by Bailey Hull
“But you and Derrick look a lot alike…well, except for the Goth thing you got going.”
“We didn’t look much alike at first. We were even close to the same age. I was eleven and he was born just six months before me. He still calls me his little sis.”
“Wow…I thought you guys had the same parents.”
“Of course our situations weren’t exactly the same. While Derrick was cute I was only eleven so by the time I was old enough to be developing crushes he was like family so my first crush was not him.”
“So you heard the part about me crushing on Brandon then?”
“Sorry.” She replies. “But when it comes to gossip it’s hard to top that.”
“Wow… I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t worry about it. Brandon’s hot! No one will admit it on account he’s from the wrong side of the river, but they all got a crush on him. Whether they can get over the fact that doesn’t come from a rich family only time will tell. The sooner Brandon gets himself a girlfriend here the sooner people will forget where he comes from.”
I don’t tell her of course that he seems to have one already; probably from his old school. Being an outcast here and already having a girlfriend from there will make it pretty hard for him to score here. Suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder. I swivel around in my chair to see who’s interrupting us; it’s Kelly Peterson.
“Sorry to interrupt what must be a very stimulating conversation but a couple of us girls would like to make a play for Brandon. Are you two still an item or is it open season on your brother?”
“Tell me something Kelley. Did you always have bow legs or is that a result of you dating one of your horses?”
Melissa’s family raises Thoroughbred horses.
“You’re disgusting!” She hisses at me like a snake.
When she gets back to her group of friends she announces loudly for the entire class to hear.
“Sorry girls but it looks like Brandon’s already taken…by his sister.”
The typical expressions of disgust follow as the stupid girls react as expected. Today was supposed to be a nightmare for Brandon. How the hell did it get turned into a nightmarish day for me instead?
“Just ignore the assholes!” Melissa advises.
“Some of those assholes are my friends.” I remind her. “At least they were my friends.”
“Yeah…and people wonder why I don’t bother having friends here. With friends like that who needs…friends.”
I spend my study hall period fending off rude questions and comments interspersed with snippets of conversation with Melissa who I seem to have misread all these years. And the people that I have counted as friends, in the space of a single afternoon, they have all turned against me. When the bell rings I am more than happy to get out of there. As I’m gathering up my stuff Melissa presses a piece of paper in my hand.
“If you ever wanna talk…” She murmurs to me.
I shove the piece of paper in my pocket as I walk out the door. I’m not sure if I’m that ready to be her friend. I wonder if Brandon has fared any better as I walk down the hall towards the cafeteria. I don’t have to wait long. I get about thirty feet from the lunch room when I hear the excitement of the crowd. I can’t make it out yet. I get about ten feet from the door and it becomes clear what’s going on here. They’re trying to goad Brandon and Chase into an off the books fight by the sound of it. I kick up my heels and sprint the last distance to the cafeteria. I burst into the large gymnasium and there must be two hundred kids, maybe more, gathered in a semi-circle. Several tables have been pushed together to form a mini stage. On top of the tables are Brandon and Chase and from the looks of them, they haven’t come to blows yet.
If these two actually begin to fight it’s going to get nasty. When regular guys fight the loser usually sports a fat lip and a shiner. When two highly trained martial artists fight, even the winner can end up with some pretty nasty injuries. My first impulse is to scream for them to stop but even if I had a bullhorn they wouldn’t be able to hear me over the din. I look around the cafeteria frantically searching for something, anything that I can do or use to stop the fight. I glance back at the two boys. They’ve started to measure each other up. I can tell by the leg work that they’re each looking for an opening or a weakness in the other’s defenses. Suddenly I see the answer across the lunchroom; a fire alarm. That can’t be the only one. I turn around and sure enough, right next to the door I just came through is another alarm. I run up to it and just as I’m about to reach for it a large mean looking girl steps in front of me.
“Oh no you’re not!” She barks.
Holy crap she’s scary looking! A quick scan tells me I’m all alone. Everyone else is watching the fight unfold.
“I have to stop it.” I explain. “If I don’t one or both are going to end up in the hospital.”
“And it’ll be the Westie Brandon.” She replies.
“Move out of my way!” I command, using my most forceful voice.
She actually laughs at me. A sudden burst of noise from the crowd draws my attention back to the boys just in time to see Chase attack. I turn around and scary girl is focused on the fight. I hate to fight dirty myself, but it’s the only way I’m gonna beat this girl. I clench my right fist as tight as I can make it as I draw my hand back to the side of my head. I so wish I’d have taken Karate class for an elective last year. It would have come in super handy right about now.
I punch the girl. I cold cock her square in the nose. She looks at me surprised for a second before she draws her fist back to crush my face. I duck down and step to her right side and reach out towards the fire alarm lever. I feel my fingers grasping the lever and I realize my eyes are squeezed tightly shut. I pull down with all my might and two things happen at once. An ear splitting shriek of the alarm sounds off. Immediately following the raucous din, a fist smashes into my face spinning me around so that I’m no longer facing the scary girl. The explosion of pain shoots through my head and I feel like every bone in my face just got pulverized into powder. I’m vaguely aware of the ground rushing up to meet me. I put my hand out just in time so the floor doesn’t add insult to injury by squashing my nose a second time.
“That’s enough Mary!” Commands a vaguely familiar voice.
“Megan?” I murmur. “Megan did you come to rescue me?”
“Back off Mary!” The voice says.
I dare to open my eyes. Looking down into my face and alternately looking back up at scary girl is none other than Melissa.
“You okay?” She asks me.
“My nose…”
“It’s bloody. Let’s get you to a bathroom to clean up.”
“I taste blood.”
“Yeah she did a number on your nose just now, but I can’t believe you hit her first.”
Oh shit, the fight. I twist around and get to my knees slowly then my feet with a little assistance from my new hero Melissa the Goth girl. To my surprise and gratification the lunchroom is empty save for me and Melissa and the girl who decked me. But she turns to leave too. Melissa takes my arm and escorts me to the nearest bathroom. Judging by the pain in my face I fully expect to find my nose completely missing the front half of my head caved in. Imagine my surprise when I see that my nose still occupies the same piece of real estate on my face.
Blood is running from my left nostril and a strange coppery flavor is dripping down the back of my throat. The taste is bad enough that I have to keep swallowing it down. Melissa takes a paper towel, wets it and folds it into a small square.
“Here.” She says. “Place this over the bridge of your nose, tilt your head back, and squeeze with your thumb and forefinger for three minutes and that should stop the bleeding.”
“Thanks.” I mutter, although I’m fully aware that I owe her lot more than just thanks.
She stopped that scary girl from doing a hell of a lot more than just one punch to my nose. I’m pretty sure I’d have wound up in the hospital
. After a couple minutes I stop pinching my nose and look into the mirror. She was right. The bleeding has stopped both from my nostrils and down the back of my throat. Melissa is looking at me with such concern that I’m suddenly flooded with gratitude. I give her a quick, spontaneous hug. I think we’re both surprised at that.
“Why are you helping me?” I ask. I’m fully aware of the fact that in the half dozen years or so that we’ve gone to the same schools I have never spoken more than a dozen words to her.
“I guess… I figure if ya got a brother like Brandon you can’t be all bad. Punching Mary scores points too.”
“You are aware that he’s just my step brother and he’s been that for all of two minutes.”
“Yeah, but your dad’s marrying his mom so you by virtue of Brandon can’t be all bad; am I right?”
I can only nod in confusion. Then I remember the little incident in…in third period I think. She heard Brandon’s comment about the beauty. Amazing how his almost benign comment had such an effect on her. No wonder she swiped the drawing off of Mr. Baker’s desk. I’d have never thought I would be a beneficiary of Brandon’s small kindness. Presently the bell rings for us to go back inside. I turn to her once more as we head in.
“Thanks Melissa!” I say with feeling.
She nods, then lowers hear head in her usual manner and disappears into the masses. With lunch over I just have to survive next period English and I’m free…for Monday at least. I start to breathe a little easier. One more class…just one more class today. I pick up my step and turn down the hall for Mr. Owens English Lit class. Today we’re deconstructing or dissecting, or doing something with Shakespeare’s early work; whatever that is. Abruptly the thudding of a pair of boots jars me out of my thoughts. I turn expecting to see Brandon but am totally ambushed by Chase and four of his buddies, or as is the case now, his entourage. Seems like wherever he goes now he has a following.
“Jordan, you got a second?”
Okay first of all I’m stunned then flattered. He actually knows my name. I have known him for years but he’s never so much as acknowledged me; much in the same way I’ve never said anything significant to Melissa. My heart begins to pound in my chest and I can feel my cheeks heating up. He’s going to ask me out. Why else would he ambush me here?”
“Hey can I have Megan’s cell number?” He asks.
“Sure you…wait what?”
“Megan’s cell number?” He insists.
Of course this isn’t about me. “Oh yeah.” I reply, deflated. “It’s 310-445-0120 I think…yeah that’s it.”
“Thanks.” He says. “By the way, is she seeing anyone?” He asks.
I’m sorely tempted to stir up some trouble here and scare him off but I’m just not that kind of person even though my best friend just betrayed me.
“Nope, she’s not seeing anyone that I know of.”
“Great thanks Jordy.”
Jordy? How dare he call me by my nickname that only my closest friends and my mom and dad call me? Oh well…water off a ducks back right? Just one more class and this miserable Monday is history…just one more miserable class. I open the door and as usual Mr. Owens is late and chaos reigns. You’d think for a school that caters to upper class America that its teachers could be bothered to show up to class on time. The second the door closes behind me twenty pairs of eyes turn in my direction; great. I do my best to pretend that I haven’t just been outted and the schools new pariah and sadly I find myself wishing that my new friend Goth girl Melissa was here to take some of the heat off.
I consider going on the offensive and just blurting out some statement in my defense but I don’t really know what to say so I don’t say anything and just keep my head down, and burry my face in Shakespeare. Usually Megan occupies the desk next to me but today it’s oddly empty. Fortunately before things can get really out of hand Mr. Owens walks in and people rush to find their desks. I resist the temptation to turn around to see just where she is sitting and who her new friends are. I don’t know how long this is going to last but I’m already feeling the pangs of isolation.
Five minutes later the door opens and in walks trouble; and his name is Brandon Taylor. I can’t believe it. My last class of the day and I’m shackled with my ex-best friend and my new brother. To make matters worse he takes the seat next to mine.
“Hi sis, how’s your day going?” He asks with a big smile.
“Just peachy, now can you not call me sis?”
“But you’re my sister.” He argues. “What am I supposed to call you?”
“How about my name, for starters?”
“Okay Jordy, point taken.”
“And it’s Jordan to you Mr. Taylor.”
“Why you so uptight sis?” He asks, intentionally forgetting my request regarding calling me his sister.
“You really have to ask?”
“Yeah I think I do. I’m the one who got his ass kicked by everybody’s favorite celebrity fighter. I’m the one whose unconscious, bloody face is plastered in fliers all over school; probably the town as well thanks to your best friend. Oh and there’s the giant banners and everyone whispering and pointing and whispering some more every time I show my face. So I ask you…which one of us has the raw deal here?”
I hang my head in shame. He is right of course. There’s no way I can be having a tougher day than him right now.
“Sorry Brandon…” I finally mutter.
I glance around me to see if anyone is paying any attention to Brandon and I. Sadly a number of my classmates, mostly girls, are whispering amongst themselves and occasionally shooting glances my way. Then one girl raises her hand to get Mr. Owen’s attention.
“Yes Ms. Bancroft?” Mr. Owens says.
“Maybe this is a good time to go over school rules regarding PDA’s (public displays of affection) seeing how we have a new student here today. I wouldn’t want the two lovebirds to get busted.” She finishes, shooting a nasty glance in my direction.
“I’m sure Jefferson High’s rules regarding PDA’s are just the same as ours given we share the same district. Isn’t that right Mr. Taylor?” The teacher asks.
“Jefferson high had a Boom Boom room for those students who couldn’t get through the day. You could rent it by the hour for ten bucks.”
“What?” Asks Mr. Owens, in complete shock.
“Just yanking your chain teach. We had the same rules I’m sure.”
That sets off half the class right there. Despite Brandon being new and the enemy, he might actually make a friend or two.
When class is finally over I make a beeline for my car. I can’t wait to get home and away from Brandon and prying eyes and ears. What a nightmare this year is turning out to be. Once home I head straight for my room and I plan on staying there until tomorrow morning.
Chapter Seven
Tuesday’s Nightmare
I can’t sleep. It seems like every night Brandon has a new girl over. Once in a while I get to see the girl as she sneaks by my room to his. Several of the floorboards near my room have apparently worked their way loose and I get to hear as they pass me by. The one boy in the entire school and no matter how bad I want him I can’t have him. Tonight’s bimbo, Katie is surprisingly quiet at first. I look at the clock. It’s nearing midnight. How can my dad not hear what’s going on above his room? Suddenly another thought works its way into my thoughts. He can’t hear Brandon because he and Ms. Taylor are doing their thing downstairs. It seems the only living being in the house besides me who remains celibate is my cat and that’s only because she’s been spayed and she’s too old to be thinking about anything but when her next meal is going to be delivered. I lie back on my bed and burry my nose into my favorite dystopian youth romance book.
This time I skim read hoping to get to the juicy parts before Brandon gets to Katie’s juicy parts. Thankfully Cole and Stephanie in my book are feeling a bit more amorous than Brandon tonight. Cole grabs the two halves of Steph’s new two hundred dollar b
louse and rips it asunder sending twenty dollar buttons flying across a very expensive mahogany wood floor.
I turn the page. Cole is straddling Stephanie’s curvaceous hips. As he rocks his own hips grinding his raging cock into Steph’s still covered sex, he unhooks her lace bra with practiced fingers and frees up her firm tits.
A soft moan in the next room tells me my stepbrother and Katie is at least awake.
I flip the page. Cole rises up on his knees giving Steph enough wiggle room to wiggle her ass out of her trousers leaving a glistening wet red thong in its wake. Cole grabs the whale tail and starts to pull. Steph lets out a sweet moan of ecstasy as the soft material rubs her button just the right way. She arches her ass just enough so Cole can pull it down over her hips, half way down her thighs; just enough so he can do his business from behind.
Then without further provocation my own hand slips between my silky pajamas, As my fingers slide over my bare mound to the top of my vee, I can’t help that my mind wanders over to Brandon before slipping between my wet velvety lips. The instant my middle finger brushes up against my hot button a squeal of delight escapes my closed mouth. Instinctively I let go my book and use my free hand to cover my mouth. Holding my breath I focus my ears next door trying to determine if my little squawk of indiscretion was heard. Judging by the volume coming from my brother’s room there’s no way they could have heard me. Feeling better I relax a little and continue to massage my clit. I bring my heels up to my ass and spread my knees. I can smell my own desire floating up to my nose and as I inhale. A disturbing thought strikes me. When I was beginning to finger myself just who was I fantasizing about? Was it Cole from my book or Brandon from my real and very disturbing life?
Familiar sounds from next door begin to increase in volume and intensity. Male moaning interspersed with a higher pitch of pleasure seeps into my room and works its way into my thoughts. If Katie starts talking and saying all those crazy things that you only read about in those steamy Harlequin romance novels I’m going to jump out my window without opening it first. I don’t know whether to cover my ears or throw myself with abandon into my own pleasure.