Being Jackson.

12.

Jackson Trent.

"Okay guys, its a simple move, two steps to the right, two to the left, slide back to your centre, squat then come back up caressing your body like its a temple, then start with the footwork whilst moving your waist the way you ladies do it to please your man, in a more decent way." I instructed the group of misfits behind me, they all could relate in one way or the other and this dance lesson Wyatt had roped me into after lunch period was just the thing I needed to get a break from all that work.

"Easy for you to say, you're like hot, you don't have to try so hard to have appeal." The boy who spoke up was definitely a freshman, I was unfamiliar with him but I could definitely understand why he was here. "Thank you for the compliment." I answered with a hand to my heart and almost everyone snickered or giggled.

"Look, I'm only here to help since my friend asked, and besides I recognize some of you guys from the rebel formal and I realize that this is your safe space, I won't ruin it, I promise." I say with all the sincerity I could put into my words. "But?" Wyatt mutters.

"The moment I got here, I had an idea, why do the cheerleaders get to have all the fame from dancing and screaming at game days or pep rallies, why can't you guys?" I stated as another guy I definitely recognized showed up. "That's easy, we're not like you trying to conform to the ridiculous ideas of fitting in at this school, and who are you to even ask that, you sold out." He asserted aggressively with narrowed eyes.

"I didn't sell out Prince, I chose to change and better myself, not cower and hide because I was afraid of what people would think of me." I sneered in response and Prince dropped his backpack coming forward, he was almost my height, sunkissed skin, nose ring and cherry lips, with just the right of amount of masculinity, he was hot but I would never admit that since he was currently trying to intimidate me.

"Guys, lets cool off." Wyatt tried to intervene but I hold up my hand. "Its okay honey, let him say what he wants to say." I challenged Prince who scoffed. "I don't even recognize you Jack, you live in a gym now, you don't eat like everybody else, you're worse than the cheerleaders and you're on an attention seeking, ego stroking trip just because you think you're better than everybody else." Prince spat and I chuckled looking him dead in the eye.

"At least I had the balls to actually go out there and show everyone that I wasn't just the fat, sweaty gay kid that had no talent, you think I sold out, fine but look at me, I am at the forefront of a fight that you didn't even have the guts to fight, for everyone;" I exclaimed placing my hands on both Prince's shoulders bringing him closer to me, I had always wanted to do that with a guy, but hey I was fat and socially awkward back then, it wouldn't have been this hot

My actions caused a stir with everyone watching us too as I leaned forward. "So if you still think I sold out, then you're a coward but if you aren't, you'll join me and this awesome group of misfits who love dancing and we cause some havoc at this school." I finish just as Wyatt clears his throat. "Carrot cake that's a little too close." He mutters gesturing to my body almost glued to Prince.

So I release the paralyzed junior and pat his shoulder before turning to Wyatt and smiling. "Think about it, everyone work on the moves I showed you, tomorrow I'll give you a few more steps then we can combine both, see what we come up with." I announce to the whole group with a louder note to my voice. "Cool, thanks Jake." It was a chorus of thank yous and I just let it wash over me.

Wyatt leaves my side to go talk to Prince while I grabbed our bags, my past with Prince was murky, our parents had been friends once, he and Kat had dated for a few months until he came out as pansexual, Kat wasn't all that accepting and promptly broke up with him.

Something about not wanting to share Prince with a pan, or whenever she had a pan in hand and Prince was around he would get aroused, I found it insulting and ridiculous honestly, but she was Kat, everything about my sister was a conundrum.

"I see the changes are coming in hot, Bridgeton better be ready for the storm that is Trent." Pete joked behind me and I turned to face him with a schooled face, I needed to show him indifference because the mere sight of him sent me on a rage or just triggered me.

"What do you want?" I demand. "To say I'm leaving and to apologize for all the things I did and said, I should've never told Ryder anything, I should've never put your life out there like that, it was selfish and horrible, I'm truly sorry." He exclaimed.

"It still doesn't change much does it." I sarcastically quipped. "Damage was already done, I get it." Pete mumbled with a wavering voice.

"Dear, I'm still recovering from everything, when I walk through this school and your friends look at me, I can't help feel like they're talking about me, so please, your apology as wholesome as it is, can't help me, have a safe trip." I breezed past Pete but he caught onto my hoodie which had me turning around to glare at him.

"Be mad, I deserve it, but please forgive yourself for everything, I know you blame yourself for a lot of things including letting me into your life, I messed up but I have to admit, you were the best thing that happened to me and I ruined it, don't let that keep you from finding someone else who will love you." Pete exclaimed before fully letting go of my hoodie.

"Thanks, where ever you go, remember to be better and be safe." I tell him before turning to leave again. "Bye Jack." I heard him say before I was out of earshot. "Hey sugar, you look scrumptious." Ryder suddenly spoke next to me with a weird impression of a person I barely knew. "Its adorable how you try those impressions on me and I don't even know who it is." I chortle.

"Then we're about to remedy that, movie night, this thursday your house or mine, you can choose." Ryder explains and I realize he had come up with a plan for his impromptu announcement earlier that we had plans this thursday. "Your house, I would rather avoid you see my sister naked again." I laughed and he glared at me.

"Even if I could see all the way to the promise land, a certain someone has made it impossible for me to want anything else, you have such a generous amount of thickness back here, I don't even think two hands are enough." Ryder mumbled with all the sexual innuendos he could put out and I blushed heavily. "Ryder." I groaned trying to get away from him.

"Nah ah, not this time, Im seeing you off at your chemistry class." He had latched on to me and was leading us both toward my class. "There you are!" Wyatt suddenly yelled running toward us. "You left me behind, and you have my bag, I need my history notes in there, hey Ryder, make sure this one gets to class, I'll see you at three by the parking lot." Wyatt was a whirlwind as he grabbed his notes and ran for his class.

"You have weird friends." Ryder comments as I chuckle fixing Wyatt's bag. "Starting with you Edwards." I shot back and he snickered. "So movie night we're on, you better be on your best behavior." He joked and I couldn't help laugh to that statement. "If anyone needs to behave its you, and we're here." I answer standing by the door to my class.

"Hey Lang!" Ryder called out waving to Darcy who was in the class, everyone looked at him then Darcy, finding it unusual that Darcy and Ryder could possibly know each other, with Ryder even greeting her. "I have to go." I assert but Ryder catches my arm.

"Pete and I broke up, it was mutual and it wasn't because he's leaving though its partly the reason, but we both agreed;" I made Ryder stop talking with a finger to his lips. "I'm going to the gym at three with one of my best friends, you can join us since you don't have practice and tell me there, okay." I explain and he nods vigorously. "Good boy." I smile before leaving.

"You seem to be training him well." Darcy jokes after I sit next to her. "Trust me, it'll take more than a few pats and words of affection." I reply earning more laughter from the girl. "First day back and it feels different, I had missed you here." Darcy mumbles with a teary smile and I scoot closer to her and hug her, I had definitely missed her too.

"I had missed this too, a whole lot." I whisper and we both just let the white noise of students around us go by before the teacher came in. "Mister Trent, very nice to see you in class again, I missed one of my best students." The teacher claimed and I just smiled paying attention to the lesson.

Being Jackson.

Saint Jay