Jesl and I walked back to her house in silence. Several times I thought about saying something, but one look at Jesl's hung head silenced all comments and questions. It was completely out of character for Jesl, and eventually I could stand it no longer.

"Jesl," I started
"Hmm. . . oh, sorry. What is it Bree?" Jesl mumbled as she pulled herself from whatever thoughts she was consumed in.
"Why do you let them talk to you like that?" I asked.
"Like what?"
" Like calling you poor and fat!" I snapped.
"oh, thats nothing."

That's when I stepped in her way.

"No Jesl, that is something! She had no right to do that!" I snarled. I felt my voice rising. My anger wasn't meant for Jesl, but she cringed back anyway.

"Just look at me Bree. Look at my house. I am poor." Jesl rebutted with watery eyes.

"Fine Jesl, your house is rather . . . modest. But you have no control over that. And you are not fat!"

"Yes I am, look at this," She yelled as she gripped the slight loose skin on her arms and on her stomach.

"That is nothing! You are not fat! and you shouldn't let them talk to you that way!"

"Look Bree I appreciate everything you are trying to do, but really, its nothing. They're my friends, and their right." Jesl said. Jesl then stormed off towards her house.

I going to chase ofter her when I felt a callused hand grab my shoulder. Instinct kicked in and I flipped the hand's owner over themself. Con fell to the ground with a heavy thud and an extremely humourous look of shock on his face.

My eyebrow lifted with surprise, and the corner of my mouth lifted with humor.
Once Con was over his shock he jumped up and began brushing himself off.

"Uhh, hi. Didn't mean to scare you back there. I uhh, was just gonna ask you if uhh . . . O.K I'm officially embarrassed." Con admitted.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his confession.

I was just going to say: let her go. She's been hanging out with those girls for years. It's her decision to hangout with them."

I looked him up and down with a frown on my face.

"Maybe you are the kind to allow your friends or even your family to be in pain, but I assure you, I am not. They are too valuable for us to lose." I sneered at him.

" No, that's not what I meant. . ." He called before I followed after Jesl to her house. I was in the door before he could finish.