The Jesters Fool- Chapter 6

Highschool senior Brooke Taylor navigates a confusing senior year at her prestigious boarding highschool

As the school year slowly progressed, everything settled into a simple pattern. Wake up, go to classes, talk with Ms. Donely, the closest person I have to an older sibling, go to soccer, come back to my dorm, do homework, head to dinner and hang out with friends for the rest of the night. 

I liked my pattern, it was stable, it brought me joy, and it prevented Lexi from feeling the need to schedule my days for me. 

Time has gotten to a point where it doesn’t feel real to me anymore. The days all pass in a familiar blur, and when I get the emergency student council meeting notification that we’re running behind on our homecoming planning, I’m shocked. Just last week was July, and yesterday was the first day of school in the middle of August. I have to check my calendar to confirm that it is, in fact, the end of September. 

“Come on,” Lex sighs, setting down her spanish workbook and pushing up from her bed, “We’ve gotta get to the commons before they mark us late for the surprise meeting.” I pinch my lips together, shutting off my laptop after quickly hitting submit on my math homework. 

My phone dings with a new message as Lex locks our door and runs ahead of me down the stairs, in a hurry to get a good seat at the front of the meeting. In her mind the closer we sit to the front, the more of our suggestions they’ll hear, and therefore, the more control we’ll have over our senior homecoming.

Trent: Hey, can you send me the math answers???

Me: Already submitted it

Me: Come to my dorm after stuco meeting and you can copy them from my laptop

Trent: k thanks. See you then.

I shove my phone in my pocket and rush down the hallway and outside, in an attempt to catch up with Lexi. She has a good couple meters on me, but with me in my running shoes and her in a pair of birkenstocks (seriously Lex, sandals? It's freezing outside), I easily make up her added ground. “Glad you’re here,” She smiles, “I was starting to think you were just going to stay behind.”

“And miss homecoming planning?” I ask incredulously, despite not having a date, I was very committed to making this dance perfect. 

Making it into the commons Lex and I find Marcus Trent and Thomas already sitting front and center. Marcus is awkwardly laying, curled over three chairs in order to save them for Lex and I. I can’t help but giggle at his chivalrous attempt to keep our spots for us. I’m about to walk up the aisle of rusty folding chairs and join the guys but Lexi grabs my arm giggling, linked together she walks me past them, and walks around the front row, making a show of scouting for good seats for us, seemingly not noticing the boys. 

Thomas reaches out and snags her other arm, and pulls her to him as we pass them again. She stumbles away from me and perches herself on his knee for a second, looking into his eyes, a contented smile forming on her lips. My heart hurts for a second, feeling the sharp loss of being single. 

Apparently I stare at the happy couple for a moment too long because Marcus sits up and pats the seat next to him, encouraging me to give them some privacy. “I hate that they're so happy.” I admit to Marcus in a whisper, he places a comforting hand on my back and rolls his eyes.

“You two are sickening,” Trent complains, loudly. Lex blushes and stands up, breaking her long, soulful eye contact with her boyfriend.

“Brookie, would you mind scooting down a seat so that I can be next to Thomas?” Her face is still red.

“Yeah Brookie, be a doll and move over,” Trent mocks and I scoot over a seat, Marcus and Trent each following so that there is an empty spot next to Thomas. Lexi throws us a quick look of gratitude before throwing herself into conversation with the apparent love of her life.

In front of us, Eliza steps to the front of the room. She casts us all a quick smile before stating, “Let's get down to business. We have a few spirit days that we still need to pin down and some minor decorating concerns, but I think if we all stay focused and productive, we’ll get out of here within an hour.”

“Thank God,” Marcus sighs beside me, he hates meetings and the second one runs over two hours, he threatens to quit student council. He never would, of course, it looks too good to colleges to drop out, but his threat is always there.

“As you all know�" hopefully,” Eliza continues, “Our theme for the homecoming dance is ‘lost in a dream’, so I want our spirit days to really reflect that.”

Lexi perks up, her hand shooting into the air, excited to be the first to share her ideas. Eliza nods at her as she pulls up the list that she keeps in the notes app in her phone, “I have a lot here, so just stop me when you hear a good one,” Lexi starts reading off her list in rapid succession: “White out, angels vs. demons, disney character night�"”

Eliza stops her, “Given the school's religious affiliation, I don’t think the faculty would let angels vs. demons fly, but you can save that idea for your halloween costume this year.” Lexi pouts, “I do like white out though, and Disney isn’t a bad idea. Anyone else have any ideas?”

Eliza writes: White out, Disney Character, in a bulleted list onto the white board behind her in a thick blue marker.

Some girl from the back of the room calls out, “Grease vs. Greece.” Eliza nods in appreciation, struggling with differentiating the spellings on the white board. Eventually she gives up with a shrug, figuring that she can spell check later.

“Okay guys, that's only three days. Now Friday will be spirit day, so we really only need one more, and make it good, please.” She scans the room but everyone seems at a loss for ideas.

Timidly Marcus raises his hand, a smile playing on his lips, I cringe, unsure of what I should be anticipating to hear come out of his mouth. Eliza is also hesitant to hear his idea, but she shrugs as she points at him, waiting for him to answer, “Mustache day.” He says simply.

“Mustache day?” She asks incredulously as the room breaks out in fits of silent laughter, people picturing how they would possibly dress up for the day in question.

“Draw one on in sharpee, buy one of the stick on ones. There are endless possibilities.” 

“Please someone, tell me that you have a better idea,” Eliza pleads, but no one raises a hand. After a minute of awkward silence, she sighs, and adds ‘Mustache’ to her bulleted list, and follows it up with ‘SPIRIT DAY!!!’ “I guess that takes care of dress up days, Brooke, Trent, and Marcus, y’all are in charge of making posters, please do not forget.”

“Yes ma’am,” Marcus assures her, saluting her and throwing her a stupid grin.

“If you’re not helping to decorate for the dance, you’re free to go,” Eliza announces, looking around the room of anxious faces, ready to get out of the emergency meeting and get on with their nights.

“Let's go,” Marcus says, dragging my arm and beginning to pull me out of the room. I wave goodbye to Lexi, who is obviously very excited to discuss last minute decorations, and a disgruntled looking Thomas who looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here, discussing what color streamers and fairy lights will look best in our gymnasium. 

Trent follows Marcus and I, trailing behind me awkwardly. “Can I help you?” I ask with a giggle as he steps on the back of my shoe for the third time.

“Math answers,” He mutters, almost shyly, continuing to follow me into the dorm. Marcus comes upstairs with us too, not willing to be left alone. Unlocking my dorm room I walk over to my bed and start up my laptop, pulling up the math assignment and handing the computer to Trent who begins taking pictures of my work.

“Thanks,” He sighs, shutting the laptop again and handing it back to me, “I wish I understood math, we barely started first semester and I’m already so lost.”

“You’re fine,” I tell him, “You could be like Marcus, finding a way to fail financial algebra.”

“It’s a hard class,” Marcus speaks up, in a frail attempt to defend himself. Trent claps Marcus on the back after slipping his phone into his back pocket, the two boys sharing a look of defeat. “As soon as I start doing the extra credit work my grade should actually go up,” He sighs.

I giggle with a defeated sigh, knowing that with a will to pass like Marcus’, he would definitely find a way, even if it came down to having to bribe the teacher. I jumped up onto my bed, my back pressed against the wall. Both boys sit next to me, one on each side so that I’m sandwiched between them. I rest my head tiredly on Marcus’ shoulder as Trent grabs my laptop from the other side of the bed and powers it on. He pulls up my Netflix and hits play on Gilmore Girls. I smile secretly to myself as the three of us start from season one episode one. 

The last time I watched this show was with Trent, way back during freshman year when we were together. A weird surge of unidentifiable emotion rushes through me, and I try my best to focus on the iconic theme song rather than the boy sitting so very close to me.

His fingers brush against my leg, sending unwarranted chills throughout my body, as he reaches up to press the skip intro button. I snatch his hand away from my laptop quickly, beginning to sing along, “If you're out on the road feeling lonely, and so cold all you have to do is call my name and I'll be there on the next train-” Trent playfully reaches up to smack at the side of my head and I can feel my face flush slightly.

“I haven’t watched this show since… never mind,” He trails off, embarrassed of the situation that he’s bringing up.

“Me either,” I confess. Marcus’ shoulders stiffen under my head and I have readjust against him in order to get comfortable again.

“I doubt there was much attention paid to the show.” Marcus counters, his voice hinting that he wants in on the joke, but also that he is smart enough to tread carefully on this subject so as not to upset us. 

“Ew, Marcus.” I wrinkle my nose in mock disgust, the whole time keeping my eye on Trent in order to read his reaction. 

The dorm door bursts open and Lexi stumbles into the room, Thomas at her heels. Her eyes widen as she notices the three of us on our bed. Thomas wraps his arms around his waist, bending down to softly kiss her temple before she pulls at his arm to get his attention and indicate that the two of them are very much not alone. Marcus and Trent wolf whistle at the couple and both redden as our eyes are fixed on them.

“I thought you guys would all be in mine and Marcus’ room.” Thomas stutters, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Nope. Sorry mate.” Marcus pinches his lips together, pitying the awkward situation that he and Lexi were in.

“I should probably head out for the night.” Trent awkwardly pushes off of my bed, his hand resting against mine for just a second as he pushes my laptop out of his way, and then on his way to the door he claps Thomas on the back and gives him a solitary nod of understanding. “Night guys.”

“Goodnight,” We call in unison. “Thomas and I better get going too.” Marcus adds, noting the time on the corner of my laptop screen.

The boys leave for their dorm together and as soon as the door to mine and Lex’s room shuts we fall into each other, cackling. “I’m humiliated,” She cries in her fit of laughter.

“It could have been so much worse Lex, y'all were just being sweet.” I reassure her, “The guys are just playing it up.”

“Are you sure?” She asks, sobering slightly from her giddy high, “That must have been so awkward for all of you.”

“Trust me, it was much worse for you and Thomas than any of us having to experience it.”

“Ugh, okay,” She sighs, stepping into the bathroom and washing her face. I change into  my oversized sleep t-shirt and then join her in the bathroom, grabbing my toothbrush from its holder and then wetting it, adding toothpaste, and wetting it again. 

“I think I love him.” I spit my toothpaste in the sink and stare at her with a bewildered look for a second, unsure of how to respond.

I press the back of my hands against my lips for just a second before coming up with an answer�" the most literary answer that I can possibly concoct in my mind filled with the most tragic lines from the most romantic novels, “Maybe you love that you’re dating him�" since you pinned over him for so long, but you don’t actually love him yet.”

“No. I’ve loved the idea of dating him since I first met him. I love him, truly and completely now.”

“Okay,” I respond, because what else can you say when your best friend tells you that she loves a boy for the first time. Nothing can prepare you for these milestones.

“Have you ever truly loved someone?” Lexi asks nonchalantly, beginning to braid her hair in the protective sleep style.

“You.” I say without hesitation, because that's an easy answer. I love my best friend dearly, “And Marcus too. Sometimes my parents.”

“What about Trent?” I lose my breath for a second.

Does she know the way that my body feels whenever he gets too near? The sharp pain of nervous anticipation as his hand innocently brushes against mine? “No.” I answer honestly, I elaborate as her inquisitive look bores into my soul, “I was too young, I still am too naive to understand a love of that sense. But I know that when I feel it, I will be able to identify it, because love makes you lose your senses. When you love someone, you transform into someone else, do things you never would have before.”

“Have I transformed?” She asks me, her brows creasing slightly.

“I suppose you did after you first met him. You got all dreamy and organized, ready to start a new chapter of your life, where he is just as important as you. I suppose that you began to love him long before I realized.” I admit, reflecting back on our years of friendship.

“I’m glad. I do love him, whether you acknowledge it or not,” She informs me, “But I’m glad that you agree that I love him.”

We both go to bed without another word. Lexi is in love. I have never loved in a romantic way, but I yearn to. My body aches to feel the sense of love that Lexi claims to have. 

Today is Thursday. Trent Marcus and I have to get started on the homecoming week posters, but I have been avoiding one of the two boys like the plague, scared of the unwanted feelings that he builds up within me. 

I wish that I had never met Trent. Never stupidly dated him so young. Wished that boys weren’t so confusing and that I could look him in the eyes and have a conversation with him without being afraid of my cheeks coloring themselves with a rosy blush.

I’ve been avoiding Lexi and the guys at meals, moving over to the soccer table instead. I can tell it hurts Lexis feelings, and Marcus is not shy to show me that my action has made him feel neglected, but I don’t want to risk doing anything stupid to ruin the delicate friendship that Trent and I have rebuilt, especially this close to homecoming.

I pick up my phone, sucking in a quick breath for courage as I create a new group chat, titled it  ‘HOCO POSTERS !!’ and add Trent and Marcus’ numbers to it.

Me: Meet in my dorm room

Me: We need to work on posters

Me: Lex gave me all the supplies already.

Marcus: Time?

Me: Now?

Trent: omw

I set my phone down, trying to regulate my breathing before the guys get here. As a form of distraction I begin to bustle about my room, laying poster board and markers generously across my floor. I have found that with the boys, treating tasks like this as if they are a pre-k arts and crafts time, it makes them much more inclined to pull their weight in the work.

My dorm door creaks open when  my back is turned, and I whip my head back so suddenly it pulls something in my neck. I grimace for a second, trying my best to alive the pain, before I turn to see Trent, his eyes twinkling with laughter.

“You’re a little on edge.” He smirks, stepping around me and sitting on the floor, sorting through the markers, trying to find the most appalling color combinations known to man.

“You cannot do a poster with yellow, brown and orange,” I scold, squatting down and snatching the offending colors from his hand. 

“Why not?” He pouts as I collect all the objectively ugly markers from off the floor.

“The theme is ‘Living on a Dream’,” I try to remind him patiently, knowing that the colors and the theme have no correlation in his simple man mind, “Maybe try to use blue and purple and yellow.”
“Purple and yellow?” His eyes widen as possibilities play out in his head.

“No Vikings.” I say, reaching down to take the newly acquired purple from him. 

He holds the marker to his chest protectively, “You’re so bossy.” He mutters, writing ‘SpIrIt DaY’ in his big sloppy writing on the top of the poster in the purple that I had so generously allowed him to keep.

I sit down next to him, our legs touching as I lean across his body to grab a blue marker, adding little stars next to his title, “You’re ruining my masterpiece!” He playfully exclaims, pushing me off of him. I giggle, dramatically falling back, my movement sending markers scattering across the room. One rolls across the floor, only stopping when it hits the toe of Marcus’ shoe. He doesn’t look thrilled that Trent and I are getting along so well.

I feel bad, knowing that Marcus must think that I’m replacing him with Trent. I wish I could tell him that there’s no fear of that, and explain to him how intimately deep our friendship is due to the fact that I never have to fear having feelings for him. If I were to ever be vulnerable with Trent, it’d be over, I’d be head-over-heels for him. But I can tell Marcus anything, and our relationship remains indefinitely the same.

He casts me a semi-dirty look, before stepping over to me and extending out his hand to help me up. Then he sits between me and Trent and begins to help on the poster, his hand resting protectively against my knee as we work. “You two didn’t get much work done so far.” He sighs, looking around my room and seeing the pile of still blank posters that we have yet to start on.

“We were waiting for you,” Trent defends us, pulling up the list of spirit days on his phone.

“Glad you didn’t want me to feel excluded,” Marcus mutters under his breath, looking over at his friend's phone screen so that he can begin to add the days to the poster. His handwriting is worse than Trents and he manages to misspell the word ‘mustache’, which wouldn’t be too awfully embarrassing except for the fact that it was his idea in the first place. He curses silently as I point out his mistake, and then gets up slowly, angrily stalking out of the room.

“Marcus!” I call after him, getting up to follow after him, but a strong grasp stops me. I close my eyes for a moment as I savor the warm feel of Trents hand wrapped tightly around my own. 

“Give him some time, he’s been in a weird mood lately.” Trent tells me, his hand still holding tightly to mine. I pull back from his grasp reluctantly and nod, rejoining him on the floor.

“I’ve noticed that he’s seemed off,” I confess, “I think he’s just pissed that Thomas and Lex are so happy�" he used to like her,” I giggle.

“I don’t think that's it,” Trent shakes his head wryly, and laughs at my inquisitive look. 

“What else could his problem be?”

“You.” 

“Me?” He nods, “What do you mean ‘me’?”

“He’s your best friend Brooke, you really think he’s never had feelings for you?” I scrunch up my nose in disgust and let out a short, sharp laugh.

“He doesn’t like me.” Trent just shrugs, leaving me with an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. Marcus doesn’t like me, I tell myself, he views our friendship just as sacredly as I do. He would never ruin it by liking me.

“It would be bad if he liked me.” I tell Trent after a few minutes of silence, he looks up from the poster he’s working on, and nods slowly, his beautiful eyes fixed thoughtfully on my face.

“It would be,” He agrees, nodding slowly. Without another word he returns to his work, trying his best to make his handwriting readable. I smile to myself at the intense concentration that he’s giving to his work.

“I’m going to go talk to him,” I sigh, finally laying aside the eighth poster that I’ve made. 

“That's probably for the best,” Trent agrees, standing up and stretching, “I think we made enough signs to completely cover the walls. If you want to go find Marcus I can hang all these up.” He glances at the multiple piles of bright colored posters on the floor, and groans to himself, realizing how much work he just volunteered himself for.

“Thanks!” I exclaim before he can rescind his offer, “Marcus and I will come join you once I’ve talked to him.”

The door to Marcus’ door is unlocked, which is how I know he’s in there. I knock on the door but when there’s no answer I push into the room anyways. The lights are off and Marcus is laying in his bed, his face lit by his bright phone screen. “Marcus.” I call his name, and he jumps slightly, looking up from his screen to see me.

“What do you want?” He snaps, and I press my lips together into a thin line to repress myself from saying anything rude.

“Are you alright?” I ask, sitting beside him on his bed.

He shrugs, “Yeah, I’m fine.” He turns his phone off and gives me his full attention.

“ Are you mad at me?” I ask hesitantly, unsure of if I want to hear his answer or not.

“You’re being stupid,” He answers, instead of a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. “He isn’t gonna like you, Brooke. You’re wasting your time and he’s gonna end up hurting you.”

“What are you talking about?” Is my small crush that transparent?

“I can tell you like him, you always have.” I open my mouth to protest but the sad way that he shakes his head stops the words from leaving my mouth. “He’s my best friend, I know what he’s like.”

“Why do you care if I like him?” 

“Because,” My heart stops, fearing his answer, “You’re my friend and I know what you’re like when a guy hurts you.”

“I wasn’t upset with Aaron breaking up with me,” I argue.

“You didn’t care about Aaron. You knew as well as he did that there wasn’t much there.”

“Rude.” But he’s right, with Trent, I have something to lose. “You don’t think he likes me?”
“He’s just lonely,” Marcus confirms, and I sigh, knowing that he’s probably right.

“I told him the two of us would help him hang the homecoming posters.” I say, an abrupt change in conversation. Marcus glares at me, grudgingly pushing himself up from his comfortable spot in bed.

“You’re gonna pay for this,” He says with a laugh as we leave his dorm room and head over to the common area to meet up with Trent.

Author's Note

please leave any comments or critiques possible, I would love to make this story good, and i am not meeting my standards with where it is currently at