Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

Manning Up

“You know it's hard,” he began when we were parked on school grounds.

“Not remembering,” he forces himself to smile but his face turns slightly red and a vein reveals itself on his forehead. “I'm sorry if it bothers you, whether or not we're close... what we do today... what we did yesterday.. I remember nothing.”

I watched his hands slide up and down the steering wheel to finally clench the bottom of it. He looked up at me and realized that I was watching his hands. He unclenched his fists and sighed. I looked up and met his gaze.

“Raimondo,” I reached for his right hand removing it from the steering wheel, “I will hold our memories for you right now, and I promise I will help you remember.” I squeezed his hand and smiled.

“Besides, what good is...” I raked through my head for the proper word. I couldn't say girlfriend because the feeling may not be mutual. Better to take it slow and not take advantage of his problem anymore than I have. “What good is a friend if your friend isn't there when you need her most.”

I searched his face hoping my words would make him smile. But it failed to remove the sorrow from his eyes. He nodded and removed his hands from mines.

He pointed behind me and out of the window. “Someone's waiting for you.”

“Yeah?” I turned to see Meriç. He waved at me and smiled.

“Alright, thanks for the ride.” I waited for his reply but he only nodded and looked straight ahead avoiding my eyes.

I sighed and climbed out of his cab. I slammed the door shut and watched him drive off.

“Morning,” Meriç smiled stepping beside me.

“Hey, Meriç,” I grinned. If only he knew what defending him almost cost me.

“You know,” Meriç started, “we need to exchange numbers.”

“Yes we do.” I agreed.

_________

I turned my back and leaned on the lunch table thinking about the yellow sheets. The instructions written on them were insane. Something about "finishing the job" and written were directions to "the location". There was also something about a 9mm.

Jeff was making him do horrible things, there was no other way to explain it. He was taking advantage of Raimondo's memory problem and having him do all the dirty work. It all made sense and there was nothing to lose because Raimondo wouldn't remember a thing the next day. Even if he did remember, his memory was beyond weak.

Just the thought of it made me sick.

"What is there to do?" I huffed.

I means lets face it, talking to Jeff seems impossible. He's always on some weird shit like managing to care for me. Almost as if he feels like a God!

But like I promised Raimondo. I will stand by him and help him. Even if I had to remove Jeff from the picture to do so.

“Hey,” Stephon's head popped out of nowhere.

Still freaked out from last night, I abruptly stood and marched towards the building.

“Wait!” He called following me. “I just wanted to apologize.” He caught up, as I was about to step foot in the school, and blocked my way.

I crossed my hands over my chest and looked past him. He moved his head to aline with my gaze.

“I'm sorry, it wont happen again.” He half pleaded in attempt to convince me of his sincerity. “I promise.” He finally added.

I rolled my eyes, and pushed him out of my way. Stopping midway, I turned back and marched down the stairs. Fear replaced with anger. I had to face him myself and let him know that I don't need to depend on someone to protect me. “Stephon,” he was surprised to hear my voice and possibly more surprised that I knew his name. “If it happens again, I will find you, cut your balls off, and mail them to your grandmother.” I whispered between clenched teeth for only him to hear.

“Are you threatening me?” he scuffed, all signs of sincerity leaving his face.

“Do you want to keep your manhood?”

His eyes widened, he opened his mouth to say something but expression warned him not to. He laughed shaking his head and turned around.

Hell yes I was threatening him.

_________

I jogged towards my locker. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I didn't want another detention. I unlocked my locker and pulled out my English books. I took what I needed and hurried towards class. On my way I passed the two students. Some guy with his girlfriend I think. I did a double take before I realized that he was hitting her. Stopping in my tracks I squinted my eyes to make sure I wasn't imagining the scene. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

“You're worthless you know that,” he spoke harshly. The scene that took place in the alley yesterday flashed through my head.

“Hey!” I stepped closer to them. But he didn't hear. The jackass was too busy manning up to the girl.

He raised his hand in a gesture that looked like he was about to strike her.

“Hey!” I quickly closed the distance and grabbed his hand from behind. “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

He made a disgusting face and pushed me back a few steps. “Mind your own fucking business.” he spat.

He turned his attention back on the girl who had a pleading look on her face. How she tolerated this jackass was beyond me.

My mind was searching for some way to stop him. “What,” I blurted crossing my hands over my chest. “You only have enough balls to man up to a girl? Is this your way of projecting how the guys treat you? Do they slap you around for the little wuss you are?”

He turned around so quickly I couldn't prepare myself for the blow that came straight at my face and knocked me off my feet. My books scattered around.

“I thought I told you to mind your own business.”

The girl looked down at me, tears still running out of her eyes.

My nose hurt like hell.

The jackass broke my nose.

I abruptly stood despite the pain. But not for my pride, for the girl. She looked like she might be a freshman, and this punk was for sure a senior.

I don't know how to mind my own business, asshole.

“that all you got?” I challenged wiping the blood from my nose with my hand.

Detention, light the candles because we have a date.