trou·ble

ˈtrəb(ə)l

noun

difficulty or problems.

--

"OK, so we figured out its the janitor," Kurt says while sitting at the desk, "But that doesn't make sense, why would a grown man go to me? I've never talked to him before, this makes zero sense."

"Maybe he is a stalker," I say staring at the paused screen ad if it were the enemy. I did a project my sophomore year that required me to work along side the janitors, they were genuinly really nice, cool, and cared about their jobs very much. So why is this one so different fron the others? Is this just some sort of game to him? Does he want the good reputation of his coworkers to go down? If this spread around the school it'd be absolute chaos.

Kurt remains silent for a few seconds, like its the end of the world. He stares intently at the screen as if his life were flashing before his eyes. He doesn't say anything for a solid ten minutes, maybe longer actually.

"Wait," I gasp silently, while figuring out why he is being so silent, or hoping that I deciphered It properly. "Did you have a stalker before?"

He stiffens before glaring at me as if I just insulted his entire bloodline. He opens his mouth to say something before growling and slouching back into his seat. He quickly huffs and remains quiet for the following two minutes as if he was reliving his past.

"Yeah," He finally confirms, his voice didn't sound like its usual deep self it was softer and more serious than it was, which is strange since he is almost always serious. "In eight grade a girl in my class stalked me - took hundred of pictures of me, slipped creepy notes and pictures of me sleeping into my locker. My mom decided she had enough after the third time we had to repair my broken window lock and we moved here. The girl sent me a few creepy texts after I left, but I blocked her and that was the end of it....after that girls started to scare me, but Veronica helped me through it."

"Veronica, huh?" I grin at how she truly has touched everyone in some way. She is a true angel and I wish she had a better home life, I mean having Jessica must be the definition of horrid. It also doesn't help that Jessica comes back so close to Dean's death, Veronica really doesn't need the stress right now.

Kurt smiles while placing his hands on top of his head and interlocking his fingers, "Yeah. You're lucky to have a girl as amazing as she is. I've never met anyone that can even begin to compare to her, Joy was probably the closest we'd ever get."

"Yeah..." I sigh for the trillionth time, "We should get home, the school is probably em... hey," I say cutting myself off. I close my eyes to prepare myself for what I was about to ask. I am not ready for this, but it'd bother me if I at least didn't ask and if he accepts the offer then whatever, I'll survive. "Do you wanna stay over at my house tonight?"

"Huh?" He asks, confused and surprised. Veronica has been the only person to not only come over to my house, but the only to sleep over, so this was a pretty big deal. He stares at me for a few seconds trying to figure out if I am messing around or not, clearly taking this as a joke - I guess it could seem that way. When he finally sees absolutely no humor in my face he leans back again, "But why? Isn't that a weird request especially from you?"

I growl. "Well!" I bark at him. getting angry that he would even think I was joking about something like this, but quickly cover my mouth and look over to Veronica to see if I woke her. Luckily I didn't and she was still sound asleep. "Well," I repeat, but this time significantly quieter so there isn't a possibility of waking her, "You might have a stalker. It's easier to fight off a crazy janitor in a rich neighborhood with police posted at every other street than where ever you live, right?"

A smile crosses his face before he starts laughing lightly, "Are you being genuine right now? Is it really OK for me to stay over? If not I am more than strong enough to handle myself, I'm the captain of the football team, after all."

"Yes I'm serious. If you aren't comfortable staying alone then come with me or ask one of your friends," I say with an eye roll. This guy is a pain, had he not included me on this investigation then I wouldn't have to deal with him or any other person other than Veronica and Maddi. Jesus had he not involved me I wouldn't have had to wait and meet up with Jessica again.

Then again, it is nice feeling involved with something for once. I've only ever had one friend before so this is a great change of pace. I do wish it was under different circumstances, I mean this entire situation is just getting progressively worse and worse. I mean a suicide note and a potential stalker. It also doesn't help that Jessica is back she could be the one behind all of this, the evil maniac she is, I wouldn't be surprised.

"Sure," Kurt finally speaks up after giving it some thought, "Luckily I always have extra clothes in my backpack in case something happens during football practice. It is OK that I shower there right? We still have school tomorrow and everything...."

"It's cool if you shower at my place, I could care less," I say with a long yawn. With that note I place my hand onto Veronica's shoulder and lightly shake her awake, I check my phone to see the time and gasp, "Hey, sweetie wake up. It's one A.M, we have school tomorrow, wakey wakey."

"Hmm..." She groans with her eyes fluttering open before squinting again due to the light from the monitors, "Is it really that late already....? I can't remember...how long have I been asleep?"

"Just a few hours," I reply, "If you wanna keep sleeping I'm sure that Kurt doesn't have a problem with carrying you home."

"You can't decide something like that for me.." He mumbles under his breath which causes both Veronica and I to chuckle. "I mean I would, but still..." He adds and if it weren't for the fact he's gay I'd probably think he'd have feelings for Veronica. It bothers me that there are people that like my girlfriend. God, I'm too obsessed with this girl.

Veronica's smile doesn't leave her lips as she picks up both her purse and her school bag, "It's fine. Besides, I'm not that tired anymore and my house is like right across the street, it wouldn't make sense for him to carry me."

"Right," I nod my head while picking up my own back pack and heading out of the room ahead of the others, stretching my legs in the process, "I gotta head to the restroom, be right back," I groan while quickly making my way towards the restrooms. When I get there I quickly pee and wash my hands just in time for someone to walk in.

"Troy, what are you still doing here?" He asks, surprised to see me, obviously not knowing that I would be here, "Isn't it like one A.M,?"

"It is..." I mumble, equally confused as to why he is here, "I'm here because I was working on a project with Kurt and Veronica, what are you doing here, Max?"

"Oh well, the same, using one of the classrooms to work on a few, um, assignments. Anyway, I'll jus-" He begins while turning away, but I see right through his lie. Sometimes my talent for seeing lies is a curse other times it's a gift. I might not like Max, but if he is at a bad place in life I want to try and help.

"What kind of assignments?"

He growls like a wild animal while turning back towards me and leaning up against the clean tile wall next to him, "Fine. You got me, I got in a fight with my brother yesterday and have been staying at the school since. The principal said it was fine so don't make a fuss about it. Anyway, I shou- also don't tell Veronica. She doesn't need to worry about this. She has enough to deal with."

"Yeah...about that," I speak, curious as to how his relationship with Veronica has been recently. I know they had that big fight and out right asking him if they made up seems inappropriate, so instead I ask a question that would give me the same answer. "Do you know Jessica is back?"

He is visibly and audibly chokes on his own saliva with the widest eyes you could even imagine, his mouth was also gaping open. This tells me all I need to know, either Veronica hasn't told him or he hasn't seen her yet. "Is she really? Even after what happened last time? What is her mother thinking...?"

"I don't know," I shrug, trying to prevent myself from vomiting from the memory of what happened before she moved to Pennsylvania with their dad. "Hey, do you wanna stay over a-"

"No," Max quickly shoots me down. I am thankful he did, I am already uncomfortable with Kurt coming over and I actually like Kurt. If Max came over I don't know what I'd feel, probably anger at myself for even asking him. Then again Max is Veronica's childhood friend and I want to be on good terms with her even if they aren't on good terms. "I don't like you, it would be weird if I did. Anyway, you should get going, Veronica and Kurt are waiting for you."

I nod my head and leave the restrooms feeling slightly uneasy, how could he be living in the school? Why is the principal OK with that? I have so many questions and I am definitely not getting answers any time soon, no matter how much I wish I could. I am not comfortable enough to go digging into Max's life especially since I hate him and he hates me.

The first thing I see when I exit the restrooms is Veronica who is a slight red color, "Troy, you know why I don't want to kiss you on the lips, right?" She asks the second she sees me, obviously troubled about it, "Right?!"

It stung that she said she didn't want to, but I smiled at her reassuringly, "It doesn't matter why, if you don't want to then we won't. We'll do it when you're ready, there is absolutely no reason for you to have to explain yourself to me."

"No," She shakes her head while grabbing onto my arms in her own, "No, I should explain. It's only fair," She looks up at me while moving her hands down from where they were on my elbows to my hands. She holds them rightly in her own, the warmth and security it makes me feel is all I need to know I am safe.

"V, if you don't wanna there-"

"I want to! I don't wanna hurt you, ever. I love you, Troy, and I really do wanna kiss you, but I don't want to at the same time!" She shouts, her face a bright red now and her panting even more obvious to notice. "I love you, I'd do anything for you, but I rushed things with Jackson, and I don't want our relationship to end, ever."

"Didn't you and Jackson's relationship last three years?" I ask, confused as to what she was talking about. That is a long time and I don't understand what the problem is, if we can last at least that long I'd be over joyed. It'd obviously be ideal to marry her and have kids, but even a short relationship is fine. I don't want her to feel restrained by only being with me for the rest of her life.

She shakes her head as she lets go of my hands and brings hers up to my cheeks. She lightly squeezes my face in between her hands, "Jackson and I broke up because we were bored with each other. We gave each other all we could, but that wasn't enough to keep us together. Of course we didn't have sex together or anything, but that doesn't change the fact we rushed things...please understand."

"Honey," I say as I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight in them as if I am trying to not lose her. I hate how much she is doubting herself recently. It must be because of Jessica, that is the only reasonable explanation for all this. Fucking Jessica, if I had the braver I'd tell her how much of a bitch she is, but that I don't have enough courage for that. "I already understood, before you even opened your mouth...you don't have to explain it to me. I trust you."

She nods her head under my grip on her and I feel that much more at peace. Kurt finally clears his throat and I realize he has been watching the whole time. I chuckle awkwardly while Veronica and I let go of each other. Then we all head home, or rather Kurt comes with me home and Veronica tags along because she lives along the way.

The whole way back we talked about whatever the latest popular shows were airing. I wasn't really taking an active part in the conversation as I didn't watch T.V. much and I had more important things on my mind. Like what kind of argument did Max and his brother have for him to live at school. Why is he living at the school instead of a friend's house, it makes no sense.

Or even more, why was Jessica back after five years in Pennsylvania. It has to be because of her mom, but she is a legal adult now, why would her mom control her? Jessica has her entire life planted in Pennsylvania, her therapists, friends, family. All the family she has down here in Texas could probably couldn't care less about her since she is so annoying. It's a stressful topic for everyone.

There is only one thing I know for sure though. If a genie appeared and only gave me one wish I'd wish for Jessica to disappear back to Pennsylvania for forever so none of us have to go through the same Hell she gave us back in seventh grade. No one deserves to be traumatized with the sight of watching someone getting hurt by some crazy lunatic.