By the end of lunch, the school was buzzing.
This nobody kneed Gabriel Hunter in the balls?
I guess they didn't know me. Not that I ever wanted them too. They weren't important to me, they were just students, doing as they were told and following the school's social code. I wouldn't call myself an outcast, seeing as I wasn't one to step out of their guidelines. But this.
This was.
"Wow," Summer appeared to my right and kept up with my stride. "I knew it. I knew you had a ballsy attitude." She smirked. "Get it? Ballsy? Balls-y?"
The lame joke made me smile. "I get it, I get it."
"But seriously. That attitude will get you no where in life."
If I inherited it from my parents, then of course I would end up with no life.
The thought of turning into another replica of my parents sent a shudder through me. No, not in this lifetime, not ever, would I turn into my parents. If I ever had a child, I wouldn't force them to pay my bills.
Besides the point, I really loved my parents. Even though I never saw them half the time, I still loved them. Maybe it was the post cards they sent, maybe the $10 notes they sent from whichever currency they were in, or maybe it was a string of hope that they would realize what they had neglected - who, more specifically - dangling from such a worn thread, but either way, I still loved them.
Summer brought me back to reality.
"-kick him in the balls. He's generally a nice guy."
"What?" I asked confused, walking into Gym.
"Frank. He's a sweetheart, really! And the best thing about it is he looks just like you!" She grinned. We headed into the change rooms.
"Great, so the guy you're trying to hook me up with is my identical twin." I glanced at her. "Nice."
She rolled her eyes. "No, you idiot, he has the same sense of style as you. Ripped jeans, band T-shirts, not to mention he loves music."
"And you think that because we both love music instantly means we're soulmates? Get real, Summer. There's too many people in this world to just suddenly have your 'soulmate' close to-"
"I'm not talking about soulmates! You have to start this dating sometime. You can't just find your 'soulmate', I get that, but if you do find this amazing guy, he doesn't want some inexperienced loser. He also doesn't want a girl who kicks them in the balls, either. So clean up your attitude."
During her speech, I slipped into my Gym clothes and we headed back out. A few people stared at me, but it wasn't the whole population like I was expecting.
"Gee. Inexperienced loser, huh?" I smiled bitterly and looked away.
"That didn't come out right, I'm sorry." She was sincere but I didn't look at her. "Really. I didn't. But sometimes. Sometimes, I really really wish you were different. Gushing over guys. Nail painting. High heels."
"I actually like all those things. I gush over guys," I shrugged. "Just never in front of you."
"Just give Frank a try, Alex. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Don't say those words, they always end up with trouble."
"Which one's?" She teased, lowering her voice so she didn't get reprimanded from the teacher since he had launched into what we were planning to do today. "The, 'what's the worst that could happen'?"
"Yes, because something always happens. And it definitely isn't good."
*~*
I sighed and shifted the bag higher on my back.
Most people had left in a flurry, ready to start the weekend. Parties, shopping and hanging out with friends was most likely on their agenda, while mine was filled with playing scrabble with myself.
Kidding.
I couldn't even own a scrabble play set, let alone waste my money shopping or partying. I was sure the only time I had alcohol was when I went on a binge. I suddenly was over saving money an having the hassles of bills and loneliness that I had gotten an elder to buy me alcohol. The only thing that I had gotten the morning after was a pounding headache and a large sum of money vanished from my account.
Sometimes, I wondered why my parents had had a child if they didn't even look after it. They never told me if I was an accident or not, so my options were open. Who knows, maybe they had some medieval fantasy and decided condoms weren't part of the play.
I shuddered at the thought. Mom. Dad. Medieval Fantasies.
I looked away as if it could erase my line of thought, but instead my eye caught something interesting. A fluorescent green flyer was pinned to a board. 'Guitar Lessons' were in capital letters and my eyes widened.
No, Alex. Can you imagine how much it would cost? Fifty, one hundred, one fifty. Oh god, why was I even walking toward the flyer?
As I got closer, my eyes adjusted to the dollar sign and I gasped. Twenty dollars for two hours. I almost rubbed my eyes in astonishment.
"Holy fuck," I swore. Something that I had always wished to do was waving a red flag in front of my eyes. I really, really didn't have the money. Not only was I saving for a college, but I needed food, shelter, and I could definitely use a new pair of shoes. Guitar lessons should be on the bottom of my wants list, but suddenly it had torpedoed all the way to the top. All I could see was me holding a guitar and actually enjoying myself.
I had never really had enjoyment in my life. Besides Summer, there wasn't anything I could describe as 'fun'. I mean. I took great pleasure in watching Summer lose it. She'd get angry over my snarky sarcastic comments or when I tried to run away from her pressing friendship wanting self.
And there as always DJ'ing. Though, I found that more work than exciting.
I stared at the flyer harder, as if it'd make my decision easier. Though I couldn't afford it, and my mind was completely unjust about the situation, I ripped off the little tag.
*~*
I didn't drive home.
Not only was walking good for you, but I couldn't waste petrol when it could be used to go to work. Or guitar lessons.
My heart leapt and a giddy smile slipped onto my face. I was finally indulging on the little things of life.
I stretched and rounded the corner to the supermarket, and in there, I changed into my work uniform.
*~*
"Hi, how are you?" I spoke cheerfully, taking her canned tomatoes and swiping the barcode.
"Tiring, I've been through.." and she plunged into a story about her day while holding onto a blond haired little toddler. As I continued to scan the items, the kid pulled a face while his mom went through her purse one-handedly. The boy looked at his nose and wiggled his tongue, all the while the mom was completely oblivious.
Doing what I'd think a true mom should do when their child had just been disrespectful, I gave a cold glare and he quickly stopped. It looked as if he leaned closer to her mom, but she didn't take notice.
Smiling, I looked at the total. "That comes to a total of twenty-five dollars and seventy five cents."
She gave me twenty six dollars and I gave her change. "That's twenty five cents change, have a lovely day."
I watched her stuff the change in her pocket before setting the kid down and grabbing the bags. Obediently, the boy grabbed onto the remaining space of her mothers hand and they walked out together without a backward glance.
As I envisioned the little boy in my head, I grew confused. My mind had suddenly asked questions, I didn't think they'd even venture to. Things like: why would I be so harsh toward a kid who obviously was being a little silly. And: was my actions a sudden showing of my mom or dad, or just a reprieve.
Maybe the waves were going to crash down below soon, and I quickly made a mental note to buy a few female hygenics.
"You know, that wasn't very nice." I flinched, turning to see a smirking Gabriel. My surprise turned into a scowl and I glared at him.
"What do you want?" I snapped. I tried to lace anger in my voice to cover my embarrassment. He had obviously seen my glare toward them kid.
"Uh uh uh. I wouldn't use that tone if I were you." He nodded to a sign that said, 'Customers are gaurenteed great service'.
"Is that a threat?"
"Merely complimenting you on your great effort on putting the rose in your cheeks." As if to put more emphasis on it, he suddenly pinched my cheeks and scrunched his face into what you'd look like if you were speaking goop to a baby.
"You know, I can make your cheeks red too." I lightly patted his cheek, my skin feeling it's surprisingly soft but firm cheekbone.
"Is that a threat?" He leaned in, smiling.
"It sure is." I took a step back and looked at his items. A frozen pizza. A large packet of chips. And three packets of condoms. "Wow," I spoke, trying to cover my blush. "Talk about conceited."
I lifted up the extra-large condoms and scanned them, causing a large beep.
"Not to brag or anything, but even they're a bit small," He winked.
"Oh wow, would you like me to tell the whole supermarket?" I snipped sarcastically, cocking my head.
"Why don't I?" He suddenly grabbed the bendy mic next to the crash register and flicked on the switch as if he had known exactly where it was without looking. He cleared his throat and tapped the mic once, the music suddenly dimming and the thump of the mic ringing through.
"Everyone, I'd like to draw your attention to Gabriel Hunter's-"
"Holy-" I quickly shut my mouth before my swear echoed around the suddenly silenced supermarket and snatched the mic out of Gabriel's hands. I flicked the switch and the music returned to its natural hum.
"You could have gotten me fired. Hell, I might be fired." I growled.
"I'm sure I could change their mind. Our family is one of the biggest influences on the rich side of town. Besides, don't you have another job?"
"Why is the sky blue, Gabriel? Why is the sky blue?" I threw my hands up exasperatingly.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Because it's dumb. And you should know since you just asked a dumb question."
"Dumb? That question was anything but dumb. I was simply asking if you had another job. Why did you have to start talking about the sky?"
I was close to growling at him. Seriously. Growling. "You should have been able to remember me at the club-"
"I was drunk and the image was hazy-"
"Is everything okay here?" Michelle, the supermarkets manager, had her hands firmly planted on her hips as she glared at the both of us.
"We were just discussing how tailored these work clothes look, but it obviously looks much better on you," charmed Gabriel. And from the corner of my eyes I think I saw him wink.
I had never seen Michelle flustered, but there she was, blushing and shifting uncomfortably. Maybe it was because she was a middle-aged women and rarely received any complements about her obviously unflattering body. "G-get back to work, Alexandria! No fussing around with the mic's either!"
Then she left in a scurry.
"What a nice name. Alexandria," he tested it and I glared at him.
"Alex," I corrected. I pulled the other items and scanned them.
"That comes to a total of nineteen dollars." I spoke, watching him pull out a twenty.
"Keep the change," then he winked again.
And left.
*~*
I'm certain that's long. Even for me. I hope it was good, and if it was be sure to vote! I can never know if your silent!
And yes, I do realize this story is even more cliche than the bad boy dating a good girl, but I'm sure I'm going to turn this around.
So. Vote? Maybe comment? Or fan, that's good too.