I don't own any lyrics used in this chapter, all rights reserved to Example and whoever else helped with the creation of the song.
The morning dragged on slowly, by the time the bell rang for lunch, Sean was sure someone had altered the time someone and two days had passed, that's how it felt. He grabbed his bag and sprinted out of class, ahead of the rush of students making their way to the cafeteria. Chey was waiting at his locker already,without a word, he dropped off his books, closed his locker and headed towards the main exit.
"Sean? Where are you going?"
"To check on Jason."
Chey ran to keep up with his strides, blocking his way when she finally passed him.
"Why?"
"I need to see if he's alright, he could be dead for all I know, Chey and I'd be partially my fault."
She sighed in frustration.
"Sean, how many more times? It was a nightmare! That's all. Coincidences happen. He's probably home with a stomach bug or something."
He ignored her and made his way to Jason's house, knocking on the door a little harder than he had intended to. The man that had slapped Jason last time opened the door.
"Wha'dya wan'?" He asked gruffly, squinting in the winter sunlight.
"Is Jason home?"
The man folded his arms.
"Who's asking?"
"Me."
"And who the hell might you be?"
"I'm Sean, this is Chey, we're friends of Jason."
"Jason doesn't have friends."
Chey looked the man up and down subtley, resisting the urge to show her repulsion to his sweat and food stained, unkempt clothes and his rough appearence.
The man grunted before turning and facing the stairs, before yelling up for Jason.
"What the fuck do you want now, Steve?" Jason's voice floated down stair. Sean breathed a sigh of relief.
"People at the door for you, say they're friends." The man glared at the pair, before waddling back into the livingroom. Footsteps could be heard descending the stairs and Jason came into view.
"Shouldn't yeez be at school?" He asked.
"Shouldn't you?" Chey shot back.
Sean scruntinized his friend, searching for any signs of illness. He found none, only-
"How did you get those cuts?"
Jason glanced down at his arms.
"...I have no fuckin' clue, mate. Woke up with 'em didn' I?'
Sean gave Chey an 'I told you so!' glance, before facing the boy again.
"You woke up with them?"
"Aye, it was weird, man. I had this fucked up dream. You were in it to, and some other dude, I think. "
Sean's heart skipped a beat.
"The burned man? You called him a-"
"-a melted candy cane. How the fuck did you know?"
"I had he same dream!" Sean thrust his hand into Jason's face. "I burned my hand in the dream and look!"
"The fuck? How could we have the same dream, man? It's not possible, is it?"
Chey stamped her foot in annoyence.
"No! It's not. You had similar dreams and those dreams didn't hurt you! For God's sake! Think logically, it's not possible! It cannot happen!" With that, she turned on her heel and marched back to school, muttering inaudibly to herself.
Jason raised an eyebrow.
"What's up with her?"
Sean shrugged.
"PMS?"
Jason shook his head. " You're lucky she isn't here to hear that, or you, my pal, would have had you're head bitten off by now."
"I know, why do you think I waited?" A smile. "Jason, there was another boy in the dream, Jacob, you remember him right?"
Jason thought, trying to recall the name. Sean found himself sneaking glances at the boy infront of his, fighting the urge to kiss him.
"Aye, I think so, is that not the lad who was gonna get battered until I stepped in? The one who seems to annoy the cunt who thinks he rules the place?"
Sean nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
"So?"
"Well...His mother was killed last night and before I met you in that dream, I met him and he told me that 'melted candy-cane' killed his mum. And then he was...injured. Apparently, he's now in hospital. He seemed to know something, Jason."
Jason contemplated this information while swinging the front door.
"Reckon we oughta pay this Jacob lad a visit, aye?"
Sean nodded, "Could clear some of this weird shit up."
"Right. Give me a sec, infact, hold on, come in just now. I need to sort some stuff before heading off." Jason moved aside and held the door open wider for Sean to enter the hallway.
"Such as what?"
"Such as changing my shirt, getting my phone etcetera. I ain't walking the streets looking like a tramp." He made his way up stairs into the room, Sean following.
Jason motioned for him to sit, while looking through drawers for a clean T-shirt.
Sean gave a startled yelp as a dog surfaced from under the covers of the bed he sat on, Jason turned.
"What?"
"The dog!"
"You're not scared of dogs, are you?"
"No, I just didn't realise it was there."
Jason chuckled "How the fuck can you miss it?" He resumed searching for a shirt while Sean petted the dog as it sniffed him. He looked up in time to see Jason pull off his current shirt and exchange it for the clean one. He couldn't help staring, mentally drooling. Jason, oblivious to this fact, sprayed on some deoderant and grabbed his phone.
"Y'ready?"
Sean got off the bed, pushing the dog away gently and nodded as Jason lead the way downstairs. In the hallway, he searched through a clutter of mess on the table, before producing keys.
"You drive?" Sean asked.
Jason nodded, walking out the door.
"Course I drive!"
"Why do you walk to school then?"
"...'Cause I'm not a lazy bugger?"
Sean accepted the answer, hesitating before closing the front door.
"What is it now?" Jason asked when he noticed Sean's abscence.
"..Aren't you going to tell your dad you're going out?"
"My dad?"
"Isn't that guy-"
"Fuck no! That's Steve. He's a guardian. And he doesn't give a shit anyway, so there's really no point in telling him anything."
Sean noticed a change in Jason's attitude,he seemed colder. Deciding not to press the issue, he nodded and closed the door, following Jason to a Honda Civic SI 09.
"Jesus christ, this is your car?"
Jason gave a nod, unlocking it.
"How the hell did you get this?"
"Stole it."
Sean stopped, giving him a wide-eyed stare.
Jason snorted. "I'm kidding, you dope."
"I know that!" He got into the passenger seat, noted the immaculate condition of the car. It was clear that despite the house's appearence, Jason was not a messy person.
Jason pulled his seatbelt across his torso and started the engine, music filled the car.
Yes you're really gorgeous,
very nearly flawless,
But why didn't your mum teach you to dance?
Yes you're really gorgeous,
Your arse should win awards, yeah.
Why didn't your mum teach you to dance?
"You know where the hospital is, right?"
Sean nodded.
"Good, you can be my satnav." He pulled away from the curb with ease and preformed a U-turn.
Jennifer, skin was like cinnamon,
took her for dinner and then to the cinema.
One week, still hadn't been with her,
took her out clubbin', that's when I knew.
Soon as she wiggled it all seemed familiar,
Kerry and Lydia did something similar,
I've heard a rule, a line you should tread,
if she can't dance she's rubbish in bed.
So damn pretty,
Girl can you dance?
You might be witty,
Girl can you dance?
I'm glad you're with me,
Girl can you dance?
It's such a pity,
Girl you can't dance.
"So, why weren't you at school?" Sean asked, looking at Jason. He didn't take his eyes off the road.
"Couldn't be bothered with school."
"So..You just didn't go?"
"That would be what happened, Seany boy."
"And you're gurdian was okay with that?" Sean raised an eyebrow.
"I told, Sean, Steve doesn't give a shit about what I do. I could murder someone and he wouldn't care. All he cares about is his girlfriend, his son, tv and his next meal."
"He has a girlfriend?" Sean covered his mouth.
Jason laughed. "My sentiments exactly, although to be perfectly honest, she's a dog as well. I'm pretty sure she's a transvestite."
Yes you really gorgeous,
very nearly flawless,
But why didn't your mum teach you to dance?
Yes you're really gorgeous,
Your arse should win awards, yes.
Why didn't your mum teach you to dance?
You might have the chat and the batty to match,
I'm looking good when you're sat in my lap.
Your body is banging I'm happy with that,
but you ain't got rhythm and that is a fact.
Spillin' your drink, steppin' on toes,
a pussy cat doll you're not, no.
Nobodies perfect, look at my lips,
but you need some lessons at shaking your hips.
"So, if he doesn't give a shit, why does he keep you around?"
"Money. And the fact that he has a pu-...Never mind."
"A pu?"
"I said, nevermind, Sean." The warning in Jasons tone told Sean to not to press the issue at hand, besides, he didn't want to anger Jason, especially after seeing what he had done to Kane.
So damn pretty,
Girl can you dance?
You might be witty,
Girl can you dance?
I'm glad you're with me,
Girl can you dance?
It's such a pity,
Girl you can't dance.
Watch your glass, watch your feet.
Pay some attention to what's in the beat.
Watch your feet, watch your glass.
Watch the way you shake that, shake that, shake that, shake that, shake...
"It's a right here." Sean said, pointing out the opening. Jason turned the steering-wheel, stopping at a red light.
You walk the walk and talk the talk,
know how to use a knife and fork.
You smell just like a girl should smell,
Mademoiselle, by Channel.
Tick all the boxes except for one,
It's pretty important cause this is a lot,
The dancing box, that's where it's at,
Cause if you got rhythm you're good in the sack.
So damn pretty,
Girl can you dance?
You might be witty,
Girl can you dance?
I'm glad you're with me,
Girl can you dance?
It's such a pity,
Girl you can't dance.
So damn pretty,
Girl can you dance?
You might be witty,
Girl can you dance?
I'm glad you're with me,
Girl can you dance?
It's such a pity,
Girl you can't dance.
"Who sings that?" Sean asked.
"Example."
"The one who sings Kickstarts?"
Jason nodded. "That would be Example."
"Didn't know you were a fan."
"There's a lot you don't know about me."
Sean fell silent. 'Was that flirtation? Or am I reading into a simple comment? It seemed like flirtation.' Sean scolded himself silently for thinking that without even knowing Jason's sexuality, although he could almost garuntee he was straight, for certain.
After a half-hours drive, with them losing their way twice, then having to circle the parking lot until the found a space, the two teenagers finally made it to the hospital reception. Sean rang the bell, getting the receptionists attention.
"Can I help you boys?" She smiled.
"Uh, yeah, we're here to see Jacob Johnson?"
The woman looked at the details on a computer before directing them to Jacobs room. They walked down the corridors, their shoes squeaking on the polish floor.
"It fucking stinks in here." Jason muttered, referring to the typical disinfectant-urine-hospital smell. Sean nodded in agreement.
After a brief walk through the maze of hallways, the eventually found themselves outside Jacobs room. Jason opened the door and entered first. Jacob lay in the white sheeted hospital bed, hooked up to drips, tubes and wires, the beeping of the heart-monitor was the only sound disturbing the silence. By Jacobs side sat an averaged height girl with brown hair and blue eyes. She looked up at the sudden disturbence.
"Who are you?" She asked, supiciously. "No reporters allowed in here."
Jason scoffed. "We're not reporters! We're...friends of Jacobs."
"No, you're not, because I'm his best friend, so I'd know if you were friends of his. Who are you really?"
Sean stepped forward. "Look this is going to sound crazy, but, I had a dream and in that dream I seen Jacob get hurt by a man with a hat, stripped sweater and -"
"Knives for fingers" He and the girl both said at the same time.
His eyes widened. "You...You've seen him?"
The girl nodded, revealing her bandaged wrist.
"I had a run-in with him."
Sean sat down in disbelief.
"So..we're not crazy."
"So, you're his best friend, eh? What's his condition?" Jason asked, nodded towards Jacob.
The girl looked up at him.
"He's stable. It was touch and go for a while, but he pulled through, he's sedated at the minute."
Jason growled in frustration.
"At least he's okay..Well as okay as can be expected." Sean said.
The girl nodded once again. "So, who are you two?"
"I'm Sean and this hot-head here, is Jason."
"I'm Hannah."
"Nice to meet you, well, not under the circumstances, obviously, but you know."
She gave a small smile. "So, how do you guys know about this man?"
Sean re-told his dream, with Jason cutting in when he thought necessary and Hannah exchanged the information Jacob had given her only a few short days ago. A spluttering sound brought the trio out of their conversation, their attention being diverted to Jacob.
"Shit, shit get a nurse!" Sean called, hitting the button to summon help. Jason flung open the door and called out for a doctor, while Hannah tried to calm Jacob, who had began thrashing. The wires and tubes had become disconnected, the beeping of the heart monitor seemed endless as Jacobs heart raced.
"What's the matter with him?" Hannah almost screamed on the verge of hysteria.
"Fuck knows but the damn doctors better get here soon." Jason growled, still on the look out for doctors coming. Hannah joined him.
"Look! Doctors!" She pointed down the hallway where a team of doctors were rushing down the hallway. As they entered the doorway, and surrounded Jacob, the sound of flesh ripping made the trio turn round. A gargling sound escaped Jacobs lips, followed by a steady flow of crimson blood. The three teens stared wide-eyed at the body of Jacob Johnson, his throat now slashed open with precise accuracy, three gashes in his chest. The once-white sheets were now soaked dark red. A small rasping sound came and the heart monitor gave a beep, with no pauses, the lines now steady.
Hannah dropped to her knees, sobbing as Sean stepped back, holding onto the door frame for support. Jason stood, no emotion on his face.
Jacob's wide-eyed non-seeing stare showed a look of pure terror. The doctors took a final pulse and close Jacobs eyes for the last time, before pulling the blood-soaked sheets over his head, covering him from the world.
Okay, so. The song in this chapter was Girl Can't Dance by Example. As I already stated, I do not own any of the lyrics and have no intention of infringement.