Hello Nerdians, and welcome to Collision Course, the promised Merome! I am sorry for lack of updates, but I sprained my wrist and I haven't been able to type without experiencing pain for a while. And I've been suffering writers block. But here it is, promised and arrived and actually on time! This is the first story I've written that's entirely done not from direct point of view, so it's in... third person? I've forgotten the term. Tell me if you know.
Please enjoy the first chapter!
Edit 29/04/2014: I am deleting all the chapters and re-uploading the edited versions. Sorry it anything goes wrong ^_^
Edit 02/11/2014: Alrightly, hey guys. These are the new, hopefully well-edited chapters post-competition. There is some changed dialogue, some removed scenes and maybe two tiny new scenes, but that's it. Hope you enjoy :)
DISCLAIMER: This work is the original property of the author, NerdcraftMC, and remains solely the property of the author and may not be copied or reproduced in any way, shape or form without the expressed consent of the author. If a copy in part or whole is found a report will be made to the administrators of this site and legal action will be taken.
CHAPTER ONE
Jerome Aceti had lived next door to Mitchell Hughes for most of his life. Yet, all Jerome really knew about the boy was that he was constantly getting into trouble. Jerome had heard a lot about him although he'd never spoken to him and he'd learnt a lot of… choice words that had been used in relation to the boy himself. Despite going to the same school as him for all his life, seeing him every day and even living in such close proximity to him, Jerome had never spoken a word to Mitchell, until the night Jerome decided to go to a party with his friend Zak.
Jerome held the bowl of dip to his chest nervously and looked over at Zak. This was his first party in a few years. Technically, his first party ever, unless you counted the one he went to when he was ten.
"What do we expect from parties like this?" Jerome asked, and Zak frowned.
"Um… unsafe sex and beer, if the movies are right," he replied, and Zak laughed when Jerome paled a few shades.
"Don't sweat it. It's just a couple guys and girls hanging out with your dip," Zak said, patting Jerome's shoulder as Jerome looked down at his dip uncertainly.
"Okay. I hope they like the dip," Jerome said, and Zak smiled.
"Everyone loves the dip," he said, and then he pressed the doorbell. A long, loud trilling sounded and Jerome looked at Zak, raising his eyebrow.
"Wow. Over dramatic much," Jerome said lightly, trying to ignore the nerves in his stomach. The door was suddenly flung open by a girl. She grinned widely.
"Zak! You're here!" she said happily, grabbing his hand and yanking him in. Jerome followed Zak in nervously. After squeezing Zak in a bear hug she turned and smiled at Jerome. Jerome took her in quickly: glasses, long streaked hair, jeans and a shirt that had a picture of a phone box on it that looked vaguely familiar.
"Hi! Nice to see Zak brought a friend!" she said happily, walking up to Jerome and throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly.
"Caitlyn! You're going to suffocate Jerome!" Zak laughed, pulling the girl off of the gasping Jerome.
"Sorry!" she laughed. Jerome smiled weakly and set his bowl of dip down on the side table.
"It's fine. You hug really tight," Jerome said. She smiled and pushed some of her hair out of her eyes.
"I may or may not have started a drink or two before the party started," she confessed, red staining her cheeks. "Pre-Party nerves. I was afraid no one would show up." Zak patted her shoulder affectionately.
"As long as I come, it'll be a great party," he joked. Caitlyn rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away.
"Shut up," she laughed. She gestured through an open door with a smile. "Come on in, a few people have arrived already."
"Is Preston here?" Zak asked eagerly. Caitlyn blushed furiously and Zak laughed, delighted, clapping his hands.
"Awesome! I cannot wait for you to get drunk enough for spin the bottle!" he said gleefully. Still blushing, Caitlyn shoved him in the back.
"Not a word," she hissed, pushing him into the room. Jerome stared after them uncertainly, and then picked up his bowl of beloved dip and followed Zak and Caitlyn. Looking around, Jerome saw he was in a spacious room with a large, ornate fireplace with a wide-screen TV above it. An amazing sound system, plush black couches, dark wood floorboards and old-fashioned wall paper. It looked like something out of a movie, bar the streamers hanging around and the trestle table in the far end of the room by a large bay window. The table was covered with delicious finger foods and had bottles of coke and other refreshments, along with still-stacked paper cups. A cooler beneath the table boasted beer of all kinds. Jerome was, in a word, impressed. Everyone here with either seventeen or sixteen, yet they had acquired enough beer to last them multiple days. All it was missing was the unsafe sex Zak had mentioned. Jerome saw Zak by the stereo, arguing with Caitlyn over what to play next. From what Jerome could hear, it was a battle between Good Charlotte and Owl City. There were multiple people scattered across the room, many holding cups. It was only seven o'clock, and more people were arriving by the second and diving for the beer. Something in Jerome's stomach told him the coke would be neglected tonight.
Eventually, Caitlyn prevailed in the argument and soon Like its Her Birthday was blaring from the stereo.
"I let you win," Zak muttered.
"Please!" Caitlyn scoffed. "I owned that!" Zak stuck his tongue out at her and Caitlyn copied.
"I need to get more chips," Caitlyn said. Zak nodded and disappeared into the growing crowd, most likely to find the friend he'd brought. Jerome. Caitlyn walked quickly into the kitchen though the adjoining door and grabbed a packet swiftly, opening it with a tug and dumping it in a black, green-spotted bowl. Caitlyn tossed the empty packet beside the microwave and walked out, manoeuvring her way through the crowd to the table. Depositing the bowl gently, Caitlyn turned and looked at the growing group, putting her hands on her hips. She smiled. It was quite the crowd, ranging from nerds, jocks, all those stereotypical people from school. Funnily enough, Caitlyn didn't know which group Jerome belonged to. He was quiet, and quite frankly Caitlyn hadn't known he'd existed before he showed up on her doorstep with Zak. But Zak was always picking up people at random and befriending them. Sometimes they were scary people. Caitlyn reached behind her and picked up a chip, popping it in her mouth and savouring it. The track had switched to Fire in the Hole by Pegboard Nerds. People were beginning to dance, which was good. It wasn't a party without people dancing. A familiar looking face jumped out from the crowd and bumped into the table, letting it shake for a moment. Caitlyn stared and then remembered to close her mouth.
"Oh, hey," Preston said, smiling. His eyes glittered in the low light, making Caitlyn's knees feel a bit weak.
"Hey," Caitlyn stammered, cheeks going red for the third time that night.
"Nice party you've got going here," Preston commented, raising his cup up to her and then knocking it back.
"Thanks," Caitlyn said, bowing her head forward slightly and tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Oh shit! What if that came off like I'm flirting? Caitlyn's cheeks grew hotter and Preston frowned.
"Hey, you feeling alright? Your face has gone really red," he said, puzzled. Caitlyn opened and closed her mouth over and over.
"I'm fine," she managed. "It's just a bit hot in here." She waved her hand in front of her face, trying to mask her embarrassments. Preston nodded sympathetically, a glint of humour in his eyes.
"Yeah, I guess it is," he replied. Caitlyn tried to play it off cool and reached for a chip, nearly knocking a bottle of coke over. Preston reached over quickly and righted it, flashing a smile in her direction. She would've collapsed then and there if the table hadn't held her up. Caitlyn put the chip in her mouth, chewing slowly. Preston grabbed a chip too and smiled.
"Good choice," he said as the track switched over.
"In music or food?" Caitlyn said, smiling slightly. God, woman! If you smile like that he'll think you're trying to pick up him up! The smile disappeared quickly, and Caitlyn bit her lip. Great, now I'll look like Kristen Stewart.
"Both. This is Summer Ashes, right?" Preston said. Caitlyn didn't hide her surprise.
"Yeah. By Kevin Drew and Taryn Manning, remixed by Culture Code," Caitlyn said, happy someone else knew the song.
"It was my ringtone for a while," Preston confessed. Caitlyn smiled and laughed.
"Same!" she said, delighted. A hand closed around her arm suddenly and Caitlyn jumped. Preston raised an eyebrow as Caitlyn turned and found herself face to face with her friend Sydney. Sydney was pale and was continuously pushing her bright orange hair behind her ear, a never ending cycle.
"What's up?" Caitlyn asked, irritated Sydney had interrupted her bonding moment with the cutest boy in the grade.
"Mitchell fricking Hughes!" Sydney whispered furiously. "He just showed up with Mat!" Caitlyn paled and her hand tightened, crushing the chip in her hand to multiple tiny pieces. They stabbed into her palm painfully.
"Mitchell Hughes? As in the Mitchell Hughes?" Caitlyn breathed.
"Who else, dumbass?" Sydney hissed.
"He's that kid, isn't he?" Preston said, his brow furrowed. Both girls jumped; surprised he'd been listening in.
"If by that kid you mean the Mitchell Hughes with a criminal record a mile long, then yeah!" Sydney snapped. Caitlyn was torn between fear Mitchell would bash someone's head in and annoyance that Sydney was being overdramatic.
"What's he doing here?" Preston asked.
"I'll ask him," Caitlyn said, trying to sound brave and not like she'd probably shit herself as soon as he looked at her. Or spontaneously combust.
"What? Do you want to die?" Sydney yelled. Then suddenly the chatter ceased and everyone froze, eyes swivelling as one to the two open doors that marked the entrance to the living room. It was silent, except for the sudden beat drop from Summer Ashes. Mitchell Hughes stood in the doorway with his friend Mat. Both of them looked like they belonged in some gang movie. Mitchell stood in dark, black jeans, a black-and-red checked hoodie and Caitlyn nearly died when she saw what looked like a bloodstain on the toe of his shoes. Mat stood beside him, wearing a black t-shirt and similar jeans.
"What are you doing here?" Caitlyn asked. Someone wisely turned the music down, and Caitlyn thought through every movie she'd ever watched. Bad boy arrives. Music cuts off. Host charges forward and demands to know why bad boy and sidekick or gang is at party. Fight breaks out. People get grounded. One unlucky kid is hospitalized. Gulping and fighting down increasing fear, Caitlyn watched Mitchell raise an eyebrow, a low dangerous fire burning in his eyes.
"It's a party, isn't it?" Mitchell asked, spreading his arms out. "I'm just here to have fun."
"You weren't invited," Caitlyn whispered, losing her voice half-way through. Mitchell glared daggers at her and Caitlyn worried her head would explode.
"I heard it was an open invitation," he replied, smirking. His idiot friend Mat grinned devilishly. Caitlyn took a deep breath and used the chip fragments to bring her back from the painful death she was imagining.
"Well, the rules just changed," she answered, her voice steely and cold. "Everyone is allowed to come except you and your little friend."
"I'm hurt," Mitchell growled. He took a step forward and suddenly Caitlyn found herself staring up at him. He towered over her by at least twenty centimetres. It was terrifying.
"You're going to let us into this party, and we're all going to have fun and get along," Mitch said, voice low.
"Leave her alone," Sydney said, grabbing Caitlyn's hand and pulling her back away from him.
"I will smash your head in," Mitch growled.
"Screw you!" Sydney spat.
"To afraid to swear, little lady?" Mitch said.
"I've got my boundaries, bitch. I know way more curses than you'll ever know, and in three different languages. I'll take you on any time," Sydney replied, sounding smug. Mitch glared at her and Caitlyn felt her hands shaking as she pulled her back further to the table. The room was silent.
"I take it we're not welcome," Mitch said, straightening up. He looked at Mat and Mat licked his lips. Caitlyn shivered.
"We'll see you wads at school," Mat said, voice loud. The pair turned and Caitlyn noticed Jerome press up against the wall to let them pass. Jerome must've looked at them wrong because Mitch grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall, almost casual.
"Don't you look at us that way, you little bitch," Mitch growled. Jerome nodded frantically and Mitch released him. Jerome slid down the wall five centimetres and then his feet touched the floor. The front door slammed and the room was quiet. Caitlyn looked over her shoulder at Sydney and Preston, swallowing thickly.
"Alright, everyone!" Caitlyn yelled, clapping her hands weakly. "You can go back to doing whatever you were doing before!" everyone was cautious, but someone turned the music back on and some people started to talk again, picking up previously abandoned conversations.
"Selection by The Noisy Freaks," Preston murmured.
"Yep," Caitlyn replied, popping the "p". Sydney let out a sudden sigh of relief.
"I so thought I was going to get murdered," she said.
"Three different languages?" Caitlyn asked, raising an eyebrow. Sydney shrugged and stuck up both middle fingers.
"Chuparme la polla," she said, before turning and walking away.
"I took Spanish too, you know!" Caitlyn called after to her. She heard a rude retort and rolled her eyes. Preston looked confused.
"What did she say?" Preston asked. Caitlyn walked past him and pat his shoulder, suddenly feeling no embarrassment. She'd stood down Mitchell Hughes in a way: that was the equivalent of killing a lion in the Jungle.
"You don't want to know," Caitlyn replied, picking up a cup and then grabbing a bottle of Coors. With a shrug, she tossed away the cup and uncapped the bottle, chugging it back and then wiping her mouth on her arm as Sydney made her way back with her cup.
"Should you really drink all of that?" Preston asked, concerned. Caitlyn shrugged.
"My party just turned to shit. I deserve it."
Jerome was terrified. Zak had rushed over to him as soon as Mitchell and Mat were gone to make sure he was alright.
"Dude! Oh my god!" Zak yelled. "Are you alright?"
"I feel as though my spleen was ripped out and stomped on," Jerome wheezed, leaning forward and resting his hands on his knees.
"That means you're still alive!" Zak said, slapping him on the back and nearly sending the unbalanced Jerome toppling.
"He had so much rage in his eyes," Jerome whispered to the floor, feeling bad for the boy.
"What?" Zak asked, confused.
"Nothing," Jerome answered as he righted himself. "Just making sure my brain isn't slush." Zak nodded, and then dragged him over to the table, where a girl with bright auburn hair and pale skin stood beside Caitlyn and a boy Jerome recognised as Preston. He was pretty popular at school.
"I can't believe you stood up to him like that," Preston marvelled.
"I live with my dad," the red head said with a noticeable Irish accent. "You need balls of steel to go up against him after he's had a few rounds."
"So it's true Scottish people have drinking problems?"
"One, I'm Irish, not bloody Scottish. There's a difference," the girl huffed. "And two, everyone in Ireland and Scotland has tasted beer by the time they're six. It's like Russians with vodka." Preston nodded seriously, probably not understanding any of it.
"You really know three languages?" Zak said sarcastically. Jerome stood beside him awkwardly as the girl spun around and stared at him, her frizzy hair bouncing on her shoulders.
"Gaelic, English and Spanish," the girl replied proudly.
"I thought Gaelic was a minority language?" Preston said, brow furrowing. Jerome was vaguely impressed. Maybe he did pay attention in class.
"I come from an old family and they insisted," the girl answered.
"I can't believe Mitch showed up," Caitlyn said, sipping from a Coors. It was half-empty and she was swaying slightly on her feet. She mentioned having a drink or two before the party to calm her nerves, Jerome remembered. That's her third drink. I'm surprised she's not totally drunk yet.
"With Mat too," the girl added.
"Please," Caitlyn said. "You know Mat follows him everywhere, Sydney. Don't act so surprised." Jerome quickly put the name to the freckled face. Suddenly Zak's eyes narrowed and he looked at Jerome.
"Don't you live next door to Mitch, Jerome?" Zak asked. The group – Preston, Caitlyn and Sydney – went silent and stared at Jerome.
"Uh…" he stuttered. "Yeah." Sydney's jaw dropped and Preston looked shocked.
"Holy shit," Preston muttered. "How are you still alive?"
"I've lived next door to him all my life," Jerome said with a shrug. "Tonight's the first time he's spoken to me, let alone looked at me." The song switched from something Jerome didn't recognise to a song he remembered.
"Railroad track by Willy Moon!" Preston said triumphantly. Caitlyn swore.
"You beat me to it," she said, smiling playfully and nudging his shoulder.
"Hey, I recognise this!" Jerome said suddenly. "The Assassins Creed Four ad!"
"That's right," Preston said approvingly.
"Back to the fact that you live next door to Mitch," Sydney said, swivelling her green eyes to Jerome. Jerome swallowed, uncomfortable in the direct gaze. Jerome opened his mouth to reply when Preston snapped his fingers and pointed at him.
"That's where I know you from! Church!" Preston exclaimed. Jerome shrugged.
"I only go every now and then," he muttered.
"I'm getting pissed off that I'm being interrupted," Sydney said loudly. Preston ignored her.
"It's been annoying me all night," Preston laughed. "I couldn't place your face." Jerome smiled.
"I know the feeling. Now, I think I should answer Sydney's questions before she explodes," Jerome said quickly, noticing the small girl's face going red. Sydney let out a long breath.
"Thank you!" she huffed. "That was getting annoying!"
"I'm going to talk to Caitlyn for a while," Zak interrupted, getting a poisonous glare from Sydney. Zak held up his hands in surrender and then moved through the cluster, forcefully grabbing Caitlyn's hand and pulling her out of the room. The night wore on, and Preston and Sydney drilled eagerly into Jerome's life as a neighbour to the "kid with a criminal record a mile long" and Jerome bared all, which wasn't much. Caitlyn and Zak never returned and Sydney would often chime in with dirty suggestions on what they might be doing. At around one am, everyone began to leave. Jerome stood out on the lawn and waited for Zak. Zak was his ride, and he hoped he hadn't drunk too much. Jerome hated driving at night. Eventually, Zak stumbled out and insisted he was fine. On the drive, Jerome didn't speak. His mind was on Mitch. Maybe he's a nice guy. Maybe he just has a hard family life and wants to take it out on everyone else. That's what the teachers say, right? Jerome sighed.
"What's up?" Zak asked bluntly.
"Nothing," Jerome murmured, looking out the window.
"Fine, don't talk," Zak muttered. The rest of the ride was completed in silence.
So! Do you like it? Leave your opinions and tell me if you want anything changed! Oh, and think about checking out some of the songs I mentioned :)
Peace out Nerdians and until the next chapter!
Final note: There's a poll on my page asking for opinions. Check it out!