The Nerd, The Jock, and the Bully
by Victor Thomas
Chapter 6
After my weird and slightly aggravating conversation with Melissa last night, she just stayed for a while, and we surprisingly made small talk.
Well, if asking if I'm a virgin and if I plan on leaving this world as one because nobody wants to sleep with someone that will cry while we're doing it. If that counts as small talk, then yes, we did.
Yet through all of our offensive comments towards each other that night, the only difference and most important was… she smiled.
Whenever I said something equally as snarky back, she would laugh. She looks pretty innocent when she laughs.
I had pictured a throaty laugh like a giant, but it was lady like. She has once again surprised me with her actions. She was allowing herself to show emotion in front of me, and… I think that makes her a little bearable. She's not my bestie or anything but… she's on the line of bearable and irritating.
When her mom came to fetch her, my mom came stumbling in afterward, and she was fucking smashed. She'd lied to me, telling me she was going to be at work, but it turns out they needed a 'lady's night out' and made up some excuse so that they could get Melissa to come over and me not to throw a bitch fit, which I never do.
I woke up to the sound of someone puking, and I had a good idea who. I walked downstairs and towards the bathroom, where the door was halfway open. I spotted my mom on the floor by the toilet, throwing up all of last night's alcohol for the world to see.
I would like to watch her and bask in what's happening to her for lying to me, but I can't. She's my mother and I'm not some cold heartless bitch that would do that to her.
I pull her hair up and rub her back while she pukes her brains out. When she'd finally done, I get her a glass of water and some aspirin to help her with her headache.
"Thanks, sweety," she said, her voice sounding throaty.
"That's what I'm here for, to help my grown ass mother recover from a hangover. You're such a good example for your son," I said sarcastically.
"Oh, be quiet. Having to endure you for sixteen years, I think this night was long overdue," she said, the playfulness clear in her voice.
We both stare at each other before we burst out laughing.
"Ouch! Ahhh, my head. Please don't make me laugh," she said, while holding her head.
"Sorry, but you have to admit, it's pretty funny."
"How rude! Your mother is not a joke," she said with fake seriousness.
"Well then, you should not have drunk until you passed out," I said slowly.
"Fine, point made. Now get your ass ready for school, and don't think I've forgotten the fight with your teacher," she said, while trying to look serious.
I answer her and go up to my room to get ready. I shower in record time because I'll miss the bus again, so I have to hurry. When I get downstairs, she looks at least a bit more presentable and there are coffee and waffles on the table.
I quickly eat and leave the house. When I arrive at school, I have to prepare myself for a repeat of yesterday. I hurry to my locker, on the lookout for wild assholes on the loose, but don't see any, thank god. I practically fly towards my first class and arrive safely.
The first few periods fly past and the next thing I know it's break time. I make my way towards the library for tutoring. I'm one of the student tutors. It pays well, and the jocks wouldn't be caught dead in there. It's like their kryptonite.
Time speeds past and the next thing I know it's the end of the school day. I never ran into Darryl and I'm so thankful for that. I just have to walk out the door and I'll be home free.
I hurry towards the door, but something pulls me into the bathroom. I get pushed against the wall with a thud and slide to the floor. I look up and see Darryl looking down at me. There goes my bully free day.
"What's up, faggot!" he said with a smirk.
I notice his gang isn't with him.
"Not your IQ," I smile back, even though my head is pounding.
He stalks towards me and picks me up by my collar and holds me against the wall. He's way taller than me so I'm practically hanging off the floor.
"What did you just say to me?" he yells in my face.
I wanted to say something smart again, but I fear for my life. I close my eyes and struggle to push him away, but he doesn't budge.
"Let go of me!" I shout, my voice cracking.
I hate how weak I sound!
I feel tears running down my cheeks and I can't stop them. This just causes me to go from sadness to anger.
I open my eyes, intending to shout and fight, but the way he's looking at me stops me.
His eyes are half closed and he's staring at my lips. He starts to lower himself closer to me and I panic.
Someone bursts through the door and he instantly drops me. The guy pulls him away from me and stands with his back towards me, almost protective.
I can't make out who it is through my blurred eyes.
"Get the fuck away from him!" the guy shouts.
It clicks in my brain whose voice that is. Isaac!
"What the fuck are you doing?" Darryl shouts.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Isaac replies in the same tone.
Darryl looks towards me and then back to Isaac.
"Fuck this shit!" he murmurs whole kicking the trash can and leaving.
I stand up on shaky legs and Isaac helps me up.
"You, okay?" he asks worriedly.
"Yeah… I think so," I said softly.
"Come on, I'll take you to the nurse and then you have to explain to me what he just did to you," he said with a serious expression.
"No, no nurse."
She'll just ask what happened and I don't need any more stress.
"You could be hurt and…"
"Please!" I said, looking pleadingly into his eyes.
"Okay," he said with a sigh. "But you still have to tell me what he did."
"I'll tell you. I just… I just want to go home right now," I said softly.
"Come on, I'll give you a ride," he said, wrapping his arm around my waist to steady me.
I want to tell him it's fine, that I'll take the bus, but something on his face says he's not taking no for an answer.
We walk towards his car and I climb into the passenger seat while he goes to the drivers.
While we're driving, I recount what happened in the bathroom to him. His fingers are white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.
"It's not that bad. I only got pushed. I've had worse done to me," I said, before I realize what I just told him.
"How long has this been going on?" he asks with anger, but not directed at me.
"Look, it's not that important. I just want to forget that this happened," I said with a sigh.
"How long?" he said through gritted teeth.
It's starting to annoy me that he's trying to boss me around. I look at him, intending to blow him off, but there's a sort of look in his eyes that just makes me submit.
"Since my freshman year…" I say, almost in a whisper.
"Fuck!" he said, while hitting the steering wheel with his palm. "If anyone fucks with you again, you tell me, okay? I'll fucking kill them," he said, while glaring at the windshield.
I'm shocked that he's reacting like this. He's getting angry for me, not at me for being weak. Nobody has ever done that for me. I mean, my mom would, but she's my mom, that's her job. But Isaac's a total stranger and here he is threatening to kill people for me. It gives me this feeling in my gut and makes me all warm inside.
Oh god!
We arrive at my house and just sit there in silence. I finally decided to break the silence because I don't think I'll be able to handle it much longer.
"Thanks for the ride," I said with a smile.
"Anytime," he said with a forced smile.
I attempt to get out of the car, but he grabs my wrist.
"If you ever need someone to talk to, or to get rid of those jackasses for you, you come to me, okay?" he said seriously.
"Yeah, I will. Thanks again for the ride," I said shyly.
Satisfied with my answer, he lets go of my hand. I walk up the steps to my house, but then it clicks. How did he know where I lived?
I turn around to ask him, but he's already gone.
This has been one weird day.
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