The Gray Zone

CHAPTER 22

/Jesse's POV/

After we got back in kitchen and had already smoked a blunt I felt a bit more relaxed. All of my energy, which was too much at most times, was gone and the four of us just sat at on the bar stools and talked a bit. I still didn't like it here. 

"You're so lucky that you're not going to our school, Bryan." Zach joked and nodded towards me "Our Romeo can't stop babbling about that gurl." 

"Definitely. Not one day without a declaration of love from him. Like, Bro, we got it." Jeremy added and took a sip from his bear. I smiled fully at my friends and scratched my neck.

Bryan began to chuckle before he pointed out "I'm sure Jesse does that guys, but y'all know how being in love feels like. Maybe you can write some Lyrics about it." He said and patted my shoulder. 

"That's the point man, what about the band? What about practicing together and getting some local attention?" Zach questioned and I looked up. 

"Bro, this band is like my – our - baby. I got hate when I made a solo mix tape, when I was a part of the Good Boys, and basically for everything else I did musician wise. And yet I am here, having my four best friends together in a band. Trust me, I wouldn't throw that away for any girl." I said dry and examined their faces before adding. "She'll understand that and if not she's not the right person for me."

There was a bit of silence until some girls came in the kitchen and giggled loudly and stood around us. I turned around. 

"Heeey guys!!" One of them laughed and put one arm around Bryan. "Why are four so attractive seniors like you alone in the kitchen?" 

"Because we fucking want to." I mumbled and Zach poked me with his elbow. "Dude, chill they just wanna have some fun. And what do you do when you want to have fun? Right, you go to the bad boys." I sighed and he turned around to the girls who all smiled at us. 

"Come on, dance with us in the living room!" Another one cheered and we were pulled off our chairs.

I was given another cup full of beer before being pushed into the crown which has assembled in the living room. After a big sip I closed my eyes and began to dance. Not that I was good at it, but you have to enjoy yourself, don't ya? Some shitty electro pop was playing over the stereos and I just continued dancing around with my eyes half open, occasionally taking sips from my beer or getting another one. Across the room I saw Bryan leaning against the wall talking to one of the pretty girls. She was basically undressing herself in front of him. I smiled and took another sip before seeing Lauren on Mikey's lap and slowly kissing him. Another grin, another sip, and dancing like the idiot I am again.

After a while I leaned against one of the walls of the living room and caught my breath again. With a couple of beers I could actually cope with this party. Smilingly I looked down on my phone and saw that my girl had written me a message.

I...er told my mom that we're not even friends

Lol idc, baby. Should I pass by your house later?

She was already typing again when someone bumped into me and I looked over to my shoulder. A Hispanic looking girl was leaning against it, laughing, and tearing me downwards but before I could do anything to get her up again I felt how my phone was taken from my hand. 

"HEY!" I screamed and could make a boy running away from me out. Without hesitation I pushed through the people and yelled to hold this boy. Suddenly the music and conversations seemed to die down and in one of the corners I finally trapped the other boy but he had already pressed the voice message bottom and began to speak loudly "Yeah... uhm... Babe I'm Jesse, yo man!" 

Who was this fucker and what did he thought was he doing? I clenched my jaw and pushed him forcefully backwards against the walls. 

"What the fuck, man?!" The words made him shrug so I took the phone out of his hand and pulled him off his feet since he was a lot shorter and lighter than me. When I turned around he wanted to free himself and kick me but I was too angry, and maybe drunk, now. "Why did you steal my mobile, huh? Do you think you'll get away with that?" 

The people had made a circle around us and now I saw that he actually looked younger than me, two years maybe. And I noticed the blank fear in his eyes. 

"Jesse, stop!" I turned around a bit too quick which made me dizzy but saw Mia Wellington, one of the popular girls in town, coming towards me. "Please let him down!" she said sorrowful and came closer. "He's just my little brother! We told him to do that, to steal your phone." 

Mia gulped and looked at me. Slowly, I let him down and the boy run away into the garden. 

"You and who thought it'd be funny to steal my phone?" I asked harshly and made myself bigger. The crowd was still silent. 

"Yo" Marc, the host of the party, suddenly shouted and stepped forward. His hair was messy and his shirt halfway unbuttoned. He looked angrily at me. "Rutherford, what's going on here, man?!" Shit, not even my boys seemed here. 

"Dude, a lil boy stole my phone and I got it back, that's all." I tried to calm him down but now Mia Wellington piped up with her annoying voice "No, actually he was hitting on me." 

I turned around and stared at her "I didn't hit you!" 

"Well, not physically. But you were creeping up on me the whole evening!" 

"Listen, I-" In this moment my adjustment got interrupted by Rachel Little, who stepped forward with a dramatically expression on her face "YOU WERE HITTING ON MY FRIEND? I THOUGHT WE WERE TOGETHER, YOU DICK!" She held her tears back and while everyone else in the room pitied her I realized what her actually plan was. 

"OH COME ON!" I shouted back and my pulse rose with my anger. I pushed Marc aside to face her directly. "STOP FAKING ALL OF THIS! WE BROKE UP!!" 

The crowd gasped in union and I rolled my eyes back before turning back to Marc. 

"Mia's brother stole my phone and they knew I'd make a scene out of this. Now Rachel and her friends try to make me look like an asshole. Sorry, Dude. That bitch's just crazy." I said it loud enough for everybody to hear. 

With a deep breath I turned around again and unfortunately had to see that a big, blond boy was pushing through the people. Fuck no. "Wait, you're a cheater? I'll tell her!" He said breathless and looked from Rachel, who gazed angrily at me, to me and back. "I told you not to mess with me!" He continued and walked towards me. 

I clenched my jaw and silently I bristled with anger "I. Am. Not. A. Cheater."

There was even more intensity in the air then earlier in the hall. Levi was about to say something but I brushed him off and strutted down the living room. Everybody of these fucking losers made space and without care I opened the front door and walked right through it, leaving it open.

I had definitely too many beers to drive. Guess what I did. With 160 mph I rushed down the Screaming Eagles Highway. There were only a few cars here driving in the dark and with everyone I passed my grip on the steering wheel got tighter. I was still fucking angry and starred the road to death. I hated this little bitch. I hated this whole town. This was almost as bad as the people began making fun of me for rapping. Even my so called "friends" stopped supporting me. Fuck them. I drove a bit faster. No one was as fast I am.