Then & Now - Chapter 9b

[madbottoms]

 

Chapter 9b

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It was now or never Jack decided later that day as he walked the hallway, handsome and hip. Samantha, Lauren and Jamie were texting by their lockers and Jack strutted up to them and the Bras smiled.

 

“So I’ve been here a couple days now and I think I got it figured out. You girls are lesbians, right?”

 

The Bras’ jaws hit the floor and Jack walked off, a huge grin on his face, feeling better than he had in a while.

 

At lunch Jack stepped from the kitchen area carrying a tray, scanned the crowded room and found Stephen seated at a table alone. It was a heartbreaking image.

 

Jack approached. “Mind if I sit here?”

 

“James? Wow, you look totally different.”

 

“I got rid of the bull’s eye on my forehead,” he said as he sat across from Stephen.

 

“Could you move to the left a little?”

 

Jack inched left and peeked behind him... two girls are eating lunch together. A cute girl looked up and smiled at Stephen who quickly shied away.

 

“Who’s she?”

 

“Nicole Lopez. She’s in my Spanish class.”

 

“Have you spoken to her?”

 

“No. I get all stupid so I just stare.”

 

“I’ll tell you a funny story. The first time I met your father I was so nervous...”

 

“My father?”

 

“What?”

 

“You said, ‘the first time I met your father I was so nervous...’”

 

“I did? That’s weird. Is your Dad hot?”

 

“Dude!”

“What’s going on tonight? You wanna hang out? Do something?”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah you could show me around.”

 

“Cool.” Stephen smiled, happy that someone wanted to hang with him.

 

The Wonder Bras swayed in and took seats at the VIP table.

 

“I’ll swing by your house around 7.” Jack rose and looked over.

 

“I wouldn’t go over there. John and his Baboons have lunch this period.”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll see you tonight.”

 

Jack strolled over to the Bras’ table, plunked himself down. “Did you girls catch Ellen yesterday? Rosie was on. Melissa Etheridge jammed...”

 

“You’re so rude!?” Samantha huffed. “We’re not gay. We like boys.”

 

“Hey! What do you know? Me too.” They were slightly stunned but brushed it off, airheads that they were. He hated these types of girls first time around. But he’d had Ianto to keep him sane. And now he didn’t.

 

“Yeah, Samantha’s a total slut...” Jamie started and Samantha’s jaw dropped.

 

“Yeah. Like last New Year’s Samantha made it with my boyfriend,” Jamie accused.

 

“I was on like five Red Bulls! I can’t believe you keep bringing that up.”

 

The Bras’ began to bicker among themselves and Jack pulled out his new iPhone, plugged the earphones in his ears. The Bras immediately stopped bickering, ogled the phone.

 

“Rad phone.”

 

“I know. I’ll text you... NOT. Later... much.” Jack rose from the table.

 

“Like we’d ever give you our numbers,” Samantha said.

 

John came in the cafeteria, carrying a basketball, with his goons and Gwen. He came up behind Jack and whipped the ball at his head. “Heads up!”

 

Jack, cat-quick, spun around and caught the ball. The whole cafeteria turned their attention on Jack and John.

 

Jack pointed to the name ‘John’ on John’s letter jacket, read, “‘John’. Did mommy sew that on there so you wouldn’t forget your name?” The students in the cafeteria laughed.

 

“You think ‘cause you got a haircut and new clothes people’d forget what a fag you are?” John hissed.

 

“Cut it out, John. Let’s eat.” Gwen tried to get John to sit.

 

“Gimme my ball back, bitch,” he demanded.

 

Jack ignored him and started dribbling.

 

“You know, John, I feel sorry for you.”

 

“You don’t know me.”

 

Jack spoke loudly now, playing to the cafeteria. “Oh but I do. All too well. You’re the man around here, Captain of the basketball team, dates the pretty girls... high school is your kingdom.

 

John and his Posse tapped fists. Jack dribbled between his legs.

 

“But, People, John’s a bully. Why? It would be way too easy to say John preys on the weak because he’s simply a dick. No, John’s more complex than that. According to leading psychiatrists, John is a bully for one of three reasons.”

 

John looked ready to burst but still dribbling the ball, Jack continued, “First, under all that male bravado there’s an insecure little girl banging on the closet door trying to get out. Second, like a caveman, John’s brain is underdeveloped. Therefore, John is unable to use self-control so he acts out aggressively. And the third reason...”

 

Jack held up his pinky... then spun the ball on it. “I’d argue that John suffers from all three.” The entire cafeteria laughed hysterically and Jack feigned whipping the ball back at John, who recoiled, then he gently rolled the ball back to John and winked. “Don’t hurt yourself big boy.”

 

Some of the students, including Stephen, erupted in cheers, some stared in awe, glad someone had the guts to stand up to this bully. The Wonder Bras eyed Jack with new found lust.

 

Jack walked away but wasn’t that dumb to realise he was still a target. He counted to himself, ‘3, 2, 1,’ then ducked just as a ball whizzed overhead, rocketing across the cafeteria and landing on Miss Sato’s tray, splattering her with food. She glared at John extremely unimpressed.

 

Jack’s iPhone buzzed... and the Wonder Bras digits appeared. He deleted them straight away and headed to the school’s college centre as requested earlier that day.

 

“My guidance counsellor made me come, but just so you know I’m not planning on going to college.”

 

“A lot of kids feel that way. Don’t be intimidated. It doesn’t hurt to take a look.” Mrs Mencer, a sweet old lady handed Jack a hefty book. “A good place to start is here... this book has information on every college and university in the country.”

 

“Thanks.” Jack sat and started paging through the book and getting lost in the bright coloured pictures... smiling students, campuses and lecture halls... the options he lost years ago.


Chapter 10a 

Comments

[missthingsplace.livejournal.com]

Love Jack standing up to them.

[madbottoms.livejournal.com]

I loved this scene. It takes courage to stand up to people like that and he did it well.