There’s A Jock In My Bed! [Âœ“] 22. Reality Bites: The Finale 1/2

                                                                There’s a Jock in My Bed!

                                                 Chapter 22: Reality Bites: The Finale 1/2

                     Song of the Chapter: No Light, No Light by Florence + The Machine (2011)  

 

 

“So, it’s over?” he spoke, his voice shaking tremendously. He bit his bottom lip

“I’m sorry.” I said again.

He chuckled through his tears and lowered his head, eyes meshing with the ground. “I guess I should have seen this one coming huh? God, I’m so stupid!”

I raised his chin so his eyes would correspond with mines. I smiled lightly and touched his cheek. “You’re not stupid. But, I’m not the right one for you.”

“God, look at me.” I murmured, dusting himself of off the dirt on his clothes. “I’m a damn wreck.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He wiped his cheek. “You’re right, we were bound to fail. I guess I didn’t want to see it. But its reality and it bites.”

24 hours earlier…

 

 “The way I see it is that we all have some kind of fate. We’re all involved in some plan that destiny has set out for us. Unfortunately, most of us get lost and never truly fulfill them. It’s sad really.”

I sat, open toed in the sand, sitting next to the aqua water’s edge at the beach at night, when the starts shined high above in the sky, listening to sage words from a boy who had way too much experience for his age.

“You know K, you’re pretty wise. How did you get mixed up in a gang?”

He chuckled and overlooked the sea’s beauty. “I’m not as good as you seem to think.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Really? ‘Cuz you don’t seem like you could hurt a fly.”

He coughed with cartoonish animation and laughed a pitch higher than his actual voice. I made a face and wiggled my nose, “What’s so funny?”

He gradually stopped and looked over at me, “Nothing, it’ just…I’ve done things in the past that you would find reprehensible. I’ve hurt people, robbed others, gotten into fights…’

“But you don’t now, why?”

He looked reluctant to speak and smirked. “I can’t tell you.”

My face fell into a frown. “Why not?”

“Because it would take away the mystery factor I’ve got going on.”

I punched him lightly on his arm. “I’m serious. Can you at least tell me what the ‘K’ stands for?”

He smiled gently. “No.” he said with an outwardly blunt tone and stood to his feet.

I followed and walked beside along the lengthy and soft body of the sea as the waves crashed repeatedly at our feet. “Can you give me anything about you?”

“Do you like ice-cream?” he asked.

“You’re not answering my question.”

“So stop asking them.”

I huffed in annoyance. He was so hard to break. So closed in, maybe that’s why he was so wise for his age, so keen on what’s right and wrong, on love. “Have you ever been in love?”

He smirked but kept walking. “Is that a yes?” I asked, trying to keep up with his pace.

“It’s a maybe.”

“Do you have to be so damn secretive? I thought we were friends?”

He stopped walking and I bumped into his shoulder in the process. “I like you Evan, more than you might know and I’m willing to admit. But, I lead a life so different from yours.”

I narrowed my eyes in a wave of confusion, “So you’ve been in a gang, so what? It’s over now.”

He shook his head slightly and chuckled, “It’s never really over and I don’t want you to get hurt over my mistakes.”

“Okay, well, can you at least tell me your name?”

He raised his chin to the sky and rubbed it with his fingers, playing with the strands of hair lying under it. “You can call me daddy.”

Rolling my eyes, I brushed passed him and continued to walk down the beach’s lane. It wasn’t long afterwards that he caught back up.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I’m just really closed off from people.” He spun me around to face him and with somber, solemn and crystal blue eyes he apologized. My stomach clenched… What was this feeling? It felt familiar, so familiar but…it was something I don’t think I’d ever experienced before. It felt somewhat new.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m a bit of a mess right now.”

He grabbed my hands, “Don’t.”

I coked my head, “Don’t…”I trailed. He backed up a bit and dropped my hands.

“Don’t fall for me Evan.”

I remained quiet. Was I? Impossible. My feelings were split between Alex and Jacob. That was where my heart’s tune played the lightest and sweetest. Sure, K had his own charm, alluring and dark but this isn’t Three’s Company. I had enough of a headache with those two.

“Who said I was?” I asked.

He touched my face and moved in slowly until were just centimeters apart. His minty breath flushed my nostrils with its addictive scent and his blue eyes played an intimating tone when it gazed into mines. My body shook and craved for his lips all at once. He smiled. “You did.”

He backed away and could breathe again. “Or at least your eyes and body do. I’m not the right person to love or ever fall for. I’m dangerous, cynical, a fighter-”

“You’re also sweet, kind and have a good heart on you K.” I said, interrupting his self destructive tirade. “However, as far as love, I don’t feel it. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.”

He smiled. “Actually, it’s a good thing. It stung a bit, my ego did take a little knock but it’s all good.”

“So who do you think I should choose?”

He smirked. “You know, the moment you stop giving a shit about what everyone else thought and used your own damn brain, you’d be snuggled up against one of those jocks by now.”

“I don’t care what others think.”

“Liar.”

I rubbed my nose and wrapped my arms around myself at the sudden coldness in the air in his voice, both as equaling frigid.

“Am I…am I being selfish?” I asked, lowering my head in abrupt distaste for my actions. Was I playing with their emotions? “Maybe I shouldn’t pick neither.”

He chuckled. “Then you’d be breaking three hearts, one of them being yours.”

I growled in frustration, much to his amusement. “You know what you’re problem is?”

“What?”

“You’re looking for a Romeo. A Casanova or some Shakespearian love story hero. This isn’t a movie, or a romance novel, its cold reality Evan and it’s the one we have to live in.”

He was right. I was looking for some prince to rescue me from this stoned tower I called my life. “Who to choose? I say look at past mistakes. Then you should know exactly who the right one is.”

We talked a bit more and much to my chagrin, I still couldn’t force anything out the guy. He was a seriously closed book.

We lied in the sand in the center of the beach. Our toes would randomly rub into one another’s. I felt the hot sensation when they would connect but he seemed to shrug it away. “Who would you be if this was a movie?”

He was quiet for a minute before he spoke. “I’d be that guy in the back who watches the most popular girl in school because he’s intimidated by her beauty and power.”

I looked over. “Why? That doesn’t seem like you.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Yeah, but they always end up with the happy ending.”

“Touché.”

The Next Day…

 “God, that exam was a killer.”

The three of us looked over at Chris from our lunch table, placed in the eastern side of the cafeteria.

“No it wasn’t. Maybe of you’d study once in a while you’d pass something.” Bobby noted, poking his food in disgust with his fork.

Chris groaned. “God, I might as well drop out and get a job.”

“No way, you can still go to college and major in garbage collecting.” He smacked me behind my head causing me to chuckle lightly.

“Cut it out. Are you guys coming to the football game tonight?” Kim asked form her seat. The boys nodded but my face held a confused expression.

“Football game? Isn’t the season over?”

Chris chuckled. “Yes it’s over but this is a special game where our football team plays one another.”

Bobby nodded and picked up where he left off, “The team splits into two equal teams and play each other. The captain of the winning team usually is the one who gets to address the entire school at twelfth grade graduation in June.”  

The idea was cool but who were the captains?

“This year it’s Alex and Jacob.” Kimmy said and I instantly rolled my eyes.

Because I didn’t see that coming…” I snarled and stood. “I’ll catch you guys later, I’m going to study for my next exam.” They all nodded with slightly concerned looks which I brushed off and exited the sardine packed cafeteria room.

I walked outside among the others, watching them talk to friends, play basketball or just listening to music. I spotted Alex and Jacob, both sitting next to one another with a group of other boys near the big tree in the middle of the field that was surrounded by benches.

With brief hesitation, I walked over to them and stood opposite them and behind two of the boys. The both of them looked up at me with disarray. Obviously they were concerned and a snicker escaped my lips as my mind ventured back to when the three of us were in the emptied classroom together when they were professing their love.

“Hey guys, give us a minute would you?” Jacob asked and without anyone questioning anything, they left. “Come to tell us who you’d rather be with?”

Alex smirked. “Let him down easy would you?” adding a wink at the end.

I gave him a hard look before sitting down opposite them at the bench. “I’m here because I need answers. Do I hold up high expectations out of you two?”

Alex scoffed. “Hardly. Plus, we enjoy competing for you.” Jacob shrugged.

“You’re indifferent about it.” I asked him. His eyes met mines and he closed them and with a large huff, spoke.

“It’s not that I don’t enjoy it. It’s just that it become tiring. I know you don’t want to hurt one of us, but that’s what’s going to happen in the end.” Alex shifted uncomfortably in his seat while listening to Jacob’s revelation. He bit his lips and tapped his fingers nervously on the table, looking everywhere but at me.

“Alex…” I murmured. He grumbled a response without looking. “It’s hurting you too?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders in nonchalance but kept his eyes off of me. “I mean, it kind of stings that I may not be chosen but I’m okay with if I don’t get chosen.”

Jacob scoffed, “yeah right. You’d be a damn mess for weeks.”

“Shut up Jay.”

“I’m serious Alex, you never have taken rejection well.” his eyes lit up and he pivoted towards an annoyed Alex, “remember that time when we were six and Jane kissed me on the cheek and she only smiled at you?”

“What’s your point?” Alex huffed.

Jacob laughed. “Dude, you shoved her head in the sandbox!”

My eyes widened and finally Alex looked at me. He blinked then his eyes imitated mines. “You’re not,” he laughed. “You’re not actually believing this are you?”  

“Believe it. The dude rammed her head so far down that sandbox; she had sworn she heard people talking Chinese.” Jacob declared through his continual, boisterous laughter. Alex’s face was growing pinker by the second and so was his anger.

“Okay enough. Yes, I’m scared.  Sheesh.” Alex squalled out. Jacob snickered from his seat earning a back hand smack from Alex.

“You two are really weird.”

Some chuckled from behind me. Both Jacob and Alex’s eyes blew up with a sense of uneasiness. They looked kind of scared. “Not as weird as you.”

Now I knew why…

I stood up and faced Allen. “To what do I owe this delight?” I said with a visible sarcasm that made him chuckle.

“I came to say goodbye.” My smirk dropped.

“What?” was all I got out.

He smiled a bit but the disappointment in his eyes was as clear as the blue that were in them. “Yeah, mom decided that San Francisco is where we really belong. So were heading back tonight.” My tongue held no words, nothing would come out. “Well are you going to tell me bye?”

I shook of my shock and drew him into a tight hug. “I wish I could say it was a pleasure.”

“Yeah, yeah you sperm dumpster.”

“Bitch.”

“Whore.”

“Stupid, egoistical douche bag.”

We went back and forth like that for a while before we both stopped. He smiled and I followed before we hugged one last time. ‘I’m going to miss you. I mean, who else is going to bitch slap me?”

He smirked. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back…sooner or later.” He said with one last smile. His eyes looked over at the two boys who sat nervously at the bench, watching us intently before he looked back at me. “Jacob.” Was all he said before walking away with his backpack in his hands.

Neither boy heard it but I’m sure that was his intent. “And you say were weird…”

The day went on incredibly slow. Exams were done, kids were rejoicing and at the sound the last bell acted as a massive explosion by the sound of yelling that broke out at every corner of the school’s beige painted walls. The football team however stayed behind. Apparently they were still sorting out who were to be on what team.

I and the gang headed to Chris’ house where we got ready for the big game. We divided into two cars, Evelyn, Chris and I traveled in his while Bobby and Kimmy went in his. When we arrived at the school, sharply eight, the bleachers were nearly packed and only by the grace of god we found a few seats left at the very bottom of the long, steel benches.

“Jesus, is this game really that important?” I questioned Chris, looking at the massive amount of humanity that had actually showed up to watch this game that wasn’t even for a championship.

“It’s really important; the captain who wins is usually locked to win Prom King.”

“Oh…” I murmured and sat down when the game began.

Back and forth it went. Alex’s team – dressed in red took the first few points in the game before Jacob’s team – dressed in black and white took over. It amazed me how much this school was into the game. People shouted when their team scored a touchdown while others howled in disbelief when they missed it. Both Jacob and Alex’s eyes landed on me several times through the game. Both piercing orbs pierced through mines causing an internal battle to wage in my mind and my heart. I was truly confused on who to choose.

The whistle sounded and a time out was called. However, Jacob and Alex left their teams and talked briefly with one another before heading in different pathways. One going left and the other right behind the bleachers. My phone vibrated in my pocket and when I dug it out of my jacket’s pocket the letters that formed Alex’s name were displayed on the screen.

                             Meet me by the school’s side doors .It’s now or never…

I looked over at Chris but before I could speak he nodded his head. “Go.”

I didn’t question how he knew. I just smiled in return and exited the bleachers. There was a pathway between the two large bleachers that led to the inside of the school.

It was divided into two separate parts, one that was left, where the side door leading inside was and one that was right, where the school’s fountain was. My phone vibrated again but this time it was a different jock and his message lied in direct contradiction with Alex’s.

                                                  Meet me at the Fountain. It’s time.

My heart fluttered upon closing the phone as I stood at the crossroad between the paths leading in two very different directions. I held a decision tat would break someone’s heart and ultimately end this triangle once and for all.

“God forgive me.” I whispered and turned. I slowly made my way up the path until I reached him, standing there anticipating me.

He smiled when he saw me, one that I had never seen on him before. It was of joy, bliss and relief. “Hey.” He murmured through his unbridled happiness.

“Hey…. Alex.”

QUESTION: Honestly looking back, who would you choose?

A finale you just do not want to miss!

 

This is it, the final chapter; the entire story has been leading up to this last moment. 22 chapters and one more to go, who will Evan choose? Which jock is better? Jacob or Alex? Who is right and who deserves it more?

The Finale

The End

Next.