- Chapter 2 -
"Did anyone else think Mom was acting really strange last night, or was that just me?" Gene Belcher turned towards his sisters questioningly.
"No, I thought so too. She seemed too quiet… and then this morning..." Tina reflected.
"Who even watches Jimmy Kimmel Live anymore?!" Louise snorted, adjusting her backpack on her shoulders.
"Or that we need to go to that new Jimmy John's sub shop on Fourth Street?"
"Or wanting to booze it up with Jimmy Buffett's new Margarita mixes? She's lost it!"
The Belcher trio fell into light conversation about their mother's mental state as they headed towards school. They'd all come up with some rather interesting theories as to what could be going on with the woman; but the simple truth was that Linda Belcher could not keep a secret.
At least until now.
The other day, just before he left for home, Jimmy Jr had asked the Belcher parents to keep his return a secret; just for the night, and the early morning. He'd mentioned something about school, but by that point, the Belcher mother had tuned him out. She knew she'd have a real challenge on her hands.
And somehow, though slipping up in her own 'Linda' ways; she's made it through.
It was a rather pleasant day out and they had opted to walk instead of taking their bikes. That and there had been a series of bike thefts at school recently, so no one wanted to chance their bike being stolen anyway.
"I think the school system is finally breaking down to it's lowest common denominator."
"English, Tina. For the learning impaired over here." Louise thumbed over to Gene, who responded to the insult with a fart noise towards his little sister on his ever present keyboard.
Which was the latest model, by the way. He'd bought it a few weeks back and had been loving it ever since.
"I mean, that they started this semester of school on a Wednesday. We've only had school for three days before our first weekend."
"And you're complaining about this?! God! You're suuuch a neeeeeerd, Tiiina!" Louise grabbed her pink rabbit eared cap in her hands.
The youngest Belcher still sported her ever present head wear, but she'd slightly altered it about a year ago, so that it now looked more like a pink Beanie with ears; which meant her own ears were visible now, along with the small hoops she wore in them. Bob had been downright furious that Louise had pierced her ears without telling him or her mother, but after a couple of days, the man let it go; figuring that his youngest daughter was starting to embrace the more feminine side of her personality. He was happy for that, and decided not to push her away from anything else she wanted to do.
Except when she'd tried to burn down the local movie theater when they wouldn't let her into a PG-13 movie; which she really should have been allowed into, but the ticket guy had been a bit of a douchebag.
Except for that. And anything like that. Extortion, Murder, Arson. . .
"It's a waste of taxpayer resources, as well as hugely embarrassing if you're trying to meet new people to hang out with to only have three days to do so knowing your weekend is going to be ruined and by Monday you've lost your chance of finding any click to click with! Uaahhhh."
"That's it! I am never going to High School!" Gene trumpeted.
"Gene, you're already going to High School; this is your first year."
"NOO!"
"Well, maybe if you had failed a class or two, you'd still be at school with me!" Louise crossed her arms.
"Believe me, I tried! I can't help that I'm naturally special!"
"I think you mean 'gifted.'"
The three of them stopped at an intersection and checked for cars before crossing over. They weren't too far away from where Louise would break away from Gene and Tina and follow the sidewalk back to Wagstaff.
The sound of cooing, like that of a dove, suddenly caught the youngest one's attention and she stopped in her steps.
"Ah, hey, you guys go on ahead. I've got some business to take care of, so lets meet up and talk burgers sometimes, okay? Okay. Bye bye."
"Bye."
"Where!? Where do you want us to go!"
Louise ignored her brother's cry and turned to walk down the sidewalk, watching until her sister and brother were out of sight. Once they were, she turned towards some large shrubbery alongside the sidewalk and road.
"I hope you've got results, cause Mama's low on cash."
Two figures popped out from the bushes being addressed by the pink eared one; both with large grins.
"You doubt us?" Andy rose an eyebrow.
"All the time."
"Tch; have some faith. I mean, what am I suppose to do with all of this?" The blond boy's smirk grew wider as he lifted a thick wad of cash out of a small fold over wallet.
"You know we keep our promises." Ollie smiled.
Louise smiled widely back and walked over to the two boys; taking the offered cash in hand.
"Hoo hoo, sweet. This goes into the bank."
The girl pocketed the bills and turned to look at her cohorts of shady business. Her expression shifted slightly to one that looked suspiciously like guilt.
"Hey, I'm sorry about the whole Frond prank on the first day. I didn't think he'd go as far as he did, and if you guys hadn't of done what you did…"
"Hey, it's cool! You act like getting suspended was a bad thing." Andy laughed.
"It's okay. We didn't want you to get kicked out." Ollie gave Louise a sheepish smile.
"But what are you guys doing, then?"
"Dad's making us work at the restaurant-"
"Without allowance."
"But we get free meals-"
"Though we get that anyway."
"Cause we live there-"
"Hey! Maybe we could go live with Bro-"
Andy's hand flew up and with a loud 'slap' sound, covered Ollie's mouth. Yet even as he did this, he knew it was futile. The look on Louise's face said enough. She'd caught what the other boy was saying, and figured it out. Her mind was as sharp as a tack and could pick up on the tiniest detail in the room; and figure out a much larger picture just based on that one fact alone.
He loved that about the girl.
"Start talking. You know something."
Andy let his hand drop from his brother's mouth. The two shared a sheepish glance, then turned back towards the youngest Belcher. Yet Andy let a grin grace his lips.
"Well, it's pretty big."
"So spill it."
The boy held out a hand. Louise just stared at him blankly.
"Oh, uhm, I must have forgotten what it was."
Louise furrowed her brow and leaned forward, causing Andy to lean back just a bit. He was truly intimidated by the girl, but he wouldn't show it. Even if she punched him upside the head, as she was often liable to do.
"Then start remembering; now! You know something, and it's big. I want details!"
"And I want a Finder's Fee."
Louise's eyes rounded at that, both out of shock the kid had enough balls to say such a thing, and the other out of surprise that he was actually, dare she say, learning her craft. It made her feel the smallest touch of pride.
"Fine. For that, I'll give you twenty dollars."
The girl pulled a twenty dollar bill from the roll of cash and handed over to the boy. He took it, and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
Louise's expression went from slight impatience to pure and utter astonishment.
"Ah, damnit! Something this juicy and I can't do anything with it until after school's out."
"Heh, but hey, now you've got more time to work on a plan, right?" Ollie gave a small smile, and a light chuckle.
"Yeah, suppose I do. Well, if you'll excuse me, I've got some business to take care of elsewhere."
Both boys quickly dropped to one knee each, kneeling and making an overly exaggerated display on their part.
"As the Lady wishes-"
"So shall she be granted."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Louise smirked and stepped between them.
Yet as she did so, in one quick fluid motion, the girl snatched the twenty back out of Andy's hand.
"Andy, Andy, When will you learn? STC, sweetie. STC."
"Right, right, Stash the Cash. . ."
"I thought it was STD. . .Stash the Dough?"
"Later, spaziods!" Louise gave a short laugh as she put the bill with the others; and began affectionately counting her fold of green.
Andy and Ollie stood in silence a moment, before the floofy haired boy pulled his gaze away from the retreating girl and to his brother.
"You wanna hit up 'I Scream, You scream, We all scream for Yogurt'?"
Ollie blinked and frowned slightly.
"Louise just took our twenty."
Andy grinned widely and produced a twenty from his pocket.
"'Skim from the top. Always. Deny plausibility.'" Andy quoted the bunny hat-ed girl.
"Heh, you're getting to be a natural."
The brothers gave one another a fist bump before turning and walking off in the opposite direction. No sooner had they turned around did they hear a loud condemning threat of retaliation from behind them, and the two booked it down the sidewalk, laughing like hyena.
~ o ~
High School and Middle School were not that much different. There was simply more people to ignore you. This year would be no different. In fact, this year would be worse, for it was senior year. That meant no one would really be wanting to make new friends, to just leave behind eight months later. No; instead everyone would be focused on their own friends, their own clicks, the end of the year festivities. . .
Oh yeah . . . and Senior Prom.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
Though this thought came out more as 'Uaaahh…'
Tina thumped her forehead against her locker. Ten minutes into the school day and already her day was starting off like crap. She lifted her head away from her locker only to drop it back once again.
"Ya keep doin' that and ya'll have one hellava headache."
Tina pulled away from her locker, looking towards the owner of the voice. No sooner had she looked up did a large, rather meaty arm hook around her shoulders and a hand ruffled her hair on the top of her head.
"What up, Girl? Where ya been hidin' yerself this summer?"
Tina gave a sheepish and apologetic smile towards the large boy whom she was currently locked into a half hug with.
"Hi Zeke. You're looking well. Did you end up going to WREC?"
"Sure did! Did so well with the preliminary course, I even got to teach a class! How 'bout that?! Check this out; I got bit by a Badger and had to get stitches!"
The large boy let the girl go, and moved away from her slightly in order to pull up at his pant leg and show her the wound.
"That looks terrible; It must have really hurt."
"Damn right it did, but it didn't drop this big boy down, hell nah!"
The two shared a small laugh. For almost a year now, Zeke had become a rather surprising, yet close friend to Tina. He was more thoughtful than she'd ever given him credit for, and she had told him as such. She'd apologized to him for many things, all of which the heavy wrestler waved off with a plump fist and told her not to worry about.
This new friendship had started sometime shortly after . . .the event. Zeke had been just as blindsided by the fact that one day he was chilling with his 'bro' and the next, poof - gone. He, however, had not cried days on end for hours. He had been angry as all hell.
Shared a few choice words with Tina on the subject when he'd found her alone on the beach one night.
Yet, Zeke was still loyal to Jimmy Jr. He'd been the first to defend the others' actions; yet still called him 'hella stupid' for doing such an out of character, last minute thing without thought. Zeke had said numerous times he'd have done anything to help out Jay Ju in any way he could, if he'd known the boy was so desperate.
Tina had agreed as well, and knew a number of other people would have said the same. The only one who didn't apparently think he had any support was Jimmy Jr himself. Then again, Zeke had mentioned once to her that he felt his bro didn't really have anyone to turn to except the redneck himself and Tina. This made the eldest Belcher child feel both special and saddened. Were she and Zeke really the only people Jimmy Jr felt he had? What about his brothers? She could understand the disconnect with his father, but even so…
A voice broke Tina away from her thoughts, and she let go of a slight groan.
"Zeke, come on! The bell is about to ring and I am not going to be late to class and get stuck with a shitty seat!"
Tammy Larson walked up to the large boy and gave him a threatening look.
"Hello Tammy. You look nice today." Tina gave the girl a half smile.
"I look fabulous everyday, Tina. Yet you just keep living in retro."
"Babydoll, lay off Teens a bit, hu? She don't need all that fashion passion hoohaa. She rocks what she's gots. Ain't that right, girl?"
"If I … don't knock it. Haa hah." Tina felt her face burn from her horridly failed response.
She'd hoped by now Tammy would have grown to like her a bit, but instead the popular girl only seemed to have grown more snobbish and elitist. Plus it was hard to hang out with Zeke when Tammy was around, as the girl always had to make some random point as to why she was so much better in what ever way she could. Yet, the only reason Tina could stomach the girl for ten minutes or so was because she knew Zeke loved her, somehow, and on extremely rare occasions the 'princess' seemed to come down from her perch and be nice.
"Whatever, I need to go; I'm not waiting on your slow ass. Later Loserina."
"Okay, bye." Tina gave a half wave and let go of a sigh.
Extremely rare occasions indeed.
"Zeke, why are you still going out with her?"
"I know, I know…. She's a bitch, but I love her. Can't help who you love, you know?"
Tina looked away, wincing. Zeke frowned slightly and put a hand on the girl's shoulder; giving it a slight squeeze.
"Have faith. Got to, or we'll go crazy with worry. Hang in there, Teens. Things'll get better."
"I hope so Zeke. . .but thanks." She gave him a small smile and he gave her a nod.
As the wrestler boy took off down the hall for classes, Tina turned in the opposite direction and made her way towards what was called the 'Art Wing' of the school. This was mostly due to the fact that all the classes having anything to do with the creative arts were secluded to this particular area of the school.
Passing by a few doors, the eldest Belcher child stopped before a door reading 'Creative Writing - Mr. Dingus' and knocked lightly.
A muffled reply form behind the door called out, and Tina gently opened the door. She gripped the strap of her backpack unconsciously as she did so.
"Ah, Ms. Belcher! Good to see you back so soon. What can I do for you?"
Tina stepped forward into the little office belonging to the teacher before her. Shifting her backpack around, she unzipped it quickly, and after just a moment of thumbing through her books, pulled out five thick black and white composition notebooks.
"I stopped by to drop off the completed version of my story? For the Young Writer's Literary Excellence Contest?" She handed the man the notebooks; some hesitation registering on her face.
"Wonderful! I'm glad you took my advice to take this opportunity! I thought what you'd done so far was shaping up quite nicely! Ah… I see you even worked in some revisions… splendid, splendid…"
The man placed the five notebooks onto a small dresser like desk behind his main stationery desk, and looked up to the fidgety student.
"My dear, why are you so fidgety?"
"It's just. . .uuuaaahhhh. . . some of the content. . .maybe be too explicit-"
"Pah! That's nothing to fret. There are novels on the market full of that stuff for the purpose of being full of that stuff. Don't think you're the first person ever to write a naughty bedroom scene."
"It's actually in a dan-"
"Either way, your novel entry is appreciated. We love seeing new, evolving writers submit their work so that we may be lucky enough to find our next Ernest Hemingway, or Laurell K. Hamilton."
"O-okay. Thank you."
"And thank you, Ms. Belcher! We'll let you know in a couple of months what the standings are."
Tina waved to the older man, and let the small office quickly. She was getting close to time for her class, and never liked being late for anything anymore. High school was not as fun as she thought it would be. She'd been saving away every penny she could; looking forward to college instead. In college, people actually cared about learning and furthering their advancement. No one in college would make fun of her for enjoying school and books.
At least, she hoped so. Though she was pretty sure she was right on this account.
Rounding the next corner to her left, Tina could see the door to her classroom. The last three students were filing in. Thanking whatever higher being that Mrs. Dubbins had assigned seating, Tina picked up her pace.
~ o ~
"Okay, okay, in your seats. I know it's Friday, trust me I know, but for the next hour and a half, you're in here and learning about a bunch of dead people and why they're so damn important to our very ways of life."
Mrs. Dubbins prattled away as the last of her students filed into the room. She turned towards the lanky boy standing next to her desk.
"Have a seat in the last row, fourth desk. It's usually vacant anyway; Nathan hardly ever shows up."
Said boy nodded as the older woman moved to close her door.
"Now, get out your textbooks and turn to chapter sixteen."
As she closed the door, there was a bang and a thump. Mrs. Dubbins looked a bit startled, a hand moving to her mouth.
"Oh, my word! Child, I am so sorry, dear!"
"I'm okay. . ."
There was a slight murmur of chuckles from the classroom. A boy with a backwards cap leaned back in seat, a snickered to another boy.
"The Belcher Blunder strikes again!"
"Class just started and Klutzilla's already rampaging."
The two cackled a bit more as they watched the teacher fuss over the girl, who was picking up her scattered items. Her forehead now sported a nasty looking red mark.
The two stopped suddenly as they felt something small smack them against the sides of their faces, and looked around wildly for their assailant. Their attention was drawn to a tall, lanky looking kid they'd never seen before, who was staring back at them.
More precisely, glaring at them with unmasked hate.
The two boys turned away, feeling their skin crawl.
"Fucking creep."
"Psh...whatever."
"Are you sure you're okay? You can go to the nurses office if you'd like." The teacher fretted over Tina.
"No, I'm okay, really. Just, a little dizzy." Tina spoke, as she grabbed the last escapee from her bag.
"Well then, if you need, you can rest your head for a bit. If you need any notes, see me after class." Mrs. Dubbins said, as she let Tina move to her seat.
Tina felt her cheeks flush as she moved quickly to her seat. It was in the last row, third from the front. She'd picked it because it had a perfect window view. Right now, it didn't look all that great, but come next spring…
She could feel half the class glancing at her. She knew she was the class's daily reminder that she was a walking hazard. She knew the nicknames they called her. She knew all this, yet she just didn't care anymore.
Swiftly sitting down upon getting to her seat, she set her bag next to her feet and rest her head in her arms. Tina was finally beginning to calm down a bit until she felt a tap on her shoulder from behind her.
"Could I borrow a pencil?" Came a hushed whisper.
Not bothering to lift her head up, Tina reached out an arm into her bag, and after a moment of digging in the front pocket produced a pencil. She handed it behind her, still not looking. The pencil was taken from her, and she pulled her arm back under her head.
Another moment passed, and again another tap at her shoulder. This time the whispered voice was asking her for paper. Grunting, Tina repeated her process, digging in her bag and pulling out the asked for item. She really didn't want to have to show her face right now, and was getting annoyed at the fact that the day the kid who sat behind her decides to show up, he comes unprepared.
Once more, after another moment of pause, came the tap again, asking to borrow her textbook.
Fed up with this kid's lack of preparedness, Tina jerked around in her seat, eyes fixed in an irate glare.
"Why don't you just take my entire backpack!" Tina began to snarl, but her voice lost its heat by the end of her sentence.
There before her, sitting down and looking sheepishly at her, was the last person she expected to see.
"Heh, this is fine, thank you. Long time, no see." Jimmy Jr said softly.
"Jimmy...Jimmy Jr?! Wha-When did you get back?" Tina gaped at the boy before her.
"Yesterday, actually. It's been a little crazy. I got back pretty early in the day, ran all the way home just to be kicked out."
"Your dad kicked you out?" Tina said in awe.
Truthfully, she was still a bit shocked he was even sitting in front of her. The very fact that the boy was actually right here, talking to her, as if the year he'd been gone never happened; like he was just talking about some weekend trip. Just to make sure she wasn't dreaming she pinched her arm.
Jimmy Jr was still there and she didn't suddenly snap out of any daydream.
"Yeah… should have seen it coming I guess, but, I thought… I dunno what I expected really."
For a moment, Jimmy Jr looked away, a slight far off look crossing his features.
"So...then where…?"
"I've sorta got my own place, now. Dad gave me the keys to this apartment off third."
Tina's eyes widened, and she felt her breath catch in her throat.
"By chance is it a two story apartment with a combined living room and kitchen, and a large red couch?"
"Yes! Wow." Jimmy Jr blinked, returning her stunned expression.
"How'd you know?"
"Louise use to hang out there with Andy and Ollie for a while. It was like their fort, only not made of boxes. Plus I've been there a few times."
Tina could feel her heart racing. Of all the places that would become Jimmy Jr's new place, it'd be that apartment. Though it made perfect sense of course; being owned by his father. Yet, still… she'd often visited that place during the particularly hard times over the past year. Louise had made her a key to get in. While the memories of that dusty abode weren't all too terrible, there was one time she'd rather not reflect upon. A time in particular she tried to forget. A moment of weakness; of pure unadulterated selfishness.
It left a bitter taste in her mouth and a hollowness in her heart.
She swallowed, willing herself to banish these dark thoughts and focus on the one before her.
For the rest of the class period, she and Jimmy Jr would share short small talk while the teacher went about the lesson. Once the class was over, Tina felt anxious and jittery. She felt like Jimmy Jr was about to disappear again and she'd lose him all over. Yet as they both entered the hallway, Jimmy Jr stopped and turned towards her.
"When is your lunch period?"
Tina had to actually think for a moment for the answer to his question having been unprepared for such.
"I've got one more class to go, then right after that."
"I've got to go take care of some things with the principle and some other teachers, but, I'll see you at lunch, okay?"
Tina nodded, her mind still in a daze. The lanky teen gave her a smile and a wave before heading off down the hall. The girl turned and headed towards her own class, though it must have been on shear autopilot for the only thing running through her head at that point was a sudden explosion of feelings she'd held under lock and key since the last time she'd seen Jimmy Pesto Jr's face.
~ o ~
The gnawing in her stomach may have been mostly due to her being hungry, but Tina was fairly sure the other part was due to not seeing a certain bright amber haired teen sitting anywhere in the cafeteria. Nor had said teen walked in the door yet, and she'd been waiting fifteen minutes already.
If this was like any other Friday, she'd have already been through the line and had a seat saved for the dancer, along with her normal company of Zeke and Gene. However today, Gene was eating with some buddies of his from his music class, and Zeke was eating with the group of kids who just joined the wrestling team.
So in a way, this was sort of like a blessing in disguise, right?
There was a sinking in her chest as five more minutes passed by and Tina finally gave into her body's demand for food.
Instead of the logical things she knew of that could be legit reasons for why she hadn't seen Jimmy Jr, her mind decided to hash out negatives against herself, and memories of the boy she didn't like. That side of him that was cultured by his father. The side of him that made her feel like he didn't care.
Tina glanced up, noticing she was now at the start of the line. She reached out to grab a tray, but stopped as she noticed it was being handed to her. Looking up, her gaze met with warm azure eyes and again, that sheepish grin from before.
She felt herself sigh involuntarily.
"Meatloaf, right? Or did you become a vegetarian while I was… away?"
Tina blinked, snapping out of her fluffy clouded daydream and shook her head.
"I think Dad would disown me if I did."
Her eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth, and she could almost feel herself pale. Of all the responses to say back?!
Yet Jimmy Jr just laughed, and moved down the line, putting items onto each of their trays. When they got to the end of the line where the desserts were available, Tina started to move closer to pick her 'rapturous ratio', or basically the piece of pie with the most whipped cream, to pie, to fruit aspect. Yet before she could even see which flavors were left, the other teen was already snagging a piece and gently set it on her tray.
Tina frowned a moment, looking from the piece given to her to the other options, and then a few times back and forth scrutinizing them.
Jimmy Jr watched her a moment and grinned as he put two forks on her tray.
"I didn't forget."
Upon realizing her piece was in fact the best one of the lot, she turned to notice Jimmy Jr had already paid for their food.
"So do you have a preferred spot or…?"
"I just sit as close to the window as I can. Sometimes the scenery is nice. Other times, I just stare at the sky."
Jimmy Jr nodded and the two found a couple of free seats next to a window. There weren't too many other students around them either, and for this Tina was pleased.
"What classes are you taking?" The boy asked as he took a bite of his own lunch.
"World History, as you know… Archeology, Field Biology of Jersey Biota, Honors Lit, Art II and Journalism." Tina gave a small smile, proud of her class choices.
"Ah, those sound like perfect classes for you; though Archeology throws me…" Jimmy Jr gave her a curious look.
"It's mostly for a story I plan to write and submit to a few publishing companies. If my first one receives any positive reviews, anyway."
"You wrote a book?" Jimmy Jr straighten a little in his seat.
"More like a short Novella, but… I just submitted it to a contest; it's not published or anything. It's probably not even all that great, anyway. I just needed something to do.."
"Can I read it?" The boy responded in a tone that made him sound a bit eager.
Tina felt her heart jump in her chest.
"NO!"
Jimmy Jr jumped slightly at the girl's outburst, but relaxed slightly as she waved her hands.
"I mean, I only had one copy and it's been turned in, and I don't have any other drafts and it's still such a mess, and. . .just. . .not yet. When I get my copy back, I'll rework it and, then you can read it." Tina gave him an unsure smile.
"Promise?" He returned her unsure smile with an unsure look of his own.
Truth be told, he was a little shocked and hurt that she'd decline to let him read her original. She'd let him read her first drafts of random stories before all the time, and it never bothered her. In fact, often times, she's used him as her proofreader. At first, he'd been reluctant to do so; as he didn't think he'd be much help. Yet as he began reading her stories, it had become something he'd love to do.
Thus whenever Tina had a new story for him to read over, he'd dropped everything just to take said literature, plop on a couch or bed, and become absorbed in her creative fantasy. Sometimes they'd even cuddle together while he read; Tina interjecting every now and then to point something out or ask if she could explain a passage better.
A small pit formed deep in his stomach and he was once again slapped in the face with the reminder that he'd been gone for a year. That expecting things to be the same was foolish and that the days before were gone, and only memories were the proof they even existed in the first place.
They fell into a silence then. He couldn't be sure of anything anymore, so he wasn't sure if she was just as uncomfortable as he was right then.
How much had changed though? He glanced at her, watching her chew her dinner roll with small tiny bites.
That meant she was upset. Not the angry kind, the sad kind. Any minute now she'd give an outward sigh-
To which Tina at that point sighed audibly as she exhaled.
Okay, that was still the same. What else? Still wore blue, the skirt and top combo. Same white red-striped socks, new shoes, but the same style. Same bulky glasses. The hair clip was gone.
His frown dropped slightly. He thought it was cute how she only ever wore one, and like, so unnecessarily.
She paused, and looked up at him, eyes rounding a little.
"What?"
"Nothing...just…" The teen palmed his chin; his gaze looking anywhere but at her at the moment.
Finally after coming up with something to get rid of this god forsaken quietness between them, he turned back towards her.
"Are you into anything new? Like new hobbies or is there something you've recently begun to like?"
Tina pushed her lips up a little, not so much in a pout, but more in a manner of trying to recall to mind something she may or may not have done. As she reflected over Jimmy Jr's question, she grabbed her juice box and switched it with the milk on the boy's tray.
"Well, I've found a few new books and authors I enjoy reading. Also, I've seen a bunch of new movies at the theaters. Got a couple of new dresses. Wrote a lot of new friend fiction." She paused and took a drink of the milk.
Jimmy Jr chuckled, picking up the juice box.
"So nothing aside from the everyday norms then." He popped open the small carton.
Apple wasn't his favorite, but it was better than milk.
"I guess not. Though I'd stopped doing really anything for a few months…" Tina began to mumble as she went back to her roll.
"Why?" The boy blinked.
The way Tina paused mid bite and the 'Are-you-that-clueless?' expression she gave him made him instantly regret the automatic response to her statement.
Second day back and he was beginning to think this 'loss of appetite' feeling was going to be looming over him for a while.
"Sorry." He said quietly.
That silence between them came back. The boy didn't think he could talk about anything anyone without putting his foot in his mouth. Doubt was beginning to creep into his mind. Was coming back really the right thing to have done? Or was he just making things worse? Granted, he'd have been coming back anyway considering what was coming up. . . but was coming back now the right thing to have done?
Tina hadn't push him away. She hadn't yelled at him; hadn't refused to talk to him…
However, she hadn't come out and said she forgave him, either.
Quietly, and with some measure of care, Jimmy Jr picked up on of the two forks on Tina's tray, and slowly cut off a piece of the pie he'd placed there previously. He wasn't really all that hungry anymore, but he'd be damned if he was going to let an opportunity to relive one of "their things" slip by him.
The piece he took was the very end. As he brought it up to his mouth, he watched as Tina picked up her own fork and took the next bite. A smile threatened to break across his lips, but he held it back. Again, he followed suit with the next. She followed after.
With the last piece, the crusty part, Jimmy Jr split it in two. Instead of stabbing the piece closest to himself, he stabbed the one near her. He did so at the same time she mirrored his action with the piece nearest himself.
They looked at one another then, both seeming to hold expressions of slight awe for different reasons. Tina because she was surprised he hadn't forgotten their little 'pie ritual', and Jimmy Jr because she'd done it with him.
In the before times, if Tina was ever mad at him, she didn't like doing the cute things they often did together. It always hurt a little. Eventually she'd stop being upset and come to him; usually collapsing onto of him in a ragdollesque manner and refusing to move for at least ten minutes. She did this regardless of what he'd be doing at the time: eating, gaming, dancing, napping, one time in the middle of shift his Dad thrusted upon him.
"Tin-" Jimmy Jr had began, but was cut off by the harsh ringing of the lunch bell indicating lunch was now over.
Tina jerked, as if caught in some kind of trance, and suddenly grabbed her tray up and pulled away from the table.
"I've gotta get to class. Thank you for lunch." She mumbled quickly as she moved around the other teen.
He didn't know why, but a sudden wave of irrational panic swept over him as Tina moved to leave. Before he could realize he was doing it, Jimmy Jr had reached out and grabbed the retreating girl's wrist in his hand. The action caused him to partical get up from his seat.
"I'll wait for you!" There was a slight panicked note to his voice.
Tina froze when the other caught her wrist in his hand, and felt her heart skip a beat at his words. Her eyes widened a bit, and she fought to keep her knees locked and not betray her to the floor.
"After class, I'll wait for you, by the entrance. I-" Jimmy Jr managed to calm himself down a bit, but he had to struggle to make a proper sentence.
"To walk you home-your home-with you." The boy blanched, but continued.
"Is that okay?"
Tina stared at the gorgeous teen in front of her wondering again if this was really all just another wishful dream. She let go of the breath she'd been holding and nodded.
"Yeah...okay...I'd..yeah.."
"Yeah?"
"Mm-hmm." She nodded again, a little more vigorously, but then gave a glance at the clock.
"I've really got to go, so-"
"Ah, sorry, right." Jimmy Jr released her wrist from his hold.
"Okay...see you in a bit." Tina turned and scurried off out the lunchroom doors.
Jimmy Jr watched as the girl disappeared from his sight, wondering why the whole exchanged that just took placed felt awkward and unrehearsed. They'd walked home together a hundred or more times. Why was this any different? Why did he feel like if he didn't walk her home, she'd disappear and he'd never see her again? Why . . .
Why did Tina walk out of the lunchroom with her tray still in her hands?
And just as he thought this, said girl reappeared in the room long enough to deposit her tray at a trash receptacle nearest the door, glance over at him, and dash back out the door.
Jimmy Jr grabbed up his own tray and moved to dispose of the contents. The only question now was what he'd do for an hour.
~ o ~
Tina gripped the straps of her backpack tighter than usual. The pit in her stomach wasn't helpping to calm her down any. Nervousness and excitement were battling with a bit of fear and denial and it was making her head hurt a little. Make a turn down a hallway, Tina walked over to Gene, who was stuffing some books into his locker.
"Gene, ready to go?"
"Actually, T, I'm going over to Micheal's place. The group is going to get together and work on a piece for Mrs. Schwartzevan's eightyth birthday."
"Who's Mrs. Schwartzevan?"
"I don't know, but I do know we're going to be having snacks and cake and making sweet music!"
"So then you're not walking home with me?"
"Nope, going straight over with Hanna. That's her, down the hall."
Gene pointed to a girl with medium length brunette hair, talking to a taller boy with blonde. She stopped a moment and looked over at the two siblings and gave them a smile and a wave.
"Uhhhhaaa, Okay…" Tina suddenly felt the pit rise up again.
She'd thought if Gene was with them on the walk home she wouldn't feel so nervous about it. Then again, she could always hang back and ask Zeke to join her too. Zeke would for sure want to know Jimmy Jr was back, and would want to see him too, of course.
"Oh, and Zeke told me to tell you, after lunch, he ditched the rest of class to go "shoot hoops" with the "tangle squad."
"Damn you, Zeke." Tina muttered under her breath.
"Well, gotta go. Bye."
"Gene, wait, there's something I need to tell you-"
"Tell me when I get home, okay! Gotta run!" Gene gave his sister a wave and trotted off over to Hanna.
Tina groaned again and fell against the lockers. Why did have to feel like this? Why was this suddenly so hard?
~ o ~
One hundred twelve. There were one hundred twelve bricks that made up the left half of the small brick and iron rod half wall that he was starring at. After the final bell rang, Jimmy Jr had causally made his way to the front entrance of school and had waited for Tina as he'd promised. After about five minutes, he began to think she might have gotten held up by her locker. Ten minutes made him think a teacher had pulled her aside for some academic reason. Fifteen minutes brought to mind a possible extra credit class?
Forty minutes, however, could only have meant that Tina truly did hate him for what he'd done, that he could eat shit and die, that he was a terrible excuse for a dancer and death was too good for him.
He let go of a breath.
"Hah."
He'd been sitting on the steps for a bit, but now he just let himself fall back on them, his gaze getting lost in the bright blue of the sky. The clouds were moving fairly quickly, yet the scene did nothing to calm his mind, or put him at ease.
Letting go of another breath, he closed his eyes. He opened his eyes when a shadow was cast on his face. Thinking it had been a particularly large cloud, he wasn't expecting to see another face a mere inch from his own. Thus came the knee-jerk reaction of surprise; causing him to lift his head despite the logic against doing so, and smacking his forehead against the other person's chin.
"Aah! Dammit!"
"Aaau! I'm okay!"
Palming his forehead, he tuned to his right only to find Tina holding her chin, looking flustered.
"Did you get an iron jaw put in or something?" He winced slightly, but gave the girl a grin.
"Unless you went and got a steel plate put in your head?!" Tina barked back at the boy, her response coming out a bit harsher than she wanted it.
He watched the girl shrink back, like she'd been burnt by something, and look down at the ground.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I'm sure you didn't get a steel plate put in your head."
"It's okay, Tina." He pushed himself up and wiped his hands off on his pants, before offering her a hand.
She took it after a moment, and he pulled her up easily, though she stumbled slightly. On instinct, he brought up his other hand to steady her. For some odd moments, they both were still. There weren't any other students around to make random comments or distracting noises.
Slowly, Jimmy Jr pulled his hands away from her shoulder and her hand. Tina's gaze, which was at first locked with his own, moved away from his and onto his chest; as if she was staring at a stain on his shirt - which he wasn't aware of there being anything? She took a half step then, and her head thumped against his chest lightly.
"Idiot." She said it so quietly, Jimmy Jr almost hadn't heard her say.
He felt her arms slowly move around him, and her hands clenched at the fabric of his shirt under his vest. He too then made to carefully bring his arms around her and rested his face against the top of her head; which was fairly easy given Tina was standing on a higher step than himself.
"Sorry." He returned, also quietly.
And suddenly the world felt right. Suddenly he felt the void in his heart was no more. Suddenly he didn't care if coming back was right or wrong…
This moment. This feeling. This.
Right here.
With Her.
"Welcome back." She spoke again quietly.
"I'm-" He tightened his grip around her, feeling the sting of tears threatening to spill, and fighting them back.
"I'm home."
He truly was.
~ x ~
Finally Chapter 2 is here! So sorry for the delay. Also, this isn't where I'd wanted to stop the chapter originally. It would have gone a bit further actually, but I know I've had people waiting for this and I wanted to go ahead and get something out for you guys. So the next chapter is gonna pick right up where this leaves off.