I'm In Love With A Rebel

The Aftermath

I stayed home from school that Monday, not wanting to show up with bruises and a humongo knot on my forehead. I placed the ice pack on my head, and turned on the tv my parents had graciously set up for me. I flipped through the channels, deciding on Kid Galahad.
"I knew I heard Elvis!" I heard outside my window.
I turned the sound down and let Jesse in.
"First thing's first. Are you okay?"
I shrugged. "Not really."
"I'm sorry to hear that..." he sat on my bed.
"Me, too." I sat next to him.
"And two, about what the cop said..."
"Detective Reagan?"
"Yeah.... he said that I was your boyfriend, but we haven't established that yet..." Jesse smiled as he asked, "do you wanna be my girlfriend?"
I smiled and nodded. "I'd like that..."
Jesse smiled and was about to kiss me, but I backed away.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I just... I can't."
"I understand, but now that we're boyfriend-girlfriend, we need to signify our love!"
"Huh?" I was confused.
"Here." Jesse took his necklace off and handed it to me. On it hung a little rock and roll symbol.
"Will you help me put it on?"
"Of course!" He got behind me and clasped the necklace.
I held the charm in my hand and smiled at Jesse sweetly.
"Have mercy..."
"Why do you say that?"
"Have mercy? I dunno. Want me to stop?"
I shook my head. "I like it, I just wanted to know."
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Why don't you call me Jesse? Why is it always Jess to my face, but Jesse to your friends?"
"I dunno. I guess I did it once, and got hooked. Why do you call me Becks?"
"Cause it's cuter than Becky."
I smiled. "Why aren't you in school?"
"It's three o clock."
"Oh. Really?" I looked at my watch. "Huh."
"So... wanna watch the movie?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
We watched for about thirty minutes till Kimmy, DJ, and Helen came barging in.
"You weren't at school today! Are you okay? What happened?" They all asked sporadically.
"I just didn't feel good enough to go today," I answered as Kimmy handed me my homework.
"What happened to your face?" Helen sat in between me and Jesse.
"Oh, um, I slipped in the shower and fell on the edge of the tub."
"Ohmylanta!" DJ gasped. "That must've been some fall!"
I nodded. "It was pretty scary."
"Yeah, I bet!"
"Don't mind me. I was just here first..." Jesse said sarcastically.
"Hi, Jess." DJ asked, "how'd you get here before us?"
"I skipped last period." He shrugged.
"Oh... Becky, are you sure you're okay?"
I nodded. "It looks a lot worse than it feels..." I lied. Truth be told, I felt really awful.
"I hope you get better soon!" Kimmy smiled and sat on the other side of me. "We miss you at school!"
"I hope I get better, too..." notice I didn't say "soon".....