A few weeks later I'm heading over to Mona's to hang with her. She wanted time for us before she has to go with her mom to see family for the weekend. So while I'm skating over I feel pretty awesome. Peter and Veronica have been more involved with my life since my little outburst, so it hasn't been the worst lately. I actually feel like part of the family for the first time.
I take deep breaths as I skate, the air rushing through me. Once I get to Mona's I grab my board, trying to catch my breath and walk towards the steps. I'm just about to head up them when I feel a shove from beside me and I topple sideways into the grass. A loud thud goes to my ears when my board hits the ground and I look to the side, rubbing my arm and stare up at the two people who did that.
"Hey, dweeb." Two of Alison's many annoying bully friends that liked to do her handy work says.
The Stacy twins, Amber and Tommy are both staring down at me with smirks. It amazes me that Alison has been gone for years but they still don't skip a beat to bother me. They only started to begin with because she used to pay them to keep "losers" in check, now it's like they do it for sport. Tommy has never laid a hand on me unless it was to hold me down while his sister did the punching, because he seems to have some manners, but he's still just as much of an asshole as every other bully in school.
I roll my eyes and sit up, "Couldn't resist yourself huh?" I get to my feet and wipe off the grass from my pants.
They both just smile, "Of course we could resist. But we choose not to." she cracks her knuckles, as if waiting for me to fight back.
"I got a better idea." I grab my skateboard and head to the stairs, "How about you fuck off and I go hang with my friend?"
"Oh so tough, Brant!" she yells from down the steps, "Wait till I see you again. I'll knock your teeth out."
I just smirk and look down at her from the door as I ring the doorbell, "I'd like to see you try."
That's when the door opens up and I turn my head, Mona is standing there with a smile on her face. I smile back, but then she notices Amber and Tommy at the bottom of her steps and her eyes narrow. She's always been super protective of me, so seeing two of the few people who have always bothered me throughout my life never sits well with her. "What have I told you two about bothering Jessie?" Just by her tone I can tell that she's not happy to see them.
They both just stare down Mona, not seeming to be scared. The looks on their faces has me know that they are going to start trouble as Amber crosses her arms and laughs, "You may be popular Mona, but remember that you weren't always like that. We remember you for the dork you were."
Her face slightly drops, and I know exactly how she feels. Every time they say that to me it makes me feel like the same kid from elementary school. The small girl who got picked on for simple things that were either not in my control, like puberty, or for things that I liked. Neither of those aspects should have been a reason to pick on someone.
Not liking at all what they said to her I speak up, "Leave her alone, asshats." I say in a pissed voice, watching them carefully. "Go hang out with people who actually like you."
They both shift their eyes and stare at me now, eyes narrowed. "What did you say, four eyes?" Tommy asks.
My eyes anger slightly at one of my old nicknames, my fists clenching. But before I can even take a step towards them Mona grabs my arm and pulls me a bit back to her. I just stare at her and she smiles, shaking her head.
"Not worth it." She whispers, then laughs and looks back at them. The sadness in her eyes is gone, now she's more angry. "I may have been a dork, but at least I've made my way to the top. What about you two? Still bullying people because you're jealous? Pathetic."
Both of the twins' faces drop a bit, blinking at her. "Jealous? Of this dweeb?" Tommy says half laughing.
"And someone who likes to play with dolls?" Amber adds with her own laugh, pulling out her phone.
Mona blinks slowly, staring at me before I turn my gaze to watch Amber as I see her searching for something on her phone and then holds it out towards us as if showing something on her screen. But from this distance I can't tell what it is. "We saw you a few weeks ago in the section of the dolls at the store. You were so whacked out."
They both laugh now, Tommy continuing with, "Talking to them, playing with them like a child. Very unlike popular Mona. Felt more like dorky Mona."
Before anything else can be said they walk away with laughs, Tommy yelling over his shoulder that they'll send it to everyone if me and her aren't nice to them. My mouth just drops and I look at her. Her face is pale and I have no words for her as she just turns around and walks inside, leaving me out there by myself for a few long seconds before I follow.
...
Mona played the whole thing off like it was no big deal after that, because she likes to collect dolls and that's all it was. But it seemed like more than that from the way she reacted to their threat. However, the picture they had seemed to not even phase her as she started to talk back to them throughout the summer. To the point where she'd humiliated them both in front of people, her reasoning being because she couldn't stand the way they treated me, the way they went around like they owned people for being different. To me that was very hypocritical considering she's the same way, just in a popular stand point. I'd never tell her that, but I'm grateful that whenever she's around they don't bother me.
Now weeks pass and it's the first day of school. I have my own car, but for one, I usually like to ride my board just to waste more time getting there, and two, it's old and keeps breaking down. But quickly I realize this is a bad move as I skate down the blocks to school, backpack the lightest it'll probably ever be this year on my back. On my way there I decide that I may stop by The Brew to grab something to eat first. But I don't get to that part of the block as I'm stopped in my tracks by Amber in front of the sports store. She is standing in the middle of the sidewalk to block my way. Tommy is not around as I assume he's somewhere nearby.
"Oh joy." I skid to a stop, bringing my board to my hands and then roll my eyes as I watch her, "Do you mind?"
She just smirks and shakes her head, "Your body guard isn't here to save you. So how about you shut up for once in your life?"
I just shake my head and try to walk around her, "Leave me alone. Alison is gone, find another hobby." I manage to get a hint of anger into my voice, but she blocks me again and a smile comes to her face. I never like the look she gives me.
Then her smile turns into a smirk and starts to laugh, or more like howls in laughter. "You think just because you play sports and hang out with Mona that it makes you popular? Please, Brant. You got desperate to be liked, and now you're a bigger loser than when you started."
My face turns into a soft snarl, slightly shoving her with my arm as I pass her to make it known that she doesn't scare me. But at the same time I try to stay calm as I walk down the block again. I just want to start the first day of school without getting myself into trouble. That was my bad habit last school year. Once my family died and I realized that the Hastings didn't care about me I started to act out a bit. No one knew which Jessie would come out on what day. I'd either be an asshole and take my anger out on everyone, or I'd break down and worry everyone just as bad as I did when I was lashing out. But this year I don't want to be that person. I don't want to seem lost in my own head or get myself into messes I may not be able to squeeze out of.
"Picking on people will get you into trouble one day." I say firmly, getting a little pissed off as I continue to walk down the street.
I'm almost positive that I'm going to get my ass beat as she grabs my arm and spins me around to look at her, snarling down at me. Her fist is clenched and I wait for the hit. Until I hear, "Jessie?" A soft and concerned males voice comes from beside us, making us both look.
When I see him my face brightens up, smiling in relief. "Ezra." I say with a mix of a sigh and excitement as a tall light skinned man with blue eyes and messy dark brown hair walks closer to us. He had just come out of his apartment complex that happens to be between my store and The Brew, so once he gets to where we are he stares down at Amber. He towers over us both, being almost six feet tall with his eyes slightly threatening towards her.
Ezra Fitz. This man saved my life the day of the accident. Our car had flipped over trying to avoid the dog that ran out in the middle of the street on our way out of town. He had been sitting on a bench nearby reading in front of a local restaurant called The Applerose Grille. Ezra didn't even hesitate when he saw this happen and ran over to see if we were okay. I had been the only one conscious at the time so he helped me out first. The problem is that by the time he got me to the curb and the ambulance arrived the car burst into flames.
Till this day I have on and off nightmares about what happened, wishing they'd stop completely, to stop waking up in sweat with my heart practically out of my chest. The only good thing that came out of that day was that Ezra has been in my life ever since. This man in his early 20s has watched over me like I'm his little sister, feeling responsible for me. Whenever Peter and Veronica acted like I didn't exist or I felt lost without that adult figure, I'd go to see him. He's always made me feel wanted and safe.
"Is there a problem here?" he asks, eyeing Amber carefully. He has his jaw softly clenched, seeming a bit ticked off. He knows she's been giving me a hard time since we were kids.
She gulps softly, knowing who he is as she backs up and scoots around him. "No, sir. All good here." she says as she runs off and I watch her head down towards the direction the school is. Then I laugh and stare up at him, he's smiling down at me and half laughs as well.
"Thanks, Ezra." I smile at him like a child relieved to see their night and shining armor.
"My pleasure." he leans in and pulls me into a hug, "Did I sound like a teacher?"
I laugh and nod as I hug back with a soft sigh from his comfort. Ezra got a teaching job at Rosewood High School, the same school I'm going to. "Yes you did….Mr. Fitz." I say playfully and laugh, "God that is going to be tough to call you."
"Be sure to call me that. Or I'll give you detention." he says with a soft laugh.
I smile and shake my head, "You are such a dork." I laugh and watch his sparkling blue eyes once we pull away. They are full of pureness, like he would do anything to protect me.
"But yet you still hang out with me." he says happily and rubs my head. "Come on we need to get you some food."
I just smile and sigh softly at him, thankful for him being around. Thankful that I got lucky to have this man in my life. If it wasn't for Ezra I'd be dead. No one else that day stepped up to help. I feel like if others had, then my family could have survived. But to be alive at all is a blessing. I'll forever owe him.