The memory of Caldon Hockley was in Tammy's mind. The way he always pleaded Rose to be his girlfriend. She knew he would be jealous.
He was quarterback and Capitan of the Rangers football team of Methuen High School in Santa Monica. He was the football hero, every towns dream. He was destined to go somewhere. He had the money and the contacts. No one knew what Cal was like when he was jealous. They were about to find out. The bus stopped at foster square the third of eight bus stops along the route to school.
Rose and Jack were in mid-conversation about the White Stripes. Rose just told Jack that her favorite song was Jolene. And Jack said his had to be Seven Nation Army, when Cal took his first step onto the bus. As he climbed up the next two steps he looked up around the seats at Rose.
He was disappointed to see another person sitting in HIS seat.
Rose looked up noticing the towering figure in the front of the seat. Cal.
"Hello Cal." Rose smiled at him.
Jack realized now. 'No duh Jack! How could a beautiful girl like Rose not be taken.'
Rose shrugged at Cal and turned back to Jack.
"Hey did you realize that you have the same name as Jack?" Rose questioned Jack.
"Yeah but I'm more of the drummer guy." Jack stated. Actually Fabrizio, Tommy, and Ryan asked me to be the drummer of their garage band before you came."
"Really?" Rose asked. " I remember they said something about it last time we all hung out at the movies last weekend, but I had no idea they were serious."
"Yeah." Jack answered. "Were going to start today. Maybe you should come by and see how bad we suck." Jack offered enthusiastically.
Cal sighed impatiently and took a different seat two seats in front of Jack and Roses. The bus closed it's doors and started to drive off.
"Ok that sounds like fun. Me and the gang usually hang out after school anyway. Who's house?" Rose asked.
"Mine." Tommy spoke up.
"Ok." Rose nodded. "So girls does anyone have an extra pair of earplugs?" Rose joked.
Everyone laughed.
Meanwhile Cal was contemplating. 'What's wrong with her? I'm as good as anyone if not better. No. I'm definitely better than that trailer trash.'
When they got off the bus they headed towards the library. It was their hang out every morning before the bell rang. When they got there Jack asked Rose about Cal.
"Rose?"
"Yeah Jack?"
"Who's that Cal guy?"
"Oh, he's just some lowlife that stalks me." Rose joked. " He asks me out every other week. And my answer is always no. I would have said yes, but luckily his old girlfriend told me that he beat her constantly. When I confronted him he simply stated that 'She wasn't acting proper enough for me.' He's ridiculous. So basically I don't have to deal with him besides saying no every now and then."
Jack look at her like she just explained a complicated answer to the meaning of life. "Wow." was all he could manage.
"Don't worry. He'll go away." Rose smiled at Jack.
"Ok." Jack replied.
"Oh god Rose here comes that big doof head of a bastard Cal." Fabrizio piped up.
There of coarse was Cal walking in the direction of Rose.
"Hey. Can I talk to you for a second?" Cal asked. "…. alone?"
"No." was all Rose said.
"Fine. I'll just ask you again tomorrow." Cal said tauntingly.
"Whatever you say to me can be said in front of everyone. If not I'll tell them anyway. So what do you want?" Rose asked.
"Why are you hanging with that scum?" Cal asked.
"Umm…what scum? I see people but no scum. If your referring to my friends maybe because they're my oh…..I don't know? FRIENDS! If you are I'd really appreciate it if you'd shut up and leave me and them alone. Now I'm never talking to you again. You offended me." Rose said like a little child. Pouted and turned back to her friends.
"Rose stop acting like a child." Cal said getting annoyed.
"Not talking to you." Rose said in a taunting voice.
"Fine. I'm sorry Rose. But I can't see why you hang around with that tailor trash."
"You're not making things better. Maybe you should leave and learn to be nice." Rose said in a competitively annoying tone.
"No." Cal said testing her.
"Cal you're really starting to piss Rose off. Maybe you should leave her alone." Tommy told Cal.
"Maybe, maybe not." Cal said trying to provoke Rose. He wanted her to lash out at him. So he could get back at her for simply not being his friend at all.
Rose took a deep breath. " Fine. Then we'll leave . Come on guys. Rose said grabbing her book bag, and turning away.
"I don't think so." Cal said grabbing her shoulder. Rose whipped back in a flash. Now facing him she said "Get off me you no good son of a bitch." Rose said while clenching her teeth.
"No." Cal said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Ryan, Fabrizio, Khleo, Alex, and Tommy nodded. Jack, Rose, Cal, and the girls remained oblivious.
Ryan grabbed Cal. Fabrizio dragged him away.
Cal started to look a little worried. Everyone accept the 'nodders' looked amazed.
"Look Cal Rose said leave her alone, now your either going to do that or you going to have to fight us. What's your decision?"
"Get off me." Cal said trying to shrug out of Ryan's grip. But he wasn't going anywhere.
"Go away." Tommy said. Then he nodded at Ryan and Ryan let him go. Cal walked away. Looking back only once to give a threatening glance.
"I hope we permanently got rid of him, this time." Fabrizio sighed.