by M. Robinson
We stood up at the same time, banging into each other. Wanting to be the first one standing.
“Stop,” I clenched out, elbowing her.
“You stop.” She elbowed me back.
“You both stop right now!” Mom ordered, and we did. We were standing side by side with our heads bowed. Covered head to toe in mud.
“What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?” her mom asked, now standing in front of us.
Harley shrugged, not looking up. “At least we didn’t take the shirt off.”
I nodded. She was right. I don’t know how it was still on us, but it was. Hanging by a thread.
“Jackson, go get cleaned up,” Mom demanded in the tone that meant I was screwed. “You have five minutes to get in the car, and we’re going home. You have sufficiently ruined everyone’s day.”
“Sorry,” I grumbled.
“No, you’re not sorry. That’s the worst part.”
“I’m sorry for ruining your day, not for her.”
“Enough. You say one more word and your father will be getting involved. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I stepped out of the shirt and did as I was told. Not waiting another second, or who knew how much more trouble I’d be in, and I wasn’t willing to find out.
Before Harley could say anything else out of her loud, stupid mouth, I left. Making my way over to the side of the clubhouse, out of sight.
I grabbed the hose and started washing myself off when I heard, “Got your ass handed to ya by a girl. How’s that feel, football star?”
My eyes snapped to Cash. My anger grew as soon as I heard his voice. Harley, I could handle. Cash was another story. We hated each other, but in a much different way than her and I.
Something about him pissed me off. I didn’t know what it was, but it was there every time I saw him and Harley together. Which was a lot. They were attached at the hip.
The way they were together...
The way he defended her...
The way he played his guitar and sang her his stupid songs while she danced around...
The way...
The way...
The way...
Everything about their friendship was annoying. He thought he was better than me because his best friend was a girl. Harley wasn’t even a pretty girl. She looked like a piñata exploded half the time. I had older girls who wanted me—cheerleaders.
All he had was Harley.
I smiled. “Not any different than her having you wrapped around her little finger, boy toy. Why don’t you go running back to Harley, Cash? You can clean all the mud off her since she owns your nuts.”
“Says the guy whose nuts she just kicked.”
“Cash!” Shiloh hollered, bringing our attention over to her. “His mom is coming this way! You’re going to get in trouble!”
“Better listen, Cash, or else they’ll take away your guitar again, and then how will you bore everyone with your no talent?”
“I guess the same way you do at your football games.”
“I’m the MVP, dickwad. Without me, they can’t even play.”
“Keep tellin’ yourself that, Jackson. Since football is the only thing you got goin’ for ya.”
“Cash! Come on! You can fight with Jackson later! If you get grounded too, who am I going to hang out with?”
I laughed, “Go be with your other loser friend.”
“At least I got a girl. Two, actually.”
“Cash! I mean it! Bring your hide!”
He backed away, leaving me there.
God, I hate him.
The entire ride home was quiet, other than my mom saying I needed to head straight to the shower and then meet her in the kitchen after.
I did exactly that, hoping maybe my dad wouldn’t be waiting with her when I came back down.
He was.
Crap.
Dad ordered, “Sit down, Son.”
I nodded, taking a seat across from them at the island.
“Your mom is very upset with you, Jackson. I can’t say I’m happy with you either. Especially since you know your mom has been stressed and overwhelmed this last year.”
He was right. I did know that.
My mom was always the best mom she could be, but over the last year, she’d started forgetting things. Like picking us up from school or picking me up from football practice. She’d forget games, doctor appointments, even small things like her purse or car keys.
It wasn’t like her at all, and I think it was because she took on too much. She never told any of us no, not even my dad. We were her whole entire world, and she never said this out loud, but I knew I was her favorite. I spent the most time with her, watching her stupid chick flicks, cooking with her. Anything she wanted to do, I was down for.
She was my mom, and I loved spending time with her. We had a special bond.
But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next...
Nothing.
Mom took one look at me and opened her mouth to say my full name, at least that’s what I assumed, because every conversation when I was about to get grounded started that way. But nothing came out.
“Mom... are you okay?”
She just stared at me, almost like she couldn’t get her mouth to say what she wanted. It didn’t make any sense. She knew my name. She was my mom.
She named me.
“Mom...”
My eyes flew back to my dad, and for the first time in my life, I saw a look in his eyes I would never forget...
Fear.
And I just knew...
Our lives would never be the same again.
Chapter 6
<>Harley<>
Then: Nine years old
“So whatcha want to do this weekend?” Shiloh asked me, walkin’ to our last class of the day. “Maybe we can go watch Cash’s band rehearse?”
Cash started a band about six months before with some kids from our school. They practiced in each other’s garages and were gettin’ really good. Cash was the lead singer and guitarist, which drove the girls at our elementary school wild. It was nice to see Jackson’s face anytime a ditzy cheerleader paid attention to Cash instead of him.
I made sure to rub it in his stupid, smug ego anytime I saw it going down in the hallways and believe me, it happened often. Jackson may have been the most popular boy at our school cuz he was starting quarterback for our city’s little league, but that didn’t change the fact girls liked Cash just as much.
“Oh, that’d be fu—” Out of nowhere, someone bumped into me from behind, sendin’ all my notebooks flyin’ out of my hands.
I didn’t have to wonder who it was. I already knew.
“Walk much, loser?” Jackson mocked, standin’ in front of us wearin’ his stupid football jersey. His jock friend Trigger Reed in his jersey too next to him, both with huge grins spread across their stupid faces.
Trigger was the star defensive end, and the second most important player on the little league team. Together, they were the dynamic duo, and cuz of them, we were undefeated.
Barf.
They were best friends, who thought they were gods. The whole football team did. It was actually really irritatin’, especially durin’ the games. They’d walk through the field, chantin’ and cheerin’ as the crowd went wild. All the cheerleaders tryin’ to get noticed as they strutted by.
Barf again.
It still blew my mind how girls swarmed to them like bees to honey.
In my eyes, they were all big fat douchebags with their brains in their biceps.
I didn’t hesitate, steppin’ toward him, but Shiloh grabbed my arm to hold me back.
“Hi, Principal Salisbury,” she said, surprisin’ me and savin’ my butt for at least the hundredth time.
This wasn’t over.
I was still pissed at Jackson for last night’s prank. I don’t know how or when he got in my room, but he put flour in my pillowcase at some point durin
’ the day.
After I went to bed, fresh out of the shower, I laid my wet head down and white powder exploded everywhere. I spent the next hour tryin’ to get it out of my hair and sheets without my parents noticin’.
One of the things that changed between us in the last three years, we stopped tellin’ on each other, cuz it always backfired. No matter who started it, we’d both get in trouble and be grounded.
Though, those weren’t the only things that suddenly changed. Jackson’s family started to come around less and less. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen his parents at a Sunday barbeque. No one had any answers when I asked where they were. Sometimes my Uncle Noah and Aunt Skyler would bring the boys with them, but most of the time, they stopped comin’ too.
Ever since our mud fight, somethin’ shifted in Jackson’s behavior toward me.
He was meaner...
Crueler...
An all-out bully to the max.
If that was even possible.
It was like overnight his hatred for me quadrupled, changing from pickin’ on me to prankin’ me endlessly in the evilest of ways.
And I wasn’t just gonna stand back and take it.
Ever.
I always evened the score. No matter what, I paid him back.
Always.
“Kids, the second bell has rung. You’re going to be late for class,” Principal Salisbury announced, bringin’ our stares over to him.
“We were just on our way, Sir. But, you see, Trigger and I just stopped to help Harley with her books,” Jackson lied, smilin’ at me. “Right, Harley?”
“Somethin’ like that,” I replied, smilin’ back. Wantin’ to punch his teeth out.
“That’s very nice of you. Way to set an example for the other students,” Principal Salisbury went on.
“Of course, Sir. We’re always setting the bar high for the rest of the school. Lead by example is what our team stands for,” Jackson added, and I think I threw up in my mouth a little.
How do people not see through his crap? Especially, girls.
He quickly bent down and grabbed all my books, handin’ them back to me with an expression that screamed, ‘I’m better than you.’ Archin’ an eyebrow, he taunted, “Maybe try to work on not being so clumsy, Jameson. These textbooks cost our school a lot of money, and I’d hate for you to get into trouble for destroying school property.”
O-M-G, I’m gonna kill him.
Shiloh intervened, readin’ my mind. She grabbed my notebooks from his hands.
“Thanks for looking out, Jackson.”
“Always here to help, Shiloh.”
Jackson’s butt buddy didn’t waste any time, smilin’ and noddin’ over to Shiloh in that Trigger Reed sort of way. The one that made girls blush, swoon, and melt all at once.
Bigger barf.
“Maybe we’ll see you around this weekend,” he flirted, winkin’ at her.
Ummm... no, we hate you.
“Probably not,” she bit, makin’ me smile at him. I held back on givin’ him the stank face cuz it would only get me in trouble.
Trigger bumped into Jackson’s arm in some bro code kind of way, and I gripped onto Shiloh’s elbow and rushed us into our classroom before I said somethin’ I regretted.
I was about to take my seat next to her desk, but Jackson tripped me. Again. Almost knockin’ my books out of my hands. Again.
From behind me, he whispered into my ear, “What did I tell you about watching where you’re going, baby girl?” He was standin’ too close to my back, and I could feel his hatred for me pourin’ out of him. It was stingin’ a hole into my body.
On reflex, I elbowed him in his ribs, but he blocked it and slapped my butt.
“Bad girl.”
“You fresh pig—”
“Hush up, Harley.” He tugged me closer to his chest with his fingers gripping my hip. His lips were now brushin’ against my ear. “The teacher is watching. Don’t get us in trouble cuz you can’t control that short Jameson fuse.”
My mouth dropped open.
“Are you going to cry?”
“Never.”
“Maybe next time.”
“Keep dreamin’, turd munch.”
I turned to look at him, but he moved away and went to his desk in the back of the classroom.
Nothin’ was worse than endin’ my Friday to his Rudolph face.
Since this class was an elective, it was a mixture of all grades. My choices were either Language Arts or P.E., and I didn’t want to sweat.
However, I loved to read. It was one of my favorite things to do. Shiloh, Cash, and I always chose our classes together, but he dipped out on this one. I wasn’t surprised to see Jackson in here, though. He was probably doing it to pick up chicks.
Ignorin’ his dumbass face I could still feel starin’ at me, I sat down at my desk and brushed him off. Thinkin’ about Trigger instead.
Rippin’ out a sheet of paper from my notebook, I started writin’.
What crawled up Trigger’s butt and died?
As soon as Mr. Lenyard turned his back to start class and wrote somethin’ on the board, I threw my note on Shiloh’s desk.
Probably the nearest cheerleader.
U think he likes u?
Eww... gross. I hope not. Like I would ever fall for a boy like him. He’s a football player. I hate football. And he uses girls. I heard he’s already gone to 2nd base.
Whose boobs did he touch?
More like whose hasn’t he touched...
I wonder if Jackson has gone to 2nd base?
You’re thinking about Jackson and boobs?
Why was I thinkin’ about him and boobs?
“Yes, Jackson?” Mr. Lenyard called out, makin’ me look up.
“I’m trying to pay attention, but Harley’s passing notes and it’s really distracting.”
So much for not tellin’ on each other.
“Harley, if what you’re talking about is so important, why don’t you share it with the class?” Jackson baited, knowin’ it would embarrass me.
“No thanks,” I responded. “I’m good.” Hopin’ Mr. Lenyard wouldn’t make me.
“Actually, I think that’s a great suggestion, Jackson. How about you share what’s so important it couldn’t wait until after class, Miss Jameson?”
“I don’t think that’s—”
“I can’t hear you all the way back here, Harley. I think you should stand up and talk louder for those of us in the back,” Jackson continued on, and I never wanted to slap the stupid out of him more than I did in that second.
I glared at him. “I don’t think—”
“Another great suggestion, Jackson. Please stand, Miss Jameson.”
I grumbled under my breath.
“What was that, Harley?” he baited again.
“I said, sure... that sounds like a great idea.”
“Well, don’t keep us all waiting.”
“That’s enough, Mr. Pierce.”
I swallowed hard, bitin’ my bottom lip before slowly standin’.
What do I make up? Maybe I’ll say—
The class immediately started laughin’ and pointin’ at me, except for Shiloh. Whose eyes were wide as saucers.
I looked around the room. “What’s goin—”
Shiloh jumped into action, takin’ off her sweater and rushin’ over to me. Wrappin’ it around my waist.
“What?” I coaxed, lookin’ at her. Not understandin’ what was goin’ on.
When Greg announced, “Looks like Aunt Flo came for a visit, Harley,” the class laughed louder and harder.
My eyes shot to Jackson. He was leanin’ back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest. A huge smile spread across his face with a gleam in his eyes.
He shrugged. “I guess that’s why you’ve been so bitchy.”
The class fell into a fit of laughter, and Mr. Lenyard shouted, “Mr. Pierce!” Then he warned, “Class that’s enough!”
Shiloh could
see it in my eyes, they were gettin’ watery.
“Hold it in, babe. Not here. Not now.”
I nodded, bitin’ my bottom lip again.
It was then that she pulled the squished ketchup packets from my back pockets, and I screamed out, “Jackson! You set me up!”
He put his hand on his chest, fakin’ bein’ hurt. “I wish I could see what you’re talking about, but I can’t get my head that far up your butt.”
My eyes widened. “Look!” I yelled at him, showin’ everyone the splattered packets in my hands. “You put these in my back pockets, so it’d look like my friend came! When it didn’t, you lyin’ piece of poo!”
“Am I supposed to be offended? Because the only thing offending me is your face.”
Mr. Lenyard snapped, “That’s enough, you two!”
“Drop it, Harley. You’re going to get detention. Don’t let him ruin your weekend too,” Shiloh muttered, tryin’ to calm me down.
She was right.
The last thing I wanted to do was let Jackson think he won, but it was the only choice I had. I went and cleaned up in the bathroom as best as I could. Sitting back down in my chair, where I ignored him for the rest of class.
Plottin’ my revenge.
Chapter 7
<>Harley<>
As soon as Shiloh and I saw my memaw pull into the car line at school, we rushed toward her SUV. Prayin’ no one would see me.
At least not anyone else.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Memaw Alex asked as I jumped into the front seat and Shiloh got into the back.
“Go! Go! Go!” I shouted, before closing the door behind me.
I needed to get out of there, and it needed to happen fast.
She didn’t wait, steppin’ on the gas and doing exactly that. Out of every adult in my life, she was the one who understood me the most. She said I reminded her a lot of her best friend Lily, who was Shiloh’s Momma and my papaw’s baby sister, with a mix of my momma.
It was an ongoin’ joke between them. Shiloh acted more like my grandma Alex. She was “The Mom” of the good ol’ kids like Memaw had been to the good ol’ boys.
Shiloh was the responsible one.
Super mature, always had been.
She’d never fall for a boy like Trigger. He was definitely barkin’ up the wrong tree with her.
