From Lonely to Loved

Chapter 3

Jack

I can't be with Sarah, I can't even be her friend. She'll get too hurt. I told mum I needed to skip a few days of school, she knows my situation with the bullies so she said okay. Even though the reason I'm not going is because of Sarah, not the bullies. I can't bare it, the idea of Sarah being bullied because of me. I can't let that happen. A few days away. That's all. Just so she can get new friends and not get bullied. And she'll end up bullying me, but it is okay. I'll forgive her. Because it was my choice for this to happen.

Looking around my room, there are pictures on the wall. Family pictures. From when I was a kid. Days at the park and hitting my first golf ball and going down slides. Those pictures brought back memories. Happy memories. My family still goes out and we have good times. But I would give anything to go back to the best happy memories. Then there's the photo album under my bed. My parents gave it to me three Christmases ago to fill with pictures of my teenage years. The problem is, I've not had the best years since becoming a teenager. So I've had nothing to fill it with. And even though I can't be with Sarah, I not-so-secretly hope that I can fill them with pictures of her. I just. I don't trust anyone. No one. Because no one likes me. Everyone bullies me and hates me. And all of a sudden, Sarah likes me? That doesn't seem right. The only plausible reason she might like me is because she's only just moved here. But she'll learn. She'll learn that I'm not a good person to be friends with.

I decided on a movie, that's what I'll do. Looking through my collection of movies, I decided on Superman. But since I'm gonna be here for a while. A couple of days. More like five. It's Wednesday and I've got three days off. Then the weekend too. Five days. Better set up shop. I pulled my blanket and a pillow off my bed and ran to the lounge. Throwing them onto the couch, I walked back into my room and went back to my collection, picking another nine movies that included all the Star Wars, Spiderman and Terminator movies. I also grabbed my laptop and charger, getting ready for the long haul in the lounge. The best part was, my parents wouldn't mind. They are laid back parents that care a lot about me.

My mum's name is Ella. Dad's name is Joe. Mum cares a lot. She's always here for me and I talk to her about everything. That's why she's taken the day off work to talk to me today. She had to go into work to tell them, though. So she'll be a while considering she has to drive all the way to Wellington and back.

Dad. He treats me well, with respect. He loves his music. And because of it, I love music. I love bands like Train, Simple Plan, and Imagine Dragons. When I'm in my room or the lounge on weekends and my parents are getting ready to go out someplace, I'll hear my dad singing while he is getting ready and mum will be giving me a list of things to do or how to be safe while they're gone. The last thing she always says before she goes out is 'don't burn the house down.' I've started laughing at it. Because it used to scare me. Now sometimes I say as a joke 'oh the house will be ashes when you get back.' And then dad always looks at me and half-jokingly says 'it better not be.' I love my family. They mean a lot to me. I don't think I could have made it this far without them.

Having to decide on a movie, I put them all in a line and text mum. I say pick a number between one and four.

When the reply comes it has the number three.

So I pick out Superman and send another text. Pick a number between one and three.

Two. The Star Wars Trilogy comes second.

Either one or two.

One. Then the two Terminators. And finally, the Spiderman franchise. Surprisingly, I get another text from mum and it says: What are we watching first then?

Superman. How did you know? I say.

Know what?

That I'm picking movies?

Because that's what you always do.

I had to give her credit. Mum knew me the most and always knew how I was feeling or what I was doing. It was good most times because I could always come straight to her. She always knew what to do.

*************

I was half way through the movie when mum got back. When she entered she said 'wow. Looks like you've really set up shop in here haven't you?' She held up a pizza box. 'I brought pizza,' she announced.

'Oh yum thanks mum.' Opening the box, we both picked up a piece. I love pizza. Almost as much as Chicken Parmigiana. But we only got it on special occasions. 'What's the occasion mum?'

'Well, you're having a day off.'

'We both know that that isn't a special occasion, mum.'

'Alright, you've got me. Yes though, it is actually about the day off. Just... Not completely about bullying. When you came to me asking for the day off, I could tell it wasn't about bullying. You asked in a different way. It's something else. What is it, Jack?'

I sighed, pausing the movie. 'This new girl at school. Sarah Jenson. She's told me she likes me, that she likes me more than a friend. But I don't believe her. I can't, mum. Everybody hates me. I get bullied by every single person at school. And all of a sudden, someone wants to be my friend? I just can't believe that mum. It's too good to be true.' Saying that made me feel sad. But I had to say it. It didn't matter who to. I'm glad it was mum though.

'Ah, a girl. A friend even? You constantly tell us no one likes you and now you have a girl saying that she wants to be with you. Well Jack. The best advice I can give you is to believe this girl. Because she's most likely telling the truth.'

'But how do I know that, mum? How am I supposed to know she's telling the truth?'

'Tell me, when did she tell you that she liked you more than a friend?'

'She practically screamed that she liked me. And then suddenly she went quiet. Like I wasn't supposed to know. And then I said what, and she looked me in the eyes and said: I like you more than a friend. How do I know it's the truth?'

'Is that really how she told you? I know you to be a bit argumentative,' she accused, only half-jokingly.

'Okay, mum. It was different to that. She screamed it at me and then went quiet. But I called her a liar. And she kept saying she wasn't lying. That she did- does, like me. And I said that I had to go, because I couldn't process it all.'

'Jack.' She sighed. 'I can't make you believe her but I can try giving you a few days to think about what I'm about to say; if this girl likes you, if she really likes you, you'll know. Just think about it. Go back to the moment, was there truth in her eyes?'

'I'm not sure, mum. I don't know what the truth looks like anymore but for you and dad.'

'Ohson... Just think about it okay? Look back into the moment. Look into her eyes.You know what truth is. If you're so used to lies, then look for what isn'tlies.' Look for something different. Now, let's watch that movie for a bit hey?What other choices do you have?' She sifted through the movies next to us.'Nice choices. Good action movies I see.' We continued to sit in silence asSuperman continued to play on the screen in front of us.