TJ raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” He took in the kid’s tanned skin and sparkling blue eyes. His baggy, oversized white tee. His blonde hair. His…extremely gelled up, spiked out hair.
The kid let his hand drop. He ran his mouth a mile a minute. “Dude, you are beast! I can’t believe I’m meeting you! In detention of all places. What exactly did you do?” He stopped and sucked in a breath, looking at TJ expectantly.
TJ blinked again. This kid was bursting with energy. “I was late to my eighth period class.”
“Seriously? That’s it? Jeez, mine was much worse. …But let’s just say it was revenge. A revenge that involved a rigged paintball gun and some Gatorade.”
TJ stared blankly. “Who are you?”
The kid grinned sheepishly. “Oh, of course you wouldn’t know. You’re a sophomore. I’m in seventh. Don’t look it, though. I hate it. I’m a little guy and my folks are such tightwads that all I get are my big bro’s hand-me-downs. All I get are my own shoes and underwear which doesn’t compensate for much seeing how my shirts come to my thighs and my pants sag under my butt and not because I’m into that style. I mean, really-“
“Kid!” TJ cut in. “I just want your name, alright?”
He blushed though it barely showed. “Oh, sorry. I’m Jason. Jason Wense.”
TJ nodded. Jason seemed like the type of kid that would annoy the majority of the district. However, there was a tiny pull towards him. Was it the eccentric feel about the middle schooler? Perhaps TJ was intrigued by the 'revenge.' A moment passed where Jason stared at TJ with undisguised glee. Finally, TJ had to ask. "What exactly happened with the...uhm...revenge?" A grin split Jason's face from ear to ear. "Davis Grant. A real prick. He kept picking on me. I ignored it until he pantsed me during gym laps. Wasn't hard with the dumb too big basketball shorts I got off big bro. But it was gym, for the love of god! Anyways, I rigged a paintball gun in his locker at the range to shoot when the locker opened. But get this! It shot him in the balls! And I saw it happen! So I went up to him, poured a bottle of Gatorade on his face and yelled, 'What now, bit-!’"
"Jason!" someone yelled from the door. "Sit down and stop talking. This is detention; it's not an after school social!"
Jason swung around. "Right! Sorry, sir!" He grabbed a chair and shoved it next to TJ. He either ignored or didn't see the angry glares shot at him from the other kids in the cafeteria.
TJ gave a rare half smile. He whispered, "Way to be, kid."
Jason grinned again. "I still can't believe you're here. I'm not kidding, man, I've been dying to meet you!"
TJ raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
"Because of the things they say. Is it true that you're a demon? Like the devil incarnate?"
TJ's brow furrowed. "Er, no. That's not at all true." He thought for a moment. "Why would you want to meet me if you thought I was Satan?"
Jason shrugged. "Others say that you are this crazy wicked commander of darkness. And you eat souls or whatever."
"Again; why did you want to meet me after that?" TJ was becoming more and more confused.
"They also say that you're some kind of crusader come to save us all from evil...stuff. You're a hero!...right?" The hopeful look in the seventh grader's eyes almost convinced TJ to say yes but it was just too outrageous.
"Look, kid," he started. "I don't know who put all these ideas in your head but I'm just some guy, alright? Not a hero, not the devil."
Jason seemed to deflate. “Really?” he said.
TJ was again tempted to take it back but common sense bit his tongue. “Sorry, kid. I’m just some guy.”
Jason narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think so.”
The older teen shifted uncomfortably. “How about no…”
Jason leaned forward. Maybe a bit too close. “I know stuff, TJ. I can’t explain it and I never get the whole picture. I just know.”
TJ was speechless. This kid was…crazy. “You…hear voices or something?”
Jason shrugged. “Sometimes, but not recently. I told the therapist they stopped so he’d get off my back, though. I’m not crazy if that’s what you think.” A note of worry crept into his voice as if he knew that’s exactly what TJ thought. “It’s something real!” Jason gestured for TJ to lean in. “Do you believe in ESP and the supernatural?”
TJ sat back. This kid really was insane. “It depends,” he ventured.
Jason stared earnestly into TJ’s dark eyes. “I have it. I can tell you’re gonna do something,” he paused, searching for the word, “awesome.”
TJ glanced at the clock.
3.00.
Oh no.
