Can You Feel My Heart?

Feel

Don't be sorry. All is forgiven. But not all will accept forgiveness.

•••
Two Days Before
Jake read the paper over and over as he walked to school. When he walked in, he stuffed it in his pocket. He looked up to see a flash of black hair, and a memory blurred in his view. The custodian's closet, Florence asking him questions. The bruise on her wrist, and her cry. He shook his head and blinked his eyes several times.

About to walk into his first class, Jake heard the laughs and conversations of his classmates. But when he walked inside, everything went completely silent. All Jake heard was the pounding in his own ears...and nothing else.

Quickly, he went to his seat: On the other side of the room, in the middle of the row, right beside the window. Someone sat next to him, and he felt slight anger. That was Florence's seat, and no one was supposed to sit in it but her.

"Jake."

Jake turned his head slowly to the right, facing the boy sitting next to him.

"What?" He was annoyed already, and the class didn't even start yet.

"I heard this girl died. You know her? I saw you talking to her at the party." The boy had red hair, and freckles spotted his nose and cheeks.

"Yes. I do. I mean, I did."

"That sucks. She was my neighbor. We were neighbors all our lives." The boy wanted a conversation, but Jake wasn't in the mood.

"Mhmm," Jake breathed. Maybe the boy would stop talking if he saw that Jake wasn't interested.

"I'm Axle." Axle inclined his head toward Jake in greeting.

"Good for you." Jake rolled his eyes while he got his journal out of his bag.

"I guess you could say that. I hate it." He snorts. "Axle."

Jake sighed. "Look, Axle-" Jake stopped speaking. Those words sounded so familiar to him. He thought for a while. He thought about the moment those words were spoken, and the confusion nagged at him. He racked his brain, and suddenly he remembered: He was going to tell Florence he wasn't looking for conversation, just like he was about to do to Axle.

"Never mind, Jake." Axle turned away, and Jake heard him mutter the word 'freak' under his breath. Jake nodded, somewhat agreeing with Axle's observation.

•••

Lunch. It was peaceful, and Jake was surrounded by giggles and gossip while he sat at an empty table, not eating at all. He thought of Axle, and how he said he was Florence's neighbor all his life, which confused Jake, because not once did Axle say Florence's name. He tried to forget about it, but it really bothered him.

"Look at him." Jake squinted at the table across from him, the sunlight-which was bouncing off of everything-nearly blinded him. He saw Lance, who was smirking and pointing at Jake. Jake, on the other hand, bit his lip.

"Not again," Jake groaned. But it was already too late. Lance got up, making his way over to Jake's table. When he got there, Jake said, "Can I help you?"

Lance looked at him in amusement, then looked back at his friends, a goofy smile on his face.

"Uh, sure. Jake, I need you to do me a favor."

"I'm not doing anything for you, so leave me the hell alone." Lance's smile disappeared as the words left Jake's mouth.

"Listen here, you little pussy, don't get smart with me. Don't be mad because you don't have the balls to beat your dad like he beats you."

Lance was proud of himself, Jake could see it in the way his lips curled up on both sides, his smile sliding back in place. Jake didn't like it.

And so he punched him.

Lance's eyes widened in surprise as Jake went in for another punch. Unfortunately, Lance had more experience than Jake with fights, and he soon had Jake pinned to the ground, punching him again and again. Jake gritted his teeth as punch after punch hit him in his face, his stomach, and his neck.

"How's it going Jakey? Am I as good as beating your ass as your dad is?" Lance continued to hit Jake until teachers pulled him away. Jake was covered in blood, but Lance only had a red mark on his cheek.

Jake winced as the nurse prodded at his face with a napkin. He tried to ignore the other students laughing and talking. He heard someone say that he deserved to get his ass beat by someone other than his dad. He was angry. He was humiliated. But worst of all...he was alive.

•••

And so he thought of his plan. And he planned to carry it out soon.
Yours Truly,
Quiet Observer.

A/N:
I know, I know.

I updated twice in one day. But, in my defense, I have no life. *drops the mic and backs away slowly*

-Vi