Making A Bad Boy

Lab Partners

Picture of Kyle to your right, vote if you like :)

We drove for about ten minutes before we came upon an open field. Carson parked and jumped out of the jeep, Robin and I following closed behind. We walked into the field silently, before Carson just abruptly sat down. Robin stared at both of us before I joined him, “We can get into so much trouble guys”.

I rolled my eyes and patted the spot next to me, “Come on Robin, We’ll be back for second period. No one will even know that we were gone.” I said reassuringly. “Come on Robin, have a seat, and stop worrying” Carson added. He threw her a smile, and motioned for her to sit by him. She blushed and complied. I smiled. Well I know who I will be hooking up this year.

Carson lit the joint and passed it to me. I immediately felt at ease after taking a pull. I passed it to Robin who stared at my hand wide eyed, “What do you want me to do with that thing?” she asked bewildered. “Smoke it” Carson and I said simultaneously. She shook her head, “I honestly don’t know how to.”

Carson sighed and took the joint from me, “Inhale the smoke ok?” Robin shook her head again. Carson ignored her and took a deep pull, he grabbed Robin chin softly and pulled her face close to his. I was in awe. I loved witnessing shotguns.  He blew a large cloud of smoke into her face, Robin, looking as if she was hypnotized, inhaled it sharply through her mouth. Carson smiled at her, “Exhale” he said softly. She did, and immediately exploded into a fit of coughing.

“Way to go Robin” I commended. She blushed, “Am I going to cough all the time” she asked Carson. Carson then started to explain the mechanics to smoking, Robin hanging on his every word. I lay down in the grass and watched the clouds pass over head, zoning them out. I thought of my mother, and how shitty her life had been, and how hard she worked to make sure my life was the opposite

My mom got pregnant with me at sixteen, forcing her to drop out. It wasn’t that bad because my dad had promised to take care of her. And he did take care of her. He took care of her for seven years straight, working at a dead end job making ends meet. My mom wanted to work, but seeing as how my dad was the only one with a high school diploma, it was nearly impossible. He was the main breadwinner.  Everything was going fine; I was about six when everything started going downhill.

The factory, like most, started making budget cuts. Unfortunately, my dad was one of the first to go. My dad was distraught, but quickly got back on his feet and started looking for another job. But, in a bad economy, it was hard. We started to depend on our measly savings.

My dad, like many men in his position, took to the bottle. His hard drinking made our savings dwindle even quicker. He stopped looking for a job, and just gave up. He drank all day and passed out every night. That was his routine. The beatings came soon after. He blamed my mother for his current life. He told her that me being born was the worst thing to happen to him. He beat her almost every day, until finally she packed both of us up into their tiny car, and left him in the middle of the night.

We went to live with her sister, my aunt, for a couple of years. My mom then got her G.E.D and enrolled into a nursing trade school. Her graduation day was the happiest day of her life. Unsurprisingly he found us a month after her gradation. He begged her to some back, and my mom being so in love with him, did. We moved back in with him, and my mom got a job at the local hospital.

Things were great for a while. My dad and I got really close; he even taught me how to surf. And then it began to set into his head that he no longer provided for his family. He apparently felt emasculated that my mom was our sole source of income. The drinking and beatings started again, except this time, I was beaten too.

One day, it was really bad, he was beating me so bad, I almost lost consciousness. My mom packed us up again, and we’ve been on the move ever since. Last we heard, he managed to become a cop up in New York.

This was why my mom up and moves every time I so much as brush a police officer. She was scared to death that he would find us again.

Carson nudged me with his elbow, knocking me back into reality. Robin stood up and held out a hand for me, “We heading back now?” I asked as I got up. Carson nodded. I checked my phone to see a text message from Stacey asking where the hell Robin and I was. I answered and told her we’re on our way. We all piled into the jeep and headed to school, my dad long forgotten.

*********

We amazingly made it into school without getting caught or questioned. I didn’t get to see Robin again until my class before lunch. When I walked into class, her face lit up causing me to smile. I sat next to her, and put my head on my desk. Smoking always made me sleepy.

I was woken up by an elbow in my side. I sat up to yell at whoever did it, and caught the eye of the teacher. I didn’t know her name, but she was glaring at me. I rolled my eyes and sat back, glaring at Robin for elbowing me. The annoying teacher continued her lesson.

The lunch bell finally rang. Everyone, including myself, jumped up. At least I knew I wasn’t the only one who hated this class. Robin and I made it to the lunchroom, and sat at the same table from yesterday.

Stacey joined us soon after, “Where were you guys for first period?” she asked as she sat down. I shrugged while Robin excitedly answered, “We went to smoke with Carson”. Stacey’s eyes widened, “You smoked?” she said in disbelief at Robin. Robin nodded with a huge grin on her face. “And with Carson, the lonely stoner guy, he is so cool” Robin added.

Speaking of the devil himself, Carson plopped down right next to Stacey, and picked a carrot off her plate. Stacey frowned, probably feeling awkward that she was sitting next to the son of the man she was sleeping with. Robin and Carson oblivious to all the tension started a discussion about how fun having the munchies was.

Lunch was over soon after. I made my way to my next class and sat down in the back to try and catch some sleep. I was finally drifting off to sleepy land when someone tapped my shoulder. I sighed and sat up to meet the hazel eyes of Kyle.

“Hey…it’s Leigh right?” I smiled and nodded. “You mind if I sit next to you?” he asked shyly. “Well of course. Have a seat.” He sat down and turned to me, “You weren’t in first period, so you probably don’t know.” I nodded, “Yeah, family emergency. What did I miss?” I asked. “Well nothing much, we’re just group partners for a project” I fought hard to keep from jumping up out of my seat. “Oh yeah? What’s the project about?” I asked casually.

“Oh, I can explain it to you. Do you want to meet me at the library later?” I nodded, “Sounds good. But I’ll need a ride home.” He smiled, “No problem”. I honestly couldn’t wait until after school.