On the morning of September 15th, I stir to the sounds of birds chirping, waking me from my peaceful slumber. Ah, this is the life of a new gangster; sunny skies, being happy, opening my eyes while listening to the beautiful sounds of nature, and the first thing I see on a fine morning like this one is Jesse Gosper. I feel as if cold water has just been dropped onto me; I imagine my hair soaking wet, and feel my good mood evaporate into the air that I breathe. I groan, wake me up from this nightmare. Or at least let me go back to the one I was having earlier, it isn't as gross as reality.
What is he doing here? I wipe the crust off of my eyelashes and try my best not to add to the shouting currently being done by Jesse. Go to hell... I glare at him with my tired, half open eyes; doesn't he know how to shut up? At least he could be a little quieter while screaming at me; he doesn't have to butcher my hearing... I have already ruined it enough by listening to my music a "little" too loud. We all have our way of escaping.
I look around to find an object within an arm's reach so that I can beat Jesse with it into next Tuesday. Wouldn't that be perfect? Payback for kissing me the other day. Instead of finding a bat, I grab my clock and get ready to throw, but not before glancing at the time; 6:02. Just great, I thought he said breakfast was at seven. What is he doing here now? I don't want to have to spend more time with him than I have to. I also don't want to wake up at this ungodly hour, but what can you do? It's not like I'm going to sleep after all of this. You see what you did now Jesse? You are getting me all worked up in the morning, I don't need this. I also don't need you. So then why do you keep on popping into my life?
"What do you want now? You told me breakfast was at seven, it is only six, so why are you here?" I say looking him up and down. Twice. Perfectly dressed, suited up and looking like his normal idiotic and hot self; Jesse ladies and gentlemen. Too bad throwing this clock at him is going to ruin all of that, maybe add a big, flashy, purple, and blue bruise. Like his own handmade, personal tattoo.
"I'm doing your parents proud; you are going to be the new." He stops, looking me up and down. "And improoved Jessica. It's time for a makeover, I don't let ugly people in my gang." Wow.
"I am shocked at how nice you are being to me, definitely a change in character from since I first met you." I smile in fake delight.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep up the attitude; it gives me more things to dislike about you. Anyways... I have figuered out what you are going to do for me everyday for the rest of your life." He winks.
"First off, you are almost officially the newest member in my little gang of thieves; you will also be joining me from time to time to execute our clients that don't know how to pay up on time. You know the norm."
Why do I feel as if that stupid head is making fun of me? Because you know he probably is. Jesse is just trying to feel better about himself, you know, the norm.
"I have big news for you, every time you spit out a sarcastic comment, or at least when I think you are, you seem gayer and gayer by the second. You are slowly killing yourself and making the image I have of you in my head seem more and more like a girl. Just thought that I'd let you know seeing as we're friends now, right?" I ask while batting my eyelashes. Try to chew that piece of gum.
Whatever playful attitude Jesse seemed to have before, disappeared in a milisecond. Litteraly. I watch as the light in his eyes leave as if it was never there. He starts approaching me, silently. I back up slowly, trying to keep as much distance as I can with him without hitting a wall. Bump. Too late.
Jesse smirks, still keeping that calm expression portrayed on his handsome face. I hold back the urge to shiver. I always seem to forget that my snarky comments can and will backfire when they decide to start playing with a high class criminal and a gang leader. I look around me, trying to remember any of my escape plans I came up with while playing my mind games earlier. Nothing helps. How did I not imagine something like this happening? Instead of Jesse cornering me, I was imagining an elephant dressed as Al Pacino chasing me with a gun. It's times like these when I wonder how I ever survived these sixteen years of my life. It was probably temporary luck because I sure as hell don't have any of that luck left anymore.
Jesse doesn't stop moving until we are barely a few inches away from each other. Please don't tell me he is going to violate my lips again; I'm already scarred for life after the last time. If this is cupid's way of telling me I will end up with Jesse, can somebody please go tell him that I want a refund? I would do it myself, but I'm a little busy right now trying to keep whatever little shred of dignity I have left in me and I am also trying not to die at the hands of Jesse Gosper.
I watch Jesse's fists clench together and release repeatedly until we are face to face, even closer than a few seconds ago. Oh boy. I look him in the eyes, refusing to show weakness in front of the donkey face gang leader. I feel a small smile crack in my stone like face. Jesse scowls, it must be opposite day today; I smile, he frowns, I scowl, he smirks.
"Jessica, my sweetheart..." He caresses my face. I try not to move back, but I do and end up hitting the back of my head on the wall. Smooth, I wonder why Jesse wanted me to be a thief; I am clearly not cut out for the job.
He laughs as I make a face. "You can't escape me little one. I own you. When you killed Henry, you sealed your fate. This isn't like the olden times when workers fought to have security in work, you are under my power, and no laws protect you over here in my kingdom. If I want to bite you, I'll bite you. If I want to kick you, I'll kick you. If I want to kiss you, I sure as hell will. I am the seeker here, and there is nowhere you can hide, I know this place like the back of my palm, in other words; perfectly."
I watch Jesse bite me, kick me, and kiss me, with my eyes wide open. He really thinks he can overpower me, doesn't he? My fists clench. Not now, you can never win a fight when fueled by anger, take it from experience. I take a long and deep breath. Slowly, my fists unclench and I look at the clock I never had the chance to throw at Jesse sitting on my bed facing us, as if watching the show. Do you think that it's too late to throw it at him? I feel something grab my wrists.
"Don't even think about it Jessica. Come with me, we're going to the salon. Put on the robe the maids left in the closet, you have twenty seconds. Go." He shoos me away in the direction of my large closet.
I open the closet door and grab the robe from its hangar. On my way back to Jesse, I slip the robe on and follow him out of my room. He grabs my wrist and speeds up his pace as if afraid of being seen in public with me. What a new definition of the saying "I never kiss and tell." He kisses me whenever he likes alone and then he acts as if he hates me in public, talk about rude.
On our way to the salon, we pass the two large doors that fascinated me when I first saw them. When I hear a scream, I feel my whole body freeze for a millisecond. I feel a tug on my wrist and my feet start moving even faster than before, rushing to get away from the screaming and the memories slowly filling my head. I did what I had to do, there is no going back now.
It only takes a few minutes to get to the so called "salon" Jesse told me about, the doors opening as soon as Jesse and I were about two or three feet away. The modern inside of the room leaves me shocked, how rich is this guy? Drugs and other illegal things are expensive these days...
As I look around the room, my eyes land on the infamous Mrs. Gosper. Oh joy. I try turning away, in the direction of the massage tables that seemed so tempting right now, but Jesse keeps me in place and I watch nervously as I grow closer and closer to Mrs. Gosper.
"Hello son, how is your morning so far? Your father and I are looking forward to our meeting this afternoon, I presume you remembered this?" Mrs. Gosper says while leaning in closer to her son and giving him three kisses on his cheeks; right, left, right. Thankfully she doesn't notice my presence.
"Oh, don't think that I have forgotten about you young lady. Jessica Mayfield. Am I correct? Of course I am. How are you darling? I myself am doing much better than the day my family and I had dinner at your house. I am sure the worms in the plates were all just a big misunderstanding, right?" She asks me, her voice sounding over cheery, so much for going unnoticed.
"Hi Mrs. Gosper, I'm doing fine." I stop. "Thank you. Yes, the worms at the dinner were all just a big misunderstanding, Paul would not stop apologising after the incident, almost got fired."I lie effortlessly.
"Don't lie to me child, I know a lot more than you think I do." She says mysteriously. I don't question it; some things are better left unsaid or at least said later on in the future.
"Mother, I am afraid that Jessica and I must go, as you know she is now part of the Serpentes. She must be ready for the last step of her initiation."
I try to ask him what he means, but I am once again whisked away and pulled into a different direction. In a way, I am grateful that Jesse pulled me away, the air between Mrs. Gosper and I was becoming too tense to even breathe.
And what is going on with him and pulling me everywhere and anywhere? Can't he ever stop touching me for once? His grip on my wrist tightens as if he heard what I just thought, I guess not.
I am suddenly thrown into somebody's arms and when I look up, I find the last person I needed to see right now; Mason. Just great, why don't we invite my parents over and make it a big old happy reunion?
"Are you ready for your make over? Anyways, you don't have a choice, we were going to change your appearance, whether you liked it or not. I would say sorry, but I am trying to cut back on my lying, so I won't." Mason says sarcastically as he leads me towards one of the salon hair washing chairs.
I am pushed onto the seat and my head is pulled back roughly. Hot water is suddenly wetting my hair and slightly burning my scalp. The soap is soon dropped onto my hair and hard fingers press onto my head. I stay silent, forcing myself to not show any pain. I feel the water turn back on and slowly the soap washes out of my hair. A towel is soon placed on top of my head and I am roughly pushed into another seat across from the one I was sitting on a few seconds ago.
Mason looks at me through the mirror and he tells me as if he's bored, "Yolanda will fix your hair, but don't worry; once she's done I'll be right back."
I look at Yolanda and my eyes widen, that is one.... lady. "Yello, I am Yvolanda, vill fix ze hare, arite?"
I nod in agreement. Surprisingly, she handles my hair with great care, unlike Mason, and turns my chair around once she had finished. My eyes widen and I feel tears prickle my eyes. My hair! What did this lady do to my hair? My long brown hair that used to reach my butt, now only flows a little past my shoulders.
"Vou like?" She asks as she puts her fingers in my hair, fluffing it.
I nod, scared of what would have happened if I told her the truth. The smile that was on her face disappears once she sees my expression.
"Yvou do not like. Hare vill grow back, but for now zis is goohd." She says, her expression determined.
I take a second look at my hair as turn my head in different directions. Somehow, I feel myself slowly growing used to it; this may not be so bad. I just need to get comfortable with... This kind of style. At least she didn't give me a Mohawk.
In the mirror, I notice Mason standing behind me with a scowl on his face and Jesse looking at my reflection in shock. What? I look at myself in the mirror, trying to find what looks so wrong, nothing.
"Let's go, we're running late." Jesse says while he shakes his head as if trying to snap out of something.
I stare at him confused. I am once again pulled out of my seat by somebody, but I don't have to look up to know who it is because he doesn't let go of my wrist; Jesse.
I want a cast for this story. Does anybody have any ideas? If you have any ideas, comment and let me know, thanks. Oh, sorry for the gay comment said earlier. I don't mean offence to anybody. Comment and or vote. Please. Write to you later,
-R