The Odd Life of Tyler Jones: Freshman Year

The Announcement...

Mr. Townsend and I pull up to the high school for Pre-EOC preparation day. I tell Mr. Townsend that I'll see him after school. Like I do everyday at school. We do our little handshake, then he goes to his class room to prepare, and I go to the auditorium to find my friends.

As I walk to the auditorium, I see more kids spreading around the school. I assume that we can go anywhere we want after the first day. I enter the auditorium to find only Ashley, Ashlynn, Chase, James, Jasmine, Jennifer, and Jessica, all sitting on the edge of the stage staring at me. Except for Jasmine, she looked as if she wanted to tell everyone about something, probably a rumor. I walk up to them and they all jump off the stage to huddle around me.

I ask, "What's going on guys?"

  "Nothing.", responded Ashlynn.

"Oh, well, can you give me some space?", I asked trying to push through James and Chase, but they wouldn't budge.

"Are you feeling okay, Tyler?", James asks, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, dude, I'm fine.", I respond thinking about mom and dad. I start to tear up.

They all hug me. Then I hear Jessica's voice, "Its gonna be okay, Tyler, we can help you through."

Jasmine smacks her lips saying, "You guys can help him, I have my own needs."

"Why can't you think about anyone else besides yourself, for once, Jasmine?", Jessica talks back to Jasmine in a forceful voice.

Next thing I know they're having a full blown-out combat over me.

"Well, Tyler is man enough to defend his ownself. I mean, what about me? Everyone picks on me more than they pick on Tyler.", Jasmine bickers at Jessica.

"No they don't, now that Tyler's secret is coming out, no one has time to even think about your fucking life Jasmine. And you always pick on everyone else, other than people picking on you. So, I suggest you shut the fuck up, and take a seat on the hell train, because we all are already there.", Jessica defends me and herself.

The bell rings to signal that students should be walking to first period. I'll never be able to tell Ashley, Jennifer, and Jessica about last night with Mr. Townsend. But, I still walk to class, full of thoughts about the guy that I'll be moving in with, since my parents don't give a complete shit about me.

                   ***

In the middle of class, I hear Austin leaning over my shoulder, asking me if I would forgive him, for being such a little brat to me.

I don't know what I was thinking, but I answered with a strict...no. He stood out of his seat, causing everyone's attention to lure to us. "Why not, babe?", he questions me, sounding sarcastic, making the whole class laugh, but Mr. Townsend and Ashley.

Instead, Ashley stands up for me, "Why won't you just leave Tyler alone, Austin? Unless your just flirting with him, because you actually love him.", she talks fiercely with words.

Suddenly, Mr. Townsend stands up. "Okay, enough, guys, get back to work. And Austin I'll need to talk to you after class.", Mr. Townsend demanded with a serious voice.

"Oooooh.", the class taunts him.

He signals me his Your Dead look and sinks into his seat.

   I run to Ashley, Jennifer, and Jessica as the bell rings. Itching to trek then about Mr. Townsend. "Guys, I have to tell you things that happened last night," they look in confusion, "alone."

The three all shrug to signal a sure gesture.

                        ***

We all meet up in our usual meeting spot before we go to lunch, which is by the flag pole in the court yard.

I tell them about my mom. My dad. My sister. Mr. Townsend. How he was kissing me, like he wanted to marry me. They all look at me, like I just made all of this up.

They all cried when they believed that I was kicked out by my family.

"Did you really have sex with Mr. Townsend?", questions Jessica.

"I don't think so, but evidence of my clothes all over the floor, and his arm hugging my almost nude body, made me think that I did.", I explain to the three.

Just around the corner, came Jasmine sneaking. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Nothing Jasmine, now can you just go to lunch? We'll be there in a second.", I begged her.

"If you have something to say, and the new girl gets to know, then I believe that I should know too.", Jasmine demanded me to tell her.

"Damn it, Jasmine. If Tyler doesn't want to tell you, then he doesn't have to.", Jessica beckoned.

"Whatever, Jessica. I'm going to lunch, and I'm going to get your ex, no matter what you say.", Jasmine bragged. Everyone she knew that she was talking about James.

"I doubt, that'll happen, even in your dreams.", Jessica defended.

"Guys drop it!", I screamed, "We are not going to discuss this now. And Jasmine just leave please, I promise that I'll tell you."

Jasmine struts off. "You know that she'll tell everyone, if you tell her, right?", Ashley reminds me.

"Ugh, don't remind me.", I frown looking into Jasmine's direction.

I continue to tell them about my experience in living with John Townsend.