I never did see either of them with any girl after that day though.
Weird…
The all-out brawl they got into almost two years ago was a lingering topic of gossip throughout Louisa High School for weeks on end. It was also what my best friend Kelsey would later call
epic
. I thought it was animalistic, but then again, violence had become secondary nature to me.
Then two weeks later, Jack left for reform school and Zachary asked me out. He never bothered to explain what had happened between the two of them that day, but then again–I never actually asked either. Guess I really didn’t care much at the time. Now that he was going to be here, under the same store roof as me, I cared. I cared a lot actually…
“Hey there pumpkin, I heard you might need a ride…” I jumped, letting out a squeal as I covered my mouth. Damn! What was with the Martin family members always sneaking up on me? Mr. Martin was the worst of the bunch with his stealthy ways. “Tammy said you were worn out and had a really rough night last night, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I smiled up at his kind face. “…it’s nothing. But uh, yeah, Mr. Martin, a ride home would be great, thanks.” I was sure as hell thankful to the big guy upstairs that I didn’t have to walk home the five miles today.
Not having a car really sucked.
“Great. Why don’t you finish up what you’re doing, and then we can get you home.” I nodded. A small thank you fell from my lips. “I’ve got to show Jack around for a bit anyways since there have been a bunch of changes to the store since he was here last, so come and find me when you’re all done.” He smiled, his hazel, green eyes practically lit up his entire face. He looked so much like Zachary that I had to hold my breath and turn away.
I missed Zachary, terribly. He’d been such a big part in my life for so long, that being without him hurt. Luckily, each day got a little better…I kept living. I kept breathing. I didn’t cry anymore. I was about to be a senior in high school too, so I had a life to live! Missing Zachary was no longer a life threatening issue, even though I was pretty sure I was still in love with him.
There again, I didn’t need a guy to survive. I had the breath in my lungs, and another day to live. What more could a girl ask for?
It took me another ten minutes to finish up with my shelf stocking duties, but by the time the last shipment of Carabiners had been unloaded, I was beyond exhausted, and more than ready for this Sunday afternoon to end.
Wiping a tiny dribble of sweat from my forehead, I stacked up the empty boxes at my feet into an orderly pile and headed towards the register, yawning the entire way. The funny thing was, after that last dream, I wasn’t even sure if I ever
wanted
to go to sleep again.
“I told you both that if she was going to be working here, then I wouldn’t agree to help. You guys lied to me, what the hell?” Holy balls… That wasn’t Jack Hartman…was it?
I stiffened. My knees knocked together and I gripped a shelf next to me to stay upright. He had a voice that could easily melt chocolate, and it settled in the air around me, consuming me in a way I didn’t understand. No voice should make a person feel this way…especially not from a guy who scared the piss out of me.
I pressed my hand over my chest, praying that my heart wouldn’t leap out.
He sounded almost inhuman, more animalistic, and even more fascinating. I bit my lip, and attempted to peek through one of the open shelves nearby to get a better look at them. Still…I couldn’t see shit.
“Listen Jack, you’re going to have to get over this sooner or later, son. Maybe with Zachary gone for a while, things will be easier on you, and you’ll finally be able to tolerate the…situation better.”
“Yeah, sure and hell froze over yesterday, Uncle Alan.”
“Oh, Jack…can you please try to make this work? We really need you.
She
really needs you…” The teary voice of Mrs. Martin came to a stop, along with the rest of their conversation. I stiffened, and attempted to tiptoe backwards with my hands behind me to guide the way.
Crap, did they know I was listening?
My stomach churned with unease as I slipped down to the tile floor, my back pressed against the metal shelves and I curled my knees under my chin. Man how I wish my own super, secret ninja skills were up to par!
“Hey there Emmy, are you ready?” Mr. Martin appeared stealthily at my left, his voice was as curious as it was quiet.
I squeaked, fist to my chest. He’d done it again! Damn the man!
“Yup, I uh…” I stuttered, twisting my hands together intermittently over my kneecaps. “I have to grab my purse in the, uh, break room first.”
He smiled at me knowingly, a complete and utter Zachary like smile of course.
I stood tentatively, not quite able to make eye contact with him as I slipped off towards my intended destination. My cheeks were flaming hot from embarrassment, and I was ready to crawl into a hole.
Crap. Would I ever learn how to snoop properly?
I didn’t bother looking towards the devil boy that hovered a few feet to my right, even though every sense on my body went on high alert as I passed him. He growled again, and it wasn’t that of a puppy dog. I held my breath as I scooted onward with my head held high. He was either going to attack me, or throw something at me. I was ready for the both.
“Jack Hartman, that’s enough! Leave her alone!” Mr. Martin yelled at said evil boy and I fled into the tiny, nine-by-nine break room.
What the hell happened out there?
I shook my head, determined to gain control of my panic. My heart didn’t calm, but my breath eventually evened out. My trembling fingers dug around inside of my purse. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but the simple action was helping to ease my weirdly wired emotions, so I kept up my hunt, even if it was pointless.
“You know…if you didn’t have that big suitcase thing for a purse, then maybe you could find what you’re looking for.” Holy. Balls. He was in the room with me. Why was he in the room with me?
My body stiffened like rigor mortis had set in. His deep voice bellowed with humor from behind me.
God give me the strength to make it through this alive.
“Umm, well…”
Crap Emmy, get it together
! I was speechless
and
panicky? This was so not good, especially since I hadn’t even gotten a look at said crazy guy yet.
That was about to change. It was time I put on my big girl panties and woman up. No boy was ever going to get to me again.
“Um hel-lo? You got a hearing issue or something Strawberry, ‘cuz I’m talking to you.”
Oh hell no. He did not pull the nickname crap on me…
Turning around, I went all out Muhammad Ali on him, one fist raised up high in a ball, the other one ready to do the Three Stooges eye poke if need be. I had to have looked like an idiot, but I was prepared, that’s all that mattered.
Soft chuckles insulted my inner eardrums as I finally peeked at the unwelcome intruder.
“Well…do you?”
Everything in the room blurred except for the black haired boy before me. My breath caught deep in my lungs, my palms began to sweat. Yeah, seeing him was nothing like hearing him.
If anything, it was worse.
My mouth dropped open, a gazillion pounds of drool had to have been spilling out as I gawked up at the vision in black jeans and a white tee shirt.
My heart, it didn’t just skip a beat at the sight before me. It went all out marathon instead. There was nothing in my life that could have prepared me for what I saw there, leaning up against that door frame.
Wowzas…
Hot damn…Jack Hartman had turned into a babe!
My eyes met and devoured his blue ones with an intensity that I
couldn’t even begin to describe. My stomach flipped-flopped again, and if my head hadn’t been attached to my neck, then it probably would have been spinning. Crap…why did the long-lost, scary ass cousin have to be so gorgeous?
“What? You see something you like, Strawberry? ‘Cuz I can tell you right now, you are
definitely
not my type.”
…and there went my momentary stupidity. Can you say asshole?
“No! I uh…um…”
Come on Emmy, you can totally do this…
“My purse is um…I mean
was
my late grandmother’s so I like to, uh, carry it around so I can have a little piece of her with me at all times.” I crossed my arms awkwardly, letting my purse dangle in front of my stomach.
He perused me with his sky colored eyes. Damn him. What was he thinking? What did he want?
I’ve never been the type of girl who could handle being caught off guard. In that moment, with him standing there all-delish and stuff, that was exactly how I felt, and I didn’t like it.
At all.
“Huh…so you’re telling me, Strawberry, that you have a piece of your dead grandma in that purse right there?” He smirked, pointing down at the object in question. My brows drew together at his cocky smile.
Oh the nerve of this hot as hell asshole.
Lifting my chin in defiance, I poked an accusing finger at him, intending to give it right back. There was no way I was going to put up with this bullshit. “Listen you asshole, you know that’s not what I—”
“Jack! Get out of here, and leave Emmy alone.
Now
!” Mr. Martin’s fierce voice interrupted our almost battle, saving me from completely beating the crap out of the guy. Not that I could have taken him anyways…
I harrumphed in irritation at the interruption instead of relief, tapping my foot against the floor as I stared back at Jack. Okay, so if I were five, then a ‘nanee nanee boo-boo’ would have easily fallen from my lips at Mr. Martin’s berating of his nephew. But I was seventeen, and could easily have taken care of myself, if need be. I didn’t need anyone to come to my rescue, and if I had five more minutes alone with this guy, then he wouldn’t have looked all that pretty anymore…
“I was only saying hello Uncle Alan. Emmy was the one harassing
me
…”
What the hell? Harassing?
I couldn’t put one full sentence together when I was talking to him. How in the hell was that considered harassment?
“Mr. Martin I’m sorry, but I didn’t—”
I turned to face him—to explain myself—but he stopped me, raising his palm and pressing it outwards. I curled my upper lip in annoyance at the man I loved like a father. But no more words slipped from my mouth. Apparently my time at talking was done. Nice. I breathed in through my nose, and out through my mouth, trying hard to reign in my anger towards the man who was obviously trying to keep me safe.
“I know Emmy; just grab your stuff so I can get you home. Jack was supposed to be getting something for Tammy out of the storage room. Obviously though, my nephew has some issues with following directions.”
I glanced over at Jack again, curious as to what his response was. And instead of guilt, or regret, I saw humor playing out across his mouth. My jaw dropped. Man, this guy had a big time authority issue. Hell, even his eyes looked like they were smiling. Wow, what was his issue?
“See ya soon, Strawberry…” Jack whispered.
Mr. Martin wrapped an arm around my waist. I tried hard not to cringe at his all-controlling protection issue, and couldn’t help but glance back over my shoulder towards this boy—again. He was quickly becoming a magnet that I couldn’t resist looking at, even if he infuriated the hell out of me.
The truth was, Jack Hartman affected me more in the last five minutes than any boy had ever done before.
That
scared me more than anything…
My pulsed rocketed as our eyes met again. Then he smiled at me, that cocky bastard smile, as he threw me a little one fingered wave. And no, it wasn’t his pinky that he used either.