The Things I Love About You

The Weekend

He has been running away for a long time and now it was time to face reality. He was already here and there was no going back. This was the life he was bond to live, he wanted to live his life.

Jay sighed and removed his glasses, he fold the arms and kept it on the bedside table. The room shone dimly as the moonbeam came in through the window. He looked around and stood up from the bed. He wished he could stop thinking and have a good sleep. His roommate, a twelve year old boy, Gage was sleeping peacefully. He walked quietly to the window and shift open the curtains. The window was open and he felt the chill breeze on his skin. This was his life and he couldn't run away. He has to stay and fight his battle.

Jay sat by the window ledge and looked down at the moonlit garden. It was a warm beautiful scenery. He didn't know what to feel about going to a new either disappointment nor happiness.

He has been expelled from his old school for something he did, a rebellious stuff. He hasn't forgotten the hard life he has lived for the past fifteen years.

Living in the streets and struggling to survive in the midst of those bully. He has been a courageous fighter but now he didn't fight. He has to change and forget the past. He has to let go of those memories hurting him, he has been in pain from the first day he realized the truth.

He hate her, he hate her for letting him go. He hate her for abandoning him when he needed her most. He hate to even think about her and he hate her for creating all his problems and troubles. He hate her and all of them.

Jay grimaced as he felt a thick lump on his throat and swallowed. Maybe Farrah was right, you don't run away from your troubles. You stand and fight them and Jay had been a fighter. He closed his eyes and will himself to stop thinking about his past. His past were his secret and he was a loner in this journey of life.

Jay got up from the window ledge and button the shirt of his pajamas properly. He got the window closed and drop the curtains before going back to bed for the night.

********************

Ruby was wearing a crop tank top and grey joggers with her sneakers. She has her hair braided in two side cornrows which made her face radiate with beauty. It was the weekend, a Saturday and Ruby went to the sport center to play basketball.

The sport center wasn't far from her house in the estate. When Ruby got there she meant Erika waiting and the game was about starting.

"Hi Ruby, you are on time, the game is almost starting". Erika said as she hugged Ruby, Ruby hugged her too. She looked around and saw others getting ready for the game. Every weekend, young girls in the living in the estate come to the sport center. The sport center has everything a person would like and enjoy good sport facilities. Now, the basketball court was getting crowded with other people. People that has come to watch the game with interest.

"Are we for the blues?" Ruby asked, entangling herself from the hug.

"Yes, we are for the blues", Erika answered.

"Then I'm ready for this game". Ruby beamed and caught the ball thrown at her from a ground of girls. The girls waved hands at her and Ruby did the same. She passed the ball to a teammate.

"We are meeting Ava for lunch at the cafe", Ruby told Erika.

"Yeah,i remember", Erika nodded and the whistle sounded for the game to start.

The game was really interesting for Ruby and Erika as the blues won and the game came to an end. Anyways, it's a friendly match so nobody has bad feelings.

"Ava must really be waiting in the cafe". Ruby said as they walked out of the sport center and into the street.

"Yeah, just got a text from her. It says, freaking idiots! where are you girls? I've waiting". Erika read the text and smiled.

"She will kill us", Ruby said laughingly.

"That's the typical Ava", Erika chuckled and Ruby shook her head. Her braided copper hair hang down her shoulders.

As if in a blur, Ruby fell and hit the ground with her head, she groan in pain. A bicycle has ran into her as the young boy try manoeuvring it along the road. The boy bicycle has fallen to the ground. Ruby held her head and groan again. Erika ran to her and help her up on her feet.

"Are you OK? s**t! You are injured by the head". Erika scrutinized Ruby head with her eyes. Ruby slowly opened her eyes and squinted.

The boy ridding the bicycle also stood up and looked at Ruby. He was very young, maybe ten or eleven.

"Hey, couldn't you see? How could you got her injured". Erika yelled at the boy.

"I'm not at fault, she should have watched it".The boy replied.

"How dare you?!" Erika was getting mad with anger. The boy was such and ingrate and he wasn't even injured. Can you believe?

"How dare you too, why do you want me to apologize?" The boy looked directly into Erika eyes. Erika ice blue eyes narrowed as she walked closer to the boy.

"You are such a worthless dunderhead". Erika said and went closer. The boy was only few steps away and stood still watching her closely.

Ruby hurriedly held Erika arm to stop a fight, it was of no use as the boy was young.

"Rikki, let it go. Remember we have to meet Ava". Ruby said.

"I would love to punch his dirty face", Erika muttered and turned around. She held Ruby by the shoulder and blood drip down from the wound.

"You are bleeding", Erika said anxiously.

"I'll get it cleaned with a tissue". Ruby said in assurance and took Erika head. She pulled her friend away but Erika kept her glance on the boy.

Outside the cafe, Ruby got a tissue and wipe the blood. They went inside to see Ava sitting at a table and scrolling through her phone. She looked up as they entered and a smile appear on her face. Ruby and Erika got to the table and sat down.

"You guys owe me one, how can you keep me waiting so long?" Ava complained. She looked beautiful with her black bobbed hair in a bun and her bangs covered her forehead with long, thick eyelashes and chocolate eyes. Ava is an itch taller than Erika.

"It was the game, we won". Ruby respond. She could see Erika still seething with anger.

"You blues are always the best". Ava said as she read the menu and passed it to Ruby.

"That's what we are known for", Ruby beamed a smile as she scanned the list of food with her eyes.

"I want to eat something sweet and cold, maybe a banana split and lemon cup cake would do with caramel macchiato iced chocolate milkshake?"

"How can you eat so much food and still be trim?" Ava joked as she beckoned on the waiter.

"Don't forget I always keep fit". Ruby said and Erika looked up from the menu disinterested.

"Maybe I will just have a vanilla bean gelato and crabcakes". Erika said and the waiter reached their table to get their order.

"Ruby! There's is blood dripping down your forehead". Ava said, her voice alarmed.

"It's okay, just a simple injury". Ruby said. She drop her phone on the table and reached for the roll of tissue.

"Are you serious?" Ava asked.

"It was an accident on the way here". Erika said and Ruby got up with tissue in hand.

"Don't worry, i'll be right back". Ruby assured them.

Ruby went outside and wipe the blood. She throw away the tissue in a trash bag. She went back to meet her friends.

"Are you OK?" Ava asked and Ruby nodded sitting down.

"Yep, it has stopped bleeding". Ruby told them and reach for her food.

"You need a first aid", Ava was still worried.

"I'll do that when I get home, Ava and Erika can we please enjoy this lunch and don't worry about me. We have foods to dig in, I'm starving". Ruby said and served herself a spoon of the banana split. It was exactly the way she wanted it, Ritzy Cafe was the best.

"Here comes the glutton". Erika said and began eating. She has long wavy brown hair and ice blue almond shaped eyes.

All three friends were beautiful and they enjoy the lunch together, talking and laughing.

**************

Jay drop his feets down on the ground as he stop pedaling. He has gone out for a ride that evening to clear his head. He stable his bike and went inside removing his helmet and enter the living room.

His foster brothers were in the sitting room, there were six and including him, seven. Mr and Mrs Peyton were a childless couple and dedicated their life to helping babies and orphans.

Mrs Farrah was the founder and CEO of the Peyton Charity Home. She was a nice, kind hearted and good nature person. Her husband, Mr Berwin was a rich philanthropist and he has saved several children over the years and orphans from the streets.

Jay was really grateful to The Peyton for their support but yet felt he didn't need it.

"Hey, are you done visiting your girlfriend?" Kent asked, he was the same age as Jay but more lanky in body structure.

"Do you have a girlfriend? Or are you a gay?" Amery asked, he has a wicked smile on his face. He was a year younger than Jay.

"Ams, four eyes boys don't date", Brian said swigging beer from the can.

Jay wonder if Farrah knew Brian was taking alcohol despite all her warning. He didn't listen to the boys and went towards the kitchen. He needed a drink and rest.

"Four eyes, where are you going to?" Kent called sharply and Amery chuckled. They were having a great time calling him the nickname.

Jay wasn't concerned about what they say to him or what they called him. Brian has given him the nickname "Four eyes" since the first day he has come into the Peyton house. He and Brian hardly talked, Brian was like most of the bully in the streets.

Jay walked to the kitchen, open the refrigerator and got himself a can of cream soda. He went out of the kitchen and back to the sitting room and saw Logan and Earl fighting for the video game controller. Amery and Kent were watching a movie and whispering among themselves.

As Jay turn to go away, he heard Brian voice mocking and taunting him.

"Jason, will you join me to drink beer?" Brian asked mockingly as he raised his hand with the can of bear towards Jay. Jay ignored him and went away to his favorite spot, that was the rooftop.

He loved the air on the rooftop. Jay sat down cross legged and enjoy the taste of his favorite soda. He looked at the houses he could see, the beautiful neighborhood and streets alive with people. He could see Park Avenue that wasn't far away and Jay could feel the air. The beautiful air that brighten his dull life. This was Manhattan were his story began fifteen years ago.