「 E I G H T E E N 」
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The eerie silence of night blanketed the air around me. The only sound but the distant cars running along the road, passing passers by. The flickering of a street light taunting me like a burning candle.
I crept up the drive way of the Hernandez household, stealthily sliding through the front door, carefully creeping towards the staircase through the hallway. The soft ticking chime of the old mahogany grandfather ringing softly into night.
A subtle low cough startles me, my hand automatically reaching for a small blade hidden inside the sleeve of my jacket.
" I see you decided to use the front door instead of sneaking in through your window." Jake says bluntly as he sits in a armchair, bathed in the warm glow of the lamp resting upon the side table.
" Jake, you startled me." I sigh relief flooding my body, the blade in my hand falling to my side. Jakes face rendering emotionless as he stares at the fallen blade.
" I—I thought you might of been him " I said sheepishly, my heart swelling as his eyes flicker to mine, hurt evident in them. His body standing tall as he glides towards me.
" Did you do it?" He asks bitterly looking down at me in shame. " Did you?"
" No" A thick silence growing between us. " I didn't. I just—." " I don't want to hear it—Do you know how much danger you're putting yourself in. How worried you make me?"
His voice filled with frustration as he ran his hands through his now messy curls. Agitation eating at his face, as his eyebrows furrowed together, eyes sparkling with the look that opened my heart to the guilt that washed over me.
" I'm sorry but you know why I have to do this."
My hands reaching out to him as he stares down at me. We both hate it when we argue, but this time felt different. I don't know which one of us hated it more.
" You don't have to. You always have a choice Scar, and this one is the wrong choice." His hands bigger than my cupped my own, the warmth of his touch spreading through my skin like a supernova. My cheeks burning as I felt them flush.
" But it's my decision to make."
Silence fell between us. The room felt like it was closing in, swallowing us both up whole so that we suffocated in the ground. Neither of us wanting to say anything wrong or make things worse.
" Listen I don't want to argue with you Jake. I know you don't agree with any of this, but it has to be done. Someone has to pay this price and I'm willing to do it. Just please promise me you won't get involved."
"Fine. No more arguing or trying to boss each other round." He said calmly shrugging his shoulders sitting himself back into the armchair carelessly. " But on one condition."
" Anything"
" No more secrets."
" No more secrets."
A small smile crept onto my face as we both held each other into a warm embrace. Relief washing over my body as I melted into his warmth. A soft pool of emotions growing inside my stomach fluttering around making a warm ooze out of my pores.
Sweat dripped down my back as my clenched fists pounded against the leathered material of the gymnasiums punch bag.
" You're getting sloppy" Kat chimed glancing at her nails, not even batting an eyelash in my direction. A small groan of frustration leaving my lips as I straightened my stance.
My body twisting, tensing, convulsing as the sound of flesh hitting leather echoed around the room, the subtle jangle of the metal chain holding the bag up rattling.
" Now you're pulling punches."
Another groan left my lips as I sent a harsh kick towards the bag. Slouching as I grasped a hold of the swinging bag sawing towards me. My head a mess as I think of mine and shakes discussion the other night.
Maybe he's right? Maybe I should quit whilst I can, before anyone gets seriously hurt, before I do.
People around us are starting to notice the change. I'm noticing changes. Jake being one of them. He argues with his parents now, more so than usual. Many of the arguments I hear at night between him and his father. His grades slipping, neglecting his friends, I've even heard him staying up till all hours in the morning. He's changing and I feel that it is my fault.
" Giving up?" Kat scoffed jumping from the stack of gym mats, her hair swaying as she walked, tossing a few strands over her shoulder.
" Yes, our time is up for today." I said dryly peeling off the wrap from my knuckles, tossing the scraps into the plastic bin beside the mirrored wall.
"Somethings wrong." Kat states, her hand finding my shoulder as I untie my hair from its high ponytail, letting my dirty blonde waves cascade around my shoulders, engulfing my face. " Nothing—Just tired." I lie. Turning to face her with a small sloppy smile.
Kat stares at me with a calculated glance, her eyes narrowed, glaring into mine as if she was trying to see through my lie.
" You should go get some rest. You worked hard today." She praised squeezing my shoulder handing me a small bottle of water. "But if you change your mind and want some excitement in your life you should come meet up with me and some of my friends. We're attending a race tonight downtown. Should be fun, come if you like."
" I'll think about it." I say sheepishly grasping s hold of the strap of my duffel bag, tossing it over my shoulder. Every bone in my body screaming at me. Maybe it was just the guilt.
" If you change your mind wear something dark and edgy. It suits you." She smirks as she tosses her gloves into the box, packing up the sparring equipment.
" See you"
Wasting no time I leave the small gym room heading straight down the hall. The strap of my bag rubbing harshly against my bare shoulder, my bag knocking against my leg as I stalked through the halls. Swiftly passing the schools football team changing from a hour of practise after hours. My eyes low as I make my way out the full building towards my usual waiting spot for Jake to come pick me up.
A sharp irritated sigh escapes my lips. One I didn't know I was holding in. My eyes trailing to a familiar polished car sitting in its usual space. The car that belonged to none other than Damian Wayne. Before I could even process a list of reasons why him and his small explicit group of followers irritate me the soft ring of my phone attracts my attention.
A no caller ID
Strange. My phone must have been messing up again.
" Who are you?"
I'm guessing not.
Every cell and nerve in my body began to go into over drive. Goosebumps rising on my flesh as every hair stood on end.
Was this one of jokers sick jokes into fooling with me, a way of messing with my head.
My eyes darting round the parking lot in a alarm and desperation. My eyes catching Meredith, Damian Wayne's girlfriend who's not officially his girlfriend. Panic pounding at my chest, my heart screaming as all the bad thoughts flooded my mind. The air almost felt thinner. The sky seemed to be getting further away, my chest tight as I clutched the strap of my bag before—
"Hey—You Okay? You don't look to good."
"Jake" I gasped as he rolled down the window to his car, popping open the passenger side door for be to jump in.
"Y-yeah" I said breathlessly snapping out my trance. The panic in my body subsiding as Jake reached to take my bag, stepping out the car.
" Just—I don't know."
" Lets just get you home. You ate this afternoon?" A small sloppy smile on his face as he took my bag, tossing it into the boot of the car.
I stared at him. Not in the freakishly weird way but a admiring way. How did I get so lucky as to have him as a best friend. Any girl would be lucky to have him.
" I can't remember—but Kat invited me to a-a event of sorts tonight. You can come if you like. There will be cars."
"Sure. Wouldn't want you going alone squirt." He scoffed flashing a goofy smile as he ruffled my hair like a child.
Swatting his hand away shoving his arm lightly we laughed as we began to get in the car.
I felt happy. For a few blissful minutes I was happy. I had no regrets. Key word had.
Just as we was about to leave the putrid building behind and all it's toxicity the man of mystery himself would have to appear.
"Hey Hernandez, who's your new friend here?"
The voice of Damian Wayne made my skin shiver, a crawl to go up my spine. Something about him set my nerves on edge. Like something inside me was warning me of him.
" Oh come on Damian don't tell me you don't recognise my best friend here." Jake scoffed as he stared the boy dead in the eyes. The pair caught in a icy stand off. Or whatever it is boys do to feel competitive towards one another to establish some sort of banter full dominance.
Damian's eyebrows scrunch together before one slowly begins to rise in shock. A puzzled expression crossing his stern face. Who knew he could show another emotion then than being a stern jerk with icy cold comebacks.
" Who would of thought it. Jacob Hernandez forever in the friend zone am I right?"
A half witty reply I know. But his bite is less intimidating than his bark. But something about the way he grinned in mock victory, the way his pearly white teeth peeped out from behind is lips exposing his inner mouth made my skin crawl.
Maybe because all I saw when he did that was the silver grilled memory of someone else's sinister smile implanted into my brain.
" Alrighty boys, could we please stop talking as if I am not in this very vehicle."
The two stare at me, shock stuck on Damian's face as he clearly never expected the quiet girl to have a aggressive tone. Jake on the other hand looked as though he was biting back a laugh, his eyes glinting mischievously.
" You heard the little lady Wayne. Shouldn't you be getting back to Meredith?" Jake chastised before bidding Damian a brief fare well.
Damian however seemed frozen into place. A cold calculated stare written into his face. Eyes hollow as he stared into mine, as if he was reading my mind, flicking through my thoughts as if it was the latest magazine.
My eyes focused on his fleeting figure as the car roared into life, fleeing from the parking lot, wind rushing through the open windows, strands of hair blocking my vision stealing me from my trance of confusion and curiosity.
Jake voice but a mere hum in the background as he began to tease me and my goo goo eyed look that I apparently gave. Before firing me into a long game of twenty one questions about what to wear.
Sitting himself on the edge of my bed as he held up two t-shirts asking which would compliment him better with his black fitted skinny jeans. I'll admit Jake looked good in black, especially with his old leather jacket sling over his shoulder.
" God" I groaned dragging my palm down my face. " You look like a bad boy cliche." I groaned tossing my damp towel from my hair towards him.
"Me? You're the one in black ripped skinny jeans, black combat boots and a band t-shirt if guns and roses. You look like you belong in hot topic or apart of a rock band."
Glancing at my outfit I realised he was right. Even with my natural waves forming in the warmth of my bedroom I hesitated on actually wearing this outfit.
"Do I really look that much of a cliche?" I asked wearily biting my bottom lip. A bad habit I'd acquired recently.
"Well—I mean—you—You look ho-great. You look great" he stuttered blurting our his words as a flustered expression began to grace his cheeks. His hand running through his hand nervously.
" Thank you Jakey. You don't look to bad yourself." I smile softly ruffling my hand rough his hair mischievously walking in my tip toes.
" Any time tuts." He smirked pointing his hand in my direction in the symbol of a gun.
" Never do that again" I chuckled hiding my face in a pillow that I grasped a hold of on my bed.
" No promises."
Holding his hands up in mock surrender we laughed and joked clearing the air before making our way towards down town Gotham.
Anxiety growing in my stomach as I slouched low in my seat. The joker symbols and destructive remains of chaos scattered everywhere.
A warmth spread against the icy tips of my fingers, eyes fluttering softly towards the cause of the warmth pooling into me.
"You ready?"
That soft small smile was the one thing in that moment. That moment that made me feel like I was floating on air. That made my heart flutter in s way that I thought was normal. That made all my nightmares and negative thoughts be washed away.
" Are you?"