Teen Heart Throbs Suck

Chapter 9

I walked with Claire and My little brother onto the courtyard, Claire cracking jokes about her most recent anime she'd watched and Nathan laughing ridiculously hard.

I looked down at my feet, sporting old tennis shoes that I'd thrown on in the morning rush. I walked steadily across the yellowing autumn grass. The breeze bit slightly at my neck, making e tug on my black string jacket.

I hadn't realized Claire and Nathan had stopped walking.

I stumbled as I bumped into someone. "Oh, sor-" I started, looking up.

"Mark." I almost growled, as my eyes wandered they settled on the figure next to him. "Julisha?" I wondered aloud, suddenly realizing their locked fingers.

She simply shrugged, stating " I would have gone for you but I don't date taken guys, and Mark is also completely hot as hell."

Nathan grimaced as she said the last part. Mark seemed to notice.

He smirked deviously. Suddenly cupping my little brother's face in his hands.

"Wanna kiss goodbye?" he said leaning in closer, closing his eyes. Nathan also closed his, maybe in hopes that this was a triumph move for them to get back together.

Unfortunately, that doesn't happen in real life.

Once they were nose to nose he whispered just so the five of us could hear, "Too bad." And broke out in a fit of laughter, along with Julisha.

My eyebrows furrowed at my brother's hurt and humiliation filled eyes.

Who did this for entertainment?

The more I thought about it the angrier I became.

Just as Mark was turning to walk away I connected my fist with his jaw.

And then his eye..

And then his stomach..

And then- well you get the picture.

Nathan screamed for me to stop ,accompanied by Julisha, but I could never bring myself to. Soon he was bleeding and swollen.

Finally though, Two people pulled me away from the beaten Mark.

Tears ran from my eyes in realization. I looked up to find the people that had pulled me away.

Ludus and Jannet looked at me, concern filling their eyes.

Jannet pulled me into a hug when she saw my state.

The only words I found myself able to say to her as the tears streamed down my face were these: "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

**

I watched the ambulance in the courtyard pull Mark onto a gurney from the stained glass of the principal's office, waiting for Mr.Cruz to serve my punishment.

I sighed, feeling my face for the tear marks still apparent on my face.

Mr. Cruz, obviously exausted and stressed opened his office door.

He plopped onto his desk chair, folding his hands on the table.

He sighed, looking up at me with tired brown eyes.

"Mason, I don't suppose you have an explanation on why you beat the living mercy out of Mark?"

" I don't think you would understand sir, you don't know what its like for someone to hurt your siblings." I answered honestly.

He chuckled. Running a hand over his curly buzz cut hair, he replied " I have two little sisters, Veronica and Angie, an older brother , Jesus, and a younger brother named Eddie, I'm sure I could relate. "

At this, I began to recall the story, begining with how Nathan and Mark dating, and ending with my crying in the courtyard and hugging Jannet.

Mr.Cruz nodded his pudgy head every now and then, raising his eyebrows at some points.

When I had finished Mr.Cruz spoke.

"Okay, even though this is gonna take a lot of paperwork, I think you're a good big brother and kid, so I'm going to let you off with two weeks of library work, organizing books and such, along with a few days of detention." he concluded.

"Now, go I have student's waiting," he ushered.

Just as I was exiting he added,

"Oh, and Mason, nice left hook."