Falling Out

Chapter One: First day impressions

Falling Out: Chapter 1: First day impressions

"Jake this is absolutely ridiculous," I yelled while prying Jake's crushing form off of me.

For the past five minutes, I'd been fighting because my brother wanted to jump to the driver's seat from the passenger side of the car and I- being the levelheaded person I was- thought that was absolutely ridiculous. If it were Jake's, I wouldn't even have dared. Part of that was because he was extremely overprotective about his 1968 Cadillac Deville. And part of it was also, admittedly, because I was protective about it too. In my defense, I don't think anybody would be able to resist its rustic charm. The car was an absolute beauty. But since this was dad's car- a car that seemed bleak in comparison's to Jake's- I couldn't bring myself to care about the consequences of any damages that could result from this immature grapple.

Suddenly, I felt a force slam into my side and turned to Jake. 

"Move it, assface!" I blew the hair out of my face in an exasperated manner.

"Watch your potty mouth, Lace!" 

"Oh, how old are we- five?!" 

Jake finally decided to stop torturing me, and went to the driver's side of the car. 

"Whoa, somebody's at their time of the month," he muttered as he put the car into reverse and began driving towards our destination- Jupiter Secondary School.

"You would know…since you're so feminine. Maybe you really are on the other side of the boat."

"Yeah, that would explain the fact that I date girls, wouldn't it?"

"It sure would explain why none of them lasted more than a few weeks."

"Just because you can't get anybody doesn't mean you should target the ones who can." 

"I can get somebody…there just isn't anyone interesting…"

"Okay then," he snorted.  

"Glad to see you believe me, dear brother," I replied in an indignant manner.

It was quiet for a while before Jake spoke again.

"I'll probably have a girlfriend by the end of the week." 

"Uh huh. Your ego does needs inflating after Pamela," I snidely remarked.

His nostrils flared- in the most unattractive way possible.

I waited for some rude remark in return for reminding him of his cheating, horrid ex, but nothing came. Instead, my brother clamped his mouth closed and clenched his jaw.

Guess that ends the conversation right there, I thought.

"I bet you'll go through all of high school single…" 

Or maybe I spoke too soon.

I whipped my face to Jake who smiled smugly in response, and swallowed as the truth rang in my ears. It seemed as if he could read my thoughts, and knew I believed what he'd just snidely told me. Bastard.

I knew better than to provoke him though. He'd make some bet, which would hit my sensitive spot, since I never turn down a challenge. And then I'd have to do something absolutely ridiculous. I suppressed a shiver as absurd scenarios of me kissing a bunch of guys, or dating the quarterback ran through my head. All of which would cause unwanted attention. I just wanted go through my last year in high school unnoticed, get into a reputable University, and get out of here as fast as possible.

So, instead, I pushed my dark locks behind my ear and just kept my mouth shut, letting my brother win this time.

Jake dropped me off at the entrance and before I knew it, I was walking through the school hallways towards the main office. I felt my knees shaking. It was as if they were taunting me so as to say that I wouldn't even make it through the first hour of school.