Here we go! Another chapter and I am sorry it took so long for it to come out. The next one should take as long, I hope.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and I hope that you like this one.
Jake woke up the next morning in a very good mood. He didn't even grumble as his alarm scared him awake. He set about his normal morning work, cleaning himself up and generally making sure that he was ready for the day. He double checked to make sure that his home work was in his bag before putting it over his shoulder and heading down the stairs. He dumped the bag by the front door and headed into the kitchen to grab a quick bite to eat.
Looking through the frig for a moment he found that there really wasn't anything good inside and decided to just have a bowl of cold cereal. He finished his breakfast just as he heard a loud horn honking from out front. Jake looked up at the clock above the kitchen door, he jumped up from his chair when he saw the time. He quickly put his bowl in the sink and rushed to the front of the house, he grabbed his bag and bolted out the front door barley remembering to lock it behind him.
Sitting in the driveway was Chance's large black truck, the windows where down and one of his large arms was hanging down the side of the door.
"You coming?" He called out with a grin.
Jake smiled back and rushed to the passenger side door. He climbed in and once the door was closed Chance started pulling away from the house. They set off down the road going slightly over the speed limit. Jake tried to stop himself from smiling but wasn't able to, it kept pulling at his lips and he figured he either wore the smile or pull a face muscle fighting it.
"You look happy today." Chance commented.
Jake rubbed the back of his head and laughed.
"Just a good day I guess." He said.
"The day only just started." Chance said looking at him.
Jake shrugged his shoulder which earned a laugh from Chance. Jake playfully punched Chance in the shoulder, unfortunately this invited Chance to lightly shove him so that he banged against the car door.
"Oh crap!" Chance said looking shocked. "Are you alright?"
Jake rubbed his shoulder it stung a little but not too much, he has had worse before.
"Yeah, I am fine." He told Chance. "No harm done."
Chance sighed and put his eyes back on the road.
"Guess I forget my strength sometimes." He said.
"Its understandable." Jake told him. "After all, football players aren't known for there smarts."
Jake saw Chance stare at him from the corner of his eye an fought to keep himself from laughing.
"Watch it tiny." Chance mockingly threatened.
There was silence in the trick for a few minutes until they both started to laugh hard. After a moment they both realized that they had tears falling from there eyes from the force of there laughing. Even with that they continued to laugh until they reached the school parking lot. Chance parked in the same spot he always did, everyone knew that the spot under the twisted tree was his and his alone.
Jake climbed out and went around to the other side to walk with Chance. It might have been Jake's imagination but he could have sworn that people where giving him weird looks as they walked into the building. It might have been because a nobody like him was walking with an everyone like Chance.
Jake felt Chance bump him with his elbow and he stumbled a little.
"You ok?" He asked.
"Yeah, just... you ever get the feeling that when you pass people they are talking about you?" He asked.
Chance nodded. "Yeah and most of the time they are."
Jake's ears fell back against his head and he looked at the groups that where gathered on either side of the hallway. Chance nudged him again as they walked.
"I don't think they are talking about you." Chance said.
"You're probably right, just being paranoid I guess." Jake said.
"Of course I am right." Chance said puffing out his chest. "Now I got to go, what time do you have lunch?"
"Right at the start of third period." He thought for a moment. "Around 12:30."
"Cool, I have the same lunch time. I'll see you there." Chance said before walking off.
Jake stared at Chance's back as he walked off. He couldn't believe what was going on, in less then a day and a half he had managed to do what a lot of the Kats at the school would kill for. The blaring bell brought Jake out of his daze and he began running down the hall so he could get to his locker. He pulled out what he needed and headed off to his first class, and sprinted off. He just made it in when the last bell rang. He sat in his desk and looked up at the clock.
'Its going to take forever for lunch to get here.' Jake thought to himself as the teacher started the lesson.
Jake found that the thought was true, each lesson seemed to drag on and on. Every time he looked at the clock it looked like it had hardly moved at all. There was even a moment when he was sure that the hands on the clock where moving backwards. Finally after what felt like years, the bell for the start of third period rang. Jake dropped his bag off at his computer class before heading off to the lunch room.
Others liked to take there bags with them to lunch, some so they can work on things and others just because. Jake waited in the long lunch line with his tray. He looked around the large room for any sign of Chance but didn't see him. He sighed and moved to the register to pay for his food. He paid the four dollars for his food and started making his way to his normal table in the back of the lunch room. It wasn't until he was almost there that someone pulled on the back of his shirt.
"Holly crap!" He yelped as he tried to hold onto his tray.
He looked behind him and expecting to see Chance standing there with his smug grin on. Instead he was met with the evil grinning face of another large Kat.
'Damn.' Jake thought to himself.
"Hey there Clawson, did you miss me?" He said.
"T... Tank!" Jake whimpered. "When... when did you get back?"
The large Tom took a deep breath puffing his chest out.
"Just today, my two week suspension ended yesterday," Tank said.
Tank looked down at the tray of food Jake was holding and picked up the large pizza slice. He sniffed it for a moment before stuffing half of it into his mouth. Jake watched as Tank ate his expensive slice of pizza, he knew better then to complain about it though. The last time he had stood up to Tank he had almost had his arm broken.
"So..." Tank said through a mouth full of pizza. "How has my little runt been doing?"
Jake didn't answer, instead he just looked at the ground hoping that Tank would get board and move on. He wasn't so lucky. Tank slowly started to move forward forcing Jake to step back. They kept going until Tank had Jake backed into a corner hidden behind a wall which blocked it from the view of the lunch room and the watching teachers.
Tank finished the pizza he took from Jake and licked his lips. He glared down at Jake and placed a claw under his chin.
"Something is different with you." Tank said.
He began to move the claw down Jake's throat circling it around the indent at the base of his neck. Jake closed his eyes and turned his head to the side.
"P.. please." He whimpered. "Stop."
Tank forced Jake's head back towards him.
"Something is different." Tank growled this time. "When did you start talking back?"
Jake couldn't say anything, he was frozen in place. He could feel Tank's claw pressing harder into his skin causing a pressure in his throat. He tried to hold in the cough which only made it hurt all the more when it came out.
"Jake!"
Jake turned his head as much as he could and tried to look around Tank. He saw Tank turn his head to look over his shoulder at the Kat who yelled Jake's name.
"Whats going on here?"
Jake recognized the voice as belonging to Chance. He tried to call out to him but Tank presses hard against his neck stopping anything from coming out.
"He there Furlong, hows it going?" Tank asked like nothing was going on.
Chance narrowed his eyes at Tank and crossed his arms over his chest.
"It would be better if you where not threatening my friend." Chance said.
Tank turned back to look at Jake and snorted.
"This runt is you're friend?" He asked.
Chance took a few steps forward and growled deep in his throat.
"Yes he is and I suggest that you move out of his way before I make you move." Chance threatened.
There was silence for a while during which time both Chance and Tank glared at each other. Finally Tank glared back at Jake and pushed him lightly into the wall.
"I'll see you around buddy." He whispered to Jake.
Tank turned around fully and walked past Chance. Neither one took there eyes off each other until Tank turned the corner. Jake sighed and slid down the wall, he set his tray to the side and put his hand over his heart. His breathing was heavy and he could feel his blood pounding in his ears. He jumped when he felt something on his shoulder.
Looking up he saw Chance crouched in front of him a look of worry on his face.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Jake laughed shakily. "I will be."
Chance helped Jake to his feet and picked up his tray. He lead Jake to an empty table and sat down next to him.
"Jake, what was going on?" Chance asked after a moment.
"It... was nothing." He said not looking at Chance.
Chance snorted. "Sure didn't look like nothing."
Jake glared at Chance.
"Who asked you?" He hissed. "Why don't you just mind you own business!?"
Jake held his glare at Chance for a moment before he let it drop and his ears fell against his head.
"I am sorry..." Jake mumbled.
Chance patted Jake's back lightly.
"Its alright." He told him. "So do you want to tell me what that was all about? I mean it seemed a little beyond regular bulling."
Jake sighed.
"I assume that I don't have to tell you about Tank's reputation?" Jake asked.
Chance shook his head. "I know all about it."
Jake nervously laughed.
"Well, for what ever reason he seems to take particular pleasure in tormenting me above everyone else." Jake told him. "It started a few years ago and just never stopped. There was even a time when he came close to..."
Jake stopped himself before he could say anymore. He hadn't meant to bring that particular subject up, ever since it happened he had tried to bury it deep and never bring it up.
"He came close to what?" Chance asked.
Jake looked up at Chance and saw the general concern in his eyes and on his face. He sighed.
"I am sorry." Jake said. "But I don't want to talk about it."
Jake wrapped his arms around himself, he hadn't done that for a few years he thought that he had broken himself of that habit. He felt Chance's hand rub at his back comfortingly.
"Hey don't worry, I understand." Chance said. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
Jake smiled up at Chance and loosen his grip on himself.
"Thanks."
They stayed sitting in silence for a while longer until the bell rang telling them that there lunch period was over. They both stood up and walked out of the lunch room. Jake stayed close to Chance's side feeling safer next to him. He kept looking over his shoulder looking to see if Tank was anywhere near by, thankfully he wasn't.
He was a little nervous when it came time for them to part ways but he was sure that he wouldn't run into Tank in the two minutes it took to get to his class room. Still that didn't stop him from running to his class room. He sank into his computer chair and let out a sigh. Jake knew that he wasn't out of trouble yet, Chance wouldn't always be around and sooner or later Tank would catch him when he was alone.
Jake held back a shiver that went up his back at that thought.
'Just when things start to go right for me something has to come along and ruin it.' He thought to himself.
Well there ya go, I hope you liked it. I had fun writing it.
Review before you leave please and make my day a good one ^_^