What the hell had possessed him to do this? Yes he liked school, but not the people. Yes he had a few good mates during his younger years, but he hadn't talked to any of them in years. Any teacher worth remembering had long since died and it wasn't like he would have a decent time. So what in the bloody world had possessed Becker to attend his class reunion?
Becker was seated at one of the back tables, far from the main congregation of fellow classmates. He watched the main floor, mentally places older faces with names. He had yet to run into anyone worth talking to, much less anyone worth approaching. He was debating whether or not to leave now. The night hadn't been anything exciting. What was exciting about seeing people whom you'd never associated with when you were younger?
Becker sighed and rose from his chair. He pushed his chair in and walked around the main floor, toward the door. No one seemed to notice him while he moved toward the exit. Frankly he wasn't expecting anyone to notice him. He wasn't exactly the same as he'd been in school.
"As I live and breathe. Hil Becker." Said a gruff voice.
Becker turned quickly. Sitting just a meter from him was an older man. His hair was thin and purely white. He wore a dark suit and carried a black cane. The man rose from his seat. He walked slowly up to Becker, looking up at him.
"Took my advice in the service did you?" he asked.
Becker smiled. "Coach Lucas." He reached out to shake the man's hand.
Lucas shook Becker's hand. "Barely recognized you Hil. Service changed you. For the better of course."
"Yes sir." Becker said.
Lucas chuckled. "Sir. Listen to you. I'm hardly in a position to be called 'sir' now."
"Well if it hadn't been for you, sir, I wouldn't be where I am today." Becker said.
"Service treated you well then?"
"Very well." Becker nodded.
"Excellent. I always knew you'd excel in there. You had more potential within you that no school could let you reach." Lucas said. He glanced around a moment. "However, I'm a tad surprised to see you here alone."
Becker frowned. "What do you mean?"
"No wife. Not even a young lady by your side." Lucas explained.
Becker snorted lightly. "No sir. My job…well…it doesn't quite allow the freedom for a personal life."
Lucas raised his cane and shook it near Becker's face. "Every job allows it son. You just need to find the right balance."
Becker nodded. "Yes sir."
Lucas chuckled again. "You certainly have changed Becker. Sure you were an excellent student, but I knew there was something in you. And I'm glad to see it brought about this change."
Becker smiled.
Lucas' eyes shifted behind Becker. "Unfortunately, not everyone returned here a changed person."
Becker looked over his shoulder. He spotted a group of women, whom he remembered as the school's more distinguished students at the time. However, the years had not been kind to them. Several were largely overweight. All seemed to have lost their beauty they'd had in their younger years. Though by the look on their faces, they were still the same snobs and bane of everyone's existence. The women were walking through the crowd, heading toward a smaller woman.
"It' a shame some people can't learn that they don't hold the positions they once did in the narrow mind as a student." Lucas said.
Becker nodded. He'd seen this form of ritual so many times during school. The girls filed through the hall in long line, forcing everyone to move aside for them. They always moved that way when they were searching for their daily victim. However the poor victim was always the same one. A young girl. Younger than everyone in the school. Every time Becker watched these girl torment the poor girl to the verge of tears. Now after so many years, the girls hadn't seem to grow out of the cruel and distasteful actions.
"Glad to see you made it doormat." Said one of the women. "I've been wondering what happened to you."
'Doormat' as was her cruel nickname given to her, turned around. Becker's jaw dropped. He couldn't be seeing what he was seeing. Standing several feet from the group of cruel girls, dressed in a bright green dress, was Jess. She stood tall, not meaning her heels. Her hands dropped to her side without any sign of fear. Becker shook his head, unable to believe that was Jess. He quickly ran through the bitter memories he held of watching the torture. But no matter how many times he did, he just couldn't see the young girl as Jess.
"Excuse me." Becker said. He walked from his old coach toward the crowd that was forming around Jess and the other women.
"Beverly. Trish. Lisa. Janey. You all look…different." Jess said.
Beverly folded her arms. She looked Jess over from head to toe. "Well, well doormat, you seemed to have finally grown up. You finally stop wearing that bionic shirt?"
"Binary." Jess corrected. "And no. I still have it. I love wearing it around my flat."
Beverly snorted. "Guess I was wrong, you haven't grown up yet. Still glued to your computer like it's a human being."
Jess sighed heavily. "You know Beverly, I'm willing to let the past be the past. I simply came to enjoy myself this evening."
"I bet you did." Beverly said. "Tell me, does that computer do things for that no man can?"
Jess said nothing.
"Did you name your computer after that one guy you couldn't never in a million year be good enough for?" Beverly asked.
"At least Jess has a chance." Becker said. He stepped through the crowd. "You've been so busy perfecting the art of being a bitch it's amazing you're even alive."
Everyone's attention shifted to Becker. Jess' eyes grew wide in shock. Beverly turned toward Becker. "Just who the hell are you?"
"You like talking Bev, you figure it out." Becker said.
"I think I'd remember knowing an attractive man." Beverly said.
Becker smirked. "Jess, maybe you should help them out. It seems their IQ's have dropped since school."
"Um…sure Becker." Jess said.
Beverly's eyes grew large. "Becker? Hilltop Becker? You've got to be joking."
"People have been known to change Beverly. Unfortunately, you're the exception to the rule." Becker said. "Now, I suggest you leave before someone calls security on you."
"You have no authority over me Hilltop." Beverly said.
Becker took a large step toward Beverly and looked down at her." You have no idea what kind of authority I have."
Whatever snappy comeback Beverly had was quickly withdrawn, as was every ounce of courage she had. She turned round and quickly fled the hall with her lackeys in flank. Almost immediately the party continued as if nothing had happened.
Becker sighed and turned toward Jess. "You okay?"
Jess smiled. "Yeah. Thanks. I didn't know you attended here."
"Didn't read in my file" Becker asked.
"Personal bits, remember." Jess replied.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I didn't know you attend as well." Becker said.
Jess laughed.
"Glad to see someone finally acted." Lucas joined the two in conversation.
"Coach Lucas, it's so good to see you again." Jess smiled.
"Jessica you look very grown up now." Lucas said. "I hope your job it treating you well."
Jess nodded. "Absolutely. Actually, I'm working with Becker."
Lucas' brow rose. "Oh? You work with the military as well?"
"Government, actually." Becker corrected. "She's a field coordinator."
"And you say your job prevents a social life." Lucas shook his head and walked from the two.
Jess frowned. "What did he mean by that?"
But Becker didn't answer. He watched his old mentor walk from him. He glanced back down toward Jess, who was still watching Lucas leave. He smiled and returned his gaze back to Lucas. Maybe he did have a personal life?
okay so i had this idea for some time about JEss and becker attending school together. you know how jess is so young she could totally have been there when she was like 13 or 12.
