You have to live with me." He replies in a hushed tone.
I look up at him surprised, "what did you say?"
He takes a deep breath and looks me straight in the eyes, "I said you have to live with me."
I give him a cold stare, "What joke are you and friends trying to play here?"
I push him aside and try to walk away. But he grabs my wrist, slaps me, and throws me into the wall his hands clutching at my sides, "You really don't want to make me madder than I already am." He says in a dangerously low voice.
Him slapping me is nothing new anymore. He always does this to people he is frustrated with, which means he's really really frustrated. I start to sweat, not because I'm scared of him but because he's really really close to me. Like really close, if he steps and inch closer he would be kissing me. But he's not though, only our noses are touching. I look at the ground focusing on the pattern of the blue carpet; I press my lips together and swallow a gulp in my throat. I can still feel his gaze on me, they're not leaving my face. He brings his mouth to my ear and whispers something so quietly that even pitch silent library can't hear it. But thankfully I can, "It's about your father."
I can feel my ears perk up attentively, slowly I raise up my eyes back to his, my voice barely a whisper, "Dad?" He nods. My deep breathing can be heard a mile away, my eyes start to water as the memories of my father come rushing in again. Jack is still looking at me straight in the eyes, the frown never leaving his face.
I speak again my voice still a whisper, "What about my dad?" My voice is hopeful, I can tell by the way he looks at me, with regret and sorrow.
He closes his eyes and opens them and then closes them again, he takes a deep breath and opens them like he finally made a decision, "I-I-I-I can't tell you." For a second I hear some softness in his voice.
"Talk to your mom. She'll tell you everything." He lets go of me and I fall down with a soft thud, "But don't think that just because you're going live with me our relationship will be any different." Did I say I heard softness in his voice? Well it's all gone now. I think as I watch him walk away. God, why do I like him when I'm supposed to hate him?
"Hello Mother." My voice is oozing with dislike as she walks through the door. She looks at me surprised. I know why, my hands are folded across my chest, I'm glaring at her, and oh I have five empty suitcases lying next to me.
"Kim! What are you doing here so early?" She puts a hand on her chest as if I've scared her. "How did school go?"
"Well ummm let's see, I had a math test which I aced, we ran a mile in P.E. and I got 7:45 yippee and ummm...Jack Brewer came up to me today and told me I have to live with him tomorrow!" He didn't really come up to me he technically made me come up to him.
My mom lets out a breath, "Whew! I thought I was gonna have to tell you, but I see Jack beat me to it."
I give her a glare, "What the hell is going on Mom?"
"Missy, language." My mom warns.
"Sorry…why do I have to stay with Jack?"
She shrugs and smiles sheepishly, "Well the Brewers and I are leaving for Europe tomorrow for three months."
I give her an incredulous look, "And you tell me now?"
"Kim honey I'm sorry"
"Yeah right, I just can't believe your leaving me with a teenage boy for three months, what kind of mother would do that?!"
"Oh come on!" She pushes, "Jack is so sweet, why can't you see that?"
I let out a laugh, Jack and sweet don't go together. "Why are you being so ridiculous mom?"
"Kim! I took this decision after seeing what Jack is like, and plus his parents are my best friends have you forgotten that huh? I think I can trust their son."
I let out an exasperated gasp, "Ugh! Mom you don't get it."
She runs her hand through her brown hair –mine is blonde because of my father, "No Kim, you don't get it. You just try to make arguments out of every little thing."
I glare at her some more, "I'm not trying to make an argument!"
Her voice rises, "Yes you are, and I don't want you to use that tone with me. No more arguing, you're staying with Jack and that's FINAL!"
Furious, I run into my room and shut the door. My mom really doesn't get it, Jack is a bad boy he will beat up anyone he doesn't like, and he even slaps me once in a while when he's frustrated like he did today. Mom thinks Jack is the perfect guy and everything but he's not, he's not even sweet like my mom keeps telling me he is. Jack is an amazing actor, he can mask up his real personality in front of my mom and his parents. Ugh! I flop down into my bed and pull the covers over my face, maybe this will all go away and I'll wake up tomorrow like this was a dream. A horrible dream. Obviously that's not going to happen because this is too real –I really am staying with Jack. I turn off my lights and shut the balcony door; suddenly I get this feeling that I'm being watched. I walk back over to the balcony and open the door. Nothing. I glance down at the ground there are a bunch of shadows of the bushes; I see something dart into the corner, probably a mouse. A vision of Jack's brown eyes flashes into my mind, and I feel like I'm seeing them right now, right at this moment. They're gone though and I hear soft knock at my door, it's my mom. Who else?
"Kim?" She says softly.
"Over here," I say and wave my hand gently.
She walks over and looks at the view -my room has the best view of the city at night. She stays silent for a minute or two before she starts talking again.
"Are you still mad?"
"No," I admit, "But why him Mom?"
She looks over at me, "I thought you liked him." I gasp how did she know, "Wha- Wha- what makes you say that?"
She smiles, "I don't know, you always light up like a Christmas tree whenever I say his name, and when I invite them over for dinner you're always really quiet."
"I'm really quiet in general." I say defensively.
"I know that honey, but I'm your mother I can tell when my daughter likes somebody."
"Well I guess I do like him, but I also hate him too. And whenever you call them over for dinner I feel happy but at the same time mad."
"And why is that?" She asks in a soft tone.
"I really don't know." It's true, I don't know why I like him, and why I hate him at the same time. Again like my father, there's something missing, a small puzzle piece. Just a tiny one that will answer all my questions, I just need to find it. There's silence, my mom's quiet again, maybe she's thinking about dad too.
"Mom?" I whisper.
"Hmmm?" She's listening.
"When Jack said I have to stay at his house he said something about Dad. Are you leaving because of Dad?"
Mom looks at me surprised, "I-I ummm…" She's stuttering which means she's nervous. "Nooooo pshh, Jack-Jack probably only said that to get your attention, this has nothing to do with your dad." She turns around and faces the wall. Me and my mom are horrible liars, so I can tell she's not telling me something.
"But-"
"Just pack your things and go to sleep, I'll see you in the morning." She snaps and hurriedly walks away.
I just finished my science project when the bell rings; I quickly walk up to the front of the classroom and hand in my project. Whew! Finished it right when the period ended, that's what I call a close call. It's 2:40 and I groan, school ended, normally people love it when school is done, but I don't. At least not today; I have to meet up with Jack after school and from there we're going to my house to get my things. Then we head back to his house where my adventure starts. By adventure I mean living with Jack Brewer. I stuff my things inside my backpack and head for the door, Jack told me to meet him behind the school because he doesn't want anybody seeing me walk with him. So I wait until nobody is looking and head to the back of the school; there are not many people so it doesn't take as long as I thought. I guess everybody was in a hurry to head home today. I see the dumpster and a familiar shadow rested next to it. It's Jack, today he decided to wear all black –black shirt, black jacket, and black shoes. The only color on him is his jeans which are dark blue and his hair. Even his headphones are black, he doesn't look up when I arrive, he just keeps bobbing his head to the music.
"Jack?" I say quietly, he doesn't look up.
"Jack?" I say a little bit louder, no reply.
"Jack!" I yell, still no reply, how loud did he put the music?
"JACK!" I shout, finally his head shoots up. He jumps up and grabs my shoulders and slams me into wall.
"Don't ever do that!" He growls.
I look down at the ground and stutter out a small sorry. He lets go of me and tells me to follow him. Naturally I do, but he stops me, "Maintain a 3 feet distance."
I stop and wait for him to walk, and then when I'm sure I start walking. Stupid him and his stupid bad boy reputation. After we exit the school, I walk up a little closer to him, he doesn't say anything this time. I guess since no one's here it's ok with him.
"Do you know the way?" I ask him.
"Shut up blondie!" He snaps.
Why is he always so irritated around me? He keeps on walking in front of me, look at him acting like he knows the way. I think bitterly, but then I remember he's been to my house before. Great now I feel stupid. We arrive at my house after what feels like hours, my mom and his parent are already there with my suitcases and a taxi. They're all smiling at me.
My mom grins at me and waves like an idiot, I cringe, "Hi honey!" She says really cheerfully, and for a split second I wonder if she told the Brewers about my crush on Jack, she wouldn't do that would she?
"How was school?" She asks me and Jack. I don't reply and he does the same.
"Jack!" Mrs. Brewer warns, "Mrs. Crawford just asked you something."
He takes a deep breath and starts talking, "It was fine," he says in a dull tone, "right?" He looks over at me and smirks, probably thinking about how he slammed me into the wall earlier.
Understanding what he meant I also reply, "Ummm…yeah it was fine." I say as I slap a smile on my face.
"That's good." Says Mr. Brewer. "I'm so glad you are staying with Jack he could really use some company while we're gone. Sometimes when he's home alone he gets scared."
Jack glares at Mr. Brewer his face is bright red, I smirk, "Yeah I'm glad I could help with his problem." I say overly cheerfully. That was a mistake.
My mom speaks up, "Oh! Since Kim is helping you," she turns to Jack, "with your problems you could also help Kim with her waking up problem." Now it's my turn to glare and turn bright red, while Jack smirks at me.
He gives me a dangerous look, "Oh I would be happy to help."
I gulp inside. I look around and ask my mom, "How come there's only my luggage and not yours?"
My mom laughs, "They're in the taxi, Kim." She says as if to say 'duh!'.
Jack starts snickering, but his mom gives him a glare and he immediately stops. I guess he does listen to his parents.
"Jack when we leave, you're going to have to help Kim with her suitcases okay?" Mrs. Brewer says.
Jack smirks again, "Sure thing Mom."
His mom nods approvingly, "Good."
My mom gives me a hug and a kiss and so do Jacks mom and dad too. Suddenly, I feel a pang of jealousy as Jack gets to have two kisses and two hugs whereas I only get one. Look at me I sound like a baby. The Brewers and my mom climb into the taxi and start waving as they drive away, I know I have tears in my eyes, but I refuse to let them drop in front of Jack. The driver whisks away my mom and Jacks parents in one second. I let out a breath and press my lips together; I look over at Jack, he's texting on his phone. Does he not have any emotion about his parents?
I snap my fingers, "Jack?"
He looks up and glares at me, "What do you want."
I've never been to his house before, so I have no idea where to go. I move my fingers as if to say, 'lead the way.' He starts walking and I do too until I realize that I have two big suitcases and one little one to carry.
I clear my throat, "Um Jack?" I say and he turns around, that stupid irritated look on his face, "What about my suitcases?"
He looks down at my luggage and then back at me and then keeps walking down the street. I watch him walk away and then look at my suitcases. What the hell is wrong with him? Why can't he help me? Nobody's here anyways. Grumbling to myself I try to pull my two big suitcases forward, but their too damn heavy. I try even more and close my eyes, it starts moving. Yesss! But then I realize I'm not moving the two suitcases, Jack is. He looks at me with those beautiful eyes of his.
"Such a weakling." He shakes his head.
Those words they're something special, I feel like I know those words. I remember the other words that gave me a weird feeling in my stomach: 'Hey blondie, what's your name!' and now these, 'such a weakling.' Why are these words so important? I have no idea what they are leading me to, but all I know is that, I'm getting closer to finding that special puzzle piece. But I really got to write this down or else I'm going to forget it. Though, the only thing I'm thinking about right now –as Jack walks away with my two big suitcases- is that the all tough Jack Brewer just helped me. Smiling to myself I grab my little suitcase and start walking after him, ready to begin my new life.