your body is a weapon → brad simpson | ✓

four

"Are you dressed yet?" My dad asks as he stands on the other side of my door and I brush over the fabric of my shirt.

"Yeah," I reply. "Let me put some shoes on and then I'll be right out."

It had been over a week since Brad decided to make Phys Ed living hell for me, and we hadn't even looked at each other since then, which meant we were behind on the social studies project.

It was Friday night and my dad has the night away from work so he decided to take us for dinner. As much as I didn't feel like going out tonight and instead wanted to stay in bed, I wanted to spend some time with my dad since he'd been away at work most of the week and he was probably going to be out all weekend.

I wore some black jeans and a burnt orange shirt tucked into it, as well as some Doc Martins. I tug on a denim jacket and open up my door, smiling at my dad. It was strange seeing him in some jeans and a striped shirt instead of his tailored suits, but it was a nice change that I knew I wasn't going to get used to.

We walk downstairs and into his car and I fasten my seat belt before we set off. The drive was filled with short talk consisting of how work was going, music playing in the background and my dad asking how school went. Within half an hour, we're parked up outside the diner we're going to and I smile at it.

After my parents had split up, my dad and I barely had enough money between us and we were living in motels for a few months since my mum didn't support us and left us without a home.

Den's Diner, the one we're going to today, was nice enough to give me a job to help my dad with money while he still worked as an architect. We were forever grateful that they helped us in a time of need, especially since I'd been coming here since I was five.

"It's been a while since we came here," my dad looks at me sadly. There were so many reasons why I hadn't come in so long, one of them being that my dad and I would only come here when we were with each other.

"It's a nice blast from the past," I smile as I dig my hands into my jacket pocket, walking up to the front door. The bell rings at the top and the girl at the desk shoots her head up and her face breaks into a grin.

"Well if it isn't little old Jamie! Not looking so little anymore, though," she says and I smile as she stops wiping the sides to come and pull me into a tight.

I let out a halfhearted laugh, wrapping my arms around her. "Nice to see you, too, Lu. How've you been?"

"I've been good," she smiles as she moves away. "How's school been? We were sad to see you go last year."

"It's been okay," I say truthfully. "It's been long and tiring, but it's been okay."

"I bet it's been hard since—you know," she says sadly and I nod slightly, looking to my dad. "Well, you guys find a table and I'll get your order. The usual, I assume?"

"Yeah," my dad nods. "Glad to know you still remember our orders after all this time."

Luna smiles at my dad before disappearing to the kitchen to get our food cooked and our drinks made. Luna was a tall girl with long, blonde hair and her parents owned the diner. She was one of my coworkers and friends when I was younger, but we drifted apart as I started sixth form.

My dad and I sit down at a booth by the window, enjoying a smoothie each that Luna had made for us. Nineties music was playing faintly in the background as the diner began to fill up with families as the night goes on.

"Here you go," Luna grins as she sets down my food before doing the same for my dad. I had a double cheeseburger and skinny fries, as well as some sauce and garlic bread.

"Thanks, Luna," I smile up at her and she winks at me before attending to another table. My dad and I eat with a small conversation between us until we finish and wait to pay the bill.

"Don't be ridiculous," Luna laughs. "It's on the house, guys. It's nice seeing you after so long. My dad's not going to believe that you guys came around."

"Are you sure?" My dad asks. "I'll be happy to pay the bill."

"Trust me, it's fine," Luna grins. "I hope I'll see you guys soon?"

"Yeah, I hope so," I say, standing up and pulling her in for a hug. We bid goodbyes and soon enough, I'm back home and in bed, ready to enjoy a chill weekend.

+

"Brad," I turn to the boy in social studies, even though we were meant to be taking notes. "We need to start the project."

He glances at me, a small cut on his lip and he nods. "Okay. When?"

"I'm free whenever," I tell him and he nods. "Just let me know?"

"I can't message you," he says and I scrunch my eyebrows, not sure what he meant. "I don't have your number and you haven't accepted my friend request."

"Well, just meet me after class at the end of the day," I say. "We can start tonight, I want to sort of get it over with before the deadline."

He nods and I turn back to note taking. Brad and I shared every class together, and I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not—it meant we could organise when to do the project, but it also meant I had to endure his glares and snide comments.

Most days, Brad wasn't even at school. This was one of the first Mondays that I had seen him in social studies first thing, so he must be having a good day.

At the end of school, Brad waits for me to get my things together as he leans against the door. I smile at the teacher quickly before walking out of the classroom.

"Where are we going to study?" He asks and I purse my lips. "We can't go to my house."

"Neither," I reply. I didn't like bringing people around my house, especially people that I'm not even friends with. "We could try the library?"

"There's a reading club on tonight, we can't."

I let out a sigh. "You have a car?"

"Yeah," he nods and I shift the bag on my shoulder so that it sits more comfortably on my shoulder. "Why?"

I contemplate where we could go. I didn't go out often so I didn't know many places and I didn't really want to go to Den's Diner to do the project, but it was the only place I knew we could really go.

"Earth to Jamie," he grabs my attention and I realise we've walked to his car already. "Are you gonna get in the car or are you gust going to stare at it?"

I purse my lips, embarrassed, before climbing in to the car and closing the door behind me. "Do you know where Den's Diner is?"

"Yeah," he nods. "We're going there?"

"Unless you know anywhere else to go, then yes," I tell him and we set off from the car park. His car was expensive and I doubted that he had bought it since he didn't strike me as the kind of guy to keep a job for long enough. The seats were leather and comfortable and I'm pretty sure there were butt warmers.

We arrive at Den's Diner not long after we set off and he follows me inside. I smile at Luna who's serving a table before I sit in a booth at the back. Brad slides in the seat opposite me, dumping his bag down beside him.

"So," he says awkwardly and I glance over to Luna who was giving the kitchen some orders. She walks over and smiles at us both.

"Welcome to Den's Diner. My name's Luna and I'm gonna be serving you today," she smiles at us both, more-so to Brad since I already knew her. "Are you ready to order a drink?"

"I'll just have a cup of tea," he says, looking out of the window and at the door. She smiles, nodding and scribbles down his order.

"I'll have the usual drink, Lu," I say to her and she nods again before leaving to prepare our drinks. I glance over to Brad who's sitting nervously in his seat. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" He says, surprised that I spoke to him and I frown slightly. "Oh, I'm fine. What are we starting with?"

I open up my bag, shuffling around my stuff until I pull out a sheet of paper. "The questions."

unedited.