by Rik Johnston
Part of Tuesday was thrilled and excited to see Jason standing before her, another part was somewhat suspicious toward him, and yet another part was protective and didn’t want him to get into any kind of trouble whatsoever.
“What are you doing here?!” Tuesday whisper shouted as not to raise any alarm. “You should get going before they catch you and give you detention!”
Jason grinned at her with that car salesman smile of his, “I had to know how you are doing.” He said. “I couldn’t just leave you there like that!”
Tuesday blushed a little hearing this, but was also fully in caution mode. Principal McCauley’s words resonated in her mind, about how Jason wasn’t supposed to have anything to do with her. She had to admit to herself that those words really left a sting.
“They told me that your parents wouldn’t let you see me anymore.”, Tuesday said, her lip quivering while managing to get the words out without crying. “They think I am a bad influence on you and on everyone else.”
Jason’s expression was a mixture of surprise and anger. “They said that?! My parents never said any such thing! They have always given me the freedom to choose my own friends.” He trailed off with comments under his breath about that Principal being a liar, and what a messed-up school he’s in.
“They also said you don’t like me.” Tuesday said, finding it difficult to maintain constant eye contact with him. “They say you only feel sorry for me.”
“I never said that!” Jason roared. He did not appreciate the misrepresentation he was getting from the school staff. He put the side of his finger under her chin and brought her eyes up to his. “I said that we would be friends, no matter what, and I meant it.”
“They also said that you’re an honor student.” Tuesday continued. “They said I’d mess up your studies.”
Jason began to laugh. “Me? An honor student?” Jason just kept snickering. “Honor students don’t skip classes!” This just keeps getting better and better!! Tell me another one!!”
“They expelled me.” Tuesday stated in a somber tone.
The laughing melted away almost instantly.
“Expelled you?!” Jason asked, almost angry enough to go and confront the Principal all over again. “Why?”
Tuesday paused for a moment, turning away from Jason. After a moment, she spoke. “Because I chose to be expelled from this awful school. I didn’t want to have to listen to some inexperienced, fresh out of med school shrink telling me what is wrong with me before he even tried to ask me any questions.”
Tuesday felt her anger rising again, as the thoughts of her confrontation with Principal McCauley rolled around in her head.
Jason did his very best to offer consolation, placing his hand on her shoulders and turning her back around, and working those beautiful blue eyes again. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you.” Jason said in the most empathetic way he could. “I like you just the way you are.”
“You like me?” Tuesday cut him off, trying to gain clarification for his comments. “You barely even know me!”
But Jason was serious about her, and about making sure she felt wanted in his life. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a hug. This took Tuesday by complete surprise, this was something she had hoped for, and now that it had come, it had snuck up on her without her realizing it was about to happen. She felt a tingling in her arms and her legs and in the rest of her body that she never felt before, and it wasn’t long until the lightness reached her head. He held her in his arms for what seemed like the rest of the afternoon, but was in reality a few seconds.
When he did let go of the embrace, he pulled her out slowly and she could see that the longing for more was there. She wanted desperately wanted to take another hug from him and hold him for the rest of the day. Her eyes were alight with joy for the first time in a very long time.
Jason’s voice broke in, changing the dynamic of the moment, “Well, I definitely think there’s some potential here, something to build on, you know, if you’re ever tired of dealing with this thing alone.”
Tuesday could see that Jason’s face was a little flush from what had just happened, and she could feel the heat on her face, and indication to her that she was indeed blushing. She locked her brown eyes with his blue eyes, and knew at that moment that she wouldn’t have to face this thing by herself anymore. Jason reached down and placed her hand in his, interlocking their fingers sending Tuesday’s heart into a wild flutter.
“I was tired of dealing with this a long time ago.” Tuesday said, still gazing into his eyes. “I haven’t had a real friend for a long time, not since, uh, since… oh never mind.”
Jason suddenly became more serious. “What is it?” he asked.
Tuesday breaks eye contact, looking down and becoming hesitant, looking for the faith, the trust and the words to speak to him, but she knows that this isn’t the time or the place for that particular discussion.
“No matter what it is, I swear that you can trust me with it.” Jason proclaimed, squeezing her hands a little more tightly in a gesture of reassurance. “When you’re ready to talk to me, I’ll be ready to listen.”
“Thank you.” Tuesday whispered, grateful for Jason’s patience. “I’m not ready to talk about it just yet.”
Perhaps what impressed Tuesday the most about Jason was that he was persistent, but not pushy. That he was patient with her in a way that others were not. That he treated her as an equal and not a freak. And that he had these eyes that were so full of time, space, thoughts, ideas, and actions. And for some reason, he hugged her. That had to mean something, didn’t it? She felt that she could trust him, but the tale she had to tell was long and she didn’t have the time to tell it properly.
“I really do like you, Tuesday.” Jason admitted awkwardly, fumbling for his words in nervousness.
“I know you do.” Tuesday replied with a truly legitimate smile on her face. For the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of happiness, but knew they had to go their separate ways for the time being. She reached over and stole another hug from him, but only just a quick one. “You’re so… different from all the others. You seem to understand me better than anyone else around here does.”
A slow smile spread across Jason’s face as he began to speak, “I’m sorry that the world has treated you the way they have. You have a special gift, one that I don’t fully understand, and I’m sure you have your reasons for not easily trusting others.”
She blushed again as she broke away from him, continuing the cleaning and emptying of her locker. But Jason wasn’t finished yet; he had more to say on the subject. She loaded her textbooks into the locker, as he continued to speak. “Tuesday, I wish the rest of these people could see you the way that I see you. You have an inner strength that is stunning. You could be such a beautiful flower if only the world would quit stomping you into the ground.”
Tuesday’s heart melted at the sound of his words. Confidence and compassion were two things that Jason clearly didn’t lack in, and he was quite adept at the demonstration of both. “Do you really mean that, Jason?” She asked shyly, almost afraid to ask the question for fear that his answer wouldn’t be as truly sincere as she hoped it had been.
“I meant every single word, from one friend to another.” Jason replied earnestly and honestly.
Tuesday slowly turns back around, tears on the edge of her eyes, threatening to torrent down her cheeks. But unlike the tears of fear, or tears of anger, or tears of pain, these were tears of pure, unadulterated happiness. These were the kind of tears she had never felt before. Without thinking, she tore a piece of paper from her notebook and wrote her name and phone number upon it, offering him the page for him to keep. He gestured for the pen and tore off the bottom half of the page, and mimicked her action. She made him a promise, one that she hoped she would get the chance to fulfill very soon.
“I promise, Jason,
that I’ll tell you everything when the time is right.” Tuesday told him, “I just need time to get it put together in my head.” Did she dare to go for another hug? Would he think she’s being too straight forward? Or was she too clingy? But boy, did those hugs feel wonderful. And it was pleasing to have that kind of a connection with another person. Her dream hadn’t warned her of this, and she was glad that it hadn’t. Jason was the unknown quantity in an unquantifiable situation. Did he sense her hesitation? There were so many variables to consider, too many actually. She allowed instinct to take over for her, surrendered to the moment, and next thing she knew her arms were around him again, and his were around her as well. Her head was resting against his shoulder in a moment of complete, blissful comfort. This is what contact with another human being was supposed to be about. Finding acceptance, friendship, and possibly much more was the path she preferred, not the cruel, hateful and awful words and actions of her peers. They held each other for at least a full minute before they pulled back, gazing into each other’s eyes, hands locked together, and wondering when the next time they would see each other would be.
Jason choked up a response, “When you’re ready to talk about it, I’ll be there for you, I promise.”
The moment was shattered by the sound of the nearby voice of Principal McCauley, who was looking for Tuesday, and he was accompanied by what may have been a police officer. They gave each other a quick look, allowing their hands to slowly slide apart, both of them plotting a quick escape route in their minds. At that moment, the lunch bell rang, and other students flooded into the halls, covering Jason’s presence in the hall, and providing cover for Tuesday’s escape. In spite of herself, she took a look back at Jason, and smiled. For once, she felt happiness.
