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Chapter 14: Give Up
Bullying feels like a dance between two people. The dance-off is between the bully and the victim. It's hard to see the other people around us if we are bullied.
When Kelly taunts me, her gang of defenders encourages the fight. Alexa and Tia would be nothing without Kelly. What would Kelly be like without them? I sometimes wonder what would happen if it really were just Kelly and I, alone one on one. The world would turn in my favor and shift towards my needs.
That would sure be the day. But it is not today. Not today by any means.
My parents don't know about Jeremy. They don't know that I've kissed a boy. If mom knew it would be in the family scrapbook by now, among my other milestones. Or on some embarrassing Instagram post.
My mind thinks back to Jeremy and the simple kiss we shared. Did it mean anything to him? To me? I am not sure what we are, but it's a good feeling for now.
His story haunts me. How can a mother become violent and snap at the
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I spend the day worrying about Jeremy. I check my phone every class to make sure all social media platforms are clear of his church burning news.The fly on the wall is watching me with his millions of eyes. Those eyes follow me everywhere. If one hair is out of place, Kelly will either post our first kiss video, or she will let the school know Jeremy is a pyromaniac. Either way, she wins. She's on top, like the Bitch Queen of the Nile."What have you decided, Train Tracks? It's embarrassing either way. Either let me have my fun after school, or you and Jeremy can be an embarrassing couple of Instagram, or he can just go to prison now. The choice is yours, really."Kelly taps her foot and crosses her arms. Her lips smack with the sound of her chewing gum. She tilts her neck and smirks her lips. She's fierce."I'll see you after school," I reply, not knowing what else to do or say. Saying anything to stop her is pointless. If I were a witch, I'd cast a spe
All the Feels Chapter 16: Jeremy's House
Egg yolk and flour mix in clumps all over me. This is how an unmixed pancake must feel. I don't know how I am going to scrape all this off. Good thing I left my backpack in my locker. The school is closed. I'll have to get my phone later. And I think my keys are in there too. Perfect, just perfect.I wish I had been with Jeremy at the zoo. We could have been swimming with the dolphins by now. The base of the big tree has one spot left, one spot left where they didn't paint all over it. I don't know how Kelly and her posse managed to get away with graffiti in broad daylight. She probably started the fire in the church and somehow framed Jeremy for it. Maybe I should visit the ruins of the Vineyard Church and do some digging for the truth myself.I cry under the base of the tree. The snot of the egg yolk and flour dust make me cough. I can barely see through either substance.A loud car muffler stops a few meters away from the big tree. I wonder if people have pai
All the Feels Chapter 17: Caged Moths
A house is where people live and have a hard time connecting. A home is where a person feels safe. Right now, Jeremy feels like that to me. So, he took me in and let me be myself."Lily, at some point, we are going to have to face them, you know," Jeremy asks?My thoughts linger for a moment before catching up to me. I will have to get in the car and leave Jeremy's house at some point."I know. I'm not ready to think about them right now. The KAT trio will be taken out. It's inevitable. Jeremy, can I stay here a little while longer," I ask?I'd do anything to stay here and look at Jeremy. But, in my desire to be safe, I've found I want to keep him safe from the demons that live within his soul. His soul is tainted by monsters. Monsters have the faces of everyday people. They live where people are ghouls, and ghouls look like good guys."Sure, you can probably stay and watch a movie," Jeremy says as he finishes the rest of his nachos.I nibbl
All the Feels Chapter 18: The Girlfriend
The doorknob turns, and Mr. Davis walks in. He looks the same as he did all those months ago at the pool."Jeremy, how was your day? My boss almost fired me. But I tell you, I've just about had it at that bank."Mr. Davis doesn't notice me as he takes his trench coat off and hangs it on a hook. His large black shoes leave scuff marks on the floor."Dad, this is Lily."Mr. Davis turns around, and a bright smile finds his face."Oh, well, excuse my manners. I remember you, Lily. You're that girl from the swimming pool. Sorry again that I didn't realize those girls were bullying you."Jeremy turns to me like I'm supposed to report my bullying shenanigans to him."It's no big deal. I'll deal with them in due time," I say."Kids these days, they don't even have the guts to bully face to face. They do it through computers and cameras. Well, if those mean girls ever bother you again, you let me know," Mr. Davis says."What happ
All the Feels Chapter 19: The Crickets of Vineyard Church
Our date to the zoo came and went. My mother blew up my phone while we were on our date.Mom: Lily, please come homeMom: Lily, where are you?Mom: Lily, are you there?I call mom to let her know where I'm staying. I haven't decided how long my stay with the Davis family will last."Mom, hi. I went to the zoo with Jeremy.""You're with a friend? That's a relief. When will you be home? We need to get this bullying situation under control," mom says."I'll swing by later to get a few things. But I'm not staying at home. I need a few days to collect my thoughts. So, I'll be staying with the Davis family.""The Davis family? Do you mean to tell me you're spending the night at that pyromaniac's house? He burned a church down, Lily-kins. No, you come home this instant. You stay away from that family," mom barks."I'm not coming home, mom. I'm eighteen, remember? So, I'm grabbing my clothes, and I'm leaving," I say. How does mo
All the Feels Chapter 20: Eye of the Storm
Romance novels are the best medicine for the soul. I never knew I could be in my version of romance. But, this time, it's not a character in a book; it's me having a relationship with another person.Jeremy breaks from our kiss and leads me to the car. The drive back is filled with handholding and Jeremy kissing the back of my hand several times. We don't say much to each other. Instead, we giggle and brush each other's hands together accidentally.Mr. Davis is asleep in front of the tv when we get home. Jeremy puts a large comforter over his father. His glasses are still on his face. I slide them off, fold them down, and put them on a side table.Jeremy carries my duffle bag into the guest bedroom. So, this is my home now for a while. I'll have to buy more clothes for myself later. Glad I have money from tutoring all those grade school kids.I'm sure my mother will come to her senses and invite me home. A part of me hopes that's true. But I can't know fo
All the Feels Chapter 21: Red and Blue Lights
The cop cars pull up to Jeremy's house early in the morning. The lights bounce around the room in a spinning red and blue haze. The sirens instantly wake us both up. This isn't the way I imagined waking the morning after sex. Jeremy's arms are wrapped tightly around my waist. It's still nice to know he stayed beside me, despite the cops being outside.The doorbell rings, and the clock says that it's 6:40 in the morning—a knot forms in the pit of my stomach. I turn to Jeremy, who's as nervous as I am. We both know he's on probation for burning a church he didn't burn, creating a record that was never meant for him. The cops are the last thing he needs.The cops ring the doorbell again. Mr. Davis gets up from the couch and turns the television off."Hello, who is it," Mr. Davis asks as he puts the sweatshirt on? He zips up the zipper halfway up his chest."The police, can we come in?"Mr. Davis opens the door slowly. His eyes glow as they get b
All the Feels Chapter 22: Interrogation
Sweat and urine are the two smells stinking up the back of the police car. Sitting in other people's bodily fluids is enough to make me want to heave. Jeremy's hands are cuffed in the car. He stares out the window and watches the trees wave at him in the morning sun. It might be the last time Jeremy Davis sees the sun for a long time.Pretty soon, they will take Jeremy away and hide him forever. There's too much evidence that puts him at the crime scene. Even if I told them everything about Jeremy and where he was last night, I am not convinced they'd fully believe me.It's not fair that Kelly planted the cigarettes. I'm not sure when Kelly got a hold of Jeremy's knives. My guess is she snuck into the Davis' house and looked around for something. I'm not sure when she broke in. Did she do it months prior? How long was she watching Jeremy Davis? Maybe the knife isn't even his. It could all just be a big misunderstanding.The police car pulls into the station. Bef
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