3: Abjure

A Chapter by Not here

A few days later it was a Friday. I could actually walk by then, and I had no plans, so I texted Abigail. Maybe she was free, too. I was thinking about asking her to the movies, just as friends. A date was out of the question, since she didn’t have any feelings for me.

If I had any other friends, I would have invited them too, to make her feel more comfortable. I thought about Xavier, but had no way to get in touch with him. I needed to ask for his number next time we met.

Stretching, I was about to head downstairs when my phone buzzed. I hopped back into bed and saw that she had texted me already. I grinned.

	You answered back really quick
I’ve been up for like three hours
	Oh. Anyways, I have a question
Shoot
	So like there’s that movie that came out last night. And I’ve been wanting to see it, and I was just wondering if you wanted to go too.
	If you can’t it’s okay I completely understand. I was just wondering. Because I don’t really have anyone else to take. Well, this one kid but yeah I don’t know his number
Sure, I’ll go :) Are you asking me out on a date?
	What?! No, no. Nothing like that. Just as friends
Do friends give each other get-well kisses? Cough cough
	Shhhh that never happened.
There’s no ice cream truck to save you this time
	But there is breakfast. And I’m hungry
You’re ridiculous :) When you coming to pick me up, monsieur?
	I don’t speak italian. and 3ish. See ya then. I’ma go eat now

<><><><><>

I took the stairs two-at-a-time, hopping over the last couple. My uncle looked up from his morning paper where he was sitting, at the wooden table. Our whole house was cozy and inviting, with pictures everywhere and a soft color of paint on every wall.

My aunt and uncle had never been able to have kids of their own. I thought they would grow tired of me or irritated, but for the most part they always expressed the same thankfulness for having me. I was like their kid.

To my aunt,anyways. She always seemed thankful for the chance to raise me. My uncle, though, had days where he was completely stubborn and very irritable. Nevertheless, their home was a good place.

“What are you so happy about?” asked my uncle as I went to get a cup from the overhead cabinet. All the storage areas in our kitchen were wood, or made to look like it. It was to match the table and floors, I guess

“Nothing,” I said. I forced myself to stop grinning like an idiot.

My aunt studied my face with a smirk. “Is it about a girl?”

A hot feeling rose to my cheeks and I began to smile stupidly again as I poured apple juice into my cup. “What? No. Of course not. I’m just…” I took a gulp to give myself time to think but choked on it.

My uncle shook his head and returned to the paper, but my aunt made an “awww” sound and clapped her hands like a schoolgirl. “It’s about a girl! Oh, how wonderful is that, Jim?”

Jim, my uncle, shrugged his shoulders without looking up. He took a sip of his coffee and flipped to the next page.

“Don’t mind him,” said my aunt. “He’s cranky today.” She waved a hand, as if to send his negative vibes away. Then she turned her wild grin in my direction; her eyes were practically leaping from her head. “So who’s the lucky lady?”

“It’s not even a date,” I said sheepishly, hiding behind another drink. “She’s just… just a friend.”

“Just friends!” She made another “aww” sound. “That’s so freaking cute!”

Shaking my head, I set down my cup and went over to the counter. We each had an envelope there with money we had saved. While they each had a credit card as well as the envelopes, the cash inside was all that I had.

As far as I knew, they’d never taken any of mine, but once when I spent ten dollars without telling them I’d been interrogated when I got back home. That was the only thing they were strict about: money.

“I’m taking out a few bucks to go buy a coffee,” I announced. “Just so you know.”

My uncle grunted in acknowledgement, but my aunt stopped me.

“Wait, wait.” She handed me a five-dollar bill from her own. “Take this. You need to save money for your date tonight.”

“Tracy,” snapped my uncle. I could tell he was displeased. “We aren’t supposed to give the kid money, remember? Teaching him to have self-dependence and all that, unlike my stupid, bankrupt brother.”

I ignored him and let them argue. He often made comments about my dad. I’d never known him well enough to counter them.

“Oh, come off it, Jim,” my aunt went on. “It’s just for today. He’s going on a date tonight!” She turned to me as I started laughing. “What’s so funny?”

For a second, her British accent had crept back into her voice. It did so occasionally when she got passionate about something, one of the tokens from her seven years spent in England after college.

I shook my head and forced myself to keep a straight face. “Nothing. Never mind.” I gave her a quick hug and thanked her for the money. “See you two in a bit.”

My uncle mumbled, “I told you that-”

“It’s his first date, Jim!”

Those were the last words I heard as I closed the door. I grinned to myself as I started down the sidewalk.

That made one other person who thought it was a date

<><><><><>

Most of the time, life seems like a roller coaster. Just when you get to the top, you plunge to the bottom. At first, it’s exhilarating, fun. Then the drop keeps going and you’re terrified. There’s adrenaline still, sure, but it’s the kind you want to go away.

I wanted them to go away, but instead they chased after. I rounded the alleyway corner, their footsteps ringing in my ears against the concrete.

They always found me at the worst times.

As soon as I opened the door from the coffee shop, they saw me. I didn’t see them, though. I was walking quietly along, sipping on my steaming drink. It burned my lips, but I hardly noticed. I was thrilled for later.

They sniggered behind me and I turned around to see them. Five or six were standing behind Greg. He smirked at me with a menacing gleam in his eye and I staggered backwards.

He stuck out a hand and grasped my shirt. The coffee slopped over and burnt my hand.

“Enjoying that?” he muttered.

My head swiveled around, hoping somebody would stop him.

“It’s the middle of the day!” I pleaded. “Please. Not now.”

He grabbed the coffee from my hands. “Maybe I’ll just take this,” he said. “That alright with you?”

I knew he wasn’t going to hit me. Not in broad daylight.

His arm swung up and the burning coffee splashed all over my face and shirt, scalding me. My breath seized up as the liquid burned against my skin. He pressed his palm against my face and rubbed it in, making the torturous sensation go deeper.

“Please.”

He laughed at my feeble plea. “You think just because it’s sunny I won’t have some fun? You know what, I actually like doing it in the daylight better. Know why, you little pervert?”

I didn’t answer. My eyes were burning and tears started to flow.

“I can see the colors of your bruises better.”

“Bruises?” I whispered hoarsely, trying not to break down. The waiting was more painful than the punches. But I had to wait, because I had to be punched.

“Of course. You’ll never get away with just one. You’ll never get away. Stupid little-”

“No.”

His tyrant stalled for a second.

I saw her in my mind. I knew, in a short time, we would be together at the movies. I’d stood up to my fears and asked her out. I had a girlfriend. It was time to stop being a punching bag.

“What’d you say, you son of-?”

“I said no.”

“You think you can say no to me?” he asked angrily. All the friends behind him laughed, but I knew he was infuriated. “You think you can stand up to me?”

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll make sure you can’t stand.” He cracked his knuckles threateningly. “Sounds like you need more fixing. More correction. You know what I do to people who say no to me?”

“Have you ever punched someone who wasn’t a foot shorter than you?” I asked. Inside, I was beaming. The more I denied his power, the less powerful he felt.

“When all the twerps are like you, and they’re all short little f-ers, I can’t help it.”

“Short?” I narrowed my eyes, feeling adrenaline surge through me. The kind I never wanted to leave.

“Yeah, short. You’re the shortest kid in our school. The stupidest. You know why teens still plays on swings at your age? Because they’re f-ing retarded!”

“So you?”

He growled. “What’d you just say? You call me a retard? I should knock you out right now. Knock you out and break your-”

“But you won’t,” I interrupted.

“Who says?”

“You do,” I said. “You’re scared. You want people to be scared of you so they’ll never find out what you’re really like.”

He took a step forward and our noses were inches apart. I could feel his breath. “Scared of what? Of you?”

“Of this.”

My fist collided against the side of his head, dazing him. He tottered backwards, wearing the same stunned expression as all his other friends. My knuckles hurt like I’d punched a wall, but I knew had to hit it again. Eventually, the wall would fall.

I slammed my elbow into his stomach and he doubled over. In an instant, I was running. Away from them. Away from who I used to be. With every corner I turned, I felt a surge of energy and carried on. For once, I wasn’t bruised. This time, I’d won.

“Get back here!” I heard him scream behind me one last time, but I smiled.

There was no reason to go back. There was no reason to ever go back. I was new. All thanks to Abigail. And she didn’t even know.

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© 2016 Not here

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Reviews

Corbin Driver

I like how he stands up for himself against the bullies. Great work!

Posted 8 Years Ago

8 Years Ago

thank you very much corbin :)

KittyKatgirl

Aww they just get more adorable every day. And yay I am so happy he stood up for the bullies. I like how you seemed to make the confrontation linger keep it going and keeping the reader in suspense. Another great chapter and sorry it took so long for me to read, I've been pretty busy.