100% Straight

Part 3 (Jackson)

"The other candidates sucked ass! I promise, it's in the bag." Jackson chuckled into the phone as he said his goodbyes and hang up.

After an interview with the interviewer basically begging him to take the job, Jackson walked out of the giant building head held high.

The high didn't last long as the ominous feeling of dread began to loom over Jackson.

He walked slowly into an empty cab and took a deep breath as he prepared to call his father; the only man who was scary enough to make even Jackson, who wasn't afraid of anything, scared shitless.

He remembered the phone call he received from his father the day he was fired; Jackson cried for three hours straight afterwards. However, if you attempt to share this information, he will deny it.

His father's birthday was in a couple months, and Jackson would much rather die than go and have his father dissatisfied with him. Perhaps Jackson was being too dramatic, but it was better to overestimate a retired marine than underestimate one.

Taking another gulp of cool air, Jackson tentatively picked up his phone and dialed up his number.

His father picked up immediately, "What the fuck did you do this time?" His voice screamed into Jackson's ears.

Focusing on making his voice less shaky, Jackson answers, "Um, I took the interview for the job I told you about."

"The least you could do, you little shit. Do you ever think before you act? Did you think about how your fucking temper tantrum would affect your mom and me?" He yelled.

If anyone else had said that to Jackson, he would've responded with "shut the actual fuck up" and then would've ranted about irrelevant shit until the other person conceded or hung up.

Jackson replied with a curt, "No, sir."

"Then don't fuck up this job." His father barked into the phone and hung up.

Jackson stood very still for a second, taking in what his father had said until someone said, "Hey you good, dude? That sounded brutal."

Jackson looked up to see the taxi driver looking at him through the rear view mirror with a pitying look.

For a moment, Jackson wondered why someone would even care what happened to him. Just as quickly as the thought was there, it was gone and the confident Jackson was back.

"Mind your own damn business." He muttered, looking out the window.

The rest of the ride went silent, which Jackson preferred. The last thing he wanted to do was have a discussion with this driver.

As the ride ended and the car came to a stop, Jackson exited the vehicle promptly and stalked towards his apartment complex. As he entered the elevator, his phone buzzed.

Jackson's whole body filled with dread. He was already imagining what he his father would say.

He picked up the phone and pressed answer, not daring to look at the screen.

"Is this Jackson Williams?" A quiet voice said.

The stark contrast between their voice and his father's caught Jackson momentarily off guard.

He chuckled, relieved.

This must be the interviewer getting back to him. Jackson must have been on point about wowing them for them to talk to him this soon. Unless they hated him.

No, not an option.

"This is he." He replied, upbeat.

"We've decided to give you the job! Your resume was impressive enough, we figured that we'd let you know as soon as possible!"

Jackson smiled and yelled, "Fuck yeah!!!"

He kicked the elevator side so hard that it shook.

Realizing what he had said to the person on the phone, he recovered, "Oh shit- shoot- sorry! Thank you so much!" Jackson hung up the phone, not risking making a careless mistake again.

"Do you ever think before you act?" His father's words rang in his ears.

The doors of the elevator opened as Jackson texted his friend.

"Do you know any good clubs around here? I just got the job and I want to FUCKING PARTAAAAY!"Jackson texted rapidly.

A few seconds later, Jason replied, "Sorry, can't tonight. My grandmas sick. Maybe another time?"

Jackson groaned, "As if you give a fuck about old people. Party with me tonight!"

Jason texted back, "Have fun partying by yourself, dick."

Jackson texted, "Fuck you!" before he deleted it and decided to leave him on read. Jason will get over it and see a jobs more important than some old person that's going to die anyway.

Jackson pulls out google maps, searches for clubs in his area, and gets directions to the first one he finds.