Tyler's Gem: A Teen Romance

by Rua Hasan

  “Of course not! Why would I?”

  I shrugged.

  “I-I don’t know. I just thought…”

  He sat down and dragged me with him on his lap.

  “Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”

  The glint of amusement in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed. I stared at him with shock written all over my face. I probably looked like a dead fish but I didn’t care. All I cared about is what he said right now at this moment. Was I jealous? I never actually thought off that. I guess it happened so fast I didn’t realize that maybe I was.

  But there was no way I was going to admit that to him.

  “Of course not! Why would I be jealous?”

  Tyler looked like he didn’t believe me but still nodded his head before shrugging his shoulders. He then pushed me against his chest as he bent down to peck my lips. I was so out of it I barely heard what he said next.

  “Don’t worry, Gem. I only have eyes for you.”

  “And that’s why I’m so damn miserable all the time.”

  “But I know you love my presence.”

  “Cocky much?” I lifted an eyebrow.

  “It’s passed down through the family.”

  I stared at him strangely for a bit before he started laughing. I couldn’t help but join him. It’s as if his laughter was contagious.

  “You should have seen the look on your face,” he said shaking his head.

  “Shut up,” I muttered laying my head in Tyler’s chest. It was a very long day and I was getting very tired. I just wanted to go home and sleep.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Tomorrow morning. You know so that the doctor could check if there’s no problem with me.” He said running circles against my back. I snapped up and pulled away looking at the time on my phone.

  “It’s getting late. I should go. I’ll check up on you to—” I was interrupted when Tyler’s hand reached up hold my wrist as I got off his lap. I looked down at him to see him debating with himself.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Tyler let out a long sigh as he closed his eyes and ran a hand through his messy hair.

  “Stay.”

  “Huh?”

  “I said stay.” He pulled me back down onto his lap.

  “What?”

  “Stay with me for the night.”

  “You want me,” I said pointing at my chest. “To stay with you?”

  Tyler nodded his head and tighten his hold around my waist.

  “Yes. Just cuddling, I promise.”

  Before I could answer, he dipped his head and hid it in the crook of my neck. I let out a shaky breath as I thought about it. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. It was not like I hated the idea. I actually didn’t mind it as it was not my first time sleeping in the same bed with him. I was just afraid of what might happen. But knowing Tyler, he would never do anything to hurt me.

  I nodded my head and couldn’t help but lean over to kiss his cheek. It’s been an instinct I’ve been dying to do.

  “Okay, fine. I’m staying but no funny business,” I said pointing at him.

  He smiled and nodded his head.

  “Okay.”

  He took the sheets off of the bed and laid on it as his head hit the pillow. He placed his crutches on the floor and patted the empty space next to him. Biting my lip nervously, I got under the sheets and laid next to him. Grabbed the remote on the counter next to the bed, I turned the lights off and looked at Tyler.

  His hands held my hip and pulled me closer to him so that my head was under his chin. I rested my head in the crook of his neck and breathed in his scent. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the comforting silence. I felt very sleepy and didn’t need to be told twice to sleep.

  As one of Tyler’s hand rested on my back, his other massaged the back of my head and played with my hair.

  He kissed it before whispering.

  “Goodnight, Gem.”

  I hummed in return and welcomed the darkness with open hands.

  Chapter 36

  I tapped my fingers on my desk as I stared at the clock hanging on the wall in front of the class. I closed my eyes as I tried to ignore the cries of help from my stomach. Ever since I woke up this morning it had been grumbling in hunger. It was my fault because I forgot to put on an alarm on my phone leading me to wake up late. Thank goodness, I was able to run to class on time because I really wasn’t in the mood for detention. I licked my lips nervously and bit my finger nail. I used to wake up early. If I only had the ability to get up and run in the morning then getting up for school was a piece of cake but I don’t know what happened to me.

  My body would usually wake up by itself, already used to it. I guess I was just so tired from all that has happened this weekend. Not only that I visited a crazy yet amazing family but I also couldn’t go to sleep after what happened to Tyler. I wasn’t only worried about his leg and the accident, but I was also bombarded with possible thoughts and questions of the last kiss we shared. What would it mean? I stood up thinking for hours tossing and turning in my bed.

  Did this make us friends with benefits?

  If I was going to have a relationship with Tyler, I hoped it would be something stable. Usually, when I liked a guy, I’d either ask him out or the other way around but Tyler was different. He acted so sweet at one point and then silly at the same time. I recalled the countless times of him telling me how sorry he was for everything he had done and treating me like a treasure. Treasure, huh? Could that be why he called me Gem?

  “Earth to Gem!”

  I snapped my head to my right to see Tyler. We were in our fourth period class and I couldn’t wait until lunch started. I was so hungry I could eat a cow! I know, cliché right?

  “I’m hungry.” I whined resting my head on the desk and groaning.

  “Lunch is about to begin so suck it up.”

  I groaned unladylike in response.

  “Well, don’t you sound like an angel from the heavens,” Tyler said

  “Shut up and get me some food.”

  “Do I look like an all you can eat buffet to you?”

  I shrugged my shoulders and was about to speak when the bell finally rung, saving me from my miseries. I lifted my head up so fast, you would have missed it if you blinked. My face lighted up as I fist bumped the air like a crazy person. I heard Tyler chuckle from next to me but I paid no attention to him because I was too busy gathering all my stuff and dashing towards the door.

  “Slow down,” I heard Tyler say.

  I stopped what I was doing when I remembered that I couldn’t go far without Tyler because he was still on his crutches. Tyler held my hand. I couldn’t help but get really grumpy when my stomach was empty, begging for food.

  “Do you know how hungry I am?” I asked tugging on his hand towards the door. Thankfully, I didn’t need to do it with so much force because he came along willingly.

  “You’re so hungry you could just eat me up?”

  “You were saying!”

  Tyler sent me a glare and cursed under his breath.

  “You’re still violent even when I’m injured.”

  He brought me closer as I shoved through the sea of hungry students and I had to help in this kind of crowd. We finally made it to the cafeteria and I thanked the lords the line wasn’t that long. I did a little happy dance in my head and rushed over to the short line, ready to get my food. Words couldn’t describe how hungry I was. I’d eat anything so I wouldn’t faint.

  I stood behind a tall blond boy as Tyler stood behind me. He was tapping his foot on the ground impatiently and so was I. He didn’t like waiting at all. Just as the line was about to get shorter, I looked around the cafeteria to see Matt nowhere in sight. I lifted an eyebrow as I saw the table we usually sat in completely empty. Shrugging, I thought that maybe him and the others were hanging outside but I didn’t want to waste my time looking for him when I could be eating.

  That wasn’t an option at all.

  So I
thought about texting him to know where he was. I reached my hand in the back of my pocket to take my phone out when I found it completely empty. My eyes widened as I shoved my hand in there searching for anything but I got nothing other than a few coins! Great! Please don’t tell me I just lost my phone! Anything but that! And above all times, I just had to lose it when I was dying out of hunger?

  “Crap.” I groaned as I ran my hands through my hair.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I can’t find my phone. I think I dropped it in class.”

  “Do you want me to come with you to help find it?”

  I shook my head.

  “No thanks. You stay here.”

  “Okay.”

  He nodded his head. And with that I dashed passed him and out of the cafeteria in a hurry. I ran down the hall and passed my locker and towards my ICT class. Hoping that the teacher wasn’t in there so that I could take my phone back immediately without questioning. It’s as if my prayers were heard because once I reached the door, I saw the room completely empty. Thank goodness! I walked into the room to see the teacher’s belongings still on their desk which meant that somebody we’ll be back soon so I had no time to lose. I dashed to where I usually sat and inspected my seat carefully. I frowned to myself when I saw it completely empty.

  Where could it have gone?

  I then searched in Tyler’s seat and the ones beside us but found nothing. Just as I was about to leave and give up, I saw something shiny on the ground. I bent down to the ground to see my phone laying there under Tyler’s chair.

  Must had been dropped.

  After taking a firm grip on it, I clenched it to my chest and let out a sigh of relief. After walking out of the classroom, I made sure to close the door behind me. I walked down the hall in a hurry, all wanting to do was eat. My stomach grumbled as I forced my legs to move faster.

  But I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard something which made my stomach flip. And definitely not in a good way.

  I heard a girl crying.

  Speeding up my pace, I ran towards the direction where the sound came from, and it seemed to get louder and louder each time I got closer. I ran around the corner and heard another voice. It seemed to belong to a boy. I felt my blood boil in me as I heard the shouts of a female and a cruel laugh following after it. I got confused to the point where I couldn’t just back down and leave. I couldn’t do such a thing. Especially not after hearing someone’s cry. I wonder what was happening? Was somebody hurt?

  Just as I passed a classroom, I stopped dead in my tracks. I couldn’t believe what I just saw. Closing my eyes, I tried to calm myself but the rage inside me was fueling like fire. My chest rose up and down as I fisted my hand to my side. I took a couple steps back and looked inside the classroom I previously passed by. My eyes couldn’t believe what saw. A girl was cowering away as she cried. Her tears were falling down her face as she stuttered something. She was wearing a hijab (scarf) on her head and had her hair all covered up. A huge guy was in front of her holding her from her neck as he laughed.

  “S-s-stop-AH!”

  She screamed as she fell to the ground.

  “F*cking terrorist!” The guy hissed. I stared in disgust. Was this guy literally bullying an innocent girl and calling her the terrorist?

  “P-please sto-I didn’t do anything.” She whimpered.

  If I was a werewolf then I’d surely let out a loud growl because of how angry I was. And if all this wasn’t enough, what the guy did next made me want to bury him six feet under ground and watch him suffer.

  He tried to pull the girls scarf off of her head.

  This was literally harassment!

  “What are you hiding under there, huh?” he yelled.

  “Ah!” she screamed.

  “Why are you even wearing this?” He yanked it but she had a firm hold onto her hijab.

  “Stop! L-leave me alone.”

  And that was my last straw! There was no way in hell I’d leave and pretend like I never saw this. I knew racism was a big issue these days but this was completely harassment!

  I ran towards the scene and grabbed the closest thing I saw which was a book. Lifting that book over my head, I whacked it on the guy’s head with all my force. And I didn’t just do it once though… I did it more than twice.

  “TAKE THAT YOU PIECE OF SHIT!” I yelled out in frustration.

  Whack.

  “THIS IS WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HARASS SOMEONE!”

  Whack.

  I then took a chair which was right next to me with one hand and swung it to hit his back.

  “LEAVE HER THE F*CK ALONE BEFORE I MAKE YOU REGRET EVER BEING BORN!”

  The guy yelled in pain and turned around immediately as he glared at me coldly.

  “What the hell b*tch!” He held his hands over his head as I sent him a cold icy glare and dropped the book onto the ground dramatically.

  “What the hell?” I asked pointing to myself.

  “I should be saying what the hell!” I yelled poking his chest.

  He opened his mouth to speak but I interrupted him immediately.

  “Listen bastard! I come here seeing you harass an innocent girl and you tell me what the hell?” I asked in disbelief and chuckled to myself.

  “You’ve got to be kidding right?” I asked clapping my hands.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” he asked rubbing the spot in his head where I hit.

  “What’s wrong with me? You mean what’s wrong with you? I’m not going around to random strangers and pulling off their clothing, am I?” I asked crossing my hands under my chest and lifting am eyebrow.

  “Why are you even defending her? She’s a terrorist!”

  “Really? Terrorist, huh?” I said trying to calm myself. Breath Crystal! This dude doesn’t deserve you going to jail. But someone better hold me before I kill him. I was definitely angry. How could people be so cruel and mean? How was she a freakin terrorist? Just because of her choice of close? I don’t see her killing or bombing anyone.

  “The only threat I see in this room is your ass you mother f*cker!” I yelled before lifting my knee and hitting him where the sun doesn’t shine hoping that I’d ruin his family jewels. I watched as he hissed in pain and turned around to see the girl hiding in the corner, fixing her scarf. I grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room as I ignored the filthy peasant shouting from behind me.

  What a coward! I then dragged the girl to an empty class and shut the door. I turned around to see her wiping off her tears.

  “Are you okay?” I asked. Now that I was up close. I could see her much better now. To say she was pretty was an underestimate. She’s beautiful. She had blue-greenish eyes and freckles covered her face. Her teeth were white and straight and I’m pretty sure if she smiled, she would look amazing.

  “Yeahh, I’m fine. Thank you,” she whispered fiddling with her fingers.

  “Any time.”

  “What’s your name?

  “Naomi.”

  I extended my handed my hand to shake.

  “I’m Crystal.”

  She didn’t take my hand to shake. She wrapped her hands around me and engulfed me into a hug.

  “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t help.”

  I nodded my head and hugged her back.

  “Hey anyone would do that in my place. That guy was a jerk. Don’t let people like him bother you.” I patted her back and then pulled away.

  “Yeah, I know I’m used to it by now.”

  I felt my heartbreak for her. The world we lived it in so cruel indeed.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said running my hands through my hair.

  “It’s okay. It’s not your fault. People are just so judgmental these days.”

  She shook her head.

  “I know what you’re talking about. I was in your place once.”

  “Really? Then how did you get out of it?”

  I stopped to think before
answering.

  “I fought back.”

  She smiled.

  “Was it easy?”

  I shook my head.

  “Definitely not. But it was worth it in the end. The look on everyone’s faces when they see you fighting back was priceless.” I joked, trying to lighten up the mood. She nodded her head and played with her fingers nervously. The awkward tension was becoming too hard to handle so I decided to change the subject.

  “Are you new here? I’ve never seen you before.”

  “Yeah actually I started school last week.”

  “Wasn’t such a great start, was it?”

  She chuckled and nodded her head.

  “I promise things will get better if you started hanging out with my friends and me.”

  Her eyes widened at my suggestion.

  “Sh*t. Sorry I didn’t mean to pressure you. I was only offer—”

  “Sure, I’d love too.”

  The mood lightened up immediately and I couldn’t help but smile. There was something about this girl that shouted joy and love.

  “Then come on. Let’s go meet them.” I said before dragging her out of the classroom but stopped when my stomach grumbled out loud. I blushed a bit as she let out a small laugh.

  “As you can see, I’m starving so let’s get going.”

  And with that I dragged her towards the cafeteria as if my life depended on it. It felt nice to help someone out. Even though I’ve been in her place before, I still felt like what I went through was nothing compared to hers. But the good side of the world we live in was that we could always fight for our hopes and dreams.

  Yes, it could be a bumpy ride at first but everything will come to place in the end. Thanks to the people who cared about me. Sadly, my parents weren’t here to witness this but I had other loving friends such as Troy, the twins, Matt and Jasmine.

  Tyler’s in a different category though. I had no idea where to place him but I was hoping to get that answer real soon.

  Chapter 37

  I placed my hand on Naomi’s back and walked her out of the empty classroom. I really wished and hope that Naomi wouldn’t have to go through any of that ever again and I’d be sure that if I did see it happen one more time then let’s just say I wouldn’t be using just a chair. But seeing what happened opened my eyes and made me think that I wasn’t the only one living this nightmare. I wasn’t alone and sadly this was happening all over the world yet I always only think about myself which made me feel very stupid.