Down the Dark

[Chapter 10: Jax: 8 years ago]

     The snotty, teary face of eight-and-a-half-year-old Terra popped up besides Jax. She had a small bruise on her temple and was crying.

     "What happened?" eight-and-a-fourth-year-old Jax asked, taking Terra into her arms.

     "Annie made fun of me and Jerry hit me," Terra sniffled, stil bawling loudly.

     "What'd Annie say?"

     "She said I'm a crybaby nobody and that I'm not ever gonna grow up, and that I'm so ugly and nobody will ever love me."

     "No," Jax said. "You're so pretty, Terr. So pretty."

     Terra wiped her eyes. "Really?"

     "Yeah. If I was a boy, I would kiss you." Jax mimicked pulling Terra close to her and giving her a kiss.

     "Ewwww!" Terra laughed, jumping back. "I gotta go to the bathroom, be right back."

     "Okay," Jax called, and her smile disappeared. Time for some payback.

     She strode over to nine-year-old Annie and nine-and-three-quarters-year-old Jerry, who were snickering on the playground.

     "Hi, Annie, hi, Jerry," Jax smiled sweetly.

     "What do you want?" Annie rolled her eyes the same time that Jerry said, "Want me to bust your head like Terra's?"

     Jax clenched her fists. "Nobody hits Terra. Nobody."

     "Well what are you gonna do about it?" Jerry taunted. "Are you gonna hit me? No girl has ever hit me, you know. It'd be a shame to knock the lights out of a girl pretty like you."

     Jax grinned at him. "Nobody hits Terra," she repeated. "Because if you hit Terra, I'm gonna beat you up."

     "I'd like to see you tr-"

     Smack! Jerry cried out and stumbled back, clutching his bleeding nose. He took his hand from his face and stared at the blood. "You little-"

     "Nobody hits Terra," Jax said again. "And you made the mistake of doing so."

     She turned around and walked back over to the restroom, right when Terra came out of it. It is very safe to say that although Jax was a quarter-of-a-year younger than Terra, she was plenty protective.

     "What're you smiling about?" Terra asked.

     "Nothin'. Just know that Annie and Jerry won't be bothering you any time soon."

     "Why?"

     "Just cause'."

     "You've got some blood on your knuckles," Terra frowned, concerned.

     "Just paint," Jax smiled really big. "I was playing with paint."