After the Drone Lift, He Begs Me Back

I walked into the classroom without looking any other way. Joseph was sitting with Wendy. That girl took my spot.She was leaning on the desk, staring at Joseph with a sickly sweet smile on her lips. Joseph was staring down at her, curling a lock of her hair around his finger. I'd never seen him acting so sweet.He raised his head and offered me an indifferent look. "Hey." He was calm, as if he hadn't nearly killed me the day before.Wendy sat up and gave me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Jess. I had no idea they would go so far. I just said I thought Jackie Chan's movies were cool, and then…"She started tearing up. I gave her no response. Joseph frowned and pulled me aside. "Hey, she already said she's sorry. What more do you want?" Impatience laced his voice. "It was just a prank. Stop looking at us like we owe you something. Fine, I know you sprained something because the drones' batteries died. I'll pay for the meds."He took out hundreds of dollars from his pockets and trie

He gave us a friendly nod. A little nervous, I smiled at him.I was in a new place, and all around me were new people. Things were looking nice for a chance. No one was looking at me like I was an oddity. No one knew about my humiliating past.I had a second chance at life. Here I thought my story with Joseph had come to an end, but I'd forgotten that Joseph was not someone who would let go that easily. Not especially when he thought the things that were his were coveted by someone else.…One afternoon, after school, I saw someone familiar outside the gate. Joseph was leaning on his gaudy motorcycle, a cigarette hanging from his lips.He lost a lot of weight. Dark circles hung under his eyes. He looked dejected and furious. The moment he saw me, he tossed his cigarette away and strode up to me."Had enough fun, Jessica?" His voice was hoarse, and there was fury lying underneath. "You're coming home with me."The intense situation scared Kaylee. She grabbed my arm. "Who's this g

Every inch of my body was freezing up, from inside to outside. My father's job was more important than my dignity and health, it seemed. Calmly, I asked, "Mom, if I somehow die, would that get you guys a lot of compensation money? Enough for you to live your lives without any guilt?"My mother said nothing. A long while later, she started crying. I hung up and blocked her number.No one cared about me. No one but my aunt and Howard.…I was top of my year in the midterms. Howard was second place. Ms. Zimmerman praised us. "We're proud of you, Jessica and Howard. Especially you, Jessica. You're a transfer student, but you adapted to the school quickly and snagged the top spot. You must've worked really hard."My classmates applauded me. It was thunderous and genuine. I looked at the smiling Howard. For the first time, I felt safe.We had a three-day holiday after midterms were over. Kaylee suggested that we go to a hot spring resort in the neighboring town. "My aunt's the manager

"I can't believe she cheated. And I looked up to her.""You never really do know someone until they show you who they really are.""I bet she tried to copy Howard's answer because she knew his grades were good.""I heard she was expelled from her last high school. She's infamous back in her hometown."Rumors were spreading again, and the stories got more ridiculous. As I walked across the school grounds, I was taken back to that day when I was hung in the air like a chimpanzee doing an impossible trick for an audience.Kaylee stayed by my side and deflected the harsh looks the others threw at me. "Don't listen to them! I trust you!"Howard was the same. In front of the whole class, he said, "Jessica did not cheat. I believe her. She's not that kind of person. If anyone starts any stupid rumors, I'm coming after them."Their trust could not wash off my humiliation. I locked myself in my room and refused to eat or drink even a drop of water.My aunt was crying. She was worried si

His eyes went red, and tears rolled down his cheeks. This was the first time I saw him cry, and he cried his heart out. He cried until he rasped, but I felt nothing. My heart was already dead to him."Your minutes are up." I left without giving him another look.…The Pinschers' company did not tough it out. The court of public opinion and the market destroyed it. They filed for bankruptcy. Tom's hair turned white overnight. The impact hit him hard, and he came down with a stroke and had to be taken to the hospital.Joseph sold the house and his bike, then he moved into a rundown neighborhood.I got the news from Kaylee. All I did was grunt.My life was back on track. That past was nothing but old memories that were fading out of my sight.I did well on my SAT and got into Tretoria University with Howard. I went into journalism, while Howard went for computer science.When the acceptance letter came, my aunt was more excited than I was. She held a celebration party at her place