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Looking Out For You | Joy Again
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" It's the same old situation, you've always got me waiting
Come on, dear, I think time's a-wastin'
Before we have to go back inside
And return to our normal lives "
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"I don't know what's up with him. I mean he hasn't said a thing to me since then. " I put the phone to the side of my face talking to Dayanna. I stand in the kitchen doorway crossing my arms.
"So he's just ignoring you?" She asked.
"Not exactly, he's upstairs in his room. We were in the dining room eating breakfast and having a good talk then all of a sudden he ran to his room saying "Uh I'm not hungry anymore!" I faked a deep voice imitating him.
"That doesn't sound good. Maybe it's just his mood swings. How's his sister doing?" I move to see the living room where Georgina sits in front of her TV.
"Yeah, maybe it's just his period. Oh, she's been glued to the television all morning watching Mickey Mouse. Hasn't let me change the channel or anything. Hence, the reason I called you."
"I think you should go talk to him. He probably just needs to get to know you more." She suggests. I hold the phone in the other ear pushing it down on my shoulder with my head.
"Hmm, I guess you're right." I shrug.
"I am"
"Alright don't get too cocky now." We giggled together.
"And what are you doing?"
"Cutting up some apples with peanut butter for myself," I say moving the knife downward on the fruit.
"HARLEY!" Georgina's irrigating voice yelled.
"Hold on, I'll call you back later." I put the phone down and placed the knife down. I run out to the living room.
"What?" I ask.
"Change the channel" She demanded.
"Can't you do it yourself?"
"Yes but you're closer" She fidgeted with her fingers pouting. I roll my eyes once again. I turn around kneeling to press the buttons to switch channels.
"This one?" I ask clicking on the buttons.
"No" She answers, I switch the channel.
"This one?"
"No"
"This one?"
"No"
This went on for about ten minutes. Then she got tired and decided to play dress up with me instead.
She took me upstairs to her room. Before going in I took a glance at Phillips's room that was across from hers.
A feeling of guilt came over me for a second. The reason? I don't know. I didn't do anything wrong.
"Harley!" Georgina seized my hand pulling me into her room.
"Ok, so I get to dress you up whichever way I want." Georgina giggles.
She goes through her closet looking for an outfit to style for me. I laugh to myself thinking this is adorable.
"It better be somewhat fashionable," I warn her.
"Oh, it'll be fashionable alright." She did a little smirk.
5 minutes later
I frowned as I stared at myself in the mirror. The outfit she picked out for me was rather questionable.
"George, do you think a green turtle neck, short denim overalls, a tiara, and a tutu skirt make a fashion statement?" I asked, tugging the skirt and trying to take it off.
"Yes, it does! You're a total fashion icon. You should consider modeling" She turned me around to take a closer look at me.
"I'm flattered but I swear to god if anyone else sees me wearing this-"
"Shhhh! Let me examine it!" She adjusted my posture.
"Hmm looks about right" She smiled. "But it seems to be missing something.."
She pressed her finger to her chin thinking. I sit on her bed and pull out a random magazine from her nightstand waiting for her.
"Oh I know just the thing for you" She exclaimed. "Wait here. Don't move" She told me before walking out of the room.
"As if I were to let anyone see me with this on" I muttered. I wondered what goes down in that little brain of hers.
I began humming and tapping my feet on the headboard as time went by. I wasn't a very patient person and boredom came easily.
I was looking through the pages only looking at the pictures. I also was not much of a reader.
I felt eyes on me but I brushed it off and continued "reading". But then I thought I heard footsteps.
A little creaking sound behind me sent shivers down my spine. I felt as if were in a horror movie where the hot main character (me) was being observed by the killer but didn't realize it.
"Who's there?" I asked hoping it wasn't an intruder or something. I tilted my head down to see who it was. I spotted an upside-down Jordan standing in the doorway already staring at me.
"Phillips?" I put the magazine down and stood up. He nervously opened the door more to make himself present.
"What were you doing standing there watching me like a creep? Are you stalking me now?" I laughed with hands on to my hips.
He dropped his hands on his sides. He seemed flustered.
"What? no-no." After the nervousness washed off, he chuckled. "Oh come on, you wish!"
"Then what would you say you were doing?" I squinted my eyes tilting my head.
"I was just uh passing by." He lied. I nodded in disbelief.
"Stalking? Please in your dreams." He laughed and I smirked.
"Mhm, whatever you stalker" I shrugged. Jordan clicked his tongue.
"Come on don't tell me you think I like you. Especially when you're wearing that. I mean what is that?" He referred to my dress.
"Oh, this? It's a very exclusive outfit designed by the one and only Georgina Phillips. Like it?" I blew him a kiss and posed.
"My sister made you wear that?" He laughed.
"Yeah, she was just-" I said, but Georgina sprinted into the room.
"Here! I got it!" She shouted. She turned to him realizing there was someone else in the room.
"Oh hi. Anyway, here try these shoes on." She handed them to me. I sat back on the bed and put them on.
As I put the second one on I felt something weird and sticky touch my toes. I thought nothing of it but then when I stood up, I had a moist sensation under my foot. I made a disgusted face and reached to take them off.
"What's wrong?" Jordan asked, craving a bit of a smile.
I checked the shoes and notice there was a brown slimey substance on them. My eyes widened dropping the shoe on the floor. I almost collapsed to the ground but held on to the bed trying not to puke.
"That's Shit!" I screamed. "Why is there shit in my shoe?!" I looked at them. Jordan and Georgina bursted into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?!" I yell. "Did you two plan this?"
Jordan fell on the bed "Yeah" He said before his laughter came back. I clenched my fist angrily but soon relaxed my muscles. Although I very much wanted to scream at them.
A prank was the last thing I needed.
They continue enjoying their joke on me while I start losing my mind trying to keep calm. Control, I need to take control that is what I need.
"Ok, you two that's enough. Now you both seem to be bored enough to embark on your chores." I said getting them silent.
"What?!" They ask in unison.
"You're kidding, right? Isn't that your job?" The sassy boy asked.
"I'm your babysitter. I make sure you two stay out of trouble but I'm no Cinderella now get to work!" I order them. They laugh at me again. Am I a comedian to them?
"It wasn't a question it was an order!"
"An order?" Jordan stood up. "An order from you?" He walked to me.
"Have I not made myself clear enough?" I asked, crossing my arms against my chest.
"Let me tell you something, Harley." He came closer and closer to me to the point where our faces almost touched.
"I don't take orders from nobody." He looked me up and down. "Especially not from a girl." He said in my ear. I felt my face getting hot. I'd like to say from anger, but I'm not sure that was the reason.
He then smirked and walked away.
I rolled my eyes and watched him walk out of the room.
I hate him.
I glanced at Georgina who is sitting silently watching us.
"What are you looking at?" I questioned her cheeky grin.
"How does that saying go? Oh yeah" She cleared her throat "You could cut the tension with a knife." She quoted.
"The only thing there is to cut with a knife is his head off and yours too if you continue with that," I told her off, then stormed out.
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Sitting in the main bathroom, I tried cleaning the poop off my skin with a wet towel. I almost puked a couple of times just by looking at it.
Georgina had said she found dog shit in her backyard and that's what she decided to do with it.
"Be a babysitter", they said. "It'll be fun," they said. What did I get myself into?
* Crack *
The sound jumps me out of my seat (the toilet seat). I ran downstairs, where I heard the noise. At first, I thought it was an intruder. Although I wish it had been given the circumstances.
I gasped at the sight of Jordan holding his bat down looking at the broken blue flower vase in front of him. He grimaced and slowly turned to look at me. Georgina covered her face with her hands in an attempt to hide.
"What did you guys do?!" I asked angrily.
"I- we were just playing and that- just happened"
I scowled at his unclear explanation.
"Look we'll clean it up alright," He told me, thinking that was going to calm me down.
"Of course you are, oh my god. Why is this happening to me?" I asked, looking up at the ceiling.
"Calm down. It's nothing a broom and mop can't fix." He reassured me.
"It's not about that. It's just ugh you're making my job hard on purpose. You always try to ruin things for me!" I screamed.
"Don't start this again" He rolled his eyes walking upstairs.
"Hey! Where are you going? We're not done here until you clean that up!" I yelled. He ignored me and closed the door to his room. I stomped my way up as well. I opened the door to his room aggressively. He sat in his bed taking his shoes off.
"Why won't you listen to me?" I asked, sitting on the edge, As soon as I did so he stood up.
"Because you're annoying!" He walked to his bathroom. I followed him in.
"I'm not annoying. I'm honest."
"And that's why you lied to your only friend and planned a whole scheme just to avoid spending the day with her. Real honest, Porter." He laughed unbuckling his pants.
"Now can you close the door and let me pee in peace?" He asked faking a polite tone. I nodded closing it but still wanting to continue yelling at him.
"Ugh, you're impossible to talk to" I shouted.
"Idiot" I mumbled crossing my arms and leaning my body against the wall.
"Carrothead!" He said, pissing sounds in the background.
"Assface!" I kicked the wall behind me in frustration.
"Turkey egg!" He yelled referring to the freckles on my face.
"Jackass!" That is all I said before exiting the room, violently shutting his door. I exhaustedly amble downstairs. Georgina looks up at me from the same spot she was at during the incident.
"You should rest," She told me as I let myself fall on the couch. I sighed taking a magazine waving air on me. I was tired and sweating from stress.
"Here, take this, it's refreshing." She gave me a cool coke can. I thank her while I pop the pull- tab off.
"Thank you, George you're so considerate-" the drink explodes on my face. I spoke way too soon.
"What the hell was that for?" I groaned angrily taking the can from her. She fell back on the couch still laughing it off.
"You should see your face right now. It's very funny!" She placed her hands on her stomach rolling over, thinking this was awfully hilarious.
"That wasn't funny at all," I mumbled irritated looking at her still laughing her ass off.
"Go to your room!" I demanded.
"But I'm watching-"
"To your room!" I screamed.
"You can't make me" She crossed her arms with sass.
"Ugh, you know what?" I ran my hand through my hair in frustration.
"Do whatever you want. I don't care. Misbehave, pull another prank on me and feel free to break anything you want because, at the end of the day, you will no longer be my responsibility. "
"You know why?"
"Why?"
"BECAUSE I QUIT!"
She flinched startled by my sudden voice rise. I scared her. I felt bad but I was still pissed so I just walked outside.
I didn't want to see her. I knew I probably shouldn't have snapped but I couldn't help it. I was already in a bad mood because of Phillips and her little pranks didn't help.
I didn't think I could go back inside yet. I need fresh air. And I needed to cool down. I picked up my skateboard and tried doing tricks on it to kill time. (When in reality the only thing I wanted to kill was myself).
《 Phillips Pov 》
"And then she was like "BECAUSE I QUIT!"" Georgina explained. I clapped laughing it off.
"Good Job" I high-fived. "This way she won't be paying us any more unwanted visits" I assured her.
"Yes! We got rid of her!" She squealed doing jazz hands.
"We sure did," I said, ruffing her hair. I walked back upstairs celebrating in my mind. She didn't even have three days. What a shame isn't it?
No, not really,
I hate Harley. She's so annoying. Not to mention a girl. I don't understand why she can't just stay out of my business.
I can't stand her and her red hair and freckles. She thinks she knows everything about me but in reality, she doesn't know half of the stuff I've been through. Did I mention she's a girl?
I don't understand why she's still here. If I was in her place I would've already quit. That's the thing about her, she's just so complicated for anyone to understand. She's so infuriating yet intriguing.
But I think we've got that sorted out. I'm 100% certain she's not going to be staying here any longer.
Making people leave is nothing new for me. It is mine and Georgina's specialty.
For example, we successfully got Dad to completely disappear from our lives, Not that we did it intentionally that is.
I enter my room taking off my cap.
I look outside my window trying to admire the tall view.
"Shit!" I hear Harley's annoying voice complaining under me. I look down to see her on my sidewalk doing tricks on her skateboard. I smile at the sight of her and an idea pops in my head.
I walk over to my desk searching for any useful piece of paper. Taking a blank notebook page I wrote with a pen. I smiled walking back to the window. This will be her last straw.
I scrunch up the piece of paper leaving it in my hand. I was thinking of making it into a paper airplane but that's too typical of me. I got in my pitching position because she was stationed a bit far from the building. It needed to land directly on her.
I threw it her back making her fall on top of her board. She winced as she got her head up. I snickered to myself not caring that she might hear me.
She took the scrunched-up note and unfolded it. She read it in her mind with her mouth open.
She stood up cursing regaining her balance. Harley flipped her head my way searching around to see who threw it. She spotted me at the window. I grinned and wave at her innocently.
"Hello there," I said leaning my body on the still. Her eyebrows shifted downward and her nose scrunched up. God, I love that angry face of hers.
"Screw you, Phillips!" She yelled picking her skateboard up.
I watched her walk away probably headed to Dayanna's house. Before walking across the street she turned around. She frowned looking at my house and then at me flipping me off.
I scoffed as she rolled her eyes walking away.
"You wish" I muttered under my breath.
《 Harley's Pov 》
I read the note again still offended. The big red letters red
Nice ass red
I shook my head disgusted. He used to call me red when we were friends but now it feels like he uses it as a slur.
For the remaining time of the day, I stayed at Dayanna's. Turns out that spending time with her is not as bad as I thought. Well to be fair, anything is better than babysitting at the Phillips residence.
It wasn't too late, but I got myself into this and I have to be able to get out. The only hard part will be telling Karen.
I'll have to say goodbye to her too. She's such a nice lady. I don't know if I can do that to her.
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I left Dayanna's house as soon as I saw Karen's car park outside. It was about 7: 30 so it was dark out. I sighed shutting the door on my way to her.
She got out of her car carrying groceries.
She closed her car door and then pressed her keys making the car beat. I cleared my throat making myself present. Her body turned in my direction realizing I was behind her.
I smiled and she gasped. "Harley you scared me. What are you doing out here this late?" She asked approaching me.
"I was at Dayanna's house," I muttered.
"Really? Did the kids go to sleep already?" Karen asked.
"I- I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know, Harley?" She asked worriedly.
"I- I'm not sure I can do this. We need to talk" I affirmed.
"Alright but let's go inside first." She put her arm around my shoulder bringing me inside with her. She closed the entrance as I sit on her couch. She put the grocery bags on the coffee table in front of us. Her legs crossed waiting for me to speak up.
"I need to confess. I haven't been completely honest with you since the day we met." She furrowed her eyebrows expressing her concern.
"I didn't just volunteer out of the blue because I wanted to help. Well I mean I did but I did mostly because I wanted to avoid having to spend time with Dayanna."
"What?" She let out a whisper.
"Yeah, I didn't like the idea of being friends with someone like her. I don't think like that anymore but I know- the point is"
I stopped myself from rambling, "I didn't want to babysit your kids. Especially not after finding out your son was Jordan. I mean with all due respect to you- he's a fucking asshole."
"Harley-" She was surprised by my language.
"I'm sorry but it's the truth. I hate him. He might say the same thing about me but I don't care." She frowned looking down at me.
"And now I've realized I can't- I just don't have the strength to continue taking care of your little demons. I'm sorry but they are so not well behaved. "
"So you want to quit?" She asked.
"Yes!" I accidentally replied too fast.
"Oh.."
"I mean yesterday Jordan snuck out to a party and made us follow him to a stranger's basement. A freaking basement!" I explained freaking out.
"What? Wait a minute you never told me about this?" She crossed her arms.
"I wasn't planning on getting fired my first day in. But now that I've seen what your kids are capable of I know I'm not suited for this job." I am disappointed in myself.
She half smiled trying to speak up. She looked me in the eyes making me nervous. Is she mad?
"I know my children could be difficult." She began.
"A bit?!" I exclaimed.
"Very Difficult " She corrected herself.
"Especially your son," I added.
She paused looking down at her feet. It was like she was either lost in thoughts or contemplating something.
"Ever since their father left they haven't been the same. I mean they were always very snobby kids, if you might. And that might've been my fault for spoiling them so much." She said making me cheer up a bit.
"But they were never this rebellious." Karen stopped for a second.
"Y'know Harley, the real reason I accepted and trusted you to work as my babysitter?" She scooted next to me. I rubbed my fingers on my knees nervously as she put her arm around me.
"It's because I saw something in you. You don't seem the type to give up easily on something you want. You are ambitious." She tugged a piece of hair behind my ear. I smiled softly at her action.
"I like that about you." She told me. I blushed, feeling flattered.
"It reassures me that there is still hope for me. That someone out there is willing to help my family. That someone is finally going to bring us all together. To heal the wounds of a hurt environment." She pulled me closer into a hug.
"You think that highly of me?" I asked her genuinely confused.
"Of course I do. You're a good kid, you just don't like to admit it." She ran her hand down my back.
"Just like my Jordan" She smirked. I nodded giggling softly at her remark.
"I guess." I lifted myself from the comfortable couch seat
"Thank you for being so understanding and unbelievably kind to me" I thank her, hands in my pockets. She stood up as well fixing her skirt.
"So? Do you still want to continue working for me? It's up to you. If not I could hire another-"
"That won't be necessary. I will come back tomorrow. " I chuckled.
"Great. I'll see you tomorrow." She exhaled. I thanked her once again walking to the exit.
I wrapped my hand around the doorknob to pull it open. Before going out Karen's soft voice stopped me.
"Wait" I froze, turning back to look at her. She looked down fidgeting with her rings on her fingers while I furrow my eyebrows.
"I know Jordan can be a bit of a tough nut at times but you just have to give him time. He's a sweet kid if you get to know him. Besides you two have a lot more in common than you think." She said persuading me to change my perspective on him.
Perhaps she was on to something.
"I'll think about it," I told her giving her a frown smile. She did the same and I nodded before heading out.