Chapter 30 - The truth

The atmosphere in the basketball court remained intense and all eyes were on Nolan and his friends walking toward Jackson.

Jackson scoffs and turned to Nolan who had not gotten to where he was.

"Why don't you mind your business pretty boy? I don't think you have a business here do you?", Jackson said while staring back at Nolan.

Nancy's eyes were on Nolan, she did not think he would still be in school or even here trying to save her from Jackson, but she liked that he was there.

"Why don't you pick your own size? They are girls… are you a prick that fights with girls? I mean I know you are a prick but standing up to a girl is a dumb move", Nolan said, staring fiercely at him.

Jackson scoffs in annoyance, he puts his hands in his pocket and says.

"And who are you to tell me who I am standing up to? What is your business here huh?", Jackson looked over at Tara, "Oh I heard you two are siblings, what? Are you her dog?".

"Jackson!!!", Tara exclaimed.

"Or… is it", he turned his head to Nancy, "Is it her? You like brunettes? Is she one of the girls you do stuff with? Is she your hoe".

Nolan couldn't hold back, he landed a strong punch on Jackson's mouth, leaving a blood cut on his lips.

Everyone flinched and gasped.

"Jackson, are you okay!", Beth worriedly said as she hurried up to him.

"Stop it, Nolan, it is okay", Tara begged her brother but Nolan was focused on hitting Jackson the more.

Nancy stood there, too stunned to move to speak, her heart pounding out of her chest, worried that Jackson might throw a fist at Nolan and he might get hurt and it would be her fault.

Jackson touched his lips and felt the pain. He looked up at Nolan and let out a laugh.

"Ouch…", he said and gradually stopped smiling. "Now my turn", he added and as he was about to throw himself at Nolan, a girl ran into the basketball court.

"The principal is coming towards here", she said and ran out.

"Come on… we are already in enough trouble, let's not get into more", Jackson's friends said while trying to pull their friend with them.

He flung their hands off his shoulder and turned to Nolan.

"I won't forget this…", he said and scoffed before walking out with Beth and his friends.

Nolan stood there still frowning and clenching his fist, he turned and watched them walk out of the basketball court.

Suddenly a slap across his back.

"Who asked you to fight in school huh? What if he had thrown a punch at your face, what do you want Mom to think? Huh! That I didn't look after you", Tara nagged as she kept hitting Nolan's back.

"That hurt.. ahhh ahhh", he complained.

"It's okay Tara, he didn't get hurt", Nancy finally spoke out.

Tara stopped and Nolan's eyes were on Nancy, this was the second time Jackson would scare her, and this time he was more than happy that he stepped in at the right time.

Nancy took a quick glance at Nolan and immediately looked away.

"I am not a kid anymore Tara, why would Mom blame you for my actions, stop being so annoying", Nolan said. He took a last glance at Nancy and for a reason, she was avoiding eye contact with him.

"I will head out now, you two should too", Nolan said before turning to leave with his friends, he walked past Jay who was still standing by the door.

"Oh my God, Nolan was so brave there, did you see the hard punch he gave Jackson, that must have stung a lot", Jasmine said to Emma.

Jay walked towards Nancy, "are you okay?", he asked and Nancy nodded gently.

Tara noticed he didn't come to her first, so she turned her gaze away from them.

"Yes… he looks so hot swinging his arm at Jackson, that was so hot, he is so hot, I am going to pass out, oh my God", Emma added before hurrying toward Tara and Nancy who had been listening.

"Is there a way you can give me Nolan's phone number? Please I really need it Tara… he is your brother right?", Emma begged.

Tara exhaled sharply, she glanced around and returned her gaze to Emma and her hand which was firmly holding Tara's arm.

"You should have asked him while he was here… I am his sister, not his personal assistant", Tara rudely answered, she released her grip on Emma and immediately walked out with Nancy and Jay.

Emma and Jasmine watched them leave, they folded their arms almost at the same time.

"I wish Jackson had dealt with them, who does Tara think she is", Jasmine whispered to Emma.

"I don't care about anything, I must find a way to get Nolan's contact… I didn't realize I liked him up until today… let's go", Emma said before walking out of the court with her friend.

Nancy got home still shocked by what happened earlier in school, she went to her room and locked the door behind her.

She just watched Nolan punch someone and Jada's girlfriend is cheating on her. How can she explain to her friend that the girl she loves so much did her dirty in school today?

"We should make a group call tonight and tell her about it, if it is bad… we will go down to her place to make her feel better?", Tara suggested before dropping Nancy at her Aunt's place.

And for a reason, Jada was not outside the school waiting for them that day.

Nancy ate on her bed, she let out a sigh and whined softly.

"He must have gotten hurt because of me… what if Jackson had thrown a fist back at him? I would not have forgiven myself", Nancy whispered to herself.

Almost immediately Nancy's phone rang, she reached for her phone which she had placed on the table, and saw Jada's name appearing.

"Jada!", she exclaimed and hurried up, pacing around and staring at her screen.

"Did Tara tell her yet? Oh my goodness, am I to tell her the bad news?… what do I do…" she panicked.

"Okay. I would be easy and act like nothing happened", she concluded and let out a sigh before answering the phone.

"Hey Nancy… sorry girl, I had to head home first to do something, are you home now!".

Jada asked but there was no response just Nancy's heavy breath on the phone.

"Nancy?", Jada repeated.

"Beth cheating on you!". Nancy exclaimed.

There was an instant silence and Nancy continued.

"I know I should not tell you this way but I have been so nervous and worried about how to tell you, it is a good thing you weren't waiting outside the gate today because I would not know how to look at you... I realized today at the basketball court, that me and Tara were there, and the guy she was doing stuff with wanted to attack me but Nolan helped and punched him and… and".

"Nancy, relax… I figured out today". Jada interrupted.

"Yes I know, I am so sorry that you….", Nancy paused, "You knew?", she asked again.

Nancy exhaled loudly through the phone, and she continued. "Honestly that is why I could not wait after school, I didn't want you guys to see me looking so sad or even see her cheating face".

Nancy walked towards her bed and sat down.

"I am so sorry Jada, you don't deserve that kind of treatment, you deserve better". Nancy calmly said, she heard her friend chuckled through the phone.

"Why were you nervous to tell me, it is not like you cheated on me, even the cheater was so bold enough to show everyone she was cheating in school, I expected it… she is too pretty for me".

Nancy scoffs in annoyance, "bullshit… she ain't even all that, have you seen yourself? You are a beautiful girl and I mean it, that cheater can't compete with how pretty you are, literally". She comforted her friend and felt her smile through the phone.

"Thanks Nancy", Jada answered.

"Do you want me to come over? I can also call Tara and we can all talk about how you knew she was cheating and also her flaws so we can laugh and make you forget her… or we can go to clubs tonight and you would meet more pretty girls", Nancy suggested.

Jada laughed, "Of course Nancy, I am home… buy some Haribo on your way, I am craving it badly, I don't know if it is the heartbreak".

"I would buy everything you want, hang on… I would be there in few minutes". Nancy said, she ended the call and grabbed her jacket before hurrying out of the house.

"I am going to Jada's and I might not be home until tomorrow", she yelled out enough for her Aunt who was in her room to hear.