They Put the Devil in the Rain

Taking Back Today

Chris Geddes annoyed the living shit out of me. You know how there's always that one kid you wanna put your hand through their fucking face? Well Chris Geddes was that kids for me and I'd gladly rip his heart out and skip rope with his guts while I'm at it too. In fact I'd probably blow cigarette smoke in his dad's face and piss on his mother's grave too. Scratch that last part. Having to raise Chris is hell enough.

Ever run into those douche bags at school or the mall or wherever? The ones in the five hundred dollar Jordan's, the Abercrombie khakis, the Ralph Lauren polo shirt? That's Chris. And the way he spikes his hair into that stupid fucking "wall" drives the final nail in the douche coffin. Yep. That was basically Osbourne New Jersey in a nutshell too. The halls practically reek with the stench of decaying Axe and fucking whatever by insert shitty boy band here.

I was on my way to architectural design when I saw her again.

"Hey Vivien"

She just glanced up from her books at me. Shy. It's what I'd expect from the new kid.

"Hey Frank"

She turned around to say hi to me. A rare occurrence for anyone to do that for me.
"What's up" I'd asked

"Nothing, you?"

"Arch design, you?"

"I don't know. Something to do with number I guess. Haha"

"Cool. How's the day been treating you?"

"Oh you know. Normal as it is. For the new girl anyway"

"Cool. Hey, see you at lunch?"

"Yeah. Sounds cool. See ya"

"See ya Vivien"

A weird chill ran through my stomach. Weird. I wanted to ask her if she was making any friends. The new people here do so fast anyway. They'll hang around people like me and eventually join the popular kids. They always do.

The thing about lunch is the lines form fast so if don't want to be marked as tardy for your next class I suggest you get your ass down there as fast as possible. I was already seated at a table with my food when Vivien walked in. Too late to be the rush.

I waved to her and offered a seat. She sat down quietly, not a word uttered.

"So what's up?". Ugh. I asked that awkwardly. God damn it Frank, cute girl and you fuck up.

"Oh. Me?"

"Yeah. What's up?"

"Oh nothing. I don't think I'll be eating today judging from the lines"

"I've got you covered. Help yourself"

"No. It's fine, it's your food. You paid for it with your own money"

"It's fine, I insist. Me food est your food"

"Nice Spanish. I'm from Arizona by the way in case I haven't told you"

"Yeah that's right. Haha. How're you liking New Jersey?"

"Um. It's no different from El Clemento. Osbourne anyway"

"Was El Clemento your old town?"

"Yeah. Haha. It's no different from Osbourne. You know, lots of rich popular kids"

"Ah. Made any friends yet?"

"Oh. Haha. Not really. I miss my old friends though. We still keep in touch, it's alright though"

"That's good. Anyone in particular you'd like me to tell you anything more about?"

"No. Not really. Um. Actually there's this kid in one of my classes who's kinda a jerk"

"A little shorter than me, kinda chubby, blond, hair in an annoying wall?"

"Yeah. That guy"

"Oh that's Chris"

"Yeah. He's a cunt"

"Finally someone else who uses the word cunt"

"I know right. Back in El Cemento you were this total outcast if you said cunt. God forbid you say the cunt word"

We continued to have a conversation about the magicalness of the word cunt and it's near and dear meaning in our cold, black, unbeating hearts. It was going to be the start of a great friendship. And the cheesiest words I could say.