Chapter 14 - A New Year

                                    

                                          
        The phone trembled in her hand. She felt happy, elated actually, and devastated at the same time. She could only imagine how Alexa must feel. There was nothing she could say, she could hear Alexa crying.
                          
        "Why?" It was all she could say. This was a very lame answer, but she just couldn't even comprehend why Daniel would do this. She could clearly remember his obsession over Alexa; just a few weeks ago back in Study Hall. It felt like it had been forever since then. As she waited for Alexa's response, her eyes caught the orange of the basketball under her desk. Suddenly, she felt less inclined to give it to Daniel. Something in the pit of her stomach told her to avoid him. The phone buzzed and Jaclyn looked down,
                          
         "He gave me no reason whatsoever. Said he needed to think over some things. Worst of all, he did it over text! He even cancelled our plans, and admitted he never got me a Christmas gift. Christmas was days ago Jaclyn, days!"
                          
         Jaclyn felt her eyes become warm, and a tear fell onto her forearm. She wasn't even in Alexa's place, but yet, she could feel every inch of her pain. It was like with Daniel leaving Alexa, a part of him was also leaving her. 
                          
        "I'm sobbing, Jaclyn!" As if Jaclyn couldn't hear it enough through the phone.
                          
         "So am I." She heard Alexa sniff,
                          
         "What? Why are you crying?"
                          
         "I don't know! The stress, all this, I don't know. Kaden and I had a fight Alexa, the night you were over. Lately I've been feeling aggravated when I talk to him, and I can't control the rudeness. I just feel like I don't even remember what my love to him had felt like." Alexa was distracted by this, and subsided the sobbing.
                          
         "Oh, I'm sorry Jaclyn. Whatever you do, stay away from Daniel. He is so mean." Alexa began crying hard again and Jaclyn took this time to think. Was Daniel really the mean one? Maybe he really did have a good reason to break up with her. She just couldn't fathom that reason.
                          
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
                          
         The next day, all Jaclyn could hear was Alexa's crying echoing from her memory. She had stayed up till midnight, listening to it, assuring her everything would be alright. Nothing worked, and she knew nothing would. The best thing Alexa needed was time alone to get over him. Jaclyn was so shocked at his behavior. They had only been dating a few weeks, and he just dumped her with no valid reason?
                          
         Her feet hit the snow packed ground on her way to Daniel's house. She knew he needed alone time, but honestly felt this was important enough to visit him for. She already had the conversation planned in her head. If only he could follow the script.
                          
         Layla opened the door after three knocks.
                          
         "Hi Jaclyn! I hate to say it, but Daniel really doesn't feel like talking right now..." The answer almost seemed prepared. Jaclyn clenched her teeth in annoyance, suddenly bothered by Laylas' looks and manner.
                          
         "Listen, this is kind of urgent, so if you can just let me see him for a minute?" Layla squinted, but let her pass.
                          
         "He's up in his room." She called as Jaclyn headed to the stairs. Jaclyn ran up the stairs, opened a door that said "Daniel" on the outside, and saw him lying on his bed. He looked up, and she saw his eyes were red from crying. He quickly composed himself and cleared his throat, sitting up.
                          
         "Jaclyn, hey."
                          
         "Daniel, you don't have to fake anything. I know what happened." Daniel looked up with wide eyes, and immediately broke down into tears.