Trademarks - Hoodies and Sweaters (4 out of 7) (Patreon)

Jessica's always been the center of attention... But ultimately for the wrong reasons.

Naturally gifted with intelligence and beauty, she's always been admired by both her professors and classmates. These, along with her cheerful personality, would've instantly made her popular regardless of whether she wanted to be or not. However, all the eyes gravitating towards her weren't only due to admiration. Some were ridden with envy and malice.

Other girls often enviously steered away from Jessica and often made rumors about her which led her to spend most of her time in school alone. Not by will nor choice, but by force. On the other side of this spectrum, guys who also hear such rumors make advances towards her, simply because they heard from some girls that Jessica would be willing to lay it all bare for a buck or two.

Thinking she finally got a second chance in life; a clean slate, so to say, when she entered Ablesmith Academy, Jessica once again spread her wings and did her best in her studies in pursuit of her dream to become a journalist.

She eventually caught the attention of one of the popular guys in her school, which led to a rather envious upperclassman to tarnish her reputation by spreading that the reason she got good grades was that she was sleeping with one of their professors.

Caught in the loop once again, Jessica retreated back to her former shell, as everyone looked down on her; judging her things that never happened in the first place.

Wherever Jessica was, she was harassed: girls, bullying her by ruining her locker and writing stuff about her in the bathroom walls, or even as worse as ruining her self-esteem by calling her fat and ugly; guys, who often called her a slut, with an inappropriate glance here and occasional grope there; the school administration, who decided it would ruin the Academy if these rumors came out about professors handing out great marks in exchange of sexual favors.

With her self-image and once cheerful personality in shambles, she came to have an interest in hoodies and sweaters... Both as a way to hide her body that she came to despise, and to hide her face from anyone who might recognize her from said rumors.

It wasn't until Sydney, who saw Jessica crying in one of the bathroom stalls, decided to intervene.

In a span of one week, the rumors suddenly died down. Anyone who was involved in the lie that ruined her life disappeared, and no one has a single clue on how or why. But every trace they left; every mark was etched forever in Jessica's heart.

Yet in the ashes of her broken soul, she found someone she can finally call 'friend'.

~ Crispy