Hey guys. Man it's been about a week since I've updated. I've had more problems with my laptop and now I've had to borrow one just to write another chapter. It took me awhile to think of an idea for the next chapter but I finally came up with something I think is satisfactory. Enjoy everyone and try to guess the song. I know that Big Cliffy Meanie will continue to get it haha. Rock on everybody!

Chapter 9. Man In the Box

Saturday, June 8th, 2012: End of Junior Year

Fuck my life thought TJ Detweiler over and over again.

Summer was supposed to bring joy and freedom, not pain and hurt. He didn't understand why things had to be the way they were. He didn't want to even get up that morning. The previous day had been nothing short of awful and he tried not to think about the consequences of what had happened but even as he woke up at 11 am that morning it just replayed in his mind. He grimaced as he held his bandaged hand in obvious pain.


Flashback: Last day of school, outside the gym parking lot, Fifth Street School

"Yo Vince, are we set for the Van Halen concert tomorrow?"

"Yeah man. I got three tickets each for you, Gus, and Shelly. I don't understand you white boys" Vince laughed.

"What don't you understand? It's fuckin classic rock and it's the best music ever created."

"Whatever TJ my man, I'll stick to Wiz Khalifa haha"

TJ turned around and lit up a cigarette. He was wearing his favorite John Lennon sunglasses.

"You should really quit that shit man. Bad for your lungs" said Vince making a face at the revolting smoke, TJ puffed.

"You're one to talk. You need to stop all that drinking if you wanna go to Syracuse or North Carolina for basketball dude." said TJ taking a long drag from his cigarette.

Vince cracked a stupid grin. "Don't worry bout me Teej. It's not my lungs that are going to hell."

"Yeah well at least it won't be my liver" countered TJ.

They both laughed now. Their self-acknowledged immaturity hitting them like a bomb. Just being knuckleheads sitting on the edge of TJ's jeep was enough to get by. It was the way things were.

"Who are we waiting for. Shelly?"

"No shit Vince. It's the last day of school, I'm looking for some time just me and her today" he added with a small wink.

"What are you gonna do? Go do it in a dumpster?"

"Up your ass. I got the hook up in the teacher's lounge." said TJ with a mischievous smile.

"So Hustler Kid is actually useful for something other than weed and cocaine? Never thought I'd see the day." Vince shook his head and then wiped it. He always wore a sweat band on his head and on this day he certainly needed it. It had to be over ninety degrees.

Minutes passed and TJ grew anxious.

"Where the fuck is she?" he said looking at his phone.

"Try texting her" said Vince casually opening up a bottle of gatorade.

"I've done that three times already she hasn't replied." said TJ, his temper rising.

"Relax man, she'll be here." said Vince calmly.

Over the years, TJ had developed a bit of a temper, Vince remaining cool as a a cucumber. This situation did not make TJ feel any more at ease.

"Fuck it I'm gonna look for her" said TJ starting to speed-walk towards the school building.

"Alright man, I'll go with you. Just chill." said Vince close behind.

He didn't have to look long unfortunately. He walked along the sidewalk, baseball cap backwards, sunglasses hiding his emotions. He was so excited to see Shelly, because today was the today they had promised to have sex. Shelly was not a virgin, TJ was, and he felt extremely anxious.

But as he turned the corner to the bus lot he felt his entire world shatter.

Shelly was sitting right in a corner of grass and shade with the one person he could never stand: Irwin Lawson.

They were kissing passionately, it would take an iron crowbar to separate them. And what was worse, they had a hand in each other's pants.

Slowly, like a volcano, TJ's anger rose to boiling point until it exploded. He felt his face turn red and his head felt like a hot air balloon.

He ran towards his cheating girlfriend and his hated enemy fists clenched.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" he yelled at them.

Immediately they broke apart. Shelly looking shocked and afraid, but Lawson wearing the same cocky grin he always carried on his face.

"What's up T-Jerk" he said with a smirk.

TJ didn't know who to hit first, who to smack and send them straight to the ER.

With blind fury he swung his fist at the first thing he saw. He felt his fist collide with skin and cheekbone.

He looked up and saw he had completely totaled Lawson. He was on the ground and was spitting blood.

"What's the matter TJ? Can't handle competition" he said with an ugly frown at TJ.

"You just graduated asshole. Why my girlfriend?" said TJ through clenched teeth.

Lawson's smile returned, blood on his teeth. "She doesn't go for virgins man. I thought you would know that"

With the quickness of a cobra TJ struck Lawson again in the eye. He fell to the ground clutching his face.

"You never could beat me Lawson. Not even in fourth grade. You should know better, now I'm gonna have to kick your ass once more!"

"Go ahead then!" replied Lawson. "Kick my ass! Look who's getting pussy faggot!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! For once in your life shut your fucking mouth!" yelled TJ and he gave Lawson a strong kick to the face, which sent him to the curb.

He groaned as he leaned over onto the road. TJ aimed another kick, this time to his ribs, when a hand stopped him.

It was Shelly. "TJ, please don't!" she said though tears. "I'm so sorry...I don't know why I did it...just don't hurt him!"

TJ immediately turned on her now. "What have you got to say now? You stupid fucking blabbermouth cunt!"

"TJ, I'm sorry. I love you..." she pleaded.

This caused TJ to raise his fist.

"Don't you dare say anything about love to me! You lied and cheated on me like a fucking whore, and you think apologizing and saying you love me will fix everything? Don't even think to insult me by saying you "love" me!"

He backed her into a corner with his fist raised, ready to strike. His anger seething through his body.

"You don't do virgins?" he said quietly. "Fuck you"

He prepared to hit her with all of his might, until he heard a voice. "Yo TJ! What you doin bruh?"

As he swung his fist he turned and saw Vince, looking surprised and horrified. Unfortunately, this lapse in concentration caused TJ to miss Shelly and hit the hard, brick wall behind her.

Shelly shrieked and ran as he missed and an immediate shot of pain entered TJ's hand.

"SHIT!" he shouted clutching his hand.

"TJ!" yelled Vince. He rushed over and put his arm around his best friend. "Dude what happened? Did you really just hit Shelly?"

"No" said TJ through gritted teeth, fighting the throbbing pain in his right hand. It was obviously broken. "Can we just get to the hospital? I think this fuckin thing is broken."

Vince looked over at the crying Shelly, looking over the equally hurt Lawson.

"Yeah man let's go. We don't need to be here right now. Let's just make sure you're alright."

TJ looked up at his loyal friend, knew that Vince always had his back. He nodded as Vince helped him to his jeep.

With that they drove off for a clinic to ease the pain in TJ's hand, but it would do nothing to ease the turmoil within his heart.

Feed my eyes, won't you sew them shut?

Jesus Christ, deny your maker

He who tries, will be wasted

Feed my eyes now, now you've shown them shut

Cuz I'm the man in the box


TJ looked up at the ceiling, the light of the sun was reflecting on the fan above him. How had he let things get this way? Why, why had he fallen for the wrong girl? And even if he thought he didn't care, why was he in so much pain?

He could not take the hurt anymore. He pulled the covers over his head, put his face into the pillow and began to cry.

That's when he heard a voice come from his open window.

"Teej, you okay?"

...to be continued