A novel of salvage high chapter 26
Jeremy POV
I sat at the school rooftop, and emptied my last can drink.
I actually saw everything coming, Alex sudden outburst, and everything that happened today, but I believe it’s for the best. We have been friends for over a decade, but I have always been walking on eggshells whenever I’m around them. Unlike them, I was not born perfect, I wasn’t born into a billionaire family, or rather, I wasn’t born into a family because I don’t even know where I belong. My mother had me when she was in high school. According to the what I heard, it all results from gang rap£, but my mother never reacted to it. My sudden birth cost her a lot, it changed her teenage life drastically, and she was disowned by her parents because she refused to ab0rt the pregnancy. My mother and I lived a peaceful life in the province for six years, although it was never peaceful because others won’t stop prejudging us. Parents warned their children against being friends with me, and the town refer my mother as a wh0re for being a young single mother. I had a though time while growing up, that each time when I think about it, I believed it made me stronger.
*
*
FLASHBACK to when I was 6-year old ***
*
It was almost time for elementary school inter-school competition and everyone was practicing in different club. I’ve always loved soccer ball, but I feared that they could send me away and bully me. After contemplating for a while, I decided to give it a shot. I have been bullied countless times so it’s nothing I can’t handle.
I went to change into my jersey and joined the kids who were exercising.
“What do you think you are doing here?” Emma. One of the kids who is the head of the soccer player said.
“I.., I want to join.” I shuddered, and they all laughed.
“You want to what? Do you think this is a game that an illegitimate son of a wh0re could participate in? Do you want us to be as unfortunate as your mother?” He lashed
I made a fist trying to control myself from reacting, but I failed. Insulting my mother to my face wasn’t new to me, but referring her as ‘unfortunate’ really got me, and I bounced on him.
“Hey, Emma.” The others shouted, before the couch came to separate us, and summoned us to the principal’s office.
“It was him, he hit Emma first.” All the students shouted.
The principal summoned our parents, and my mother arrived along side Emma’s mother.
“Baby, why did you hit him? You promised me not to get into fights, so why did you do it, sweetie?” Mum asked, touching my face, and I couldn’t control my tears.
“You have to take proper actions for this. Look at what that punk did to my son?” Emma’s mother shouted.
“Mrs. Cruz, that’s why I summoned you here, we are going to take proper actions.” The principal said.
“Ma’am, my son can’t hit him without a reason, my baby is not a troublemaker.” My mother defended.
“So, are you saying my son caused it? Look at what he did, my son is the victim here.” Emma mother shouted.
“Baby, why did you hit him? You can tell mummy, you know I’ll understand.”
“Heeee…, heeee…, he said you are unfortunate.” I cried.
“So? Aren’t you unfortunate to have a fatherless son in such age? What did my son did wrong by telling the truth?” Emma’s mother shouted, and my mother slapped her.
“What? Ms. Taylor.” The principal shouted, and went to separate them before it leads to a fight.
“I was willing to let this slide with just an apology, but now I refuse. The school must take proper disciplinary actions. It’s not my son’s fault that you and your son are unfortunate “
“Neither will we apologize. My son did nothing wrong for standing up for himself against a bully, so he has nothing to apologize for. Let’s go baby.” Mummy said, and dragged me out.
*
“I’m sorry, mummy.” I cried, when we get to the hallway.
“No, don’t be sorry, baby. Don’t let anyone step on you. Always fight back, like now. Then I’ll be proud of you, my love.” She said, and embraced me.
*
Our life takes a turn afterwards. I dropped out from school, and mum wasn’t able to process my transfer to another school. The Cruzs are influential people, and they were willing to go through any length to get back at us. They even went as far as causing mum to lose her job, and bought the house we rented to drive us out. Everyone in the town turn against us, and mum and I were helpless in the street with no where to go when he arrived, my uncle. He arrived like our knight and took us in. He was in the province for a business trip, and he has been showing interest in mum but mum was too scared of him, considering his reputation - he was a mafia boss. At that point, we were helpless, and mum could do nothing but gave in to him. He helped us get back at the Cruz, and took us with him to New York City.
He opened a new chapter in our life, and enrolled me into a prestigious school for elites. I was scared of being a new school considering the trauma of the past, but I was lucky to have a friend in my first day at school. Having a friend was new to me, mum was my only friend, but the new school was different I met a friend at my first day, Gabriel who happens to be my seat-mate.
“Hey, I’m Gabriel Morgan. I intentionally chased my seat-mate to secure this seat for you, I’m sure you saw that. I like you already. That ride that drop you off at school, was it your father’s?” He asked, and I could instantly tell that he was talking to me because he thought I was wealthy.
“No, it’s my uncle’s.”
“Wow. Your uncle is a real deal. My grandfather bought that same car two weeks ago, and it worth a fortune. I even saw your uncle’s necklace. I have a thing for luxuries. Let’s be friends. What’s your name?”
“Jeremy.”
“Your last name?” He asked, and I started to tremble.
“Taylor.” I summon courage to say.
“Wow. Taylor. How come I never heard of that name before. Are you new in the city?”
“Yes.”
“Come, let me go introduce you to my friend. He is at the cafeteria waiting for me.” He said, and I nodded.
A glance at him, one could already tell that he is an elite, so I feared who his friend could be.
*
We got to the cafeteria, and he introduced me to Alex. Unlike him, Alex wasn’t friendly.
“I like you, you are handsome. But how come we don’t know the Taylor’s. Who is your father? Not your uncle?” He asked, and I started to tremble.
“Don’t be scared Jeremy. We just want to know who we are being friends with. We are elites, and we can’t associate with just anyone. Don’t worry if you don’t fit in, we won’t bully you.” Gabriel assured, scaring me more.
“My father is late.” I said, and their eyes widen.
“What? How? Was he sick?” Gabriel asked. “Was it a car accident, or a fire accident?” He asked again, and I decide to go for that.
“It was a fire accident.”
“Oh, po0r you.” Gabriel said.
“What does he do before he passed away?” Alex asked.
“Come on, It must be hard for him to talk about it.” Gabriel scolded.
“Hi, Alex.” A boy walked up to our table, and Alex chuckled.
“Wow. Your name seems famous these days. I can’t believe even tables bear that name.” Gabriel said, unable to control his laughters.
He reminds me a lot of Emma, and I started to tremble.
“Alex, my mother baked some cookies, and she packed some for you.” The boy said, and dropped a lunch box on the table.
“Wow. The wife of my father’s secretary baked cookies for me, but since I’m not hungry like you, what should I do to the cookies, Gabe?” Alex asked, with crossed arms.
“Let’s feed them to those who are hungry.” Gabriel said, unable to control his laughters.
I stood there in fear wondering how the situation seems funny to him.
They held the helpless boy down, and they started feeding him the cookies, forcing him to chew them and rubbing it on his face, while the others gather around to mock the boy.
“Please, please…”. He cried helplessly.
I couldn’t watch them anymore, so I ran off and started avoiding them until Gabriel confronted me one day, he stopped me from leaving the class first when it’s recess break. I’ve always been leaving first, and hiding somewhere away from them.
“Hey, are you avoiding me?” He asked, smiling sarcastically.
“No, no. I’m not.”
“So, why are you always leaving the class in hurry?”
“I’m yet to complete my transfer process, that’s all.”
“I see… since you are done now, come with me.” He said, and I followed him in fear to meet Alex who was in a beautiful playground.
“Hey, it’s our runaway bestie.” Alex said, and came to pat my shoulder.
I trembled in fear, wondering if they want to bully me.
“Why are you avoiding us? Do you h@te us?” He asked, his words were so intimidating.
“No, no.” I trembled.
“Do you think it’s unfair that I feed that boy his cookies? It’s just right, Jeremy. You should put people in their place. And if you keep avoiding us, we will also do the same with you.” He threaten, and I looked at him in fear; wondering if my cover has been blown.
“What did I do?” I asked, in fear.
“My father always tell me that friends become even more distant than enemies the moment you cut ties.” He said. “So, choose.” He added.
“I’m sorry.” I apologize, unsure of what I’m being sorry for.
“Come on. Don’t tell me you are scared. Let’s play.” Gabriel said, and they both laughed.
We played alone in the playground, and that was when I discovered that the playground was specially for them. Their parents were highly influential, and they always have their way with everything in school. The teachers were scared of them, so as the students. And I found myself becoming like them, I had to join them to avoid being their enemies, and gradually we got along, and we become a trio that was feared by everyone at school.
*
*
FLASHBACK ENDS***
*
I’ve been working on eggshell around them ever since, from fear that my cover would be blown, and I could get bullied by them.
I was able to survive through elementary school, before we enroll in same grade school, forming a friendship circle with Melanie, and finally becoming the famous elites in salvage high.
*
I left school late in the evening, and arrived at Daniel’s house.
After few minutes of talking, he dropped the call and looked at me.
“Jer, I’m sorry. I had no choice because my card was in that wallet, I carelessly packed it with your stuffs.”
“It’s fine, bro. “ I said, and laid flat on his bed.
“Jer, I didn’t ask you before, because I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. But why did you left home and move in here, keeping it a secret from your close friends?”
“Because I don’t want them to worry. I had some issue with my uncle; and I don’t want them to get involved. Thank you for everything, Dan. I’ll leave tonight.”
“What? Why? Are you upset?”
“No. It’s about time I return home anyways. Mummy is worried.” I said.
“Alright. Get a phone and keep in touch.”
“I’m not leaving now. I’ll have dinner before leaving.” I said, and we both laughed.
“Hey boys, dinner out or in?” His twins sister asked barging in.
“Hey, girl. You should knock because we are boys.” Dan lashed.
“What could two boys in a room be hiding?”
“Hey, what are you insulating?”
“Why are you getting worked up? Why? Are you doing something to be ashamed of?”
“Dinner in.” I said, to stop their argument.
“Then suit yourselves, I’m eating out with friends.” She said, and stormed out.
“So why was she asking?” I blurted.
“She just wants to get on our nerves.”
“I can hear you.” She shouted, from the hallway, and we both laughed.
“Jeremy, set me up with Gabe. He is playing hard to get.” She said, barging in again.
“I told you to get off Gabe’s case. If I ever see you with him, our parents will hear to it.” Daniell threaten.
“Hey, I’m your twin sister, not your little sister.” She fired back.
“You will explain all that after I report you.”
“I h@te you.” She lashed, and barged out.
“What’s so wrong with Gabe?” I teased. Fully aware of his reason.
“If you were a female, would you date that player?” He lashed, and I laughed.
*
Later in the night after dinner, I left the house and board a taxi to my uncle’s house.
I inhaled heavily before I went in, wondering what could be in stock for me.
“Hey, lil boss is back.” My uncle men teased.
They had little or no regard for me in that house, but they always tried to be in their best behavior whenever uncle is around.
I ignored them all, and decide to go to my mum room first. Getting close to the door, I heard a loud cry from her room.
“My uncle is at it again.” I thought, and angrily ran to the room to meet my mother in pool of bl0od.
“Mum, what did you do to my mother?” I shouted.
“The prodigal son is back.” He teased, and took the exit.
“Mum, we need to take you to the hospital.”
“Baby, I’m fine. Just take me to the bathroom.”
“No. I’m taking you to the hospital and that’s final.”
“Baby.” She cried, touching my face before she passed out.
“Mum.” I cried, shaking her vigorously.