Jason Davenport
Leaning back against one of the upholding pillars behind the school, I stuck a hand into my jacket pocket, the fingers of my other hand holding, loosely, onto the burning stick of cigarette between them.
Where the hell was she? I wondered, casting a brief gaze to the watch around my wrist. It was three o'clock already. She knew she was to meet up with me immediately after classes, but here she was wasting my time, like waiting on her was all I had to do the entire day.
She'll get it when she eventually shows up, that's for sure, I thought, with a frown, raising the cigarette to my lips.
Taking a short drag, I dropped my hand and blew the smoke out in two, oddly shaped rings.
I waited another minute, my mind blank, before taking another drag, this one longer than the previous. I held it in my mouth for a couple of seconds and then released it into the air. Right after, I really started to get pissed.
Looking at the time on my watch, I scowled. 3:10pm.
"How the heck am I the one waiting for her?" I thought aloud. "The bitch should be one fucking waiting for me."
Getting off the pillar, I started forward, back to the front of the school when I heard footsteps approaching. Thinking it was a teacher, I stopped and quickly hid the cigarette behind my back, pulling out my phone, as well, and pretending to be going through it.
I looked up from my phone when the footsteps stopped a few feet from me, it's owner not saying a word or doing anything but standing there, silent.
My gaze fell on Amelia, staring at me, her face expressionless, although her grey eyes held an angry stare. At the stare, I smiled. Tripping her at lunch had had its desired effect, I could see. The knowledge of that alone made me happy and, even better, satisfied.
"Get over here," I nodded towards me, my smile still present.
At first, she hesitated, her hands stuck into a jacket I hadn't noticed she'd been wearing when my eyes first fell on her.
When she hesitated some more, I began to get pissed once again.
"Get the fuck over here before I make you," I growled, staring daggers at her.
With a sigh, she rolled her eyes and plodded over to me, stopping a few inches before me.
"Who the hell gave you that jacket?" I raised an eyebrow, noticing it looked like the denim jacket Adrian normally wore.
She looked away. "Someone better than you."
"I'm sorry, was that supposed to be for me?" I scowled.
"No," she mumbled, her gaze still turned from me.
"I'm gonna let that slide," I said, after a while of intense glaring, "midget."
She whipped her gaze back to me then. "I'm 5'6"."
"Meaning you're a fucking midget," I retorted.
She opened her mouth to speak when I stopped her.
"Enough of that," I ordered. "Now, whose jacket is that?"
"Adrian's," she answered, boldly making eye contact with me.
Getting some nerve, wasn't she? Not for long.
"Adrian, huh," I nodded, her words confirming my thoughts. "Alright. No problem."
"There never was any," she shrugged.
Having had enough of her newfound feisty attitude, I reached out and grabbed her by the collar, yanking her forward. The look of fear in her eyes as I'd reached for her was priceless, although I made sure to hide my emotions towards it, a huge frown the only feeling present on my face.
"Enough of that, Amelia," I sneered. "Any more and I'll give you something to keep you shut."
Letting go of the jacket, I pushed her backward and quickly wiped my hand on my jacket, as if I'd just touched a ball of cow turd. Not that she was dirty, though. Just to make her more upset.
"What took you so long?" I asked, raising the cigarette to my lips once more. "You're supposed to meet me immediately after school, like I'd told you to."
"You said we're to meet at the field everyday after school," she muttered, her gaze cast to her shoes. "I went out to the field and didn't find you there. I was searching all over for you before someone told me you'd be here."
Silent, I looked her over. Technically, she was right. We weren't supposed to meet behind the school.
I took a deep drag and was blowing it out toward her when some smoke hitched in my throat, momentarily choking me. Doubled over, I coughed, wheezed and coughed some more, beating a hand to my chest.
"You know smoking reduces your lifespan by eleven minutes everyday you do it, right?" Amelia told me.
"Of course, only you would know that," I sputtered, embarrassed by the situation. "Shut the fuck up and look away."
She looked away then, and coughing some more, clearing my throat occasionally, the cough reflex behind my throat began to die down until it stopped completely.
"If you hadn't been here, that would've never happened," I said, wiping the tears in my eyes.
Slowly, she turned back to look at me. "I wasn't the one that told you to start up smoking."
One angry look from me and she lowered her gaze.
"I got a B in my history homework." I went straight to the point, stubbing out the cigarette and slipping off my backpack.
Flipping through the books in the bag, I pulled out a sheet from the middle of two notebooks. I flung the sheet toward her and then pulled out today's homework, zipped up my bag and slipped it back onto my right shoulder.
The paper now in her hand, she stared at me.
"How the hell did I get a B?" I cocked an eyebrow.
"I don't know," she answered simply.
Annoyed by her smug reply, I reached forward and thumped her forehead.
"Ow," she winced, stepping back, a hand to her forehead.
"Next time that happens, I'll do a lot more than just thump you, trust me." I told her. "So, for your sake, there better not be a next time."
There were tears brimming in her eyes. Ignoring them, I held today's homework out to her. "Take it."
Seconds after, she was still staring at me, the tears shining brightly in her eyes. Knowing her, she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
"Is there something you'd like to do to me, geek?" I said. "You wanna thump me back? Punch me? What you wanna do?"
She kept silent.
"Answer me!" I exploded, and, at once, she recoiled backwards.
"What do you wanna do to me, Amelia?" I spat in her face.
"Nothing," she said, the first streak of tears going down her face.
"You sure? 'Cause that's not what it seemed like a second ago."
"I don't want to do anything," she muttered, sniffing.
"Good," I said, stepping back from her. "That's what I thought."
Throwing the homework at her, I said, "I don't wanna ever see a B on my homework paper again," and walked away, back onto the field, not too far from where Amelia and I had just met, for practice.
An hour later, I was pulling my Audi—hand-me-down, from dad—into the curved driveway of the mansion, stopping directly beside the dolphin fountain.
Getting out of the car, I shut the door and tossed the key to the valet before heading on toward the huge, oak front door, which was always left wide open, except at night time.
I walked past the threshold and into the wide and evenly spaced living room, with its plush couches, chandeliers and floor to ceiling tinted windows.
I'd barely taken three steps in when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted dad and Ashley at a corner of the room, standing before one of the windows. Dad was directly behind her, slipping something that looked like a gold necklace around her neck.
I watched, with contempt, as he hooked it behind her and adjusted it so it sat properly on her neck. Turning around with a smile, Ashley leaned in and gave him a kiss.
I wanted to gag. Most especially when the kiss held on for much longer and dad's hands began to wander.
To distract them and bring to their attention my presence, I dropped my backpack to the floor with a dull thud. At once, they broke the kiss and dad spun around in my direction.
"Jason, hey!" He smiled, as soon as he saw it was me, his face flushed. "You're home early today. What, no practice?"
"Practice ended early," I told him.
"Oh," was all he said, Ashley slinking up to hold onto his arm.
"Hi, Jace," she smiled at me.
Returning her smile with a scowl, I said, "It's Jason. I've told you that for over a million times now."
"Jason," Dad said, "speak to your mom with respect."
"You mean my third mom," I snorted. "Who's barely older than me, by the way."
"I'm twenty seven," Ashley defended.
"And I'm eighteen," I said, "eleven years your younger brother."
"Jason, stop that," Dad stepped in.
"You can't just keep marrying every woman that flits your way, dad," I frowned. "You and me, we're just fine on our own. We don't need nobody else."
"He called me 'every woman', honey," Ashley pouted, clinging tighter onto dad's arm.
"Jason, Ashley is your mother now, and she's not going anywhere," Dad said to me, "the sooner you realize that, the better for you."
Bending down, I picked up my backpack from the floor. "Ashley's not my mom and will never be. She's just your third wife, for the meantime, though. Not long now."
Turning away from them, I started up the windy, marbled staircase when dad's voice stopped me.
"You will call her mom, Jason, and not Ashley," he ordered, now standing at the base of the stairs.
"No, I won't," I said.
"Then you leave me no choice than to seize your car, cut off your allowance and ground you for the rest of the school year. No parties in the house, no going to parties, no friends visiting and no visiting of friends. All your gadgets will be seized, as well."
I turned to look at him. "You can't do that."
"Don't test me, Jason," he said, in a low voice, one that signified he was getting to the wall.
"But she's not my fucking mother," I yelled. "I can't call her that."
Dad's tone rose. "Mind your language, boy, before I come over there and whoop your silly, arrogant ass!"
"Now, you will apologize to your mother right away," he added.
"I can't—"
"Right now, Jason!"
Gritting my teeth, I fisted my hands.
"Sorry," I said, through clenched teeth.
"That doesn't sound like you're sorry to me," Dad said.
Looking away from him, so my gaze fell on Ashley, I stared. "I'm sorry, mom."
She smiled. "Apology accepted."
I stared some more before looking back at dad. "Happy now?"
Turning away from him, I stomped the rest of the way up the stairs and straight to my room. I banged the door behind me as I walked in, throwing my backpack onto the floor.
Maria, Jackie and now goddamn Ashley, I thought, heading over to my bed and plopping down on it. How many more moms to come. Five more? Ten?
In the space of seven years, since mom died in a car crash, I'd had three different moms already. I was done with that. I was sick and tired of the pretentious, gold digging sluts dad brought in as wives simply because they knew how to serve it right.
All these, the women, the fact that I didn't have my mom with me, would've been avoided if I hadn't convinced her to take me to David's party that Friday evening. If Amelia's parents hadn't been driving at 90 miles per hour. At least I'd still have my mom now.
Annoyed, I raked a hand through my hair. Being at school pissed me off, coming home did the same. I couldn't be anywhere and be happy. At school, I had to deal with the reminder of mom's death, Amelia, and at home, I had to stand Ashley.
I didn't know for how long I could go on that way.
Amelia ForbesEveryday, my hatred for Jason Davenport burned brighter. I had so many thoughts in my mind toward him. Thoughts, ideas, that were sure to inflict pain if gotten a chance to be carried out—slam his head into a wall severally, kick him in the nuts as often as I could, but to mention a few. After all, it was only deserving.I mean, as if the humiliation I'd passed through this morning in the cafeteria, because of him, was not enough, he went on to treat me like an absolute piece of worthless junk when we met up behind the school after classes, grabbing me by the collar of Adrian's jacket, as if I was some sort of guy he had issues with, and thumping my forehead because he got a B in his history homework, very much forgetting that I was human too and could make mistakes once in a while.&n
Amelia Forbes The next day, I arrived at school a lot earlier than I normally did, my new tactic at avoiding Jason, who was a chronic late comer. As soon as I got to school, I geared right into the homeroom, making sure to keep my head down, so Kimberly didn't spot me, signed my name and took my seat at the far end beside the window. I was the only one present in the room-pretty much everyone had lives more exciting than I did-giving me the comfort to do whatever I wanted. Like eating the sandwich Nana had made me this morning just before I left for school. Leaning back into my seat, I took a bite of the sandwich, my attention on the content of the phone in my hand. A text message from Benson popped up at the top as I scrolled through it. At once, I tapped the message.I'm on my way to school, and I'm not picking Katie up today, for once, phew. Want me to pick you up? It read.Tapping the keys on my keyboard, I replied, I'm already at school :).What
Jason DavenportPractice time. The only period I ever looked forward to at school, other than picking on Amelia, that is.Classes were over now and the team was in the field doing basic warm ups before the main practice began. Amelia, as I'd told her to, was seated on the bleachers, watching blankly, my stuff beside her. Just to make sure she was actually watching and not doing something else, like pressing her darned phone, I kept one eye on the field and the other on her. It wasn't as hard as it sounded. Shortly after the warm up, the main practice kicked off at the sound of Coach Hens's whistle. Okay, yes, I looked forward to practice, pretty much everyday at school, but on some days, some occasions, like today, when it was devilishly hot, I might as well pass it up.We played for over thirty minutes before Coach Hens decided to give us a break, which I was very much thankful for. At the sound of the whistle, I doubled over, hands on my knees, pan
Amelia ForbesEvery day that I had to see Jason got me more and more upset than I could take. Pushed me further toward the wall. I didn't know if I could wait for the remainder of the hundred and ninety days before I saw him no more. I wasn't sure if I could contain myself any longer. Eventually, sooner or later, I was going to snap and probably do something, most likely, not beneficial to me. But after the incident in his car last week, I think I wouldn't mind.Yes, I feared Jason, but there was a limit to everything. Even to my fear. After what he'd done on Thursday last week, after he'd spoken and acted with so much hate and scorn, I couldn't help but wonder if there was something more to his bullying. If maybe, all along, it wasn't really bullying out of boredom or habit, but bullying borne out of pure hatred. And I couldn't help but fear for my life. My safety. So, I decided to steer clear of him, by all means. And even if I had to interact with him, it'd be one
Amelia Forbes I was soon to attend my first ever high school party, only for the sole reason of Jason inviting me himself. Handing me a flyer yesterday. And for him apologizing too, I guess. It was Friday night, the time set for the party, and I was starting to regret taking Jason's flyer. Agreeing to attend his party. I was getting cold feet, and I had my reasons. For one, although I'd accepted Jason's apology and had forgiven him, even when I didn't want to, even when I knew an apology couldn't just erase everything he'd done to me, I still had this gut feeling that it wasn't genuine, his repentance. For some reason, I still felt it was all an act. Now, I wasn't one to act on my gut feelings, trust them, because, sometimes, they'd let me down, so, as much as I didn't want to, I ignored them.Secondly, I was getting cold feet because I wasn't used to parties, and I had absolutely no idea what to wear. I had a lot of dresses. So many. Short, long, extra short,
Amelia Forbes It was official. Parties just weren't my thing. Jason's party was fun, actually, for people who liked parties, that is, but personally, I couldn't see the fun in loud noises, people screaming on top of their voices in the name of talking, dirty dancing, drinking too much alcohol and puking thereafter. It just wasn't my idea of fun.So, I was already preparing to leave without telling Jason. All I had as my biggest hurdle was sneaking out, which wasn't so much of a hurdle-seeing the huge crowd present at his party, it was easy to blend in or get lost. Finding my way home wasn't going to be much of a problem either-I was good with directions, sorta, and when I was in Jason's car, I'd done well to note the way around. I was currently engaged in an uninteresting conversation with a flame haired guy whom I wasn't sure of his name but was certain he was a senior too. He was hitting on me, and failing miserably at it, judging by his poor choice of
Amelia Forbes I woke up, with a start, to the light filtering into my room through the half open curtain, a throbbing head and a parched throat. Squinting against the mild glare of the sun, I propped myself up on the bed and pushed my hair out of my face, my sore eyes taking in the contents of the room."What happened?" I murmured to myself, little bits of the party from last night coming back to me. "How did I get back?"I tried to recall how I returned home but nothing came to mind. The last I remembered was drinking to the dare they'd given me, which I declined doing.Figuring I must've gotten really drunk and Jason brought me back to my house, I sighed and swung my legs down from the bed. I needed an aspirin. Two aspirin. Fast. But first, some water, and then checking in on grandma. Knowing her, she would be up by now.Speaking of the time, what was the time actually? I twisted my body to look at the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand at the other side
Amelia Forbes It started during the first period after lunch, in math class. The weird looks and knowing stares. At first, I shrugged it off, ignoring them and taking my regular seat, just beside the window that overlooked the football field. But as the classes rolled by, the stares kept getting worse and worse and I even heard someone make an odd remark, one I couldn't quite grasp. The blonde had said from behind me, just before our Physics teacher came in, "And here I was thinking she was different."I didn't understand. Was she talking about me? Figuring it was probably just a conversation between her and her friend, I shrugged and focused on the lesson at hand, the only thought on my mind being how to face Jason. And beg him, if I had to, not to tell anyone about what had happened with us. He hadn't been at the cafeteria today-pretty much the only period I had with him today being Monday-which I found odd and weird. And upsetting too. Jason had never misse