Keep Your Enemies Close

Chapter Nine Fear is What Kills Us

Two days ago, I had to rehearse with and kiss Jodey Henson because I was the lead role in the play. Yesterday I had been tutoring the director's son. Penny was on house arrest the day she was taken out of school and had been lectured by her mother to stay away from Lila and her gang. This week was by far the craziest.

Now, I had fourth period civics, which I was very late for. I was basically running, teachers giving me annoyed glances.

I ran so recklessly, only seeing shapes and blurs, trying not to collide into some people lurking in the hallways. I was pondering the idea of taking the stairs three at a time, until I smacked into someone hard. I hadn't even made it near the stairwell.

The person hadn't stumbled that hard, until I lost my balance, fell clumsily on top of them and pushed them to the ground. My mouth pressed against their cheek unintentionally, which made it more than awkward.

When I re-focused my vision, and realized it was Jodey, I scrambled up off of his chest. He ruffled his dark hair and groaned.

Jodey got up from the ground and his lips curled into a friendly half smile.

"Oh, hey Mabel. Or I should I call you Emily?" he joked. He was not funny.

I rolled my eyes as I tried to walk around him. He blocked me with his tallness so that I bumped into his chest.

"Get out of my way, Jodey, I need to get to civics," I mumbled.

"I'm in that class too."

I furrowed my brow skeptically.

"Then why were you walking the other way?"

He gave me a look telling me that I was missing the point.

"Well, you know, I was thinking of ditching quietly until you crashed into me," he stated calmly, gritting his teeth, looking around to see if anyone was watching.

"And where exactly were you going to go?" I crossed my arms. "The beach to fool around? A brick wall to vandalize with graffiti? Theft? An illegal car race with friends so you can get a mugshot-"

Jodey interrupted me with a wave of his hand and a disgusted look.

"I was actually thinking of my house, but those things sound real fun, I'll try them on my next days of ditching," Jodey answered sarcastically.

He patted my head like I was a child and turned to walk away. I frowned. I was not a little kid.

"But I've done graffiti before!" I admitted, maybe a bit too loudly. Jodey spun around, his blue eyes focused on me.

I randomly noticed what he was wearing today for the first time. He didn't dress like the other guys in our school, like the ones who always wore black hoodies and sweatpants. But nonetheless...he looked nice. His red plaid shirt under his sweater looked like it had been ironed just this morning and his hair was formed into an up-wave style to the side.

"What do you mean?" He questioned, full of amusement. Somewhat satisfied for his attention, I stepped closer to him.

"On a brick wall. When Penny and I were eleven, we snuck out of our homes and ran far out of town, and we didn't know where we were. In an alleyway, there was a bunch of half-full paint cans lying around, untouched. So I decided that we should paint our names on the brick wall."

Jodey sauntered over to me, inching a bit closer.

"Penny Perkins did this?" I chuckled evilly.

"Yeah, you know, the girl you have a crush on..." Jodey blushed. It was hilarious, because he couldn't hide it. I just laughed.

"She is attractive, but no, I don't. I have a beautiful girlfriend," he said proudly.