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I Don't Care

Jax

Lap four out of ten. I'm not doing that bad. As I puff around the large gym again, I glance over at Lexi.

She looks thrilled with the way she's running so well in my body. Lucky her. She's on something like, lap six and a half.

Not having my average athletic skills is disturbing.

Speaking of disturbing things- it was disturbing to change in the girls locker room. I mean, every guy talks about how great it'd be to go in there, and be surrounded by girls in only underwear, but actually, it was so weird and disturbing. Surrounded by girls in bras? Terrifying. Terrifying, I say.

Also, speaking of bras, it's actually rather hard to run as a girl. More so then a guy, that is. As is getting dressed, sitting at a desk, bending over and laying on my stomach.

Finally, finally, I'm done my laps. And I am so dead tired, all I want to do is sleep. Right now.

"Nice job," says Jill, one of Lexi's friends. "You didn't just say you were done at lap six."

Oh. So that's why all the girls who half jog are done when I am. I run as hard as I can and am done at the same time as the girls who walk and jog. Cause they cheat. Really great.

.........

It was the weirdest thing ever to practically be picked last for soccer. However, I wowed everyone with my insane skills. I scored twice and didn't let in any goals when I was goalie. Today is turning out to be a pretty good day.

Now, to find Lexi and ask how the date ended. She wouldn't text about it last night. I wonder why. Hopefully nothing bad happened.

...........

"Lexi. Lexi!" I call across the classroom. It's lunchtime now. Why won't she even look at me? And where is Cheyenne? I might not be able to kiss or hug her, but, I'd still like to at least see her.

People are looking at me weird. I can't figure out why, until Jill asks, "Why are you calling out your own name?"

"Um... I was dared to." It's a really weak reason but Jill accepts it and turns away. Sighing, I walk across the classroom towards the huddle of guys.

"Jax," I say, feeling weird from speaking my own name, "can I talk to you for a sec'?"

Slowly, almost like she is afraid, Lexi stands up and faces me.

"Let's go to the hallway. I have something to tell you."

..........................

After walking to a hallway far off the usual traffic, Lexi stops and faces me.

"I broke up with Cheyenne over text last night for you," she says, not even trying to not be blunt.

Sorry? Sorry, what did you say? I roll her words around for a bit, trying to make sense of them. Finally I do. Cheyenne and I are over. Done. What have you done? What?! Oh no you don't. You can't go along in my life and just ruin it. I loved Cheyenne! I love her! And Lexi knows that. She had no right to do that!

"You can just turn the heck back around and go apologize and get back together with her right now. You had NO RIGHT TO JUST GO AND BREAK UP WITH MY GIRLFRIEND!"

I try to contain my rage, but it's impossible. I slam my open palms into the walk. It might seem immature but, does she have any idea how hard we worked on that relationship? Arg! And she wrecked it!

"Jax. Stop. Calm down," Lexi doesn't even sound slightly regretful. It's this fact that sends me over the edge. My vision narrows. I squeeze together. My body is taunt as a bow string with rage. Hate directed at Lexi runs through me like blood. It's everywhere. Overflowing. She needs to pay.

I round on her.

"Oh, so now you're gonna break up with my girl friend, act like its no big deal then tell me to calm the frick down! You don't get to WRECK MY LIFE!"

"Jax! You don't understand-"

I don't wait for her to finish. I'm through with her reasoning. It doesn't matter what I do or don't understand- she needs to pay for doing this. I can hardly see straight I'm so mad. Everything is surreal.
Quickly, I knee her in the gut and as her face comes down, gasping for air, I swing my arm in a full roundhouse and slam my closed fist into the side of her face. The light leaves her eyes and she slumps to the ground, unconscious.

My vision returns. Reality comes back. I see her clearly. Laying on the ground, a bruise already forming. I did this. Me. I'm breathing hard. Regret runs through me for a second. Then my anger settles back down on me like a black cloud.

"I understand fine."

I turn and leave. Quickly, I consider what will be made of my previous ego when someone finds "Jax" lying unconscious in a side hall. I don't care.

Just before I turn the corner back into the main hallway, I glance back.

For a second, I see Lexi as she is. An innocent girl, laying crumpled at the base of a wall. Broken and weak. And a flash of purple when I blink. Then it's gone and the anger takes me back. She's gonna wreck my life? Fine. I'll wreck hers. I don't need her. I don't care.