Twisted Inside

'Cause I'm Twisted Up, I'm Twisted Up Inside.

--------------JACK'S POV--------------

Today seemed to drag on slowly; it continued the raining pattern of yesterday, and everyone seemed drawn out and tired. My friends didn't really care about Alex and I, and thought it was none of their business.

Vic was supportive, and I felt the guilt pumping through my blood when I saw him smile at me and when I thought about how I made a move on the one thing that makes him calm his anger.

Kellin was his impulse control. Before Kellin, he was constantly on edge; Vic was angry a lot, and yelled, and fought people that got in his way. Vic was like the Hulk all the time: angry, strong, and deadly.

He was a bomb: prepared to explode at the wrong movement, or in his case words, and life-ending to the person that so happened to cross foot in his bad path.

Then Kellin became his friend. His entire attitude changed; Vic was more happy, and calm. He wouldn't punch someone in the face if they barely ran into him; he wouldn't blow up on a person if they said the wrong words to him.

But if someone messed with his Kellin, oh, boy, you better start running. Vic was super protective over his love; a few people started to pick on Kellin and called him very vulgar names because he was in art, and because he was soft spoken.

I've never seen Vic punch anyone harder in the face. This kid's nose was still fucked up, and off to the side. Kellin doesn't mind if people pick on him; unlike Vic, Kellin has patience, massive amounts of love for people, and wisdom.

During the school day, I saw Alex a few times. He made it a mission to avoid me. A couple of his friends came up to me and told me how low and ignorant I was, and that they knew I would break his fragile heart.

For once in my life, I was dreading astronomy because Cat and CJ were both Alex's friends; they're both small girls, but they were very scary.

CJ was frightening with her words; her vocabulary was rather extensive and proper. She has the skill to stun idiotic people with her words and then put them in their place with well thought-out insults. She puts the sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-never-hurt-me rhyme to shame. She can make words pierce your heart and make you re-think everything you've ever done in your entire life.

Cat, on the other hand, had a way of making you feel bad; she'd ask you how would you feel if someone did that to you, and made you feel guilt. Her words are intelligent as well, and she puts them to use to make you feel guilty and ponder what you have done to the other person.

When I walked in the classroom, I saw both sitting in their usual seats. They were chatting away about whatever topic one of the two brought up, and seemed to not notice my appearance.

Slowly and dreadfully, I made my way around all of the desks and to my seat on CJ's right. I could tell she was angry with me, hence she blew off me sitting by her.

"CJ-"

"Jack, you know what I'm going to say to your acrimony. Do you know how you made Alex feel? That poor boy is insubstantial; he's been through a lot, and you go with your injudiciousness and hurt him. Get your priorities straight, buddy." She told me coldly.

"Okay, CJ I had no idea what those words meant. Dumb it down."

Cat groaned.

"She called you a fuck-tard and told you Alex is fragile. He's been through a lot, Jack. You have to start treating him better if you want him."

Tears swelled in my eyes and I looked between the two. I saw guilt for their actions in their eyes, but they didn't crack. They kept their heads up, and looked me in the eyes to force their words on me; both girls wanted to make an impact on my actions, and they sure were doing a good job of it.

The professor walked in and dimmed the lights to talk about black holes. We opened our notebooks and began to write away his words.

Diagrams were drawn, questions were asked and answered, and lectures were taught. Quantum physics was brought into the discussion, and when the professor and I were getting into it, the bell rang.

Frowning, I packed up my stuff and looked around for CJ to finish our talk. Cat didn't let her stick around, and instead both ladies were long gone by the time my notebooks were packed.

Leaving to go to practice, I ran right into someone in my walk.

My mom doesn't like walking with me because I walk like I'm destined to kill Brainiac: tall, quick, and angry. I've knocked quite a few people down and ran into many people, this person being probably the seventeenth.

"Oh sor- Alex,"

"Bye, Jack." He mumbled.

I grabbed his shoulder and he whipped around.

"Don't touch me, prick."

I let go and looked into his eyes. Emotions were swimming; happiness was getting drowned, anger was rising, and sadness was swimming right under anger.

Alex stood with me for a few moments, scanning my eyes as if trying to find anything that he could bring up or hold against me.

"Please, just talk to me."

Alex huffed.

"You have to go to practice."

"He could wait."

Alex vacillated his options. Eventually, he walked off. I didn't follow him; maybe he needed space. I desperately wanted to run after him, and kiss him, and hug him.

That depressed feeling filled me up again. Even the thought of practice didn't cheer me up, but I knew once I got on the field my mind would wander.

I got my practice clothes on, and ran out with Austin to see what was to come. The grass was damp from the previous showers, and it was still sprinkling a little.

We all gathered: coach, James, Vic, me, Austin, Rian, and the others. The coach began to explain the agenda.

"Alright. We have about two hours 'till it rains. You pansies get out, run a mile, and get a partner to do passes with." He explained.

We nodded and began to jog out the mile. Rian and I ran together and talked about what I was upset about, because he wanted to know what was making his best friend upset.

"I just fucked up big time. I'm too caught up in my own thoughts to worry about how I'm making others feel. Sorry, Rian, if I'm bringing you down."

We ran through the wooded path and passed Austin.

"No, Jack. Listen, bro, mental health over friends." Rian huffed heavily due to the quick pace we were running at.

I smiled and glanced around for birds. I saw a red-winged black bird and a rather plump robin chasing each other around.

Rian kept our stable pace, and slowed down when we saw our stopping point. Running through to coach, we slowed down and began to breathe more steadily now that the run was over.

Six minutes and thirty seconds.

We grabbed a ball, and finished up practice before the rain showers came.