Freely we Love

Dark to Light

If this wasn't real regret, then Jason would never know what it was. Every tick of his alarm clock hurt like a jab to his brain. It was worse when it finally rang.

Why the actual fuck did I do that?"

Jason wondered how would Nat be feeling. He had drink the bottle dry, leaving a sip, and if Jason was feeling like hell out of that sip, what would be of Nat. He felt guilty at remembering he left him drunk by a tree.

After showering, Jason went downstairs, knowing no body would be at the kitchen. He knew he could take whatever he wanted, and that made him happy. But his joy was smashed as he walked to the kitchen, already illuminated by a single lamp. There was someone sitting on a wooden stool. A girl with blonde hair tied up in a messy bun.

"Rachel," Jason whispered.

"The one and only," she said, taking a spoonful of cereal to her mouth.

"Are you going to school?" Jason asked, as she sat there in her pajamas, clearly the answer was no.

"Nope, this damn jet-lag is inhibiting my sleep," she yawned "oh and Jase,"

"Yeah?"

"Brush your teeth, you reek of alcohol,"

*

By the time Jason had reached school the headache was only a sting on the back of his head. He spotted Ali and Billie in the forming crowds of the school's gate.

"Good lord, you look like hell," Ali said.

"I know, I feel like it," Jason ruffled his hair.

"What happened? Did you get your wallet back?" Billie asked.

His wallet. Nat still had it. And his money...

God damn it!

He let that Carlos guy keep it because he forgot about it completely. How was he supposed to pay for the ID? Jason took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Nat's number.

"Hello?"

"Hey, asshole! I need my wallet. Now!"

"Someone woke up with the wrong foot, huh, Blondie?" Nat's voice was oddly deep, he had just woke up "why is it that you need this little piece of useless leather this early in the morning?'

"I told you I cannot get into fucking school without my ID, dammit!" Jason shouted to his phone.

"Skip school then," Nat replied.

"No way! Just get your ass here!" he hung up.

"Sweetie, you know this guy for about two days, you cannot just scream like that to him," Ali said, to Jason's surprise. Normally, Billie was the interested one, provider of advice and constructive critics. Ali was just distant and judgmental.

"He told me to skip school! Can you believe him?"

"Would that be so bad?" Billie interjected. "Exactly, you're grades are flawless. One day won't make much of a difference," Ali said.

"Are you listening to yourselves?"

"Go, you've to loosen up a bit,"

"Yeah, keep Nat company, I bet you'll have a nice time," Billie said.

"Well, there was that Mexican party-," Jason whispered.

"Mexican party?" Ali and Billie spoke in unison "that's it, we're all missing school today, lets go," Ali walked away, to her car, followed by Billie.

"But, guys -,"

"Shut up and get in the car,"

Why did people keep shutting him up?

*

You know that feeling of ache mixed with tickles you have when your nervous? Well, Jason didn't, until that day. All the way to Billie's house his nerves were tense. Even there, he couldn't help but feeling agitated at every little sound.

"Relax, dammit," Ali complained.

"Easy for you to say,"

After some time of fitting outfits Billie opted for a short dress, black and over her knees. She wore high heels that were disturbingly tall for Jason's taste. She had taken a lot of time on her make up but it was worth it, she looked beautiful. Her eyes seemed to shine beneath her eyelashes, that looked even longer. And a denim vest. Ali, on the contrary, just tied a bandana to her hair, put on a loose sweater and leggings.

"Perfect, now what?" Jason said, mentally complaining about his so ordinary looks compared to hers.

"Now we take you shopping,"

"Yeah, but what are we talking about here?" Ali asked.

"What ever do you mean?" Jason raised an eyebrow.

Billie pursed her lips.

"I see our dilemma-," she started "we need to get you something that says I'm playing it cool, I'm not desperate and fuck me in the spot at the same time,"

"Excuse me?" Jason questioned.

"Lets go, we don't have much time,"

*

"Friendly reminder: You won't be seeing us at all tonight, get out!" Billie sighed. She and Ali had chosen two or three outfits Jason had refused on the spot. From inside the fitting room, he regretted even putting it on.

"I can't, I look ridiculous,"

"Oh my god, he'll love it, okay? Come out already!" Ali yelled.

"He?" Jason asked.

It never crossed his mind whether his clothes would be of Nat's liking. He liked them even less then.

"Yeah, he will have your entire night, might as well look good for him," Billie pointed out.

"I don't want him to have my entire night!"

"Oh, but he will," Ali said. "Yes, you're not letting this man go, believe it or not, he has unstressed you a lot," Billie agreed.

"Unstressed me? Unstressed? This last days have been the most stressful of my life!" Jason screamed.

"You're just afraid of the possibilities he's opening for you. Don't be, let him in. Let him demonstrate you love works wonders," Billie said, getting really tied of Jason.

After a few seconds of silence he spoke.

"That is the most ridiculous thing. I've ever heard!"

"That's it," Ali stood up and stomped to the fitting rooms.

"You can't go in-,"

"Shut up," she said.

Billie heard Jason shrieking and Ali huffing. Later, Ali walked out, dragging Jason by his hair. She had a hat on her hand, she put it on Jason's head, mending the mess she made of his hair.

"There, doesn't he look good?" Ali asked a stranger that walked by, she nodded, clearly creeped out.

Jason wasn't convinced though. He was wearing a dressing shirt, grey and with a questionable print. He had his sleeves rolled up, showing his skinny, pale arms. His jeans had two straps that climbed up over his shoulder and crossed on his back.

Billie tapped her mouth

"Just one more thing," she tied on Jason's hand an odd pair of gloves! which weren't precisely gloves. Just leather straps around his wrist and fingers.

"You're ready," Both girls smiled.