The Shattered Ride

Chapter 9

    I didn't sleep a wink last night. Actually, it's still 2 am. I have constantly been staring at that stupid clock for over an hour. I just can't go to sleep. This was going to be a long day. But at least it's the last day of school, and then summer break! No matter how great this day could be, it also had a tiny problem. He had to face Erica... The genius Sam decided that Erica and I should date. Yeah, like that's going to happen. I mean, Erica is a great person, and all the time we have been spending together has gotten us really close. But I wouldn't consider us more than friends. I'm still having trouble keeping Amy from doing something to Erica.

    Amy has gone crazy. I mean, when we dated, she was this nice, sweet Australian girl-although she doesn't have an accent. I really liked the way her long brown hair just seemed to fall perfectly onto her left shoulder. And how her laugh made me smile every time I heard it. Amy Hudson. I really thought that maybe two years from now we would be living in our apartment. Studying at the same university. But no. She decided that it was time to start fresh with someone new. Because for some very, pathetic reason, I was doing that... She accused me for cheating on her. Come on, women! Why would I cheat on the person I wanted a life with after school? I would've given her anything. I was going to make the dance an extra special night. I was even going to take her to Dubai for a week and then go to London for a nice tour. All expenses on me. And she didn't even know about it. But way-to-go, Amy. You ruined your own dreams...

    I lay there in bed staring at the roof. Then a thought came to my mind. Why on earth did I want to protect Erica from Amy? It's not like I like her or anything, right? I must say, Erica does give great hugs. Some people give you these cold hugs. She has these nice, soft and tender hugs. Almost like steak... I was still deeply lost in thought, and somehow drifted away in a deep sleep.

    My alarm clock made me sit up straight. Did I actually finally fall asleep? I jumped out of bed, got dressed and rushed down for breakfast. When I arrived at school, I was surprized to see that Erica in fact wasn't there. I walked to my locker. Everyone just stared at me and I got this weird vibe. What was going on, and did Erica have anything to do with this? I opened my locker and out fell a letter. I looked around in curiosity and opened it. I read it, and thought I would freak! This must have been one of Amy's sick jokes again. How can someone care so less? If I find her, she's dead meat!

***

    Since today was the last day of school, my mom told me to stay home. I asked why, and she only kept saying it was a surprize. I went with it and stayed in bed. My parents went to work, and Alex went to stay at Jessica's although I insisted on taking care of him. I sat in the living room, in my pyjamas and all, when the doorbell rang. What if it was Jordan? I forgot to tell him I wasn't going to school today.

    I put the TV softer and walked to the door. I undid the lock hatch, and almost slammed the door when I say who it was. There stood Caleb. He was wearing a very nice black tux with a maroon shirt and black tie. He looked really attractive, but I was still too mad at him. I gave him a sarcastic look and asked, "You're taking me on a date?"

    He looked down and then back at me, trying hard not to scream at me. Then with a smile, he replied, "Actually, I was going to ask you to join me for the day." He sounded quite serious and very formal.

    I couldn't help but ask, "What will be doing?"

    He laughed. "That's supposed to be a surprize, but I do recommend wearing this." He took out a picture of me in my maroon dress, and a whole lot of other people dressed formally. The picture was taken the day of Erik's funeral. And I suddenly noticed he was wearing his cloths too. Maroon was Erik's favourite colour, so everyone more something with maroon in it.

    I looked at the picture. Then at him. I stepped back, indicating he can come in. He went to sit in the living room, and I went up to get ready. I showered, and when I stood in front of my closet, I couldn't bring myself to even look at the dress. It was truly beautiful, but Erik had once, way before the funeral, chosen it out for me. I will never forget that night.

    Looking down at my carpet, I tried so hard not to cry. But to put on this dress meant I was going to have to let it all out. So when I was finally finished, I went down. Caleb stood up the moment he saw me. I'm sure he could see that I cried, because he gave me an encouraging smile that made me go weak... We drove for a long time. Not saying anything. No radio playing. Nothing. Just driving. He turned right onto a dirt road, and I wasn't quite sure where we were. When we finally stopped between trees in the woods on green, green grass, I knew exactly where we were. We were at the cemetery were Erik was buried. I was going to kill Caleb. I promised myself I was never going to come here again. Heck, I wasn't even planning on ever wearing this dress again. But yet, here we were.

***

    The day went on, and when lunch came, I couldn't wait to find Amy and kill her. I walked into the lunch room to see all the guys except Jay sitting there. Sam came walking up behind me and Penny was sitting next to Vadimir. He is the funniest Indian I know. And he and Penny have been walking together a lot really. Pretty much like me and Erica. I dismissed that thought very quickly and went to sit next to C.J. I kind of liked him. I mean, he's a jock and double the player anyone would ever be, but he had this cool atmosphere whenever he was around. A chilled vibe.

    We were all chatting and Sam mentioned something about Erica going out with Caleb for the day. Which I didn't mind at all for, because Caleb was awesome. He and Erik were a lot like each other. But just as my day began to get better, Jay decided to ruin it. For some reason he just doesn't want to become friends. He has always given me a weird look when Erica and I walk together, and when she wasn't with me, he would constantly trip me, or become real childish and 'tease' me... And today he decided to do it in front of everyone.

    "What do you know? Jordie boy is left without Erica... I knew it would never last." He chucked and the lunch room got quiet. There were three other guys behind him. This could not be good.

    "What do you want Jay?" Sam finally asked. She definitely wasn't in the mood for one of his jokes. And neither was I.

    "I want what is rightfully mine," and with that he grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me to my feet. Immediately, Sam, C.J, and Max stood up. "Sit down. Let the boy fight his own fights," then he looked at me, "Does everyone have to fight for you?" And he threw me to the ground. I have never been in a fight like this before, and I never planned on getting in to one.

    I got up to my feet. He gave me a sly smile, and in confusion I asked, "What's your problem?"

    He laughed. "You're my problem. Don't you get it? You've taken her from me." And without seeing it come, he punched me through the face. His right fist against my left cheek. "The one who wins, gets Erica. If you lose, you back off. Got it?"

    I pulled back. I had no intention to fight him. At all... And I'm still not sure what this is about. "I'm not gonna fight you..." He laughed even louder and his friend started kicking my legs, causing me to fall to my knees. I looked up to see him still laughing, but then his other friend came kicking me in my stomach. I fell to my side and crawled into a bundle. The third guy started kicking me in my side and right now, I felt useless.

    "So you don't think Erica is worthy of a fight?" He shook his head, and continued to laugh. "I am going to kick your butt. You took her from me..." He stopped laughing and just as I looked up, he attacked me with several punches from all places.

    I started to lose consciousness, and in the distant I would hear people cheer him on, and others asking him to stop. After a while, I could barely keep my swollen eyes open. But when I had enough strength to open them to see a peek, I would see Sam grabbing at Jay, shouting, begging him to stop. But he didn't... He continued. And I thought this nightmare would never end.