Fireflies In Autumn (Frikey)

Chapter 2

My living hell with Frank merely extended within two classes, which, by Grace of God, were actually very far away from each other. So I got to cruise along a few blissful hours of sans-Frank bullshit. But those hours were never long enough, and eventually would run out, and I'd be face-to-face once more with the frustrating and unendingly creative ways he could conjure up that would end with me cursing my mother for shitting me out those fifteen years ago.

But those hours usually counted lunch.

Was I going to be lucky that day? No. Of course not. If luck was on my side, it would have made me super gorgeous, witty, rich, and not born in New Jersey, and I wouldn't have a crush on a boy that absolutely despises me in every possible way you can despise a human being. And I'd have been born with enough intelligence as well to reason that to myself.

As lunch approached nearer and nearer, I made up my mind that I was just going to sit outside since the weather was reasonable today. Not too chilly or windy, but not sunny either. If there was rain coming, it probably wasn't due for a few more days. In any event, it was nice enough outside so that I could possibly eat in peace. I didn't give Frank enough credit, I guess. Or I just actually, actually reasoned that when he didn't find me in the cafeteria that (gasp) I must not be anywhere! Certainly not right outside of the fucking cafeteria, eating a stupid cup of yogurt and reading a stupid comic book. Never! That's just so not me.

I felt something slap me in the head before I saw who did it. Not that I needed to, since he started talking before I saw his face. I rolled my eyes, wanting to get up and play it cool. That sort of thing was definitely going to work on Frank just like it had the hundreds of other times I've done it. Before I rose up, he pushed me right back down on the bench just for fun. I tried getting up one more time, and just like before, he shoved me right back into place.

"You gonna eat that?" he said, grabbing my yogurt right out of my hands. He then put his disgusting fingers all in it, stirring it around before digging out a huge fingerful of it that he appeared ready to suck the yogurt right off of, causing me to swallow a huge pool of spit that had collected in my mouth. But he stopped short and said, "Ya know what? I probably shouldn't eat after you, or I'll get your AIDS." Then he smeared the yogurt on my shirt.

I snarled at him instantly, but he just glared back at me, dead-even, trying to stare me down, and it worked. The anger melted away to panic as well as excitement. I didn't realize why I was so excited at first till I felt the breath exit his nostrils, and I understood it was because he was only a few inches from my face-two, maybe three at the most.

"I heard you're cleaning the gym after school, vagina boy," he said. He'd just had a cigarette. The smell of it on his breath was fresh and strong, and it sent a buzz down my spine that quickly flared into an insufferable heat wave.

"Yo, Frank," I then heard from behind me, and Frank looked over that way.

"Coming," he said, then looked back at me one last time, as I'd been sitting there frozen and not breathing as usual, my eyes wide and blank and fixed upon him.

"Smell ya later, ass face," he said, shoving my head hard against the brick pillar I'd been propped against this whole time. He walked off to catch up with his hoard of buttheads. I didn't understand at first why he mentioned my staying after school, or where he even got that information. I didn't then, but I was going to find out.

* * *

After lunch, things became mundane and drudging. I was ready for this day to be over with and found myself unduly watching the clock for the school bell. It was the habit of a bus-driven kid to expect to leave a half-hour sooner than the rest, even when I had to keep reminding myself that there was no early leaving for me today.