An Ordinary Me

by Brooklyn Taylor

  “Beer, wine, wine cooler, I think my mom has some of those girlie drinks in here.”

  “Water would be fine. I really don’t like to drink. You saw what happened last time. Or do you remember?”

  “Yeah I remember.” He starts laughing.

  Okay he is kinda making me mad now… he may have remembered, but he sure didn’t care.

  “Let’s get the movie started.” He took my hand and led me to the living room where there was a huge TV. It was the biggest TV I had ever seen in a house. Ninety inches I think. It took up almost an entire wall with the speakers and gadgets all around it.

  Autumn was sitting on Ryan’s lap and there were a few other guys and two other girls sitting around the room. Some were in deep conversation, some kissing, and some just sitting there quietly, while some were under a blanket. Yuck! Get a room!

  I sat on the couch beside Cannon and he shook his head at me and patted his lap.

  “Sit here.”

  “Okay.” Doesn’t seem like it would be very comfortable but what do I know? It’s not like I have ever sat on a guy’s lap. Other than I guess my dad’s lap when there weren’t enough seats somewhere when I was younger. Totally different though.

  The movie has started and he had his arms around my waist. We were watching “Dumb and Dumber.” I loved this movie and was thankful it wasn’t a scary movie. Jim Carey was such an idiot you couldn’t help but laugh.

  I was concentrating on watching the movie when Cannon started to push my hair to the side and then nibble on my ear. I guess it was supposed to feel good but I only felt irritation. I pulled back and then he sighed.

  A few minutes later, I guess he decided to make another move and ran his hand up my thigh close to the top of my shorts. I jumped and stood up to sit beside him.

  I got a few looks from the people around me and Autumn looked over at me to make sure I was okay.

  He cuddled into me and I finally let out a deep breath hoping to get to watch the rest of the movie. Cuddling I could do. No harm in that.

  Halfway through he decided to start to rub my back. It was soft and honestly felt good. It was soothing, and I didn’t think anything of it. I started to relax and breathe normally. I smiled from the feeling of someone’s touch of showing affection.

  Then I felt my shirt started to move and then a hand, skin on my skin. I slowly sat up a little more thinking it was just by accident. I felt Cannon’s hand at my bra strap and that is when I flipped out.

  “Cannon?”

  “Shhhh, everyone’s watching the movie.”

  I pulled his hand out from under my shirt. “That’s not going to happen tonight.” I turned to him so he could see I was serious.

  “Reese, come on. I’m not trying to have sex with you. I was just trying to touch your skin.”

  “Did I give you some sign that I wanted to be touched?”

  “How the hell old are you? You are acting like you are twelve.”

  I stood up and took off towards the front door. I passed Autumn and she was making out with Ryan. Gross.

  “Autumn, I’m leaving.”

  She doesn’t say anything and ignores me or chooses not to respond. I walk out the door and slam it as hard as possible.

  Great! I’m walking home on a Friday night alone… I have a feeling I won’t be invited to another party again with Cannon, and truthfully I couldn’t give a shit. The only thing I could think of was to call my parents who would be mad at me for sneaking and I would get grounded. I decided to take the walk and think everything over. Anything to get out of there.

  Garrison

  Tonight was a total drag, for a Friday night that is. The band had a gig, and then I came straight home. It was a long week. I can’t seem to get Reese out of my mind. Friends. Great. I’m thrilled. The one girl I have met that I want to be more than friends and I label it as friends. Slick, Rick.

  Mom was working tonight so she wasn’t home. She seems to be really working hard this time to stay clean but for me it doesn’t change anything. I can’t wait to finish my senior year and go to college. I already have everything planned. That’s one thing I can say about living the life I have lived. It forces you to grow up faster than most, faster than you should.

  My mind is really racing tonight and every time I close my eyes, I see one person. Reese Owens.

  I convince myself I can text her, what will that hurt?

  Garrison: Hey Reese.

  I wait for a response but don’t get one immediately. Maybe she is asleep, it’s kind of late.

  Reese: Hi.

  Garrison: You busy?

  Reese: Walking home…

  Garrison: At almost midnight?

  Reese: Yeah, don’t ask. I’m pissed about it.

  Garrison: You want me to come get you?

  Reese: No, I’m good. I’m almost there.

  Garrison: Where are you?

  Reese: Little Elm St. I’m about 4 blocks from my house.

  Garrison: I’m off Broadmede. I’ll walk out and see if I can find you.

  Reese: It’s cool. I’m fine really.

  Reese: Are you there?

  Reese: Are you ignoring me?

  I see her walking around the corner and walk up to meet her.

  “I didn’t know you lived so close. Why are you walking so late? That’s not exactly safe for a girl.”

  “It’s not safe for anyone.”

  “Yeah I guess.”

  “Are you okay?” I knew she wasn’t okay. I could tell she had been crying, and it looked like she was shaken up.

  “Other than being groped and having to walk home because my best friend is too busy making out with a guy yeah I guess.”

  “Who groped you?”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Reese, it does matter.”

  “I’m fine that is all that matters.”

  I already knew who did this. I just wanted to hear it. I could tell she was going to start crying again. Her nose was wrinkling up, and I wanted to lean in and kiss it. Instead, I hugged her and she broke down.

  “I just don’t get it… I cannot read a sign from a guy if he was holding one up in bold letters. I keep getting it wrong.”

  I didn’t say anything because really I had no answers. I just hugged her and lightly rubbed my hand on her shoulder. She smelled so good and she fit perfectly in my arms.

  “I can walk you home.”

  “No, you don’t need to do that. I am fine. “

  “I'll walk you.”

  “Only to the end of the street otherwise I’ll get grounded. My parents will flip. I was supposed to be staying the night at Autumn’s.”

  “Okay.”

  I walked her to where she asked and I left her but stood on the curb for a few minutes making sure she was okay. There were so many things I wanted to say to her but things I didn’t understand. Why would I be feeling these feelings for her when I barely know her? We are from two different worlds. How could I ever bring her home to my house to meet my mother in the condition she is in? Sure she might be good today but I don’t know how she will be tomorrow. It was a like playing Russian roulette. Most importantly why would she want to stick around once she knew what I was? She was innocent and I could tell she was going to be the real thing. She was going to be the girl to hold back and wait until she was in love. A girl who was way out of my league, I just wish my heart got the message. Maybe if I can just be a part of her life as a friend it will be enough... it would have to be at least that was what I kept telling myself.

  Reese

  The house was dark and I had to knock. Not a light was on and I know the consequences are not going to be good. Dad answered the door and looked furious.

  “Reese, what is going on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Autumn called here looking for you. Said you left and walked home without telling anyone.”

  “That is not exactly how it happened.” I can’t believe she called my parents!!

&nbs
p; “How did it happen then?"

  “Can we talk in the morning? I am so tired and it has really been a long night.”

  “Yes, we can talk in the morning. We can talk all weekend because you’re grounded.”

  “For what?”

  “For walking home late at night. Anything could have happened. You should have called. You could have been killed or kidnapped or raped… God knows what could have happened.”

  “But Dad I am fine.”

  “Thank God your fine. Go to bed.”

  I walked up the stairs to my room and broke down crying. I was lost. The only thing that made any sense to me was Garrison and he didn’t do anything but push me away.

  I text him to tell him thank you.

  Reese: Thank you for walking with me tonight.

  Garrison: Anytime…I’ll be here for you.

  Reese: Friends then?

  Garrison: Friends. I’m just complicated Reese…

  Reese: I’m grounded so it will be a long boring weekend for me.

  Garrison: At least your parents care enough to ground you. Mine are never home.

  That was a weird text. What does that mean?

  Reese: I guess.

  Garrison: I know.

  Reese: You know, I’ve waited a long time for a social life, and now I don’t know what I was waiting for. It has sucked so far.

  Garrison: How so?

  Reese: Well… Let’s just say I can’t read signs, which you already know. Tonight was no different. Apparently I am a “slow mover.”

  Garrison: I don’t know about that. I think the right guy won’t care.

  Reese: Ya, well I hope I meet him before I graduate… Or die for that matter.

  Garrison: What if you have already met him?

  Reese: I doubt that… I am just lost…

  Garrison: No you’re not. Maybe you just got yourself in a bad situation.

  Reese: Maybe…

  Reese: I’m going to bed. Thanks for being there for me.

  Garrison: Anytime my beautiful Reese.

  What? Beautiful? Hardly… Do friends say that?

  Chapter 7

  Garrison

  Cannon Walker has his locker near mine. What this means to me is I get to listen to his shit talk about what girl he landed or what other lies he made up. I knew for a fact the majority of the actions he claimed did not take place but yet no one has called bullshit on his lies.

  I had called him out one time, and that didn’t work out so well. He was talking trash about one of my friends and spreading rumors ruining her reputation. She wasn’t innocent by any means, but he started so many rumors she ended up being hated by most of the class when we were sophomores. Her parents removed her from school and home schooled her. It was so screwed up. It totally destroyed her. She even attempted suicide. I had hated Cannon from the first time I saw him. He was cocky and didn’t appreciate a damn thing. Cannon cared about one person and that was him.

  Today was turning to total crap, and it wasn’t even 8:30 yet. I walked up on hearing Cannon tell his friends how he was “breaking Reese in.” I made sure I had eye contact with him and smiled shaking my head knowing he’s making it up.

  “You got a problem, Garrison?”

  “Yeah, I do, it’s you.”

  He got right in front of me trying to intimidate me. Yep, not working. He may be more built than me but I was just as tall, a little taller actually, so he had to look up to me.

  “Like I give a shit what you think of me? You gonna beat me up with your drumsticks, drummer boy?”

  “You wouldn’t get up in my face if your friends weren’t here to have your back. Just like you had Ryan’s back when you let him take the blame for your failed beer run when the cops showed up. Or plenty of other times you did shitty things and didn’t take responsibility about.”

  I hear Ryan grunt like he was agreeing. Cannon just had a blank stare on his face.

  “So, screw you, Cannon. Why don’t you start talking the truth about what happened with you and Reese and not tell a shitload of lies like you did with Michelle.”

  Cannon decided to fire back to get his point across. “Oh I mean what I say about Reese. I will break her in just like I did with Michelle.”

  I wasn’t the least bit impressed.

  I knew I couldn’t get in another fight with him, or I wouldn’t walk across the stage at graduation. I had to walk away. With anyone else it was easy but with Cannon it wasn’t. He was playing a game with Reese and I didn’t like it one bit.

  I closed my locker and walked away. As I get down the hallway I hear, “That’s what I thought.”

  I stopped in my tracks and then I saw Reese closing her locker in the sophomore hall.

  She is one person that can keep me focused on not wasting time on losers like Cannon. I just wish she would get the message of what a douche he was before it was too late and she got hurt. Like really hurt. Maybe the night she walked home was enough.

  There were many things that made me despise Cannon but one of the top ones was he hated the band or musicians. He made fun of us in any way he could. He was a bully all the way around. He never bullied me but instead just tried to compete with me when he could. If we liked the same girl, he made sure to get her attention. If we wanted to try out for the same thing, no matter what it was, he did everything in his power to beat me. He was just one of those guys who thought he was the shit.

  My father had that same persona. When my dad was high, he would slap me around. I learned exactly how to deal with it and had gotten used to keeping my mouth shut. Sure, there were a few times I lost it and confronted Cannon, but it never went to the point of us being in an actual fight. I honestly think he was scared of me. I have been told that I get a crazy look in my eye and scare the crap out of people when I switch into that mode. I’ve only been in one fight in my entire life, and I don’t regret it for a single second.

  Two years earlier

  “Hey, drummer boy.”

  “What?”

  “Do you think your dad can get us some weed?”

  I acted like I didn’t hear him and tried to walk off. I tried so hard to ignore the request that had me gritting my teeth. He was asking for drugs but he was also letting me know he knew what my dad did.

  Cannon then did something he shouldn’t have done. He grabbed me by the shoulder and turned me around. I turned to face him and had my fists up immediately ready to punch his face.

  “Come on, can’t you hook us up?” Ryan and Cannon were looking back and forth at each other knowing they were adding fuel to the fire.

  “Don’t ever ask me to help you get drugs.”

  “Why the fuck not?”

  “Because I don’t have anything to do with that stuff.”

  “You’ve never smoked up? You don’t know what you are missing? I thought all musicians toked.”

  I was watching the way they were standing around me and their body language trying to see what they were going to do next. What I was planning to do next.

  Then just when I let my guard down Cannon tripped me and started to laugh. I caught myself from falling and got up swinging. I punched him in his nose and blood starting gushing out everywhere. I didn’t stop there. I continued to swing away on his face, and he turned and turned trying to get away. Ryan was trying to get me off of him, and I finally let him go.

  I held him up by his collar furious. “Don’t you EVER, EVER ask me about my father or drugs again!” And then I walked off trying to cool down.

  Reese

  For the first time in my life, Monday couldn’t come fast enough. I did nothing the entire weekend but read, help Mom clean, nap and text Garrison.

  I was making my way to my locker when Cannon comes up to me and puts his arm around my shoulder.

  “Hey, baby.”

  I pushed his arm off my shoulder. He has some nerve!

  “Hi.”

  “I’m sorry about this weekend.”

  “You are?”

 
; “I didn’t mean to pressure you.”

  “You didn’t? You know I walked home Friday night all by myself?”

  “Ya? I didn’t know. I could have taken you home but you ran out of there so fast.”

  “You freaked me out, Cannon. I’m not that type of girl.”