An Unlikely Friendship

Jane

Jane

Jane Phillips sat in her car during the last period of the day. The windows rolled down to her car even though snow was covering everything in sight. She had her seat reclined and a cigarette hanging from her lips; as she took a drag she thought about how her life turned out. She was a senior in high school who was once that preppy girl that had the amazing grades and everyone wanted to be her friend. Unfortunately this was no longer her reputation.

            A while went by when she noticed kids were starting to pour out of the school building and walk to their vehicles. Despite the students now surrounding her, she kept on smoking and played her music loud. They gave her dirty looks as they passed, but she didn't care. At this point she convinced herself that she didn't need anyone's approval. She continued sitting propped back in her car for no real reason. She just couldn't bring herself to leave the parking lot yet. She didn't know why she didn't leave hours ago, but something told her that she needed to stay.

            Once the parking lot only had a few cars left Jane was about to leave when she noticed a little boy walking down the stairs to the front entrance. Blood was pouring out of his nose, his coat was now shredded and he had purple starting to form around his right eye. She slowly opened her car door and stood, propping herself on the driver door. She watched him as he continued walking as if he was going to walk home.

"Hey kid!" she shouted. She didn't even think about it before she did it. The kid looked up at her and then down again maybe thinking that she didn't mean to call him or she mistook him for someone else. But surely a girl like her was not talking to him.

"Hey you!". He looked up once again and there was no mistaking it. She was starring directly at him. Jason scanned around to make absolute certain.

"Do you want a ride home?", she asked and then took a drag from her cigarette. The boy nodded a no and kept walking.

"Let me rephrase that. I'm giving you a ride home.", she spat as she got in her car and started it up. Shortly after, the scrawny boy was in her passenger seat. She slowly began pulling out of the school parking lot.

"So what's your name?", she asked.

"J-Jason.", he stuttered quickly. He was so nervous. He had heard stories about the infamous Jane Phillips and not one of them was good. He gave her a once over out of the corner of his eye. There she was in all her glory. Her hair a dirty blonde was piled up in a messy bun on her head. She wore fish nets, black boots, an oversized t-shirt and a dark green coat. Jason focused on her face. Freckles lightly speckled her cheeks and her lips were full and pink with a silver hoop pierced through the right side. Her cigarette was held gracefully between her two boney fingers and every once in a while she would place it between her lips and then release it. Jason knew this thought was strange, but she looked so beautiful while smoking.

"Nice to meet you Jason. I'm Jane by the way.", she said glancing over at him. 

"Do you want directions to my house?", he asked. He wasn't one for small talk with strange women he didn't know.

"Wow, at least your friendly." Jane said sarcastically. "I'm not taking you home just yet.". Jason thought she was going to clue him in on her plans, but she left it at that.

"Where are we going?", he finally was brave enough to ask.

"We sir are going to the gas station. One, because I need gas and two, it is cold and I really want a hot chocolate." She explained while throwing her now short cigarette out the window and rolling it up.

Shortly they were at the local gas station. Whilst Jane was pumping gas Jason sat in the car just wondering how the hell he got to be in Jane Phillips' car. While she was known to be dangerous, there was no denying she was one of the most gorgeous girls in town. What interest did she have in me? He thought to himself. He was extremely under developed while she was, well the opposite. She had curves in all the right places and had legs that went on for days. Any guy would kill for an opportunity like the one Jason was granted, but he knew he would never have a chance with her. His thoughts were interrupted by a quick knock on his window. Jane was gesturing for him to get out of the car and follow her. He complied with her gestures and followed her into the station store. She grabbed a pack of sour punch straws and then went over the hot chocolate machine.

"You want a hot chocolate?" she asked as she started to fill up her own cup.

"I-I don't have any money.", Jason said; suddenly finding the floor interesting.

"I didn't ask if you had money, I asked if you wanted a hot chocolate.", She retorted looking over at Jason with an eyebrow raised.

"Sure.", he said quickly still not looking anywhere, but at the floor.

            After they finished making up their hot chocolate they went to the counter and a man with stubble on his face rang them up. He clearly was lusting for Jane as she was sifting through her bag to grab her wallet. She paid no mind to it though. She could probably have any man she wanted and she obviously didn't want the guy who worked at a gas station. After their purchases were made they were once again driving. To where? Jason still didn't know.

"Why do you smoke?" he said without thinking. Jason silently scolded himself for asking such a rude question.

"He speaks!", she exclaimed, surprised that he actually started a conversation "And to answer your question it is quite calming to me. You want to try it?" she asked handing over her current cigarette to him.

"No thanks my mom would kill me.", Jason said pushing the cigarette away.

"Oh, so you're a momma's boy huh?", she questioned suddenly amused at the glow of red on his face.

"No." he stated, he and she both knew what he said was a complete lie.

She decided to drop it. "You're a sophomore right?" she asked him wanting to get to know this kid for some reason. Jason nodded in reply. "Sophomore year seems so far away to me now..." Jane trailed off and was suddenly looking very lost. This was the first time Jason saw her looking the least bit vulnerable. It made him feel slightly more comfortable with her.

"Can I ask you something Jane?" Jason asked hesitantly.

"You just did." She smirked at him returning to her normal confident self. Jason ignored this and took it as his que to ask away.

"Why did you take an interest in me? I'm probably the least popular person at our school. No one knows who I am...so I'm just wondering why me?" this was the million dollar question. And Jane didn't even really know the answer herself. She began rubbing her chin trying to think of one logical reason as to why she took a liking to this beaten and bloody kid. Then she thought of something that happened to her not too long ago and knew the reason she wanted to give him. But she couldn't bring herself to tell him yet. After all Jane did build up quite the barriers to people.

"To be honest, I don't really know." She gave this bull shit answer hoping Jason wouldn't question that. He simply nodded and continued to gaze out the windows at the passing scenery. "Okay I guess I'm going to drive you home now."

And after a few simple directions the two parted and went on their two separate ways.