Chapter 3
1585 Words
"Hey, Jer!"I smiled as I sat beside the anti-social bad boy.
We had been sitting together for the past few days and even though he mostly read, I enjoyed his company. I think it was just because I wasn't alone. Even if the only time he talked was when he wanted to insult me. I think he enjoyed my company too, that was the only explanation for him sitting here day after day.
He nodded his head in acknowledgment and continued to read. I had forgotten to get money for lunch today but since my Dad had taken me out for breakfast this morning, I didn’t really mind, I was still pretty full. We were celebrating his promotion at work. After my mom had died when I was thirteen, money had been short but it looked like things were looking up for us.
Since I had no luck and the guys weren't playing on the field I had nothing to occupy myself with.
"Hey, Jer?"I turned to him.
He didn't react so I continued."What's your favorite color?"I asked.
"I don't have one."
"What? You have to have one! Everyone has one color they prefer."
"Can't you just leave me alone?"He groaned.
"After you tell me your favorite color!"I said crossing my arms.
"Black, it's black okay!"
"Like your soul, "I whispered. I think he heard me cause he rolled his eyes.
"Now can I get back to my book?" he asked.
"You know most bad boys don't spend their time reading. They wear leather jackets, ride motorcycles and get drunk off weed."I pointed out.
He laughed loudly. My eyebrows furrowed. I didn't get what was so funny. It was really weird seeing him laugh....but kinda cute, okay really cute. His eyes crinkled at the sides and his white teeth were fully on display as he brushed his beautiful hair out of his face.
"What?"I asked.
"You said drunk off weed!"
"Yeah, I know."I frowned.
His face dropped. "Wait so you meant it?" he asked.
I nodded and he burst out laughing again.
"And." he heaved."I'm guessing bad boys also get high off alcohol?" he asked.
I smiled. Now he was getting me. "Yes! Exactly!"I nodded.
He heaved again. "Stop! Just stop! You're killing me!" he breathed out.
I crossed my arms. As nice as it was seeing him smile, he was starting to piss me off- excuse my language. Darn it! He was making me swear too!
After a while, he got up and wiped his eyes. "You are too funny." he sighed and shook his head.
"Okay?"
He chuckled again and picked up his book. "Who told you I was "bad boy" anyway?"
I shrugged. "I'm pretty sure Simran calls you her little bad boy."
"He groaned. "That girl has a serious problem.
***
Ever since that interaction with Simran she had been extra mean to me. I made sure to never be alone with her and her friends. Sometimes they could be really brutal.
But today just wasn't my day because as I sat in Lit waiting for the class to begin; Simran and her friends walked in and once she spotted me she smirked.
"Just the w***e I was looking for." she stalked over. "So now you feel special don't you?"
"What?"I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "You feel special because Jeremiah Summers sits with you at lunch," she said glaring at me.
I stayed silent not wanting to provoke her anymore. She scoffed. "Well, I hope you don't think he actually likes you. He's only taking pity on you cos no one else likes you. He's only trying to be nice. I mean I watch you guys sometimes."
Okay, cos that's not creepy.
"And it seems like you annoy the crap out of him. So once he's had enough, he'll leave you. Just like everybody. Ian left you, your "friends" left you." she smirked deviously. "And so did your mom."
I sucked in a breath.
"Ms. Bakshi!" Mr.Turner had heard the whole exchange and was standing at the door, with some students, Jeremiah included. "I told you one more altercation and you're going to the principal's office, so go. Now." He said in a deadly voice.
Her smug composure faltered and she sighed, walking out of the class. Mr.Turner walked further into the room clearing his throat.
"Everyone to your seats, now. And Aurora you can leave the class for a few minutes if you need to."
I walked out of the class in a daze and started down the hall.
"Hey! Av-Am-what was it? Um...Princess?"
I snapped out of my state at the sound of his voice. "W-what are you doing out of class?"I asked in a shaky voice.
"Mr.Turner said that someone should go out and make sure you're okay and I offered."
I gave him a weak smile. "Thanks."
He shrugged. We started down the hall together. "Wanna talk about it?" he asked scratching the back of his uncomfortably. It was obvious he didn't often do things like this. I was just happy he was trying for me.
"I-we."I sighed."What she said was wrong. They, they didn't leave me, not by choice anyway....well maybe my friends did but not mom and Ian."
"Ian?" he asked.
"Yeah he was my best friends when we were kids, he moved away but it wasn't his choice."
"And mom, sh-she......It wasn't her choice to leave me. She wouldn't leave me."
"I know, I know." He grabbed my arm to stop me from walking and pulled me into a hesitant hug. I clutched on to him and cried a little. I hated this feeling. I hated being sad. I was always happy and cheerful and that's how I liked. It just seems like these past weeks I hadn't been acting as happy I usually did.
"Don't listen to her okay?" he said softly. I nodded and wiped my eyes.
I pulled out of his hold and looked at his shirt. "I'm sorry for getting your shirt wet," I told him.
He chuckled. "It's fine."
"Jer?"I said quietly.
"Hmmm?" he asked.
"My names Aurora."I smiled. He smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head again.
"Sorry, I forgot your name."
I chuckled. "No problem."
After roaming the halls for a bit in silence we walked back to class. It was obvious I had been crying and as I walked to my seat, I felt many eyes on me.
I sighed as I slumped into my seat. I think just for the rest of this day, I wasn't going to be happy Aurora.
After that class, I decided to go home sick and just rest.
When I got home I grabbed a tub of ice cream and watched some CSI on Netflix. A perfect evening.
***
I woke up with a start and looked around to see that my dad had closed my laptop and taken my ice cream. If he hadn't then I don't know who would have.
I was happy today was a Friday so that I could finally sleep in this weekend.
I took a shower and brushed my teeth before changing into a green sundress. I walked downstairs to see my dad cooking eggs.
"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?" he asked concerned.
I had told him I felt sick yesterday so I could sign out of school. "Yeah, just cramps,"I muttered sitting down.
"Ah." he nodded in understanding. "Do you need some Advil? Do you need me to buy you pads?" he asked.
I chuckled. "No Dad, I'm fine now." Most girls felt awkward talking to their Dad about their period but I didn't. My mom wasn't around when I had my first one so it had been my Dad buying me pads and enduring my mood swings ever since. It was just part of life and there wasn't really anything awkward about it, according to my Dad.
"Okay. Eggs?" he asked.
I nodded and licked my lips. He gave me a large amount of them since he knew I loved them.
After that, I walked to school thinking about yesterday. I wasn't upset anymore and now realized how silly I was being. I shouldn't have let Simran get to me.
I just hoped she got punished yesterday. I know that isn’t very nice to say but she deserves it.
I caught a glimpse of Simran as I walked into Chemistry. She seemed the same as yesterday, I thought as she chatted with her friends. There were no signs that she had gotten a massive punishment.
I took my seat in the third row and brought out my books, ready for the lesson.
"Don't think this is over tramp, because of you I have a month of detention and your gonna pay for it."I looked up as Simran rested her hands on my table.
I said nothing to her and looked down. My parents always said not to entertain bully's, if I ignored her soon enough she'd leave me alone...but I'd been doing that since kindergarten and she was still at it.
What annoys me though is the fact that no one does anything about it. They just watch or ignore it. I don't know what I ever did to these people. I had been nice and friendly yet everyone had neglected me. No offence to Jer but he wasn't very approachable, but me? I was the most approachable person in our grade, school maybe!
"Simran, to your seat, "Ms. Erickson called and class began.
- Writer
