Miserable

6

"Miss Joy." Mr. Garner's voice silences everyone. I swallow. When he gets mad, the 'victim' gets really embarrassed.

I look up from the notebook I was writing in with a blank look and see his facial expression change. From angry, to pitiful then lastly, to understanding.

"Please listen and focus your attention here." He says, his voice softening. I nod and slide deeper into my chair, not wanting to get into any more trouble since everyone was already looking at me.

"You okay?" Jade whispers.

I nod. "I'll explain later."

A smile creeps onto my face and she raises an eyebrow. "You better tell me what's going on."

After the last class, Jade and I head to our lockers. Her locker is in another hallway, sadly.

I open my locker and put my books away. Then I see a small folded paper wedged in between my chemistry and math books.

I raise an eyebrow and take it. I put it in my pocket and meet Jade in the "intersection" hallway.

"Soooo what happened?" Jade coos.

I roll my eyes. "Do NOT talk like that. It's disturbing."

"Oh come on." She whines. "You smiled earlier. Like, really smiled. And not just any real smile. A smile that means some guy did something to you."

She pauses. "I mean, in a good way she adds thoughtfully.

I smile. "Yeah I know what you mean."

I think back to Clarence and what he did for me earlier...

"Uh, Joy!" Jade snaps her fingers in front of me and I blink several times. I guess she finds that amusing because she starts laughing.

"See?" She quiets down and becomes serious. "You were smiling again."

Her excited smile brightens up my day.

"Yeah, I guess I was."

"Hey, Joy!" James walks over and joins us on the sidewalk.

"And? What about me, mister?" Jade asks putting her hands on her hips and trying to act serious.

He chuckles. "Hey, Jade."

She nods in satisfaction. "That's better."

We get onto the bus and Jade and I sit together while James saves a seat for my brother, as usual.

Jade nudges me. "What?" I ask her.

"Tell me everything. E-very-thing."

I laugh. What a persistent friend.

"Well, first, I got these notes at my locker during lunch time. Well, when I got my books."

Jade squeals. I give her a questioning glance and she waves it away with her hands. "Continue."

"Okaaay. Well, I opened the colorful ones and they were some sweet notes from someone." I continue, but not before she interrupts me again.

"Ooh! A secret admirer!" She squeals.

The people in front of us turn to look at her and we give them an apologetic smile.

"May I continue?" I ask pretending to be annoyed.

She giggles. "Okay."

"So as I was saying, I read these admiration notes. But then there was a white sticky note behind them all. And it said to 'stay away or else'... Obviously, I was puzzled since first, there were the admiration letters then there was a threat. So, after that, I went to the room where you and Ms. Hornette were waiting. Something interesting happened after that. You saw me looking at Troy Clarence right?"

She nods. "Wait. Clarence? Troy's second name is Clarence?"

I shrug. "I guess."

"Everyone else calls him Troy. Wonder why he told you Clarence." She adds thoughtfully. I shrug it off.

"Anyway, he was looking at me and I didn't know why. Then when I met Shakira she just wanted to make sure that I got her message. Then when I turned to go, someone tripped me and Clarence, er, Troy, caught me. He also helped me to the door. And he told me not to worry about Shakira cuz she's just jealous and stuff."

Jade's eyebrows are raised and she has that shocked-yet-happy expression.

"Woah. That is so cool." She says.

I shake my head and see my brother talking to James. He looks at me and smiles. "Talk later kay?" He says. I nod and agree wondering why.

We arrive at our stop and I say goodbye to Jade and James.

"What do you wanna talk about?" I ask him as we walk into the house.

I look around the living room.

"Where's mom? The door's open." I say. Rich raises his eyebrows in sudden fear. I put an arm around him and he relaxes.

"So? What did you wanna say?" I ask as we walk carefully up the stairs and to my room.

My mom was tied to a chair.

We stop in our tracks. "Mom." Rich whispers.

Her eyes tell me to stop and wait.

"What happened?" I mouth.

"The same guy came. He left. But there's a note on the table." She says. "Don't move."

"If he's gone, why can't we move?" Rich asks. I was thinking the same thing.

"There's something wrong. I don't know what he did but it's not safe for you to walk in here. Get the note on your desk, Joy, then go to Jade's house. Throw a pair of scissors a few feet away from me and I'll meet you there." Mom says frantically.

"Why? What does he want? What did he do?" I ask.

Mom shakes her head. "I'm not even sure. Just get out of here. Fast. Do NOT talk to strangers."

I grab the note, and Rich's hand, and we run. We run down the stairs and out onto the street. Well, we can't really run due to our "long-term" injuries, but we went as fast as we can. Thankfully, we arrived at Jade's house without running into anyone.

I ring the doorbell. Jade opens it and ushers us inside.

"What happened this time?" She asks carefully.

Rich explains to her and she understands. "Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. I'll call mom." Jade replies.

I head up to Jade's room and set my bag on the floor. Then I open the letter.

Joy. If you don't want your family harmed, do what I tell you. I will keep in touch.

What?! Who is this guy?

Jade comes in and I show her the note. She takes a deep breath and thinks.

"I don't know why he would want you. Out of all people." She says.

She snaps her fingers. "Wait. Maybe he wants money. Your family owns a large business. Perhaps he wants you as a hostage?"

I shake my head. "If he wanted me as a hostage, he would've kidnapped me by now."

"Oh yeah." She sits down beside me and gives me a sideward hug. "Well, don't worry about it. God will take care of you."

I stay silent at that. He will take care of me? How? Is He taking care of me now? If He is, why am I going through all this?

I sigh.

"Wait. What happened to your mother?" She asks trying to change topic.

"I don't really know. She told us to go cuz she said he put something on the floor? I don't know what though." I reply.

The door slams open and Rich stands in the doorway.

"James is here and so is mom." He says.

James? Jade and I share a look and head downstairs.