Black and Blue

Lover Dearest

I parked my car in my driveway and when I got out I slammed the door angrily, thinking back to my class earlier today. And that jerk of a student.

Joshua Ramsay.

Just thinking about him made my blood boil. He was so arrogant and rude. I was shocked to learn that he was a full year older than me. A little bit over a year, actually. It was crazy. And to top it off, he and his band were signed into 604 Records! Well, the other members of the band, Mike, Matt, and Ian, were a bit more mature than him, but not by much.

I unlocked the door of my house and heard noise from the TV, as well as laughter. I could smell beer and pizza. My dad was here.

"Hey Dad! I'm home!" I dropped my bag off in the kitchen and walked into the living room. Dad was sitting in his wicker chair, with Uncle Mike sitting across from him. Well, Uncle Mike was laying across the couch guzzling a beer, but that's not the point. They were watching some random program that featured a bunch of rednecks that were duck hunting or something. Whatever. I hugged the both of them.

"Hey pumpkin. How was class today?" Dad asked. I grimaced as I grabbed a Budweiser from the open cooler at my dad's feet and sat in my recliner.

"There was a new band."

Dad laughed at the sour look that was undoubtedly on my face. "Who, honey?"

I rolled my eyes. "They're signed into 604 Records. Marianas Trench." Dad laughed.

"Yea, they're great, aren't they? Great laughs, those boys. And their lead singer, Josh. Really understands me, that kid. Nee, what's up? Don't like them, do you?" Dad laughed again as I groaned and leaned back in my chair while taking a sip from my beer.

"Josh is one of the most arrogant, rude pricks I have ever met in my life! I can't stand him, Dad! Stop laughing, it's not funny! I couldn't concentrate at all on the lesson I was teaching! I had to kick him out! And after that happened, well, the others, Matt and Mike, they started complaining. Said they were all alone, since Ian had to go to the nurse and I had kicked out-"

"Wait, what happened to Ian?" Dad interrupted.

"Fell off of Ramsay's shoulders while trying to get a pomegranate. Dunno what was so special about the stupid fruit." Dad and Uncle Mike laughed.

"You really don't know anything about these guys, do you?" Uncle Mike asked. I shook my head.

"In the intro of one of their videos, the music video for their song 'Celebrity Status,' Josh is dressed up as a goon who flips over the couch. Before he flips over, however, he says 'Pomegranate!' They've been obsessed with pomegranates since," Dad explained. He and his brother laughed as I rolled my eyes.

"And I thought they were immature before," I muttered. "And he doesn't even have to dress up as a goon. He already is one!" They chuckled, but honestly, it was the truth. "Anyway, Josh was a real pain in the ass after that. Smirking at me all the time, winking. It was disgusting. I mean, yeah, he's a year older than me, but he's so immature, and I'm his teacher! Technically speaking," I finished. They chuckled again, and Dad reached down for another beer. As he did so, something poked up from under the cushion on his chair, and a nasty smell began to spread throughout the room.

"Dad, what the hell is that?" I asked, pointing to the object sticking out from under his cushion. He casually shifted his position, tucking the object under his seat once again.

"What, Nee?" I narrowed my eyes and darted forward. Dad leaned back instinctively, which moved the cushion back to reveal what I had seen earlier. Before Dad could move again, I had snatched it up and backed away quickly. My jaw dropped as I realized what exactly it was that I was now holding. I'm surprised I didn't drop it. Uncle Mike and Dad stared at me, horrified.