Karma

Chapter 6

It was late at night, the moon glimmers the dark empty sky with its light.  The whole apartment was asleep and quiet.  This silence usually  helps keep Jerome satisfied and relaxed. But unfortunately,  he's not satisfied.

Jerome has never been so unsatisfied in the middle of night since when he was a kid his nights were terrible and could barely get enough sleep because of the arguing, yelling, his mother crying,  and objects thrown and shattered.

It's been five years since Jerome's father was sentenced to prison for thirty years. He's very glad he's gone and want nothing to do with him,  yet his sister is still naive and wants to visit him.  After what he did to their family,  what he did to his mother.  Is all unforgivable.

Jerome couldn't sleep properly because of the thoughts of his rough childhood and the fact the girl he bullied goes to his high school and hates his guts.  Though he was sleeping,  Jerome doesn't feel like he is sleeping,  but feels like he's wide awake but with his eyes closed.

The flashback/ dream Jerome was having haunts him through the night,  no matter how much he wants to wake up he can't.  He dreamt of his eleven year old self bullying Ebony much more harshly than he did in his younger elementary years.  The dream forced him to slap Ebony over and over and over again,  making her cry much worse than six years ago,  the dream made him feel sick.

Finally,  tired of the dream,  Jerome's eyes pop open quickly.  Heavily breathing and clutches onto his chest like he just had a deadly heart attack.  The guilt feeling from fifth grade was growing back, ' It hurts... make it stop. ' He thought to himself.

Jerome turns his head,  facing his alarm clock,  it was only ten minutes before the time he should be waking up.  The thought of the second day of school irritated him, eight new harder classes for the next nine months,  especially having seventh period with Malcolm for the whole year.

Not to mention, a mute girl holding a grudge for six years because of how his younger self hurt her terribly is in his class,  throwing shade and being rude to him. ' Well that's my karma...' Jerome thought to himself.  Jerome decides to get up and ready for school early since now it's only six minutes left until his alarm goes off.  He got up and heads to the bathroom to complete his hygienes.

After thirty minutes of completing his hygienes,  Jerome goes back to him room to put on his school uniform. He heads to the kitchen to make himself a bowl of cereal,  but was startled to see his mom already awake and cooking breakfast, she usually wakes up an hour later to get ready for work.

His mom looks up from the stove and smiles sweetly. "Morning sweety, sleep well? " she asked looking at him. Jerome was a bit tired because of the nightmare he was having last night.  "Yeah..." he said plainly.

She  could tell he wasn't feeling well but shook the thought off her head,  knowing talking about certain things will cause him stress since he's still recovering from years ago. So,  she didn't want to pick at his brain so early,  she smiles, "that's good to hear,  I'm making breakfast if you want some. " He nods, "sure mom." Jerome walks toward the dining table and waits for his mother to finish breakfast.  The thought of going to school again is really stressing him out. ' Out of all the schools in this city... she comes back and gives me stress for her shitty attitude...' Jerome thought,  now feeling pissed at the fact Ebony is back and probably seeking revenge on him.

Jerome slightly taps his finger on the table,  the stress growing more and more. He can't stand the guilt feeling still hanging in his chest that it starts to feel more like anger and anxiety combined. ' If the bitch went to a different school i wouldn't be so fucking pissed! ' Jerome thought as soon as his sister walks in fully dressed for school.

She wasn't wearing anything besides her junior high school uniform but always add something like a furry purse or glittering bows, which irritated him,  but instead she was just wearing glittered pearl earrings.  She sat across from him. "What's wrong with you, you're attitude reminds me of the Grinch..." Serena then laughs a little at her own joke.  Jerome rolls his eyes and ignores her. "At least my clothes don't shout out ghetto rich and a stuck up wannabe..." he mumbles.

Serena heard him mumble and smacks his forehead. "I still look better than you! " she protested. Before Jerome could try anything,  he hears his mother's voice.  "Leave your brother alone unless you want my hands on you."their mom threatened as she walks toward the table with two plates.

Serena groans at the threat but beams at her plate happily and starts to dig in, while Jerome would take a bite once in a while, mostly picking at his food with his fork.  His mother notices, trying to fight the urge to ask but she sighs. "Is something wrong Jerome?  You've been acting up all morning... something happen at school? " she asked, with a worried tone in her voice, signaling him that she wants to know what's bothering him.

Jerome didn't say anything, ' Yes, I'm in the same class as Malcolm and he'll try to start something this year and get me into trouble sooner or later.  And a girl I nearly remember from fifth grade hates me and i have a strange feeling in my chest. ' Jerome wanted to say,  but instead he says, "Nothing, I just didn't get much sleep. "Jerome said with no emotion in his voice,  not making eye contact.

Serena smirks mischievously, "Liar! Did you finally get a girlfriend?! Wait... did you get a girlfriend and already got her pregnant?!?!" Jerome jolts then looks up and glares. "NO! I didn't and I don't even have a girlfriend so stop being a little story telling rat and mind your own business you twelve year old little-!"

Their mother glares at him before he could finish his sentence, making him calm down a little.  Jerome looks at his phone, his bus will be arriving soon. "I gotta go. " He says as he gets up and puts on his shoes and bookbag over his shoulder and walks out of the door.

Jerome heads towards the elevator,  presses the first floor button and waits for the door to close until an arm stops it and pushes it open.  Jerome looks up to see what's holding up the elevator,  his eyes widened.  "You've gotta be fucking kidding me! "

The honey gold eyes gave the same exact reaction just by looking at him, Ebony standing right in front of him. ' You live here too!?' Jerome thought, feeling like he should yell it out.