Young Love

by Paige Powers

  “No, duh!” I shut the closet door and ran down stairs. Jack was switching the lights and the TV off.

  “There, I think the house looks a little better,” he said, looking around. I laughed.

  “Good thing my parents won’t be home till next week.” He laughed along. “Um, I washed your jacket because…um there was blood on it. It’s in the laundry.” Jack nodded biting his lip. “I’ll go get it, quick.” I ran up the stairs and pulled out his brown leather jacket and smelled it. It smelled good. I went back down and Jack was putting on his shoes. “Um…” I said putting my hair behind my ear. “Here it is.” I walked down the stairs and handed it to him. He looked at me and looked at it. He held it with his hand. But, I didn’t let go. He wouldn’t either. My stomach stirred as we stared at each other. Finally, I let go and he took it.

  “Thanks,” he said, sounding a little disappointed for a moment. I cleared my throat.

  “How are your bruises?” I asked. He shrugged and touched his shoulder.

  “OK, I think. Just still a little sore.” He touched his forehead and winced. My heart ached. He laughed a little. “Yeah, just a little sore.” I frowned but nodded. It was silent for a moment.

  “Well…um I’ll see you I guess sometime…” I said, not knowing what to say. He looked down and then back up at me. He looked a lot like a little puppy with his black and blue eye. But something serious stirred in them. He walked up to me and I looked down because I was on the step in front of him. He dropped his coat and my breath got heavy as he reached for me. I gladly took hold of him as he kissed me, wrapping his arms around my waist so tightly, though I wanted him closer. We both seemed to remember last night and his kisses grew rougher. I grabbed his hair in my hands and bit down onto his lip and he shivered slightly. He slipped my legs out from under me and laid me down onto the stairs. He got on top of me and pressed himself close. I moaned between our kisses. I spread my legs open automatically and he gladly got closer. As I felt him, I moaned harder and pulled away. He kissed my neck looking for that spot.

  “Jack…,” I said and he thought I was moaning it but I wasn’t. “Jack.” I said louder trying to sound more under control. He pulled back, his face flushed.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Your mom is going to wonder where you are,” I said and took in a deep breath. He frowned and nodded. He stood up and straightened his shirt. I sat up, my lips feeling swollen. I tried to cool down my body. The thoughts of him using me to get back at Kendra and taking my virginity came to my mind and I clenched my teeth. He pulled his coat on and zipped it up. I looked at his face and suddenly I envisioned him smirking at me and saying “You are so easy. Just like the slut I knew you were. I lied to you about me not being a virgin, too. You’re so gullible! Wow, Taylor. You are so stupid.” A lump grew in my throat. He was. He was doing this to me on purpose. Leading me on, having sex with me, making me like him. It was all his plan.

  “I’ll call you tonight.”

  “No!” I said quickly looking up at him. He lifted an eyebrow his eyes confused. “No, that’s not a good idea,” I said, feeling anger in me. He frowned.

  “Are you alright?” he asked.

  “I’m fine! Why does everyone ask me that? If I wasn’t fine, you would know!” I yelled suddenly. He flinched slightly.

  “What the hell is your problem?” he asked. I growled.

  “Nothing!” He glared.

  “Whatever.”

  He turned his back to me. I ran down the steps, not finished with him yet.

  “Actually I do have a problem!” I yelled. He stopped and I almost ran into him. He turned.

  “Oh really?” he asked.

  “Yeah! Your arrogance!” I said. He raised an eyebrow and laughed coldly.

  “My arrogance? Well, then let’s talk about you for a minute.” I glared and crossed my arms. He looked at me, his eyes cold as ice. “You’re stubborn and you won’t listen to one damn thing! You don’t care about anything but yourself just like all the sluts from school!” he yelled. My eyes got wide with anger. I lifted my fist and was about to pound his face in. He just smirked at my hand. “Go ahead. Do it,” he said. I bit my tongue hard and I tasted blood. He put his face right at my fist and looked directly into my eyes. “Go ahead, Lidia. Free shot. I don’t hit girls.” I wanted to throw my fist at him so badly, but instead I withdrew it.

  “Well, then I guess I can’t hit you,” I muttered coldly. He threw daggers at me with his blue eyes.

  “Why are we even in this discussion?” he said, throwing his hands in the air.

  “Because you’re a jerk!” I yelled. He looked at me.

  “If I’m a jerk, why are you still with me?” he shouted. We both looked taken aback by this. I grounded my teeth together.

  “To get Grant back,” I said quietly. He snorted.

  “We both know it isn’t working,” he said through gritted teeth. I looked away, my hands still clenched in fists. “Why are you still with me, Lidia?” Jack asked quietly. I shook my head. Get a backbone Lidia! He’s trying to get you to spill your guts and admit that you care for him. Once you say you care for him he’s going to bend your words and use them against you. I snorted and looked up at him.

  “For kicks, I guess.” I gave a short laugh. Hurt showed in his eyes and I regretted saying it.

  “Yeah, I guess so... I’m out of here,” he said and flew open the front door and slammed it shut. After I heard the car tires squeal out of the driveway, my legs felt like jelly. I went to the steps and sat down. My head throbbed and I held onto it. Why did I just say those things? It’s the opposite of what I wanted to say. How could I think those things about Jack? He wasn’t like that! My mind took over me and I used my own words to hurt myself. I cried a little. I can’t do this. I just have to tell him I care for him. Even if he laughs in my face.

  Chapter 41

  If only I knew that that day was going to be the worst day of my life. If only I knew that that call was going to make me almost die right there, I would have let the phone go. But I didn’t. That’s the thing. You don’t know what’s going to happen and you can’t regret what does.

  10:34 a.m.

  I decided then that I was going to call Jack. I couldn’t let what happened last night wreck our fake (or not) relationship. I picked up the phone by my bed and dialed his number. I frowned as it went straight to voice mail. I did it again. Same result. I frowned. He never had his phone off. I called for the 10th time. No answer. I stopped and decided I would call my parents. It rang 4 times and then dad picked up. “Hey bud!” he said, cheerfully.

  “Dad, hey. How is everything going?” I asked, hopeful. He laughed, sounding a little nervous. “Pretty good.”

  “Ooh! Let me talk to her!” I heard in the background. It was Mom.

  “Okay, here,” Dad said.

  “Hey, baby!” Mom said, all happy.

  “Hey. Are you guys okay?” I asked. Mom giggled.

  “Yeah we’re fine! Actually, we’re great!” This surprised me.

  “So, it’s working?” She giggled again and said something to my dad.

  “Yes, it is. So how is everything there with you?” I sighed. I wanted to gush my heart out to her and I was about to when I heard her saying something to my dad after which she giggled. “Oh, Mark, stop it! I’m talking to our daughter!” I gagged mentally. “Sorry, honey. What is it?” I knew they weren’t stopping.

  “Mom, it’s just...I think I really lo—“

  “Mark! Don’t tickle me!” she screeched into the phone. I clenched my teeth. “Honey, how about I call you back in about-” Giggle. “--- 20 minutes? Your father---” Giggle. “--- is being a butt!” I was just pissed at this point.

  “Whatever.” I turned off the phone and threw it across my bed. I curled my legs to my chest and put my chin on my knees. Tears formed in my eyes. My mother won’t even talk to me. I have no friends. I could call Candice, but she wouldn’t under
stand. I bit my lip and stared at the wall with a boy band poster on it. What did I get myself into? I’m tangled in a web. I’m the fly in the web struggling to get away while two big spiders are making their way across the web to kill me. To string me up and feed me to their young. I jumped as my phone vibrated. I rolled my eyes. ‘Probably Mom saying she was done screwing my father!’ I thought sarcastically. I picked up the phone and looked at the number. I frowned as I didn’t recognize it. I picked it up, anyhow. “Hello?” I asked.

  “Lidia!” Jane said, her voice sobbing. “Lidia, Jack...Jack...he’s in the hospital.” At that moment, every sound and nerve in my body froze. My mind went completely blank. But then I saw a vision of him. His eyes smiling. That strange smile that I couldn’t figure out the meaning of. Then everything came rushing back like a giant wave.

  “What?” I asked breathless. She sobbed.

  “He got into a fight with Scott...and...and they started to fight. Jack...he got hurt very badly and he’s in the hospital.” I swallowed hard. “Jack! He’s hurt, Lidia! You need to come now!”

  “Where?” I demanded. Anger rushed in me just as quickly and I wanted to murder Scott.

  “The main one. I’m here now.”

  “I’m coming,” I said, hanging up.

  Chapter 42

  “Can you tell me where Jack Walker is please?” I begged the lady at the reception. A thousand things raced through my mind as I drove to the hospital. Was Jack dying? Was he in a coma? Will I ever be able to talk to him again? Oh god…the things I said when we fought! How could I have done that? The lady took a double take when she saw how tense and wired I was.

  “Oh…yes. Room 225.” I ran down the hall and searched. Finally, I came to a halt at the door. His door. Jack’s hospital door. Before I could go in, it opened. I jumped as a nurse came out, holding a needle. My blood grew cold.

  “Hello,” she said sweetly and then moved around me. Jane sat in a chair by his bed holding his hands. Before I knew it, I was hyperventilating as I looked at Jack. He was bruised, his swollen eye looked better but I could see the giant bruises on his arms. His shoulder and arm were in a cast. His knuckles were a little bloody and scabs on them. His eyes were closed in a peaceful state but his lip and eyebrow were cut again.

  “Lidia!” Jane breathed as she looked up at me. Her eyes were red rimmed, her makeup was smearing down her cheeks. Her hands were shaking a little as she wiped the tears away. She stood up and came over to me. I couldn’t breathe. My eyes wouldn’t leave the boy in the hospital bed. Jack Walker, my fake relationship boyfriend. My Jack. Yes, I claim him. Jane hugged me tightly and I didn’t realize how tightly I was squeezing her until she let me go.

  “How is he?” I asked, my voice shaking. She sighed and dabbed her eyes.

  “The doctors say that he’s okay. He broke a rib and his arm. The rest are bruises and scrapes. Other than that, he’s okay.” I nodded, relief filling my gut. But then guilt took over like a massive truck had hit me square in the stomach.

  “What happened?” I asked. She took my hand, pulled me in and shut the door. She sighed and put her hand on her forehead.

  “Jack got home late yesterday...Scott didn’t care. I was just worried and was happy that he was home. But when I asked him where he was, he said nowhere. And then Scott said…,” she paused and looked at me. “Scott said probably with his slut of a girlfriend and...Jack cracked. He grabbed Scott and I thought he was going to kill him. Lidia, I know my son. I’d never, ever seen that side of him before. I was frightened. Then Scott got really rough. I was screaming my head off at them to stop but they wouldn’t. When Jack got hit and fell to the ground, that’s when I called 911. They came and Scott had threatened me not to tell them what he did or he’d kill me...” She cried a little looking at me. “I couldn’t take it anymore. I told the police what Scott had been doing for the past months. They took him to jail.” She broke into sobs that racked her body. I hugged her again and almost smiled with relief. He was gone! God, he was finally gone! Jack was free!

  “Jane, you did the right thing. He was hurting Jack!” I said. She nodded and sniffed.

  “I know I did.” She pulled back and wiped her eyes again. She looked back at Jack. “He’s asleep now. But I’ll give you some privacy.” Suddenly I didn’t want to be alone without her. I didn’t want her to leave me alone with Jack. She straightened her shirt and smiled sadly at me. “I’m going to get a cup of coffee,” she said and sniffed before she left the room. She shut the door and I heard it click shut as if a bomb was going off. I flinched. I looked at Jack again and realized something. He lying in the hospital bed was my fault. I choked as I knew it was the honest truth. If he hadn’t come over, if he hadn’t spent the night...if we hadn’t gotten together, he would be safe at home. Scott wouldn’t have hurt him. Scott wouldn’t have said anything about me and Jack would be okay. But no, I had to say yes to his stupid plan and go along with everything! I yelled at myself mentally. I was flinching every second I yelled at myself for being an idiot. Before I knew it, I heard someone say my name. I blinked and looked. Jack was sitting up a little, his blue eyes open and staring at me. My mouth was agape.

  “Lidia?” he asked. Tears spilled out of my eyes before I could control myself.

  “Jack!” I ran towards him, my legs feeling like jelly. I wasn’t sure if I could have made it to the bed but I did. He sat up and I wrapped my arms around him and he squeezed me tightly to him. “Jack...I’m—I’m so sorry! This is all my fault!” I choked on my tears. He winced a little as I hugged too tight, but I didn’t care. Then his jaw clenched.

  “It’s not your fault. And it’s okay,” he said. I shook my head and pulled back and looked at him. Big drops of salty water fell from my eyes. His face looked sweet and sad all at the same time.

  “Jack...I care for you...I really do,” I took his better hand in mine and brought it up to my face. I pressed his palm on my cheek and closed my eyes tightly. His tough finger tips made my skin tingle and all I knew was that I really liked him. Maybe even more than that. He sighed and rubbed his thumb over my lips.

  “You do?” he asked. I opened my eyes and looked at him.

  “Yes,” I finally admitted. He smiled but his eyebrows were together because it must have hurt.

  “So, you want to do this?” he asked looking into my eyes. I frowned.

  “Do what?” I asked. He smiled and that same incomprehensive expression showed in his eyes. Then I got what he meant. He meant our relationship. To make it real. I smiled and laughed a little. “Yeah.” He put his hand in my hair and felt it. He looked at it as if it might disappear any minute. I felt my body tingle from his touch again. I felt relaxed that he was near. That I was with him. I felt good but still I could feel myself hurt every time I looked at him. I leaned down and kissed his forehead softly. When I pulled back, his eyes were closed. “How’s your arm?” I whispered. He opened his eyes and shrugged.

  “It’s OK, I guess. Just a broken arm. Nothing new.” I frowned. He lay back in the bed and looked up at me. Just staring. Finally he said, “My mom told you what happened, didn’t she?” I pressed my lips together and pulled his hand down from my face and put it between my hands. I nodded. He didn’t say anything.

  “He’s in jail,” I said. I looked up to see his eyes wide.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Your mom told the police what happened and they put him in jail.” He was still stunned. And I let him ponder as it sunk in.

  “He’s not coming back?” he asked. I shook my head with a smile.

  “No, you’re safe. Your mom and you are safe.” His eyes looked like a ton of weight had been lifted off and I smiled brighter.

  “Oh God...he’s finally gone,” he said, shaking his head. I patted his hand in mine and then my smile faded.

  “You’re in here because of me,” I whispered. He suddenly looked at me, frowning.

  “No, I did this to myself.” I looked down.
No, he didn’t. “Hey,” he tapped my chin so I would look up. His eyes were soft but hard and serious. “It’s not your fault. Don’t you ever think it was your fault,” he demanded. I clenched my teeth but nodded. He sighed. “Where’s my mom?” he asked as he pulled me down onto the bed with him.

  “Getting a cup of coffee,” I sniffed and laid my head onto his pillow and looked up at him. He put his arm around me. I felt safe. This, this felt right. How it was supposed to be. We were together now. Not officially, officially, but basically. Screw Grant! I didn’t want him anymore. I didn’t care about him anymore. I had Jack. Jack leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips and it was everything I wanted at that moment.

  Chapter 43

  I stayed late that night, just talking to Jack and his mom until the nurse kicked me out. Then I went home and called my mom.

  “Yeah?” she asked in her perky voice.

  “Um, Mom, Jack got hurt and he’s in the hospital.” Mom gasped.

  “What?” she asked.

  “He got into a fight with his mom’s boyfriend and he got hurt badly. I went in and saw him today.” She gasped again.

  “Oh, that’s horrible!” I bit my lip.

  “Yeah, I was really worried about him. I mean he could have really gotten—”

  “Hey, honey I have to go. The doctor here is starting the meeting. I’ll call you when we’re done.” I stared blankly at the wall in front of me. “Honey?” she asked. “OK, I love you. Bye,” she hung up as I just stared. My own mother doesn’t even care. She doesn’t care that my boyfriend could have died. I pulled the phone from my ear and turned it off. At that point I had lost all respect for my mother. I went to bed shortly after and cried a little as I fell asleep. But just remembering his smiling eyes helped me. I smiled softly.