Jason woke up to the sound of the chipping birds, sways of the backyard trees. He looked down at himself, shocked at the realization that he was naked. His head jerked up as his eyes scanned the area, behind him was a yard with shrubs and nut trees. Before him was a house same as a farmhouse. To the side, some clothes hung on a line. He surveyed the area, making sure no one was in sight. Then, he took a grey top and black shorts that caught his eyes.
He started the road home, he must be in school before..... what the hell! Why haven't he thought about school. He need to get home before he'll be missed.
His mum was the first person to see him walk through the door. Her eyes studied him in a quiet demeanor. Jason had a feeling she must have known what had transpired the night before.
"Where have you been?" Hanson called out. He was drinking tea while he tried to tug his shirt into his trousers.
"Ha..em..I went out for ...a run." Jason tried a lie.
"A run! That's unlike you. You know Joab can't wait all day." Hanson dropped down his tea, threw the last piece of pie into his mouth then he started towards his mother.
"Mum, did you even think Jason would go out dressed like this?" Hanson laughed, slinging his school bag over his shoulder.
Rachael laughed rather calmly as she looked at Jason. "It's one of those days, I guess." She said, then to Jason, she said. "Do wash up and get ready for school. I prepared something you can carry off to school." Her eyes probed him.
Jason nodded, trying to avoid his mother's eyes. "Where is dad?" He asked.
"He is with the neighbors. Discussing how they are to catch the beast with the sheriff." Hanson said to him.
"What beast?" Jason's eyes bulged slightly. He had gone wild last night, did he do anything wrong? did he hurt anyone? He was trying hard to think but he could barely recall what had transpired the previous night. All he could remember was how he managed to jumped down from the window, flee into the woods without his mother noticing his transformation.
His eyes met that of his mother. She was stirring a cup of tea. Was that for him? He needed something to keep his head calm.
"Some beast that came down south. We were talking about it over dinner yesterday, remember? It attacked another neighbour of ours. Jan the janitor who works in our school." Hanson explained.
"Jan?" Jason was puzzled, his eyes lit up when his mother stretched out the tea to him. "Thank you, mum." He mumbled to her, to which she smiled and turned away. "What about your car, Hanson?" Jason asked his brother.
Hanson sighed, brushing his hair sideways. "I still haven't picked it from Saint V's. Think they are still working on it." Hanson winked.
"It's high time I get to use my own car. What do you think, mum?" Jason turned back to his mother.
Rachael looked at him. "You need to your dad's permission.," She said.
"I got mine when I clocked 18. Wait till you reach that age." Hanson grinned widely.
"You need to go up stairs, wash up and get yourself ready for school. Joab won't wait all day."
Jason laughed, drank the rest of his tea and raced up stairs. As he did, he felt the burning heat from his mother's eyes watching him.
*******
Even at school, the news about Jan, the janitor beIN attacked by the beast had spread wild like a wild fire. Every student was talking about it. Jason's ears could strangely pick on sounds from a meter or two, it made him furious that he couldn't tell if he was the beast or not.
Ahead of him, he noticed his brother's girlfriend and her best friend walking towards his direction. He purposely stepped into her path and watched her how she nervously tried to go the other way. Freya Ling looked puzzled at both of them.
What was wrong with Jason? He even had a smirk on his face.
She grabbed her friend's hand to move to the other open space. Jason reached out and grabbed Blue's hand forcefully.
"You're trying too hard to fit in." He said to her.
Blue coughed slightly, her mouth opened to talk but she couldn't even say a word. Freya came to her rescue. She tried to push off Jason's hand.
"What's your problem? Why are you being such a bully? You stood in our paths and now.....,"
"Freya Ling?" He surprisingly called her by her name, looking down at her while she stared up at him. "Stop doing things that would benefit you. You are not a friend. Stop trying to make her fit in either."
Jason turned back to Blue. "You are not my brother's type of girl. I don't know what he sees in you. I just want you to know that you're below our class and taste. Not suitable for anyone here either. Know your place." He pushed off her hand roughly, pushed her out of his way while he started struting off.
Freya looked stupified, speechless for a second. She watched as a tear ran down Blue's face. She spoke up.
"And are you any different, Mr. All lordy? Do you think you are far better!" She yelled out at him.
Jason stopped, looked back at them and shrugged. "Look again. And see who's trying so hard to be so likable." He scoffed, rolled his eyes and walked on.
"What's that suppose to mean? I didn't know he is such a bully!" Freya said to herself, and elbowed her friend. "You shouldn't shed a tear because of him. He isn't worth it.
Common now, Blue. Wipe your eyes."
*******
Blue was mostly quiet all day. Freya, her friend was trying to pull her out from state of sadness. While they were on recess, Blue had to visit the cafeteria for her lunch while Freya was at the staffroom. At the entrance of the cafeteria, she saw Hanson going in.
Her heart lurched frantically. She didn't want to meet with her boyfriend. He could be with her brother. And an ugly scenario played out in her head. She waited until she was sure Hanson was out.
As she walked in, she bought her food and that of her friend's. Freya would come to meet her after seeing Mr Blink.
She found an empty seat and made way to place her food and that of her friend's on the table. She didn't see the leg being plunged in her path. The trays of food came pouring down like rain while she fell head faced into the fallen food.
She heard the sound of laughter. She pushed herself up. Brushed off the stains off her face, arms and uniform. And as her instincts had told her, she looked up into the face of Jason Hills. He was sitting in a seat beside where she had fallen. He had placed his leg in her path. An unfamiliar student sat opposite him, laughing down at her.
"And you don't have eyes? Greenville needs students who are smart. Not the dumb ones who all they know is basketball." He smirked.
Blue scoffed as she watched him. Words would fail her to speak there. Instead, two angry tears raced down her cheeks. She looked around and saw smiling faces which tortured her. She must leave, this was not her place. But first, she must speak up for herself. She turned back to Jason, his eyes were narrowed eying her in such a way that made her speechless.
She turned around abruptly and raced out of the cafeteria. Once she was in the rest room, she locked herself in one of the toilet and broke down in tears.
She couldn't take it anymore. Was this how her high school would be? Full of bullying and snidely remarks even from her boyfriend's brother. Will she go on like this? Acting like everything was okay? When infact, she was being tortured and exploited verbally. She wanted out.
Someone was banging the door of the toilet. She turned on the tap quickly to wash her face. She splashed water on her face.....the bang sounded again.
"Just a mi...minute!" Blue yelled.
"It's me, Blue. Open up!" Freya called out.
Blue wiped her face, opened the door for Freya to come in. "I heard about what happened. You shouldn't run away anymore. He will keep doing this if you do not speak up. Don't consider the fact that he is the younger brother of your brother." Freya pointed out.
Blue swallowed, trying her best not to break down. "It was fine all along until I met him. I didn't want to come here. I didn't...." Blue cried.
"I gave him a piece of my mind.. if he...,"
"You did what?" Blue interrupted her.
"An eye for an eye. Isn't it? I bought some food, acted cool then poured it over his head." Freya explained.
Blue's eyes nearly fell off from her eyes sockets. "You did what?"
"I did what I had to do. He will learn his place, trust me. A teacher came in then and took us to the staffroom."
"Weren't you punished?" Blue asked, looking surprised at her little friend.
Freya waved it off. "I have my ways. He wouldn't try anything like that on you again. Believe me. But you must speak up for yourself."
Blue nodded. "Thank you, Freya."
"Talk to Hanson, he's your boyfriend. He knows what to do."
"I don't want to set a gulf between them." Blue reasoned. "Hanson invited me to their family Thanksgiving."
"Really?" Freya laughed at that in surprise.
"I don't know what to do. What if Jason misbehaves while I'm there. Hanson can't protect me even damn time. Will his parents accept me?" Blue ranted on.
"Calm down, Blue. I'm sure his parents would love you. He must have told you their likes and dislikes......,"
"No, he didn't." Blue put in quickly.
A girl walked in, staring strangely at them. Both of them were quiet until the fair headed girl washed her face, gave them another downward stare before she left.
"What do you mean by he never told you about his parents?" Freya resumed, pulling her friend close.
"Hanson never really talks about his family. Infact that I git to know about Jason the day I entered Joab's car."
Freya scoffed. "He should tell you everything. Likewise you. That's why it's called a relationship."
"What do you think I should wear?"
"When is it?"
"This coming Sunday." Blue answered.
"I'll groom you on the little I know about the Hill's family. My place today after school." She smiled.
"Have I ever told you that you are a life saver?" A smile spread across Blue's face.
"Why are we friends?" Freya laughed. She took her friend's hand. "Let's go eat lunch before recess is over." She said.