How Jesse Got His Karma

forty-three

Part 1
Trigger Warning ⚠️
Hints or Signs of Abuse

"Are you okay, Giovanni?" I ask. Mr.Maddow came down with a quick cold and he told me that I didn't have to stay after school and grade anything especially since he hasn't been handing out many assignments

He sniffles a bit and looks at me nodding his head with a dull look on his face and I immediately know something is wrong. Sitting down next to him at his usual seat I look over at the other kids who are playing. Some are using the legos blocks and some are playing with toy cars

Looking back over at him again I say, "Why don't you ever play with any of the guys there?" I say pointing at the boys who are working together to build some sort of castle structure out of legos. They always do this whenever they're here and I have yet to notice Gio actually take part in it. He's always kept to himself.

Well...unless Jesse is here and for obvious reasons, Jesse doesn't really come in much.

Which I couldn't be more thankful for.

Gio scrunches up his face shaking his head and leaning back into his seat, "They always take some of the blocks away from me. I don't want to play with them."

"Well, why would they take them away from you? Did you say anything?" I ask knowing that Giovanni can be a bit much to be around since his personality might not be for everyone with how confident he usually seems.

He shrugs and says, "All I did was break one of their castles because I needed more blocks to build mine. " and shakes his head as if there was nothing wrong with what he said

I raise an eyebrow as I try to stifle the laugh that is threatening to stumble out of my mouth as I nod my head in understanding

"Jesse said they were losers and I'm too cool to be around them." he continues with a small smirk on his face and I almost have to sigh at the mention of, you know who, but If he were here I would shake my head at him for telling Gio that knowing that he is still at an impressionable age.

"Giovanni," I say calling him to get his attention when he shifted his eyes to look down at his black hoodie, "You can't go around calling people names like that." he just shrugs his arms again and says, "Where is Jesse again? He doesn't come anymore."

Not wanting to give him many details about what went on between us, I shake my head and say, "Well I don't know. He's probably really busy." when I say this he slumps his shoulders and looks back down at his hoodie again

Eager to make him feel better, I try to figure out what to say to cheer him up next but before I can get a word in, I feel my phone begin to vibrate in my back pocket. When I pull it out I see my mom's contact flash on my screen and I roll my eyes, answering the call anyway wondering what she could want

When I put the phone to my ear, I'm immediately met with my mother's loud voice down the phone, "Karma! When have I ever taught you that when you invite company, that you should just leave them here alone. Do you expect me to take care of someone else's child? I can barely keep up with you!" she says and I twist my face in confusion as Gio looks up at me in wonder