How To Save A Life

Jules' Point Of View

When Axel turned to look he smiled lightly before freezing, his face draining of color as he looked at the me; stunned still. I was self-conscious of this, but wasn't allowd much time to think of it before the Patrick kid was talking to me.

"Hey! You must be the new kid everyone is talking about," Patrick smiled.

My smile disappeared as the boy called Patrick said that and I blushed. "Are people seriously talking about me?" I hated when that happened. Regaining my small smile I smiled softly at each of them

Patrick laughed. "There are few of us and as far as these people are concerned every one of us is crazy," he laughed. "There’s some talk of you. So far all that anyone has figured out is you’re a starver and you got a grandma," he shrugged.

Starver. I couldn’t help but laugh at the term. It was preferable to anorexic, that’s for sure.

"Yeah," I smiled to myself as I spoke. "That’s pretty much me. What else does anyone need to know, right?"

Parker's friendly smile dropped. He held up his hand defensively and moved away to talk to Jasmine.

"Parker wasn't being an ass," Axel said, his voice hard as he shook his head. "He’s being straight with you. Something most people wouldn't have the decency to do. You're lucky he's willing to do that too. Or else you wouldn't know what people say. And FYI, he was one of the few who told people to lay off the gossip." Shaking his head again he walked over to a nurse and asked when they were leaving.

Groaning, I turned back to Jack. "Maybe I should stay here. I don’t know if I’m up to annoying people more."

Jack laughed. "Oh no you don't," he said. "Once we start walking Parker will forget all about it and want to be your best friend," he smiled. "Trust me, he's like that. Axel's going to stew for a while, but he'll come around too."

"Honestly, I don’t think I’m bothered. I didn’t even mean anything by it, and I get a big massive rant about it." I muttered. But by the look on Jacks face, I knew he’d make me go anyway, so I decided to just go with it.

Jack shrugged. "Tensions are high right now. Another of our friends is having a hard time right now so she can't cone on the outing," he said. "Patrick thought he had offended you, and Axel is mad because of Audrey."

"I never did thank you, did I?" I sighed, biting my lip as a plucked up the courage to look back at Jack. "Thank you. And to your friends too, for including me at all."

Jack smiled. "Oooh lala," he teased. "Do I since a hug coming on?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as he teased me, laughing lightly.

My cheeks flared up again, I could feel the familiar slight burn. I laughed nervously and held my arms out shyly. Why I was so shy, I have no clue.

Jack smiled, wrapping his arms quickly around me. "Nice to have you in the group," he smiled. Patting my back he lead the way over to Patrick and Jasmine, keeping his arm around my shoulders, steering the way.

"Am I fat!?" cried Patrick almost instantly, frowning as he looked at me like a sad puppy. “Jasmine says I'm fat," he pouted, pointing to his healthy stomach. He had obviously forgotten all about the episode not too long ago.

Blinking my eyes in surprise, I gave him a look that said it all. "Are you kidding me? You have a gorgeous body." I said, my lips tilting up in the corner slightly.

Patrick giggled. "Thanks," he smiled wide, throwing his arms around me and hugging me in a tight hug. “You’re the bestest," he said.

Jasmine rolled her eyes; clearly thinking Patrick was overreacting.

Laughing, I hugged him back, shooting a quick sideways glance at Jack. He was right, it all seemed forgotten. Apart from that Axel guy, but I doubted he’d talk to me at all. He struck me as the 'im-hot-and-i-know-it" type, but that might have been just how he was. I didn’t know.

Axel walked back over to the group. "Their leaving without us if we don't hurry up," he said, his face emotionless.

Patrick's face fell and he walked over to Axel. "Be my walking buddy?" he asked, smiling. Axel agreed with a quick nod and Patrick tailed Axel, talking animatedly as they got ahead of everyone else.

"You can be mine," Jack laughed as he turned to smile at me. “You and Jasmine both."

"Sure." I said, smiling lightly at Jack. He was definitely my favorite of the group so far. Patrick seemed like a great guy too, but I wasn’t sure about the others.

Axel walked a little ways ahead, Patrick clinging to his arm and talking animatedly. He seemed oblivious to Patrick, lost in his own world; his face blank.

"So who signed you up for this place?" Jack asked as he and Jasmine lagged behind Axel and Patrick some.

"My grandma and grandpa did." I told him, my voice tinged with sadness when I said 'grandpa'. "I think they got sick of me. They’ve been threatening me with a place like this since I was 13."

"Huh," muttered Jack, he seemed distracted watching Patrick and Axel. Axel yanked his arms from Patrick’s and whispered something. Patrick froze, stopping in his tracks as others passed him by.

"What’s with those guys anyway?" I wondered after following Jacks gaze.

"What is it you mean by that? Like their relationship or what's going on?" Jack asked, looking at me.

"Both, actually."

"Well..." Jack paused for a moment, thinking about what all he should share. "Axel and Patrick dated for a while, until Patrick’s mother found out that her son was gay for another man; his best friend. So she set him up on a blind date with this girl, and got Patrick confused about his feelings. So Axel broke up with Patrick to let him date the girl," he said slowly. Pausing again he continued. "And as for what's happening now: I'm assuming Patrick tried to comfort Axel and Axel didn't take it well."

"Oh." I couldn’t help but blink back surprise. But then again, looking at them now, it seemed kind of obvious that something had gone on between them. "Poor Axel. He looks pretty upset."

Jack shrugged. "Yeah. He's not a bad person you know. I think out of everyone in the group I'm maybe the worse. But Axel just has a lot of things he's stressing about. I think once he calms down and you get to know him you'll like him. He's a good guy," he said.

Patrick walked over to Jasmine wrapping her arms around her and closed his eyes, resting his head on her chest. "He’s going to get a table for us when we get to DQ," he said softly.

Without saying a word Jasmine comforted Patrick, rubbing his back softly. She rested her head on top of his and closed her eyes for a moment before slowly opening them again.