Chapter 5:

School starts

A Painted Smile


I wake up to Jeff standing by my bed watching me. ¨Jesus!¨ I scream out loud almost falling off my bed. ¨Good morning to you too.¨ Jeff says laughing about me getting scared.¨Ugh..forgot you were here..Sit still while I get dressed..I’ll be changing in the bathroom don’t expect to see anything.¨ I say holding the clothes I picked out to my chest.

¨So cruel,Jade..¨ Jeff says with a frown.¨You literally murder people but sure,I’m cruel.¨ I say walking to the bathroom to get dressed before I change I look around.Most of this stuff used to belong to my roommate..She must be rolling in her grave all over knowing that her killer used her bathroom.

Oh god..don’t tell me Jeff used my toothbrush..for my own sanity i’ll just believe that he didn’t..I think as I finish getting dressed and walk out. ¨Looking good,Jade.¨ Jeff says, smiling.¨Tell me something I don’t know.Think you can sit quietly like a good little boy while I suffer through arts and history?¨ I ask putting my hair up.

¨You know..I could always just get rid of your teacher for you,so you don’t have to take the class.¨ Jeff offers. ¨No,My teachers a good woman.It’s just the class I don’t like Just go sit on my bed,You can go on my phone to entertain yourself just don’t post anything weird on Instagram..¨ I say handing him my phone.¨Your kinda acting like i’m a kid and your my babysitter.¨ Jeff says sitting on my bed with my phone.

¨Well..That’s pretty much what’s going on.¨ I say looking up at him.¨You just continue being mean to me.¨ Jeff says, looking up at me. ¨Well consider it payback.¨ I say smiling at Jeff,I then hear a knock on the door. ¨Crap..must be Ray.¨ I whisper to Jeff. ¨That stupid boyfriend of yours?I hate that guy..¨ Jeff whispers to me.

¨I’m sure you do.Hide in the closet I’ll deal with him.¨ I whisper back as Jeff hides in the closet. I open the door to my dorm as Ray walks in. ¨Heyyy,Ray.How are you?¨ I say trying to play it cool. ¨Uhm-is everything okay? Your acting weird.¨ Ray says checking my temperature.¨Nothings wrong,i’m always weird.¨ I say, folding my arms across my chest.

¨Yeah but..your acting weird even for yourself.¨ Ray says, raising an eyebrow. ¨Well must be the stress..speaking of that I have class in five minutes so..can you make this quick?¨ I ask looking up at Ray. ¨Yea,sure..Just came to update you another night of peace and of quiet. It’s almost reassuring.¨ Ray says smiling.

¨I thought you wouldn’t get your hopes up this soon.¨ I say crossing my arms. ¨Well..I cant say im positive things have cleared up but..I have a good feeling about it.¨ Ray says putting his hand behind his head. ¨Yeah,fingers crossed I can go back to my regular life soon.¨ I say yawning.¨I’ll admit,I’ll be relieved if that guy leaves town and becomes someone else’s problem. I’ll leave you to your classes now,but still be cautious alright?¨ Ray says, looking at my eyes.

¨Okay.¨ I say as he finally leaves and I lock the door. ¨Jeff,you can come out.¨ I say looking at the closet. ¨That took forever!You should make that guy stop coming around,He’s gross.¨ Jeff complains. ¨He’s not bad..Just overbearing,You’re much more gross.¨ I say, rolling my eyes.

¨But i’m Gross in a charming way.¨ Jeff smiles. ¨No,Just gross..quiet it’s class time.¨ I say as I spend hours working on class work and such finally class ends.¨Class is done!Say Jeff?..¨ I trail off. ¨Finally have time for me?¨ Jeff asks, smiling.

¨Actually,I was gonna go get you some new clothes so you don’t reek up the place.Can I trust you to stay here and be good while i’m out?¨ I ask, tilting my head at Jeff. ¨Of course.¨ Jeff says, smiling. ¨But can I really?¨ I ask unsure about leaving him.

¨Normally not,but since you’re doing something as sweet as buying me gifts,I’ll behave just this once.¨ Jeff says, sitting down on the floor. ¨Okay..be good..Its so weird to talk like this to a man that’s older than me..¨ I say as I then leave my dorm and go out to the store to buy Jeff some clothes.

I just can’t picture Jeff in anything else but a white hoodie and black pants. I think to myself as I walk inside my dorm room. ¨Jade!Welcome back!¨ Jeff says Joyfully Running up to me and hugging me. Why is Jeff so happy to see me? I think to myself as I smile at Jeff.

¨Well,I got you five of the same outfit.¨ I say holding up two bags of clothing for him. ¨Cool, I like what Ive been wearing all these years.¨ Jeff says smiling and sits down on the bed. ¨By ´All these years´ I really hope you didn’t mean since you were thirteen.¨ I say looking at Jeff.

¨That’s exactly what I meant.¨ Jeff says, shrugging. ¨Got it,You’re gross on top of being a psycho,think I got your whole deal now.¨ I say smiling. ¨My dear,Jade You’ve only scratched the surface.¨ Jeff says with a straight face. ¨I would like to keep this at surface level and don’t call me dear.¨ I yell at Jeff.

(Time skip a few days)

Things continued like this for a little while. I kept Jeff the best I could at arm’s length as best I could.A week of quiet was enough to convince the authorities things were safe again.Classes start back up tomorrow.¨Mhh..Its been a while since I had to wake up this early..¨ I complain crawling out of bed.Looks like Jeff is still sleeping he better wake up soon..I have to talk to him before I go I’ll get ready first.