Just A Story

Chapter 6: Rage In The Form Of A Friend

She had seen Josh before Brayden had, so Jean stood up, dusting off her knees, ready to meet Josh's anger with anger of her own.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Jean! That guy's a fucking scumbag!" Josh pointed at Brayden who mocked being hurt. It looked like he was about to punch him, until Jean grabbed his arm, meeting his eyes with hers.

"What the fuck do I think I'm doing? I know what I'm doing." Something just snapped in her. She had had enough of everyone. "Look here, Smith. I have every right to hang out with other guys and even date them. You do the same except, oh wait nevermind. You just fuck girls for fun and then throw them to the curb. I bet that's what you were planning on doing to me, huh? I'm one of those Plain Janes. I bet you thought you would have an influence on me. Well guess what, dickwad! You don't! I wore these clothes not to impress your tiny dick, but because it was fucking hot!" He went to cut in, but she beat him to it.

"You said you wanted to be my friend. Yet you do acts of...affection that make me think otherwise! I'm not a fucking toy, Josh! I have feelings!" She spat the last sentence at him. "Oh, and one other thing. Before you, even dare try to tell me who and who not to hang out with, why don't you rethink your position a little more? Because you are not my boyfriend!" She flipped him the bird, grabbed Brayden's hand pulling him up, and then grabbed her things; stalking off leaving Josh staring at the spot where she had been standing.

Jean didn't know where she was going, she was just walking and Brayden was next to her with his arm around her shoulders.

He stopped her after about five minutes, "Hey." She wouldn't look at him, so he put a finger under her chin, gently lifting it so her eyes finally met his. "Don't be mad. Josh is a real dick. He has screwed so many of my girlfriends that I've lost count." She gaped in shock at him. "Josh and I have a past... I came into my house one day and found him in my bed, making out with my girlfriend." Sorrow filled his eyes, and Jean reached up and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

Brayden looked at her and smiled, "So Friday is a yes then?"

She nodded a little too excitedly.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Friday approached way too fast. Josh had ignored Jean after their dispute and people gave her weird stares when she walked down the hallway. The only normal people were Maggie and Shaw, which Maggie was extrememly way too proud of Jean for standing up to Josh. After that day she had switched back to normal clothes, the clothes she wore that day just made her uncomfortable, but she had shrugged it off that day because she was pissed.

When the bell rang afterschool, everyone was talking about the party that was that night. Jean passed by people quickly and stopped at her locker gathering things she needed for the weekend for homework. She felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned to see who it was, hoping it was a certain someone, but to her disappoint she met the familiar eyes of Brayden.

He licked his lips looking down at her. "So are you going to wear something nice for me tonight?" He turned out to be a very flirtacious person, but it was nice and refreshing. She smiled and nodded slightly then turned back to her locker.

She felt him press against her back, his breath on her ear. The gesture made her breath catch and become shallow as he bit her ear lightly while a hand trailed up the side of her arm. But then he pulled away and left, laughing softly to himself.

She pressed a hand against her ear, knowing too well that her face was a bright red.

Shutting her locker, Jean walked out into the daylight and towards the gate thinking about the previous events, as she was leaving she felt eyes on her back, but just ignored them. It was probably just some people that were curious about Brayden's and her's relationship.

Even though it was something out of the books she would read, it gave her a completely different feel then how Josh had treated her. Josh was sweet, his affection was light and soft. Like cotton candy almost. Brayden was different by a lot. He posed more of a lusty aura around him; which isn't surprising. Jean had gotten that vibe from him right away when she first met him. Something about the way he treated her seemed like he was just teasing her, but then again most guys did that to girls they found attractive.

He probably didn't mean anything by it... She bit her lip eyebrows knitting together. The heat was horrible as she walked home, it was just like it was on Tuesday, but only this time she was not wearing the refreshing clothes that she had on that day. She had settled for a ponytail, a t-shirt, and jeans, with sandals.

"Jesus I need to stop walking for a second. The heat is fucking horrible." She stopped, and sat down on the curb. The curb was shaded by a large oak tree, so it felt refreshing for the moment. Kids passed by her slowly, but there was barely anyone walking home that day because of the heat. Most had gotten rides from friends.

"The only friends that I know with vehicles are Maggie and Shaw, but both had club meetings afterschool...Then there is Josh who...." She trailed off and sighed leaning back and laying on the cool cement surface of the sidewalk. Closing her eyes she listened to everything around her.

Josh was a good friend to her, and he had been nothing but sweet to her. But what he said to her had made her feel like she was going to end up as another toy for him.

Jean sighed and slowly faded out, falling into a light sleep.

Which is what she thought was a light sleep. But she never heard the truck or the door slam shut. She only felt the pair of hands scoop her up and set her gently in a seat. Cool air greeted her and she smiled in her sleep.

Another door closed, as the driver situated themselves. Glancing over at the girl in his seat, Josh smiled and reached over patting her forehead softly.

((Josh's P.O.V))

"How in the hell does anyone fall asleep in public? And on sidewalk?" He muttered to himself laughing, while glancing down at her. She had sweat on her forehead so he reached in his glovebox pulling out a napkin and wiping it off. "Jesus, Jean you sleep like a damn rock."

He drove on, towards her house where he stopped, putting the truck in park and looking over at her.

"I'm sorry.." He whispered, reaching over and gently caressing one of her fingers. She murmured something in her sleep then shifted to where she was facing away from him. He held onto her hand then, looking at the wrinkles in the palm of her hand.

He traced one crease and laughed quietly as her fingers twitched. Then he glanced up, and looked at a stray lock of hair. Josh grabbed it, rubbing it between his fingers, amazed at how soft it was. He was about to tuck it behind her ear, when she shot up and forward, banging her head on the dashboard. He pulled his hands away from her.

"HOLY SHIT. WHOEVER YOU ARE PLEASE JUST TAKE MY WALLET." She rubbed her forehead, oblivious to who she was with.

She finally opened her eyes and looked at him, "Josh?" She whispered his name, looking at him and her eyes softened.

"I found you sleeping on the side walk. That's not normal, Jean. You could've gotten kidnapped and then raped." He laughed at her shocked expression.

Jean began to blush furiously, "I'm sorry! Thank you for the ride though. I was dying from the heat." She bit her lip looking out the window.

"Don't go to the party." His tone brought her attention back to him where his eyes that were soft a minute ago were now hard and guarded.

"What?" She looked at him, eyes narrowing.

"You'll regret. I heard some guys talk-" She cut him off before he could say anything else.

"Don't. Tell. Me. What. To. Do." She glared at him, gathered her things, and left just like that.

Josh sighed slamming his fist into the steering wheel looking at her retreating figure.