I could hear the music blaring from where I stood. "Okay, here I go," I said to myself as I walked toward the house, fidgeting slightly. I hoped I wouldn't get eaten alive today. I already had my plans laid out—if Jake or any of the bullies tried anything funny, I would excuse myself and get the hell out of there.
I glanced down at what I was wearing: a black jacket, a white top, blue rugged jeans, and black high-cut sneakers. "Alright," I muttered as I opened the door.
Inside, I saw a good number of students dressed in various outfits—some gothic, some far more fashionable than necessary. I made my way to the sofa and sat down gently.
I spotted Jack on the left side of the room, talking to a random girl. Shortly after, he started touching her all over. I really didn't get how Meredith could hang out with such a dick. I tilted my head to the right and saw her. She wore a red, long-sleeve, lace top paired with light blue jeans. As usual, she had on her gloves. Her wavy hair was dark.
I fixed my eyes on her as she approached me.
"I knew you'd come," she whispered into my right ear, her eyes piercing into mine. I hitched my breath and looked away, slightly blushing. I couldn't tell if she was flirting or just being nice.
"Let's dance," she said in a soft whisper. I stood up as she held my left hand, and together we slowly pushed through the crowd to the center of the room. The music blared louder; it sounded like techno.
She moved behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Her hands caressed my torso and slowly slid up to my chest. I felt a static sensation,just like before,but this time it was more intense. The feeling morphed into pleasure, and I couldn't help but gasp with fervor. My fingers trembled slightly.
"Your aura reminds me of someone close," She whispered. I tried to turn to face her,but she held me firmly in place.
"Don't move. Let me return what you gave me."
From behind, she parted her lips slightly and breathed out warm air on the left side of my neck. It was warm at first but strangely turned cold. I could feel the air coiling up my skin and slowly entering my mouth. I couldn't hold back my desire anymore—I turned to face her. I wanted to touch her face, but I remembered how she reacted the last time we were together. Instead, I leaned closer to her.
Her crimson eyes glistened—they were strange yet beautiful. Slowly, I parted my lips, intending to kiss her, but a familiar presence interrupted.
"Hey, punk!"
A hand grabbed me from behind and spun me around. Before I knew it, I was on the floor. A sharp pain spread across my jaw, and my vision began to blur. I could hear the mocking laughter of the other students as my consciousness faded into darkness.
*
It was Monday morning. I trudged to school, and for once, I was early since Scarlet was home. I had tended to her early in the morning before leaving. The events of the party replayed in my mind—the humiliation, all because I was too foolish to see how far I was from being with her. Jack had made it clear I should stay away from her.
The most humiliating part was waking up in my room afterward. When I asked Dad how I got home, he looked at me as though I were insane and told me I'd come home by myself.
As I entered the classroom, I noticed Meredith's seat was empty, as was Jack's. The other students, however, wore expressions of mockery. Some giggled as I took my seat.
"Hey, Jaze!" a girl called from the back row. I turned to look at her just as she slumped her head onto the table with a loud thud. The room erupted into laughter.
This is it—the end of my life. One mistake, and I am a laughingstock. I rested my head in my hand and rubbed my forehead as if trying to soothe a recurring headache.
Classes went by in a blur. After school, I stayed in my seat while everyone else left. When I glanced at my watch, it read 4:45 PM.
"Hey, go home, son. What are you doing, sulking in here?"
It was Brenda, a kind, nosy, but sweet Black American woman who cleaned the classrooms after hours. She stood at the entrance, looking at me with a mix of concern and encouragement.
"Yes, Brenda. I'm sorry. I'll get going," I replied, sighing with exhaustion.
I stood up and walked toward the door.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, handsome," Brenda said with a warm smile. "I knew your mother briefly. She always smiled. Her face could light up the hallway—a beautiful, kind soul."
Her words caught me off guard. "You knew my mother?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"I wouldn't say we were friends, but we were acquainted. We spoke about family matters once or twice. It was brief, but she had great insight. She was wise. When I heard about what happened to her, I was heartbroken." Brenda lowered her head with a solemn sigh.
"Enough about being sad and heartbroken," she continued. "Listen to me, boy. Smile when you're alone, and cry when you're with others. Life can surprise you, but don't live it in loneliness. Look around you. I'd bet every one of those students laughing and gossiping has their own troubles, and most of them share it with others. When you've got something deep in your heart, find someone to talk to, okay?"
She ended her words with a wide grin and a friendly pat on my left shoulder.
I wanted to ask more about my mom, but I didn't want to stay all night listening to more advice. It was easy for her to say these things, but could she carry the weight of everything I'd endured over the years?
"Thank you, Mrs. Brenda. I'll think about what you said," I replied with a faint smile and walked out of the school.