After driving for an hour or so, I pulled up to Belleville High School in New Jersey. I took my bag, making sure I had enough comics, and got out. I locked the doors and walked up to the campus, where I saw my cousin waiting for me. She was fake blonde with a fake tan with fake nails. Her personality was just as fake as the rest of her. She pretended to be the perfect daddy's girl, but she's really a vindictive slut.
"Well, if it isn't the Emo Smurf," she said as I walked up to her.
"I'm only 5'2, Venus. There're people shorter than me." I know, I can't believe they named her that either.
"Whatever, let's get going." I just sighed with my hands in my pockets, following her as she gave me some background info on the school. I could tell she could care less.
After about five minutes of that, she led me to a group of bitches that were wearing the same shitty pink clothes. I have some too, but I hate to wear it. I only do on special occasions, and even then I use them as a last resort.
They greeted her with smiles, but when they saw me, they just grimaced.
"I know, girls, but my parents are making me. Besides, she actually might attract my next future boyfriend."
"Ooo, V," one of them said with a smile, "who's next on your list?"
"Well, I heard that he dumped Stela. She's cool now and everything, so we shouldn't be mean to her. Her new boyfriend is so hot. Anyway, he's vulnerable, which is the perfect time to make my move."
"Wait, you want to go after Frank Iero?"
"Yeah, he's hot. I can make him cool. So he's short, but he has tattoos and he's in a band. That's hot." They all grinned and giggled at that. I just groaned out loud. I cannot believe she just said that. They all looked at me.
"What's your damage, freak?"
"It's just…you people! You think you can change a person by dating them or whatever."
"Look," Venus said, using a tone that made me sound like a retarded toddler, "it's how it works. You just don't get it."
"Oh, I get it. But I just don't understand why you think it works. You can't change a person's mind like that."
"Who are you to talk? You're last boyfriend cheated on you. He changed his mind pretty quickly didn't he?" I balled my fists up. I glared at her. I just breathed out and walked away to their laughter. If it wasn't for what Jim told me would happen if I step out of line, I would have kicked her ass from here to fucking China.
As I was wandering around the school, someone called my phone. I took it out and answered it. I didn't recognize the caller ID.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Hey, baby." No. Fuck no.
"Lucas? Why the hell are you calling me?"
"I just wanted to know if you were free this Friday night."
"What the fuck? I broke up with you, you pig."
"Be sure to bring that name calling when you get here. That get's me hot."
"Shut the fuck up. I know you were cheating on me with Heather. Hell, she told me herself."
"Yeah, she has a big mouth, but that's not the only she has that's big."
"I don't need a play-by-play, Madden. What I want you to do is go back to your slut and leave me the hell alone."
"Hey, don't get all butt hurt about it. So I fucked her. She was around, you weren't."
"That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard and I've made some lame ones in my time. Just go fuck yourself." I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket and sat on a bench. I pinched the bridge of my nose. Why are all the guys in my life complete douchebags?
"Hey," I heard someone say. I jumped and looked to my left. There was this guy that was a little taller than me. He had black hair with a nose and lip piercing. I noticed he had a tattoo of a scorpion on his neck. He was wearing what looked like an Anthrax shirt under a black hoodie with black skinny jeans and black Vans. He sat next to me. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I just heard what you were talking about…it made me stop."
The look on his face was pained. I should've told him to get the hell away from me, but I felt a connection to this guy already. "Why?" I asked.
"I got cheated on too."
"Oh, well, you feel my pain then."
"Yeah, it's more like rage, but yeah."
I sighed. "Who did she cheat with?"
"Some douche that's on the football team. I should've seen it coming. She started getting all girly and shit."
I had an empathetic expression. "I know how you feel. Mine cheated with a cheerleader. She actually told me."
"I heard that. What a bitch."
"You don't need to tell me twice." We were silent. "Oh, sorry, I'm Jamia Nestor."
"It's cool, I'm Frank Iero."
"So you're Frank, huh?"
"Yeah, why?"
"My cousin's after you so I'd watch out."
"Who's your cousin?"
"Venus Caulfield."
He just sighed and put his head in his hands. He shuddered. "Shit. She probably thinks I'm hot or something."
"She did mention that. Would it add insult to injury if I agreed with her?"
He looked up and flashed a smirk. "I don't think so. You don't seem like a total bitch."
"I'll take that as a compliment." He just smiled. "So, I heard from her you're in a band."
"Yeah, I play rhythm guitar. I just left a band and recently joined up with a new one with some friends I've known since were kids."
"That's cool." He smirked again. My God, what was it with that smirk? He just seemed so cool. Every time he smirked or smiled I felt my heart flutter. I knew that we connected in the way of our exes cheating on us, but I felt like we connected in a different way. I think I had feelings for him. I wasn't putting out. Nope, this is too soon. We'll see, though.
"So, you new or what?" His voice brought me back to earth.
"No, I'm just visiting my aunt and uncle for the two weeks I'm off. It's not like I had a choice." He looked at me, his eyes telling me to tell. They didn't look judging either. I felt like I could share with him. I sighed. "My stepdad made me come. He said that he knew if I didn't come here, I would be cooped in my room reading comics or going to parties and get drunk. I told him I didn't do that anymore, but I lied out of my ass. I may not go to parties, but I sure as hell drink. I even smoke too. I know it's an addiction, but it calms me." I sighed.
"I can't fucking stand my stepdad. Before he came, it was me and my mom after my dad left. She was awesome and cared and spoke her mind, but after marrying Jim, she became a Stepford and totally forgot about me to live in her perfect fantasy land with Jim. She even forced me to call him dad. I hardly ever do, if I can help it." After my story, I looked at him and saw some empathy show on his face.
"I may not know what it's like to have an asshole for a stepdad, but my dad left when I was little too. It's just me and my mom right now." I felt bad. He seemed like he didn't deserve this pain. "But she's cool though."
"That's good." He got up.
"Well, I gotta get going, but if you get bored, text me." He took out a pen and wrote his number on my wrist. He left with a 'sup nod. I just sat there flustered. What do I make of this guy? I know I had feelings for him. I have to explore this new development. He's the first guy that I've met in years that's not a complete asshole.