Power of Persuasion

Chapter Seven:

Jesse got in another fight with Terry today at lunch. While we were both sitting in the library, Terry walked past us and mumbled something about us being 'freaks' or another cliche slam. Things like that hardly ever bother me. It's easy for me to brush something off when it's coming from someone I don't really give a shit about. But, Jesse... I don't know if he just liked antagonizing Terry, or the word freak actually bothered him, but he got up after he said that and tapped Terry on the shoulder. Jesse was taller, but Terry was way more muscular and toned. Not to mention he was captain of the lacrosse team, so he definitely knew how to defend himself. As much as I wanted to see Jess beat the living hell out of him, He didn't stand a chance. And, I was right.

After throwing a few insults back and fourth, that's when fists started flying. Jesse threw the first punch and right hooked him right in the jaw. And that was a lucky hit for him, because that's pretty much the only good shot he got. Terry threw him around like a rag doll, and left him lying in ball with his knees up to his stomach on the floor. After kicking him once more in the back, Terry spit on him then was dragged away by a teacher.

I was trying to break through the crowd to get to Jesse the entire time, and when I finally did, I dropped to my knees next to him, and the crowd slowly dispersed. "Oh my god, oh my god..." I kept repeating. My hands were trembling and I was afraid to touch him. "Sophie..." He managed to stutter out. "Tell...tell my mother..."

"Tell your mother what, Jess?"

"Tell my mother..." There was a pause and Jesse began heaving for air, cradling his stomach. "Tell my mother that... I hate her." Jesse made a very over dramatic gasping noise, then grabbed his heart and laid there pretending to be dead with a very sly smile on his face.

"Oh my...Fuck you, Jess!" I yelled, punching his arm lightly. He laughed then sat up, and I pushed his shoulder. "You're easy to mess with." He grinned again "You think some douche canoe like that could leave me lifeless? Not a chance." I stood up, and helped Jesse stand. "C'mon, I'll take you to the bathroom." I told him. Jesse put him arm around my neck wincing every few steps we took.

Jesse sat on the counter next to the sink in the girls restroom. I grabbed some toilet paper and ran it under the water and started to clean up his bloody nose and lip. He flinched sometimes, but he tried really hard not to show it. Girls would walk in and out of the bathroom and whisper to each other about Jesse and I. It was kind of cool, I guess. Having people scared of us, and taking about us. Actually giving a shit about what were doing. I knew it wouldn't last long though.

"How're you feeling?" I asked him, wiping more blood from under his nose.

"Swell." He replied sarcastically, flashing a huge fake grin.

He placed his hand on my waistline and pulled me closer and my hands slid down his face and held onto the collar of his jean jacket. Our lips met and I kissed his swollen, bruised lips.

No one was in the bathroom, it was just us. Even though is wasn't technically a public kiss because no one was around, it was still a big deal to me because it was our first casual kiss. It just happened because we both wanted it to happen.

I leaned my head against his shoulder and just stayed there for a bit. We were both so exhausted. The bags under his eyes were deeper, and more purple than usual.

He jumped off the counter and took my hands only holding onto my pinky. He walked me out of the bathroom and started walking down to my next class.

The halls were empty and echoed with every step we took. "Ya know, when I was in junior high, I spent a lot of time in hallways..." He let go of my pinky and ran one hand against the lockers as we walked. "Every time I'd get in trouble, they'd send me out into the hallway as a time-out. I kept these little army men in my pocket, and would set them up in the hallway in front of me in a little battle scene, then I'd take a rubber band and launch spit wads at them until they'd fall over." He laughed and went back to holding my hand. He glanced at me and smirked. "I never really got in much trouble." I replied. "I was sort of a goody-two-shoes." He laughed under his breath and said "No?" in an incredibly sarcastic tone. I laughed too "Yeah, well believe it or not Mr.Lane, but I've never got sent to the principals office. Not even once."

"I don't get it." Jesse started.

"Don't get what?" I asked him.

"I thought every adolescent goes through a rebellious stage. A rage stage, you know? That's how kids get their anger out." He leaned against the lockers next to my Statistics classroom and held onto both of my hands.

"Well, I never really had a reason to be angry. I never really felt the need to misbehave." I answered.

Jesse laughed again and kissed both my hands "Well, little miss virtuous, I bet you got a lot of anger built up in you. Now, we just got to find a way to get it all out." he winked and wrapped me up in a hug.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" I asked, hugging him tightly with my arms wrapped around his neck. He let go and pressed his forehead to mine. "How about you stay at my place for the next few days?" He said, smiling. Then he kissed me before walking down the hallway and disappearing into one of the classrooms.