she said and I smiled.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, you're my best friend. I'll always stick by you and I'm sure your boyfriend here would."

I blushed and bowed my head, staring at my feet. Lucas was not my boyfriend and I wasn't his girlfriend but what she said made me think maybe he should be. Besides, we've kissed and had sex like every other person in a sexual or romantic relationship has. Was it enough for us to have a label?

"He's not my boyfriend, silly," I said, swatting her hand off.

"Ouch, you hurt me," Lucas said with his hand on his chest.

I giggled and walked between them to the fridge. I opened it and took out a bottle of water then turned around after closing it.

"So, what are you going to do with Tony?" Lucas asked.

"I don't want to see him now. I'll make up my mind and text him when I'm ready. I have to prepare my mind to meet my bully. It's not something very easy to do," I said and they nodded in understanding.

"Alright, let's leave this topic for something else. So, is anyone going to tell me when you two started dating?"

I palmed my face at Maddy's words in embarrassment. She would kill me one day from embarrassment.

[|]

After cleaning Clark's house, I waited for him since he was locked up in his room. When he came downstairs, he was looking stressed with dark circles around his eyes. I was worried for a moment but it wasn't my concern, so I ignored it.

"Thank you," he said and handed an envelope to me.

I saw how slightly thick it was which made me raise an eyebrow. One, he normally didn't give me my pay in an envelope. Two, the money looked bigger? I shrugged and took it from him, feeling it up.

"Uh, thanks," I said and peered into the envelope. I gasped when I saw it was more than two notes. It was looking like different bills or more since it was folded.

"That's your pay."

"Yes, but this is too much. How much is in here?"

"Those are $50 bills and it's up to $1000."

"$1000?! Clark, we agreed on $250 every time I work. Wait, are you bribing me for something?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

Clark chuckled. "You're funny and no, I'm not. I'm paying you off. I no longer want you cleaning my house."

"I... What? Why? I still need the job! Did I do something wrong? Is this why you wanted me to clean in just three hours?"

Clark ran his hand over his tired face and sighed. He rubbed his neck and made eye contact with me.

"It's nothing. I just feel guilty for what I did. Maddy told me that you told her what I did and she confronted me. Look, I don't want you cleaning anymore so, understand what I'm trying to say. I'll find someone else to help me keep my house clean. At least, it won't be stressful for the next cleaner since I no longer live with my housemates."

I felt sad because I needed as much money as possible before starting the new year. I had only made less than my tuition fees and the lack of a job was going to affect me.

"Are you sure? Because I need this job."

"Jackie, please. Just understand me. I can't have you working here anymore. Kindly leave my house. Thank you," Clark said in a dismissive tone and left my presence.

I pouted and stared down at the envelope before leaving the house. As I left his porch, I took out my phone and saw I had a few notifications. I spotted one from my school and I remembered I needed to find out who had paid off my loan.

With that in mind, I ordered a ride and when my driver came, I boarded the car and sat, anxiety bubbling inside me. I needed to find out who this savior was.

Half an hour later, I was dropped in front of my faculty building. I paid the driver and rushed out of the car. I raced into the building and went straight to the head of the department office where I knocked, hoping someone was in.

"Come in," said a soft voice.

I opened the door and stepped into the small office. I smiled at the elderly woman sitting behind her small desk and closed the door.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," I said, stepping forward.

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

"I have a question to ask," I said and she motioned for me to sit, which I did.

"What is it?"

I bit my lip, not knowing how to word my thoughts. I exhaled and smiled at her.

"I am a student of the Chemical engineering department. I'm going to my second year now. Recently, my student loan was paid off and I want to know who must've cleared it because I was not aware of such," I said and watched the woman think over what I had said.

She leaned forward and typed something on her laptop for two minutes before leaning back in her seat.

"Jackie Lily Garner, chemical engineering undergraduate student. CGPA of 4.5, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said. I knew all of these but wanted to know the answer to my question.

"You are an impressive student... So, about your student loan. You placed the contacts and information of your family members... Your loan was cleared by your mother, Miss Jackie."

The world came to a halt as my ears grabbed what she had just said.

"What?" I whispered in disbelief.