My Dawn

Chapter 18

Dawn started to walk away. Jessie held the ball again, looking at it and sighing. He looked at Dawn again.

“I’m sorry Dawn. I just don’t like seeing the guys around you. I know what you went through, I want to keep you away from horny guys and they all act like they want you.” Jessie said.

Dawn turned around. She raised her finger to point at him. Everyone watched closely.

“Who cares what they do to me, as long as they don’t hurt someone else. I would do anything to protect another child.” Dawn snapped.

Her voice was low but she was angry and close to crying.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t want you hurt. I was out of line.” Jessie said.

He was holding the basketball and looking down at it.

“Next time you have any bad ideas about me, ask me. Because it’s clear I trusted you, otherwise I wouldn’t have opened up the first day.” Dawn snapped.

“Why did you trust me?” Jessie asked.

“How couldn’t I trust you? You ran after me to mend my friendship with Laura. You begged for me to forgive her. You nearly had a damn heart attack running up the hill to catch up to me. You showed me you cared Jessie. And no one has gone to those lengths before to show me. So, I trust you. One more accusation out of your mouth and I will never talk to you again.” Dawn snapped.

“I’m sorry Dawn.” Jessie said.

“Don’t. Suck it up and be a man.” Dawn snapped.

She saw he was about to cry.

“I’m not a man. I’m only 13.” Jessie said.

“Then, be a bigger kid. Don’t act like me.” Dawn said.

“Act like you?” Jessie asked.

He noticed she was about to cry as well.

“Stop crying before I start.” Dawn said.

“Can I be forgiven?” Jessie asked.

“On one condition.” Dawn said.

“What’s that?” Jessie asked.

“You let me hit you for what you said.” Dawn said.

“I can live with that.” Jessie said.

“Wrong choice of words.” Dawn said.

Dawn smirked. Jessie got nervous. Dawn raised her fist and hit Jessie hard in his chest. Jessie groaned in pain as he fell back to it. Dawn stood over him with her arms on her hips.

“f**k that looked like she meant it.” Derek said.

“That looked painful.” Patrick said.

“That wasn’t even her using her anger. Look at her, she’s upset. So, he said something wrong.” Lucas said.

“Promise me you won’t assume s**t about me again.” Dawn said.

“I promise.” Jessie said.

Dawn helped Jessie up. She grabbed the ball and held it behind her.

“What are you doing?” Jessie asked.

“Firstly, you need to tone up. You jiggled when I hit you.” Dawn giggled.

“Noted.” Jessie said.

“And secondly, now you have to get the ball back.” Dawn said.

Dawn giggled as she bounced the ball behind her. She kept teasing Jessie with her having the ball in her hands. Jessie was trying to get the ball back.

“Ah I get it.” Lucas said.

“What?” Derek asked.

“He had said something to piss her off. When she’s angry she hits people before she forgives them. She did that to us when we made a joke a couple weeks ago. As soon as she forgives, she gets playful again.” Scott said.

“What do you mean?” Oscar asked.

“Trust us, don’t piss her off. She has a mean punch.” Lucas said.

They watched as Dawn kept dodging Jessie and bouncing the ball. Dawn was halfway down the court with Jessie running at her. She threw the ball and got it in the hoop. Jessie looked shocked. He went to look at Dawn but she was already at the ball bouncing it again.

“Damn, you’re quick.” Jessie said.

“They call me cunning and slick like a fox.” Dawn joked.

“So, Foxy should be your new nickname.” Jessie said.

“No, that sounds like a flirty nickname.” Dawn said.

Jessie ran towards Dawn but she grabbed the ball and ran. They ran further away and laughed as they ran away with the ball.

“She’s going to make him get the ball. She’ll wait until he’s tired then let him get it so he thinks he won.” Lucas said.

“What makes you say that?” Patrick asked.

“Just watch, she is going to see he’s exhausted soon.” Scott said.

They watched from under the gazebo as Dawn ran with Jessie behind her. They were nearing a small hill and Dawn stopped to look at Jessie looking exhausted. She threw the ball up and down pretending to tease him.

“She’s at the teasing part while he catches up.” Lucas said.

Jessie stopped a second, Dawn giggled and stepped closer.

“Don’t you want the ball, Jelly?” Dawn asked.

“Jelly?” Jessie asked.

“Because you have a chest jiggly like jelly and because you were jealous of the boys.” Dawn said.

She giggled then smirked. Jessie realised she was trying to egg him on. He stood up and took a few steps back. Dawn’s expression dropped. She looked like she was thinking that she hurt his feelings. Dawn took larger steps towards him.

“Oh s**t, he caught on to her plan. He’s changing it.” Lucas said.

“That’s it, give us guys a point for once.” Scott said.

Lucas and Scott were nudging each other playfully. Patrick and the others watched. Dawn extended her hand to hand the ball. Jessie shook his head.