Scout and Boys
Standard Disclaimer Apply
Author's Note: I just love Scout! And I'll also add some literature notes about the historical background in this fic. Stay tuned!
Setting: 1930s
Summary: multichapter Scout has begun to mature; her chaste beauty and remarkable common sense has made her a rose among the lilies. Boys are infatuated with her, some travelling from outside Maycomb came just to meet her. Scout is definitely ripe for the picking! But who would she choose? Chp 1 in Jem's P.O.V.
Jem
When we were little, that low-life scum, Bob Ewell, attacked us. I was glad that Scout, my little sister was still alive, although I wasn't in a very good shape. The undeserving man had broken my arm in two; my elbow snapped, literally.
After that incident, I wondered if Scout was traumatized by it; wondered if she felt fear of dying. Now, I'm even more worried about Scout's well being and mental health. I worry if she'll be able to take care of herself once I've gone to University. Not that I doubt her fighting abilities; in fact, her skills had improved with sly cunningness to boot.
So, I made sure her intellectual capabilities and intelligence caught up to those of a college graduate by dousing her on political events happening outside of Maycomb and cleverly spent my allowances on deep college books for her to read. I want her to be able to follow me to University around the same time as I do.
Frankly, I don't want to be seen hanging around my little sister too much, but these horrendous barbarians kept following Scout wherever she went, disrupting her peace, I'm not so concern about her peace, but who knows what they could have done if they one day decided that it's a good idea to work with each other and 'size her up'. Things would get nasty and she would be terribly outnumbered.
It's not as if they are out to get her; it is actually the opposite.
Scout had outgrown the rash of adolescent pimples and had now been recovering rather nicely. Those were her worst times, because she was teased unmercilessly from the boys and made fun of by the girls. I reckon both sexes were jealous. During her 'phase', as Atticus puts it, I wasn't around enough, because I had to travel quite a bit to attend College.
Scout barely cried, but when she did, I was outraged. I made a scene in her school by fighting with the bullies, and surprisingly, Scout was embarrassed by my actions. That hurt me, because I was only looking out for her.
Now, it was a different story.
Boys and girls flock over to our house so often (although most of them were seniors), I actually thought we were in a barnyard tending to our animals. Even Dill came over to Maycomb so often during the short and long holidays that Miss Rachel allowed him to go to school there; he threatened he'd run away again if she didn't agree to his proposition. You don't have to be a mad rocket scientist to figure out what's attracting all those bees to the honeycomb now, do you?
In my long absence (then I decided to board in College, because traveling so far was a waste of time and energy), Scout had begun to blossom. She was more self-conscious now than then and finally made a decision to let her hair grow (much to Aunt Alexandra's delight) Being her older sibling, the maturing of my sister's body had brought to my attention about the predatory glances Scout was receiving from the boys. Beasty, slimy, sneaky little brats.
Jem ticked off (as in making a mental list) half of Scout's male classmates that are infatuated with her, including Chuck Little, Walter Cunningham, Charles Baker Harris etc. There was this Cecil Jacobs though, but Jem didn't mind Cecil hanging around his little sister. In fact, Cecil has come to be a nice surprise in contrast to those ill-mannered adolescents (who apologised profusely for teasing her last year); he's very intelligent for his age, very polite and respectful, even defending Scout a couple of times.
"A different one everyday," I muttered sourly under my breath after recognizing who walked Scout home – my visiting college mate, Tim Johnson. By George! He shared the same name as that rabid dog Atticus shot a decade ago. I was suddenly overcome by hunter instincts, wanting to track my friend down and cuff him. I specifically told him "not to 'make a pass' on my sister."
But did he listen? Nooooo.
Calm down, Jeremy Atticus Finch. He's just talking to Scout.
Jem sighed. Being a brother is so stressful.
One thing Jem's certain is this: If any boy tries anything, Scout sure knows to kick where it hurts.
Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think. ;)