Carnations for Emily

Chapter 9: The festival

"I don't want to go to the festival this year mom..."
Jack, now thirteen, said to his mom.
"What? Why not hun?" Hellen asked.
"It's just not fun any more is all." He answered.
"Aw But Emily told me today that you two were gonna go together." Hellen said.
"W-What?! No we're not." Jacks face flushed red then. Though he tried to hide it, Hellen knew better.
"You sure you want to disappoint her?" Hellen asked.
"Like it matters. She has more friends these days.
At school she's always surrounded by them.
I can never get a word in."
Jack complained.
"She still makes time for you though.
I know she does." Hellen said.
Jack's mom wasn't wrong. While Emily doesn't get time to talk to him during the school day she does spend time with Jack for a bit after school.
And she did say that she wanted to go with him to the festival...

Unlike Emily, who became pretty popular by the time she and Jack entered Jr. High, Jack didn't. He became a little bit of an unhappy and hateful boy.
His grades weren't the best and his issues with some of his classes have gotten worse. While his history teacher was supportive his math teacher didn't really care if he passed or failed.
Frankly neither did Jack.
Though his mom try's to motivate him to keep trying.

"Think on it for a bit dear.
I really think you should go with Emily.
You two don't seem as close as you used to be and it kinda breaks my heart." Hellen said.
That isn't incorrect either.
It wasn't Emily's fault it was Jack's.
After his parents divorce when he was 11, Jack changed.
His mind couldn't handle it.
Because of this he quickly became secluded from others. In his mind he was convinced that it was his fault and that such kinds of stuff will always happen to him.
As some form of a punishment.
He thought it was because he existed that bad things happened.
The divorce wasn't the only one.
He lost his friends, and gets bullied daily by the class dickhead.
He fears that he'll lose Emily next...

...

The next day at school, right on cue Jacks bully Mathew shoved him into a locker.
"Gah!" Jack whimpered.
"Hey Jacky-boy how ya doing today?"
"-off" Jack mumbled.
He was getting tired of this.
Day in and day out Mat has picked on Jack.
Jack wants to fight and hit him, but he knows that's not good for him.
He isn't the best student but he doesn't want to get kicked out either, Hellen would kill him.
Plus Mathew is three times Jack's size with a lot of muscle to boot.
Jack's practically a twig...

"You got anything for me today Jacky?" Mathew asked.
He was talking about his lunch money.
Hellen would give Jack lunch money every morning and every morning when Jack got to school, Mathew, like a buzzard, would snag the money from him.
Emily saw this happen all the time and she hated it.
She'd yell at Mathew and tell him to give it back but he'd just walk off while flipping Emily the bird.
It made Jack feel pretty crappy that she'd defend him so much.

The last time Jack tried to fight back, Mathew easily grabbed Jack's fist, twisted it and gut punched him.
When Jack fell to the ground the money spilled from his hand, Mat picked it up, pocketed it and walked away.
From around the corner Emily saw the whole thing and in a panic rushed to Jack's side...

"Jack! Are you okay?!" Emily shrieked.
Jack coughed a little, pulled himself up to all fours and looked to Emily.
"I-I'm Fine..." Jack sputtered.
"We need to get somebody for that.
I can't let that happen." Emily began to pick Jack off the ground.
"Emily... don't worry about it.
Please."
Jack knew damn well not to bother anyone about it.
It wouldn't do a bit of good.
Peers would either cheer or turn a blind eye and teachers would look away too.
The school sucked.
The people weren't much better.
"B-But Jack..." Emily squeaked.
With a tired look in his eyes, Jack put on a weak smile.
"I'll be okay." He told her.
From down the hall the two heard one of Emily's friends, Mary, call out to her.
"Hey Em!
Class is about to start come on!"
"Ah..." Emily bit her lip.
She looked back to Jack.
"Go on, I'll see ya in a few." Jack spoke.
Emily and Jack have had home room together and a few classes too.
Just like elementary school.
"You better not make me wait." Emily pouted.
She then grabbed her bag and walked into class...