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I Could be Your Nightmare

It was really just a matter of time before I snapped. Thing was: I didn't know why I even cared. 

I'd been listening to the boy's taunts for the past ten minutes, and my irritation was slowly starting to boil over into anger. The funny thing: I didn't even like the kid he was bugging. In fact, I was generally fairly hostile towards that kid myself. But--while I was not a particularly nice person--there was nothing to explain my suddenly, caring, black heart.

I reached to one side and snatched the boy up by the scruff of his neck, cutting him off with a choke, mid-insult. "Let's go." I commanded coldly, lifting him out of his seat and pushing him down the aisle ahead of me. 

Everything happened the way I knew it would. (Sometimes it's sad just how predictable that lady is.) 

Jamie, the not-so-sympathetic-towards-Randy (i.e. me)-bus-driver, frowned and stopped the bus. She gave me that trademark what-is-your-problem-Randy?-look that I found that she--and pretty much every other adult in my life--was so fond of. Then she kicked me and the boy off the bus. Oh, and she gave me a ticket as well, but she didn't give one to the boy.

Not surprising, really; a bit pathetic, but not surprising.

I know that generally, getting kicked off the bus and being given a ticket is considered bad. But for my purposes, it was just fine. Besides, it wasn't like I'd never walked to school before. 

I held the trembling boy's shoulder in a death-grip as the bus moved on, leaving us standing alone on the side of the road in the foggy cold. He couldn't've been more than nine or ten years old. 

And here I was; the teenage bully on the bus. Though I hadn't always been. For a while it had been some other guy--whose name I can't remember--but he graduated however-long back. Then it was my turn.

And I took a sort of malicious pride in holding the mantle.

I turned the boy around so that he was facing me, and I glared down at him. Poor kid was scared near-to-death. 

Heh. Good.

He should be.

"Name." I demanded. There was no question in my tone, he was going to answer me; no exceptions. I watched as he fumbled for words. His mouth flapping in a somewhat fish-lips-like manner. Finally, he managed a trembling, squeaky, "C-c-cas-sey..." I narrowed my eyes, to which he swallowed. I've always felt that it's important to know who my victims are, and it was equally important that they know who I was. It just felt more professional to me. 

"I'm Randy," I said, leaning closer to him. With as young as he was, and as tall as I was, it was easy to tower over him intimidatingly. A tiny sneer tugged at my lips, "And I can be your fucking nightmare." Casey flinched and let out a little squeak, and I felt a smug little spark of satisfaction.

He stiffened, completely petrified in my grip. I straightened and nudged him so that he started to walk. I walked with him, not once releasing my hold on his shoulder. Nor did I stop talking. My point had not yet been made. Though, in all honesty, I didn't have a damn clue what my point could possibly have been at that time. 

"Casey," I began, and the words flowing out of me without consulting my brain first, "I know you've got problems at home." I felt him twitch in surprise, and I couldn't really blame him. 

I could hardly believe what I was saying myself, but I kept going, "I don't care what they are. School, peers, money, siblings, parents, whatever; it doesn't even matter. Point is: everyone's got problems; everyone--and I mean everyone--has got some little thing that they deal with. I don't care if you're a spoiled rich brat," I hesitated for a split second, but pushed onward, "Or a street kid with booze for a dad and drugs for a mom." 

Like me. Heh.

I paused just outside the Elementary School, but instead of letting him go, I turned him towards me once again. He looked a little less afraid--his trembling now more from cold than fear--though he was still nervous and wary. And confused; which I understood perfectly. 

Hell, I was confused.

I got right to the point, the one that I still wasn't sure I knew what it was, "Thing is, Casey, nobody cares." I pointed to a random dude dropping his kids off, "He doesn't care." 

I pointed to a random kid entering the school, "She doesn't care." 

I pointed to a teacher who was eyeing me suspiciously, "The fucking teachers don't care. Hell, I don't even fucking care." I waited, gauging Casey's reaction. He looked confused, and a little hurt. 

Heh. I wasn't here to be nice. I didn't know why I was here.

I leaned over him again in my own threatening way. But my next words probably shocked me more than they shocked him, "But one of these days someone's gonna have to fucking care, and since it's sure as fucking hell not gonna be me, it might as fucking well be you." 

Suddenly feeling awkward, I clapped him firmly on the shoulder. The gesture caused his knees to buckle; much to my most inner pleasure. I eyed him; no less cold than before, "Don't forget, Casey: I could be your nightmare." The teacher that had been watching us (or, more likely, me) sauntered over, but I'd already nodded my farewell to Casey and started down the road towards the High School.  

The Principal was going to have a fucking field day if I was late again. Unfortunately, there was no way I could get out of going to school via anything short of divine intervention. Like God would ever do anything for me.

As I walked through the cold morning air, I couldn't help but contemplate the consequences of my actions. "Either I've created a monster, or I've prevented one." I murmured to myself.

I could be his nightmare. Could be. That's not necessarily a guarantee, now is it? 

Not that I cared, really. 

It was just a thought...

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This idea came to me when I was walking home from the library, as most ideas do for me. I wanted to try and see things from the perspective of a bully who felt no remorse. I wanted to create a scenario that showed that, somewhere, deep down, even the biggest assholes care. Even if they don't realize it. To that end, I created Randy and Casey. 

I hope you like it. :)

Till next time!