Adriana made her way down the hallway. Luckily, today was Friday. Thank goodness. She looked and saw Jonathan leaving his place.
"Hey," he said.
He had a busted lip.
"Hey. What happened to you?" she asked.
"It's nothing," Jonathan said. "Let's go."
Adriana wanted to know what happened to Jonathan. She wanted to know why he was screamed at when he came home. But it wasn't any of her business.
"Can I call you Jon?" Adriana said. "I mean, if that's fine with you."
"Sure. I prefer to be called that anyways," he said.
He wasn't cheerful this morning. Maybe because it was morning. But hey, it was Friday and he should be happy.
"Would you like to do something after school?" Adriana asked.
"Sure thing. Meet me by the oak tree again after school," Jon said.
It seemed like eternity before school was out. But before the day was over, Adriana did run into a few of her bullies while she was about to leave the building.
"Well, well, you with weirdo now?" a girl named Carmilia said.
"I don't know who you're talking about," Adriana said.
"Yeah you do. Don't lie!" she said.
"I said I don't know who you're talking about!" Adriana yelled at Carmilia.
"Leave her alone, chickenhead," Jon said, walking up to them.
"Is this weirdo your girlfriend?" Carmilia snickered.
"As a matter of fact she is. You're just mad because you can't get dick yourself," Jon said. "Come on, Adriana."
He took her hand and led her out of the building. Only five more minutes before school was out but he didn't care. He was developing feelings for Adriana. He was tired of her being picked on.
"Jon, where are you taking me?" Adriana asked frantically.
"Away from here," he said.
Adriana didn't say another word and walked alongside Jon. He led her to the local park and took her to a swing set.
"Here. Now you can swing in peace," he said.
Jon took Adriana's bookbag and set it on the grass then went to join her on the swings.
"I love swings a lot," Adriana said.
"Swing your little heart out," Jon said.
Adriana giggled.
"Can you push me, please?"
"Sure."
Jon got up and gently pushed Adriana. He didn't push too hard because the last time he pushed a kid the kid fell off and hit their face.
Jon looked at Adriana's hair flowing in the wind. He liked seeing her hair in different styles.
"I like your hair," Jon said. He felt himself blushing a little.
"Thanks. I like yours too!" Adriana said.
"My hair is a mess," Jon said.
Adriana jumped off of the swing.
"That's okay. And guess what?"
"What?"
Adriana walked up to an unsuspecting Jon and pecked him on the lips.
"You're it!"
She ran away from him.
"I'm gonna get you!"
Jon chased Adriana through the park. Adriana was fast. She jumped on the picnic benches and jumped from one to another. Jon was fast too. He was on her heels. But Adriana was a step ahead.
Adriana ducked, bobbed, and weaved her way through the different playground sets. She climbed a ladder which led to a slide. She noticed that it was the slide where you couldn't see anything until you slid out on the other side. She turned and also noticed that Jon wasn't anywhere to be found. He might have gave up.
Adriana slid down the slide.
She saw someone's legs at the end.
"Gotcha!" Jon said.
Adriana laughed as Jon tackled her to the ground and began tickling her.
"You're it!" Jon said.
The two of them played in the park for another two hours. Jon grabbed Adriana's backback and set it down on the grass for her. She laid her head on it. Jon laid his head on it too. The both of them looked up at the clouds in the sky.
"So, are we...boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Adriana said.
"If you want then yes. You are my girl," Jon said. "Say, can I come stay at your house for the evening?"
"Sure."
"You got food?"
"Yeah."
"Sweet."
Jon almost hurt himself eating at Adriana's. She watched as Jon downed two chocolate muffins, three cartons of apple juice, and even some leftover roast beef.
"You're a big eater!" Adriana said.
Jon simply nodded his head and kept eating.
Adriana began to wonder if Jon ever had anything to eat in his home. Probably not. Before he left, she reminded herself to give him some food just in case.
The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon watching Rugrats. Jon and Adriana sat side by side in front of the television set. Jon had his knees up to his chest and had his arms around them. Adriana was leaned back and was using her hands to hold her up. Jon tore his attention away from the Rugrats cartoon and looked at Adriana. Her hair was beautiful. Sort of the same color as Jon's, except a light brown. Jon wanted to run his fingers through her hair and even hold her hand but decided against it. He didn't want to creep her out.
"You enjoying the show?" Adriana asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah I am," Jon said.
He could feel his face turn red.
"Is something wrong?"
Jon silently and quickly shook his head no. He kept his eyes glued to the television until it was time for him to go.
"Here," Adriana said, handing him a basket.
"What's this for?"
"So you won't be hungry."
"No, this is your food."
"I have plenty. Even though my dad gets high and stuff he still makes sure we have food," Adriana said.
"Sounds like my mom," Jon said, taking the basket. "She sells her body for money."
"I'm sorry," Adriana said. "Well, you're always welcomed here."
"Thank you. And thanks for the food," Jon said.
"No problem. Park tomorrow afternoon?"
"Sounds great," Jon said. "See ya."
He pecked Adriana on the cheek and walked down the hallway to his apartment. She watched him go into his place and she closed her door and locked it. She touched her cheek.
"Oh my goodness...he actually kissed me goodbye," Adriana said to herself.
She ran to her room and screamed into her pillow.
She was celebrating around her room until she heard the phone ringing. She went to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Adriana, we're not going to make it home tonight. We have to stay over at your grandma's. We have to keep an eye on her," her mom said.
"Okay. Is grandma okay?"
"Yeah. She's just a little delirious is all," her mom said. "Are you going to be alright for the night?"
"Yes. I'll be fine," Adriana said.
"Okay. Be good and make sure the door is locked good."
"I will."
Adriana hung up and double checked to make sure that she locked the door. When she got near the door, she heard someone banging on it.
"Adriana!"
It was Jon.
She quickly opened the door and saw Jon bloodied.
She stared at him in horror.
"Jon!"
She pulled him inside, bolted the door shut, and led him to the bathroom. Jon sat on the toilet while Adriana grabbed some alcohol, cotton balls, and bandages.
Jon's hair was in his face. Some of the hair was in a cut in on his forehead which was bleeding.
Adriana pulled the hair out of the way, took a cotton ball, put some alcohol on it, and cleaned his wounds.
"Ow," Jon said, wincing.
"Sorry. But I have to," Adriana said.
Seeing Jon like this was breaking her heart tremendously.
She finished putting bandages on his cheek and forehead. The wound on his lip had reopened but he decided to let it heal on its own.
"What happened to you?"
"That bastard. He wanted money from my mom and started to beat her up. I jumped on him and he started to beat me up instead. He left though. My mom then said I was useless, a burden, and everything," Jon said.
Adriana wanted to cry but was fighting tears.
"Let me stay with you. I can't go back there," Jon said. Tears were flowing freely from his face. "I'M NOT GOING BACK THERE TO THAT BITCH! SHE CAN ROT IN HELL FOR ALL I CARE!"
Jon broke down crying. Adriana held onto him and noticed tears were flowing from her face as well. She took him to her room and sat with him on the bed. She noticed that he wasn't wearing any shoes. He was only in his socks.
"There, there. It'll be okay," Adriana said.
Jon looked at her.
"I don't need anybody. But you. Adriana, don't ever leave my side."
"I won't."
Jon laid his head on Adriana's legs and cried himself to sleep.
Adriana got up the next day and made Jon some cereal.
"You like Apple Jacks?" Adriana asked.
"Yup," Jon said.
Adriana poured the cereal and milk into a bowl and gave Jon a spoon.
"Thanks," he said.
He ate like the cereal like there was no tomorrow.
"May I have some more please?" he asked.
Adriana made him another bowl which he devoured quickly like he did the first one.
"What happened to the food I gave you?" she asked.
"That bastard took it and started eating it," Jon said.
"Oh. What a meanie. Well, you can help yourself to anything in the fridge and pantry," Adriana said.
"Thank you," Jon said. "Ugh, I have to get some stuff from my place. Can you come with me?"
"Sure."
Adriana slipped on her shoes and went with Jon to his place.
"I see you like wrestling!" Adriana said.
She kept seeing loads of stuff with a wrestler named Bret Hart on them.
"Yeah. This man is my idol. I usually rig the cable to watch some of the matches," Jon said.
Jon stuffed everything he could in two bags.
"I am done here," Jon said.
Jon closed the door to his room and left with Adriana.
Adriana was more than delighted to have Jon move in with her.
She would convince her parents why Jon was here when they got back.
But in the meantime, she was glad to be with him.