Punched (Coming Soon)

1) Punched

Jackson was staring at me.

I didn't need to turn around to confirm it, I could feel like eyes burning a whole into the back of my head.

I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat. I dared turn back, only to snap my gaze back to the front of the class when my assumptions were right.

He was staring at me.

I couldn't tell if his nostrils were flaring in rage or if he was telling me he'd choke me with his eyes.

"Oh sweet baby mother of all that is milky," I attempt a curse.

The bell rings and I clutch my backpack, ready to make a run for it as Mrs. Jenkins starts telling us about our assignment for next week.

Once we we're dismissed, I'm the first out of the room, dashing into the crowded halls and hoping I loose him in the mass of students.

No such luck.

A hand firmly clamps onto my wrist and just like a yoyo, I'm pulled back.

Dark eyes peer into mine as I feebly attempt to wiggle out of his grip.

"Seriously?" Jackson practically screams at my face, his Australian accent laced with anger.

"It's not my fault!" I couldn't help but yell. "Don't act like you didn't--"

"Dammit, I apologized," he groans in frustration, running his free hand through his hair that was already touseled with how many times he'd recently repeated the action.

"My mother wasn't having it," I attempted an explanation. "How would you feel if your daughter came home with a busted jaw?"

He releases me with an exhasperated sigh, his tone almost a whisper. "Look, I know what I did, but it was an accident. You know that right?"

"Yes."

It wasn't a lie.

The day before Jackson was having a fistfight with Dallas Whitlock. Turns out Dallas hooked up with Valerie Vole at Luke's party and Jackson wasn't having it.

Now, Valerie wasn't Jackson's girlfriend but it was basically out there that she was his, without the label. Everyone knew that she was Jackson's property despite her not even going to Wickham High. But Dallas decided to be an asshole and crossed the line and Valerie decided to be a two-timer and crossed that same line with Dallas.

Which led to yesterday's events.

Their roughhousing caused for entertainment for half the student body, whilst it cost me my jaw.

Jackson had thrown yet another punch Dallas' way but Dallas managed to duck that one time. With my luck, I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jackson had apologized profusely and took me to the nurse and even offered to take me to the hospital.

Funny how Dallas had a busted lip, a bloody nose and a bruised cheek but just because I spat out a little blood, Jackson was literally on his knees to examine the blow. It was clear he'd never hit a girl before. He was a mess yesterday and was totally freaking out and since it was obviously an accident, I found it in my heart to forgive him once the painkillers started kicking in.

But imagine my mom's face when I got home.

I tried to play it off like I'd tripped and had an accident but she knew better. She dragged me to school this morning and demanded to talk to whoever was in charge. Unluckily for Jackson, Principal Cartwright was well aware of the shenanigans that played out the day before and had Jackson called into her office.

My mother's screaming was still fresh in my mind. She didn't take lightly to the thought of someone punching her daughter, especially since this was the first, and the fact that the inflictor was a male only doubled up her rage.

And Principal Cartwright wasn't exactly taking it easy on him either.

After the decent get-together in Mrs. Cartwright's office, I've been avoiding Jackson like the infamous plague that tormented the French. Until Literature came along, it was the only class I had with him and despite keeping a low profile, he caught up to me.

"Does it hurt?" Jackson dared to take a step towards me, seemingly unsure of how I'd react.

Numerous scenarios ran through my mind when he'd have me at arms reach, I'd expected an earful of colorful words, even a reenactment of yesterday, but never in my life did I expect him to be taking a step forward and cupping my face with his hand, brushing my hair from my face.

My breathing caught in my throat as Jackson delicately ran his thumb over the mark he'd left me.

If Jackson had landed me square in the jaw, then he'd have probably tried to punch me on purpose, but he landed just a little bit above my jawline, right beside my earlobe.

And while I almost never have my hair down, I did have it down because it made hiding the bruise convenient.

"Only if you apply pressure," I say, my eyes wide as saucers as I study him study me.

His hand was on my face and his brows were pulled together as he touched the bruise in the most soothing way possible.

Fun fact: I never liked Jackson Ford.

I didn't despise him so much that my blood boiled whenever I was around him but I didn't particularly like him either.

I didn't really care if his reputation included tattoos and skipping school and getting into fights because what he did was his business but back in sophomore year he had purposely embarrassed my best friend in gym class and I pretty much avoided him until the incident the other day.

It was hard to believe that that same Jackson was touching my face so carefully now, muttering yet another apology.

I stepped away from his touch, muttering an "It's okay."

"I'm sorry you got hit yesterday," he apologizes yet again.

"I'm sorry Principal Cartwright is putting too much on your plate."

"A shitload," he snorts.

"But it isn't my fault," I remind him.

"Jackson!"

A petite Korean girl with flawless curls interrupts us before Jackson can either agree with me or entice an argument. Lily Ann Lee was the girlfriend of Jackson's friend and she always had a reputation for being the loudest one in the room.

Lily screams Jackson's name as she catches sight of him, stalking over to us in her three inch heels. She rests her hand on Jackson's shoulder and breathes heavily, "I've been everywhere looking for you, you idiot," she complains with each breath. "Do you know how many rooms there are in this building?!"

I take a step back as Jackson endures her chastising. I took this as my cue to turn and leave.

I figured that was enough of Jackson Ford for one day.