When Jill snuck over to my room that night, it was the first time I told her of my constant nightmares. I know it was just a dream, but what if…what if they are future “events” of my life.
I get out of bed and yawn. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, as I made my way to the bathroom to relief myself and shower.
As I stand in the shower, I sighed. Today is yet another day where Collin will torment me and boast about french kissing Jill. But despite him boasting about kissing her, he hasn’t physically tormented me.
So I tell myself that it was a good thing, but it’s really not. I don’t like the idea of Jill using her body to make him stop bullying me.
I just can’t stand how he keeps goading about “getting her good and ready” for him.
I told Jill this and she brushes it off.
“He can keep dreaming,” she told me at lunch, “because hell will freeze over before THAT happens.”
She then kisses my cheek and grips my thigh tenderly.
“You are the only guy I want to have sex with,” she whispered in my ear, “so don’t pay attention to what that asshole says okay?”
I nod my head as we ate next to each other.
Ignore him she said.
How can I ignore what he said about her? As her boyfriend, I shouldn’t allow him to disrespect her like that. Not at all.
Maybe I’ll confront him after school lets put. Finally stand up to him.
At least that was what I thought.
As school ended and everyone walked to their lockers, I boldly walked up to Collin as he was chatting up a cheerleader.
“Collin we need to talk,” I said loudly.
He turns to acknowledge me. Some kids stopped to listen.
“Well look at you.” he lets out a chuckle. “Acting all tough now? Fine.”
I clench and unclench my fists. I feel so nervous. My heart was pounding in my chest. I swallow hard.
“I know what this is about Jack,” he said, “and frankly I don’t care in the slightest.”
“I’m tired of your shit!” I said loudly, “Tired of you always fucking picking on me. Tired of your total disrespect towards Jill!”
“Is that all?” he said, “Because I got better things to do than listen to your bitching.”
The cheerleader next to him giggles.
“Leave Jill alone!” I said through gritted teeth.
“Not going to happen,” he said, “I meant what I said. I will milk that slut for all she’s worth before claiming her as my trophy.”
The next felt like it was happening in slow motion. I balled up my fist and punched him right in the jaw. He then smiles widely and picked me up by my shirt.
“You must really like me don’t you?” he snarled, “Oh this is going to feel so fucking good!”
He then threw me against a row of lockers. People were crowding around us, as he pulled me to the ground and began pummeling me. I try my best to block every blow, but it didn’t help.
“You reap what you sow!” I told myself.
Still doesn’t make it right.
“You struck first,” the voice continued, “it wasn’t even a solid punch. Pathetic.”
Because I’m weak. I’ll always be weak.
I felt hot tears run down my face as Collin continued punching me.
“Are you fucking crying?” laughed a voice to my left, “Wow what a fucking pussy!”
“What a fucking loser!” said another.
I began to lose consciousness afterwards. When I came to, I was in the nurse’s office. Mom was at her desk writing something and Jill was sitting in the far corner. I groan and try to sit up. I end up coughing. Everything hurts. Mom pivets in her seat and rushes to me, same as Jill.
Both looked on the verge of tears and yet also…angry?
“Do you know what you just did?!” asked mom in a stern voice.
“Mom I-” I began to say.
“DO YOU?!” she repeated.
She then sighed.
“I don’t even know what to say to you right now,” her voice cracked, “I’m…so…so disappointed in you Jack!”
She then gets up to leave the room.
I look at Jill now. Her face was a mess. Angry tears run down her face.
“Why didn’t you listen to me?” she asked.
“Jill-” I started to say.
“WHY?” she said hitting her fist against the cot, “WHY DIDN’T YOU LISTEN TO ME!?”
“He was badmouthing you!” I said, “Saying such disgusting stuff about you!”
“I DON’T FUCKING CARE WHAT COLLIN THINKS ABOUT ME!” she yelled, “HE’S JUST AN ASSHOLE.”
She sobs loudly.
“Why don’t you trust me?” she said, “Do you hate me or something? Was this because I kissed him?”
She doesn’t know about the video that Collin sent me.
“No never!” I said, “I can never hate you!”
“Then why didn’t you listen to me?” she said looking at me with red eyes.
“I..I was just trying to stand up to him!” I said getting upset now.
“Calm down!” a voice in my head said.
No fuck that! I will tell her.
“I’m tired of having you always having to stand up for me.” I said, “I should be the one doing that for you!”
“The reason I know about the kiss,” I continued, “was because Collin sent me a video of it.”
I fish my phone out of my front pocket and hand it to her. Jill opens up my text messages.
“What message?” she asked angrily tossing my phone back at me, “There’s nothing there!”
I look at my text messages and sure enough, it was gone. Same as the video.
“No fucking way!” I said, “It was right there as clear as day. He sent me the video of him french kissing you!”
“That still doesn’t excuse you hitting him and saying those nasty things about his mom!” Jill said countering my yelling.
She then gets up.
“You’re lucky Collin isn’t going to press charges against you!” Jill said.
She then sighs.
“Now I need to go talk to him AGAIN,” she spat at me, “and smooth things over.”
“Jill please-” I said.
“I’m through talking,” she said, “I need some air..”
She then slams the door behind her. Mom came back in a few minutes later. She looked pissed now.
“Mom-” I began.
“DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!” she said coldly.
I sigh and cradle my aching head in my hands.
“You are so fucking lucky he decided to not press charges against you Jack,” mom said.
“He’s the one who started it!” I said
She slaps my face.
“Don’t you dare raise your voice to me!” she said.
“Jill’s talking to him right now Jack,” she continued, “trying to smooth things over.”
“He was badmouthing her!” I whinned, “I had to protect her dignity.”
“Who cares if he was!” she said.
“You could’ve gotten seriously hurt if a teacher didn’t pull him off you!” she continued.
Jill came in a second later followed by Collin who appeared to be upset.
“Tell her what you told me,” Jill said.
“He came up accusing me of trying to steal his girlfriend,” Collin said.
“Accusing you?” mom asked sheepishly.
Collin nodded his head.
“Then started saying such awful stuff about my mom after that,” he added.
“Your mom?” mom said.
“She died a few years ago.” he continued, “My dad remarried two years ago.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” mom said softly.
“It’s fine,” Collin said.
“If I may ask,” mom said softly, “what sort of things did Jack say about your mom?”
“That she was a slut and a bitch,” Collin said.
Mom sighed heavily and rubbed her temples.
“I’m so sorry my son said that about your mom Collin,” mom said, “I never raised him to be like that.”
Mom then cleared her throat and turned to face me.