Cherry

Panic

My alarm wouldn't stop buzzing. It's been two months since I went to school. I didn't plan to go back. I hated this perfect life. The week after we had sex it felt like a dream. The days past quickly, him grabbing a kiss from me every chance he received, and me.. dopey and smiling like a Japanese love anime. Then the weekend, I spent most of my time on the web, streaming and blogging. Sunday, my body hated me, I couldn't stop puking. I thought I was pregnant. I stayed home, twenty boxes of pregnancy tests in my trash. Negative. I was fine, so why stay in bed? Because I'm a total loser and want my life back.

Sarah knocks on my door just like she did for the last two months. I moan and tell her to go away, but Mary enters the room. "You need to go to school. I am now your mom, you listen to me. Get appropriate clothes on, but dress warm. Its snowing." She stares at me under the covers and opens the door to leave, "Mark is here to give you a ride." She leaves me alone in my room. I moan again and sit up, my hair brushes in front of my eyes. My black hair is showing through now, only blue tips remain. I grab my outfit, the new jacket I bought with Mark and my favorite punk boots. Dragging myself to the bathroom I ram right into Mark's back. "What.. the.."
He turns to look at me, "wow, you look.. great. I like your hair like that." I wave him away and continue to the bathroom.

We were silent in the car, I made sure the heaters would blast to my feet and face. Winter was never my favorite, neither Timothy. He was lazier during the winter, watched the rats.. rather than catch them.  Now that he only roamed around in my room or in the neighborhood, he received two small meals a day. Way more than where we used to be. Mark pulls into the empty parking lot of the school, the bell should have rang by now. "Where is everybody?"
"Snow day," he gives a warm smile and turns the engine off, the warmth floating away.
"Take me home than. I don't want to be here." I don't look at him. He listens to me though.

We didn't make it to my house. We made it to the little shake shop. Jerry's. I never did read the sign until now. What a weird place. Mark ordered two hot chocolates with whip cream. "You should of told me it was a snow day.. I would of gotten something warmer on." The waitress hands our warm drinks to us, we both say thank you's and take baby sips. I watch as the whip cream begins to dissolve. "Where have you been?"
"No where."
"Liar." I don't want to answer him, he just wants to get in my life. Well, this.. this is my life.
"I felt sick for a while." Why did I just tell him? Am I still sick? I think its the hot chocolate that makes me speak the truth. 
"Ok.." finally peace and quiet. Mark sips his drink faster than I could even touch it. Men are so brave when it comes to hot beverages. I sigh slowly and wait for all the whip cream to disappear, when it finally does, Mark is finished and waiting for me. "What are your plans for today then, Cherry?"
"Going home and laying under my covers." I finally finished my drink and glared up at Mark. He was nervous about something. About what? No idea.
"About the time we had.. sex. I'm sorry I came on really strong.. you're just different."
"Shut up. I could care less about that." We stay in silence until the waitress takes our dishes, asking us for anything else. Since I'm not paying, I order a big slice of apple pie.

I think I had about four slices, my fifth I put in a doggie bag and made it sit on my lap in Mark's car. Tomorrow would be an ordinary day, without Mark. I make that very clear in the diner. We aren't dating and we probably never will be.

The snow day went away and led to another boring day at school. I sat on the steps eating my vegan wrap. Mary decided everyone in the house needed a diet. I need more food. I threw the stupid wrap back in its bag and chewed at an apple. Someone was coming from upstairs, lazy, sluggish steps. I scooted closer to the wall so they wouldn't notice me. Instead a knee slams into my back and makes me squeal. I stand and twirl, "Watch it fucker!" A guy moves a gaming magazine from his face and stares at me. "Did I hurt you?"
I didn't answer, his glasses were sliding off the bridge of his nose, his black hair dangling in his face. He was muscular, about the same height as Mark, but way more handsome. His eyes seemed to be black, but I somehow knew they were just brown.
"Ok.. Don't answer." He flips to another page, ignoring my looks.
"Just go already."
"What's your name? I know almost everybody's name except yours."
"Cherry."
"Cute and kinky. Tell me Cherry, with a name like that you must like comics?"
"Maybe."
"Well then, maybe we can chat later." He rolls the magazine in his grasp and shoves it into his back pocket, leaving me to my lunch. I sit awkwardly, watching him leave. Strange kid. He doesn't seem like the kind of person to go to this perfect school. But who am I to say, look at me. 

School ends with its normal routine but I end up running into the comic boy again. This time I slip on the sidewalk walking home and he instantly catches my arm before I can hurt myself. He pulls me up slowly, helping me to stand. "Cherry."
I readjust my jacket, "what?"
"You seem to get hurt with me around."
"No I don't.. Leave me alone."
"Well, we never had our chat." He blows into the air, making his breath visible in the cold weather.
"I just want to go away from this place."
"Want to go to the comic book store? Or perhaps my place? I have tons of comics, if you wanna see."
Anywhere but home.. Please just be a decent friend. "What's your name?"
"Don't make fun of it OK? But.. Alex."
"Why would I make fun of that?"
"It's practically a girls name." Alex started walking across the street, so.. like a puppy I followed. So, off to make a new friendship.

Alex lived in a studio, he kept having trouble unlocking the door but after a few jingles we were in. "Hey, Joe I'm home. Joe!? YO, JOSEPH!?" The music was coming from a bedroom near the door, panties and clothes were scattered across the entrance. I took my shoes off and stepped around all the clothes. Laughter and moaning, a bit of screaming.. then the "fuck me harder's" started to be heard over the music. Alex only punched the door a few times, the moaning stopped and we continued to his room. His room was barely half the size of mine, I felt almost bad for him. The bed took up most of the room, clothes scattered and a gaming system and tv all ready to go. 
"Sorry, my roomy doesn't care for others." I don't say much but admire all the movie and gaming posters on the walls. He clears the bed off and sits in a beanie bag chair, "you can sit if you'd like. Do you need to call your folks?"
"Um, no.. they aren't my folks really."
"Oh.. OK. Well, do you like COD?"
"I don't know."
He smiles and hands me the PS3 remote, turning the tv on, and tells me what buttons do what. 

It's been maybe three hours, we couldn't stop laughing at all the games we were playing. He showed me articles of some new games he was hoping to get, and promised to let me play as well. I sat with him in the bag chair, he kept elbowing me as I raced. My face was red by the time Joseph opened the door, his blonde hair sticking on end, "sorry bout all that bro. OH.. oh ...whose this beautiful woman?" He sat on the bed and gave me a sexual fantasy look.
"Why don't you use your tiny dick to fuck her harder?" Alex chuckled under his breath as I said this, Joe was put in a bit of shock.
"Fine, if you don't want your world rocked, stay with the dweeb." Joe snorted but apologized to Alex.

Alex walked me home after four more hours of video game playing. "Thank you for tonight, that was pretty exciting."
"Mm.. yeah, no problem. Just what I do every day. So we're cool right?"
"Of course. Lunch tomorrow?"
He smirks and tilts his head back a bit, "perhaps. No vegan crap though." 
I only nod and watch him leave, I pace myself towards the door, smiling and hoping for no more vegan food.