Chapter 2
“Okay class, we’re going to read and have a discussion about The Sick Rose,” Mr. Delaney said. “Anyone want to volunteer?”
I stared at the book, knowing he’d pick me. I was his favorite student, with an A+ in the class. He was my favorite teacher. On my second day in his class, we had a talk about what I was planning on being as I got older. A writer. I didn’t care what kind. I’d go for a columnist, a reporter, even a book author. My passion was to write.
“Selena? Would you care to read it?”
“Sure.” I positioned myself so that I could read the page easier.
“Oh Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm.
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.”
“Good job, Selena. Does anyone know what that poem is about?”
Everyone kept quiet. I rolled my eyes and raised my hand.
“Selena?”
“It’s about mourning and death of someone close to you.”
“Nice. Maybe we should have someone else read the story aloud.”
I looked around me and saw everyone was either sleeping or their faces were panic-stricken as if they’d just seen a ghost. I rested my cheek on the palm of my hand and waited for someone to speak up.
“I’ll read it,” someone said from the back of the classroom.
I looked behind me and could barely see the person. I could tell he was a guy. I was about to turn around to face the front of classroom when I saw his face hit the right light. Those sparkling teeth, dark soft hair, beautiful brown eyes…
It was Joe.
He saw me looking at him and smiled. I turned back around and listened to the way his voice flowed like silk. When he finished, Mr. Delaney said, “Great job, Joseph.”
“Thanks.”
“You know, I remember when Kevin was in my class. He’s a senior now right?”
“Um…yeah.” Joe looked rather uncomfortable.
“Well, say hello to him for me.”
“Sure.”
“All right. Since I know none of the rest of you are going to read it or give any comments, you might as well talk for the rest of the hour.”
I pulled out my book and flipped to the correct page. As my eyes darted across the page, taking in every sentence, word and punctuation someone tapped my desk. I looked up to see Mr. Delaney.
“Yes Mr. Delaney?”
“Selena, would you mind staying after class?”
“Sure, but I don’t have a way of getting home.”
“Well, if I need to, I can –”
“I can take her home.”
Joe was behind me. He smiled at Mr. Delaney.
“Are you sure you don’t mind waiting for her?” Mr. Delaney asked.
“One hundred percent sure.”
“All right, well, Selena, do you mind if we start the conversation now?”
“Sure. I’ll see you later Joe.”
“Bye, Sel.”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mr. Delaney.”
“All right. You can go now.”
I got up and left the classroom. Joe was sitting right outside the door writing. He looked up when he heard the door open.
“Hey. Ready to go?”
“Yeah, I just need to go get my stuff.”
“Okay. I’ll come with you.”
“So, what were you writing?”
“A song.”
“You write songs? That’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah. My brothers and I are into music.”
“You know…you’ve mentioned your brothers a few times, but I haven’t met them.”
“Well, we’ll meet them in just a couple minutes. Kevin is driving us home.”
“Oh, cool.”
“Not really. He’s all safe on the road.”
“And how is that bad?”
“Normally, it wouldn’t be, but he goes about fifteen miles an hour and on a good day he’ll go twenty.”
“Okay, wow.”
“Exactly,” he said, grinning. I opened my locker and pulled out my bag and my math book. Joe was looking at my locker door where I had tons of pictures of Demi and I taped to the inside.
“So, how long have you been friends with her?”
“About…nine years.”
“Oh, cool.”
“Um…did you hear about Cody and Demi?”
“No, what happened?”
“Well, he threatened to kill her. She was at my house, he called, and when she got off the phone she was crying.”
“When did he call?”
“Saturday night. Why?”
“He was drunk that night.”
“He was drunk?”
“Yeah…”
“Wait. How do you know? Were you drunk too?”
“No, I don’t drink. I’m pretty clean.”
I nodded, slamming my locker shut.
“Lead the way to your brother’s car,” I said, readjusting my bag’s strap.
“Do you want me to carry that for you?” Joe asked.
“No, I’m fine,” I said, but the strap was digging into my shoulder.
“Come on. It’s fine.”
He took my bag and put it on his shoulder.
“Woah! What do you have in here?”
“Math, Science, English –”
“We didn’t have English homework.”
“Mr. Delaney said I should take my book home every night and study so I can get into a good college.”
“I think you’re perfectly fine.”
“Well, thanks but I’ve been studying every night since the second day of school.”
“All right then. What do you have to do in Math and Science?”
“In math, I have like fifty questions…in science, I have to do Chapter 7 Review.”
“Wait, do you have Dowling for Math and Wesche for Science?”
“Yeah. Math is second hour and science is sixth.”
“Me too.”
“Really? I never see you?”
“I’m in the back of the classroom.”
“Oh…”
“I can help you with your homework. I’m pretty good at math and science.”
“Really? Because I definitely need some help in those classes.”
“What do you have in the classes?”
“C+ in math. C- in science.”
“Okay, well, I can help there.”
“Thanks.”
“Here we are!” Joe announced as he opened the door open and rays of light poured into the school, into my eyes. I winced. We went outside and Kevin was sitting in his convertible with dark sun glasses on.
“Finally! What took you so long Joe?”
“I was waiting for a friend. She’s coming over to study.”
“Wait, tonight?” I asked quietly.
“Yeah. Is that a problem?”
“Well, I have to work tonight at my grandma’s restaurant.”
“Well, tomorrow, then?”
“Yeah!” I said happily.
“Hey Joe! Who’s this?” Kevin asked, getting out his car.
“Selena. I met her the weekend before last.”
“Hey, Selena. I’m Kevin.”
“Hi,” I mumbled, about to shake his hand.
“We don’t shake hands. We hug.” And he wrapped his arms around my small frame. He pulled away and looked at Joe. “Do you know where Nick is?”
“Oh, no…”
“Great, those guys are probably bullying him again.”
“We’ll go get him. Nick’s my other brother,” he told me.
Joe and I ran across the school yard and saw Nick against a tree surrounded by several guys twice as thick and tall. He had a guitar in his hand and a notepad in the other. Joe ran faster toward them and halted right behind them.
“Oh, look. It’s your brother, Nicky,” one of the guys said.
“We’re totally scared,” another said, playfully putting his hands up in surrender. Joe scowled and punched them both.
I gasped, as he was about to hit another. I grabbed him and pulled him back. The remaining bullies ran off. Joe was fighting to chase them, but I whispered, “Joe, don’t. Please.”
He stopped and looked at me with a frown. “Sorry…”
“It’s okay.”
“You okay, Nick?” Joe asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
We began walking and when we got back to the car, Kevin was blasting music and playing air guitar on the front of his car. I laughed along with Nick, but Joe was just standing there with a grin. He tiptoed closer to the car and turned to us, holding his index finger to his lips. He grew closer to the car and pushed the horn as hard as he could. Kevin fell backwards off the car while Nick and I snorted with laughter. Joe laughed along with us, helping Kevin up.
“Sorry, Kev, but I had to do it.”
“Whatever. You’re lucky mom makes me drive you guys home or I’d leave you here.”
“Kevin…we only live about ten minutes away. I think we’d manage, but it’d be great if you could give us a ride because Selena needs a ride home.”
“Of course I’ll give her a ride, but I can leave you here.”
“You wouldn’t do that, bestest brother of mine!” Joe said, draping his arm over Kevin’s shoulders. Kevin removed it and said, “Yes, I would. Now get in the car.”
Nick jumped into the passenger seat while Joe and I took the back seats. Joe looked at me and smiled. I smiled back, but I stopped. I looked past Joe’s head and saw that man in a black Ford truck with binoculars held up to his eyes. My breathing hitched. Joe frowned and looked behind him and saw the man.
“Kevin! Drive faster!”
Happy Easter everyone!! Here's an early Easter present!! :D I don't really like this chapter much. More like a filler chapter. Next chapter will be waaaaay better. Trust me.
