Punker – Chapter 25 – Story

Like expected, we didn?t take two steps on the property before obtaining hussled towards the Principal’s office. And, just as predictably, Bailey and Anna had been already there.

I shifted closer to Beth, just in case, but as soon I took a quick appear – and then a long one – at Anna I started to wonder who exactly the victim here was. The Christian girl using the black and blue knuckles, or the rocker chick with all the battered face? Bailey didn?t move from his nursing duties at Anna?s side when we entered. He held an ice bag to her head and rubbed her back soothingly as she whined silently in her chair. I watched them using a mixture of jealously and anger. The latter directed fully at Bailey.

If he cared about her so much why let her fight in the first place? But the answer was clear as day, even to me. They had been sure she would win. Hell I had been sure. But Beth surprised me, like always.
“Close the door please.” A man, who I just now noticed sitting in the Principal’s desk, commanded politely.
I didn?t move, neither did Anna or Bailey. Beth, of course, was the one to eventually respect the man?s demand. I began assessing him warily.

He was tall. Like freakishly so. And thin as shit, with wide eyes and slicked back salt and pepper hair. He seemed familiar actually, but I couldn?t place him. I looked to Beth, who was eying him curious too.
As my eyes locked with his across the room I got a ?you don?t want to fuck with me? vibe. I smiled.
This was going to be excellent.
“Take a seat please you two. Subsequent to the other children.” He said. I noticed an accent in his voice, like that sophisticated country drawl, but barely, I remember that too. Where have I noticed him before?

“We would rather stand if you don?t mind, you realize, because of recent circumstances.” Being a smart ass to the Principal, poor idea I know, but do you really think I give a fuck by now?
His placid smile that had been firmly in place given that we came in faded.
“Take a seat please you two.” He repeated, the slight edge to his voice said ?you don?t want to disobey me? I countered using a appear that replied ?then you obviously don?t know me?.

The tension in the air was undeniable to anyone with half a brain, it was a battle of wills now. I planned on winning. That was, I did, until Beth grabbed my arm in an attempt to lead me to a seat. I stood my ground. She turned sharply and gave me one of her looks. Geez, I hated that appear. I pleaded with my eyes for her to let me mess with this guy, just for another minute. Her eyes didn?t falter. I grunted, moving in front to lead her to the outermost seat so that my body could act as a wall between them and her.

“Moron.” I heard Bailey mutter. I gritted my teeth.
“So children,” the Principal began merrily, like we had been being rewarded instead of punished. “I got some poor news today, and I detest poor news.”
“As do I.” I breathed so only Beth could hear, she elbowed me in my ribs.
“But before we address that? Mr. Maytin?”
I arched a brow.
“Seems we have yet to be introduced, which is definitely unfortunate. Especially because we came to this school about the very same time.”
“You?re new?” I asked.
“Mr. Kenning retired last year.” Beth answered.
The new Principal smiled at her.
“That?s right Ms. Dowenger, and yes Mr. Maytin I am new to this school as you might be. I am Mr. Sacrone. Tristan Sacrone.”
Beth gasped quietly in her seat.

Tristan, I knew that name. I still couldn?t think of it. I looked to Beth for the answer. She mouthed one thing to me, her eyes wide with panic. Ben. Holy shit, it?s that guy from the bookstore. Holy shit.
“Now, where was I? Oh yes your punishment. Well from what I was told it seems this young lady was the instigator.” He addressed Anna. “Along using the dark headed boy.” Bailey. “You two will receive 3 weeks of Rehabilitation class for starting the fight, no matter its? outcome.”
I couldn?t but snort a laugh.

“As will you Mr. Maytin.”
“What?! I was the one trying to stop the fight!”
“Yes, but as I hear it you?ve been the center point of most of the recent trouble these couple of weeks. You will also be given an extra week for that little instance at detention and never ever bothering attending your second detention.”
“This is complete bull-”
“I can guarantee nothing of a bull has passed by means of that door Mr. Maytin.” He set his gaze on Beth.

“Ms. Dowenger, you also have four weeks, because the injuries to this young lady more than here are a bit extensive if you had been only trying to defend yourself. That being said, it was defense so just a half a week much more.”
“Yes sir.” She replied.
He sighed, his smile returning.
“Then the unpleasantness for today is more than. Your classes will start subsequent week. Have a great afternoon children.”

I guess here the people who win the fights get in a lot more trouble than the people who actually started them. Definitely bullshit. And Rehabilitation class? Even bigger bullshit. I can take detention, and I by no means really got the poor part of not going to school or getting to do make up work when you got suspended, but oh no we go to Rehabilitation class here where they ?Rehabilitate? your attitude on life.

My school life for 3 weeks consisted of:

Going to school (An hour earlier!)

Sitting in one little room using the two people who make your life miserable. (And sitting in-between the two people who make you the most confused)

Confidence building class for the first hour. (Basically someone telling you how crappy you will be as a person now but maybe, using a lot of work, you could mean some thing to the world later on)

Confession class for the second hour, which takes two hours most of the time seeing as how I refuse to talk for the first one, and make up ridiculous stuff for the second. (I told the teacher I killed hairless cats because I had a fear of going bald)

Bible Study class for the subsequent two hours. (Aka nap time for me)

Abstract class for a hour. (Draw a pretty picture of a flower so that we feel like we?re doing a great job)

And finally How Did You Feel class. (How did you feel when you came to school, how did you feel about confidence class, how did you feel about confession class, how did you feel bible study class, how did feel about abstract class, how do you feel about how did you feel class)

Then you go home and do it all more than again the subsequent day. I swear I thought about calling in a bomb threat just to stop it. When Bailey and Anna left it was better, but I was still pissed. Partly because I didn?t do a damn thing to deserve an extra week and partly because that Tristan guy just rubbed me the wrong way. I needed to know a lot more about him. Like what he and the old man had going on in the past. Maybe Beth could help, that is, if she didn?t decide just to stay here the rest of her life. Beth took the whole thing in stride, even enjoyed it to some degree. She participated in all of it and gave me shit when I was being difficult. Whatever her issues had been I guess she figured this Rehabilitated thing help some. I doubt it, but if she thought it did then much more power to her. I wanted Beth happy.

It was her last day in class with me and I still had two far more days, so you could say I was a bit gloomy. Usually because I had to be at this stupid thing an hour earlier than regular school I had leave the bookstore an hour before that so I was asleep in the beginning of class and Beth always woke me up. This time my awaking was a rude one.
“Mr. Maytin!” A woman yelled in my ear.
“Wha?” I croaked out, trying to see by means of sleepy eyes.
“You had been asleep.” The teacher, who?s name I in no way cared to remember, gave me a disapproving glare. “And where on earth is Ms. Dowenger?”
I looked beside me but her seat was empty. She still had a day left, was she skipping? No, Beth didn?t do that kind of thing, but then where was she?

“Hello ma?am, I need some copies please.” I gave the office woman one of my sweet smiles.
“How many dear?”
“One-hundredth.” Her mouth flopped open, I smiled sheepishly.
“That?s quite a lot.”
“Yes ma?am, and also I need to change some thing on my information card, is that ok?”
“I suppose.” She reached under the desk and pulled out a little black case full of index cards, withdrew one with my information on it and handed it to me.
“Now I?ll get those copies for you.”

I waited till she was out of sight then reached more than to grab the case, I immediately flipped to the D?s. Beth by no means did show up to class. She hasn?t been herself lately and I was tired of waiting for answers.
“Dowenger.” I read out loud to myself form a particular card, a grin of triumph spread across my face. I continued reading.

Name: Dowenger, Bethany
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Grade: 12th
Address: 1106 North View Dr.
1106 North View Dr., I could find that? I wrote the address on my hand and was about to put the box back when a name caught my eye.
Hallingsworth, Annabell.

First off, is there seriously not a single E, F, or G in the entire school or am I just that lucky? Second, Annabell Hallingsworth? Not the kind of name I expected. Of course I couldn?t help but read on.
Name: Hallingsworth, Annabell
Sex: Female
Race: Caucasian
Grade: 12th
Address: 2012 Garden Av.

There was no way for me to stop my hand from writing it down? even if I had wanted to. Rapidly I put back the box right as the lady came back with my copies.
“Here you’re sweetheart.” She said pleasantly.
“Thank you ma?am.”
“Have a nice day.” She called after me as I left.
“You too.” I returned, dumping the useless copies as I headed out the door.

It wasn?t hard to find North View Dr., but it was easier to find Garden Av. At least that?s what I?m going with. I kept thinking to myself; what the hell am I doing here? But sure sufficient I kept driving till I found her street. Then I drove past 2009. And 2010. 2011. Bam, 2012.
Excuse my language but? God damn.
I had stopped in front of a house, no not a house, a damn mansion. Well maybe not a mansion, but pretty freaking close. Two, 3, stories. Perfectly green lawn with sprinklers included. Perfectly cut bushes using a perfectly cut apple tree off to the side. It was blue, but not just any kind of blue, like royal blue. And is that a balcony? What the hell, there?s no way a girl like Anna lives here.
No not Anna, Annabell lives here.
“Newbie?”

I stumbled out of my car at her voice, I spotted her leaning against an Escalade – a God damn Escalade! I debated whether I should speed off now or greet her. I mean what would I say? “Hey, just came by to say hey after I found address in the office like the creeper I am.” Yeah that?ll have some sparks flying. On best of that she still had a black eye, producing it even far more awkward to talk to her.
“Well are you coming more than here or not?” She barked. Guess she made the decision for me.
I hurried more than to her and was about to say? one thing, when I noticed someone was in the car.
“Oh um?”
“My dad.” She answered.
“Hey?” I didn?t to ask, but parents make me nervous.
“Hi there.” He greeted.

He had a surprisingly easy grin to be Anna?s dad. He looked like an easy going guy too. They looked a lot alike. Very same face shape and everything. He extended his hand to me and I took it. I noticed he had a working man?s hands, rough and calloused. I wondered what he did.
“Is that it?” Anna asked. He laughed off her tone. Yep, easy going.
“Sure honey. So what?s your friend?s name? I?m sure it?s not Newbie.”
“Aaron.” She pushed me towards her house.
He sighed. “Ok then. Bye Honey.”

She didn?t acknowledge him. We stepped inside the house and suddenly a brown headed woman stepped into my way.
“Annabell did you ever speak to your father?” She probed. Anna?s mom, I guess.
She looked like Anna too. I?ll bet this is where she got her hotness, because her mom was especially hot. She seemed like one of those women who always wore dresses, even in the house, but right now she had on a T-shirt and jeans that had been splattered with green paint.
“Yeah mom.” She started shouldering me up a flight of stairs.
“And don?t forget to move your stuff out today we?re painting your room tomorrow.”
“Fine.”

“And appear after your brother while I get dressed, your father and I are going out tonight.” She smiled when she said that. A little boy in a school uniform came thundering down the stairs as we reached the leading shoving past me.
“Watch it Jay!” Anna screamed at him.
“I wanna cheese sandwich sissy!” He screamed back.
“Make it yourself jerk.”
“Mom!”
“He can?t use the oven Annabell you realize that.”
“Can I have two fucking minutes maybe?”
“You can as soon as you put in a dollar for that word young lady.”

She rolled her eyes and murmured “Bitch,” under her breath. She grabbed my shirt and herded me towards her room. I heard her mom yell up that if I needed anything that I could help myself. I couldn?t reply.
A huge house, Escalades, parents that don?t hate each other, a little brother, and did I mention a huge ass house? This is not the Anna I expected. This isn?t anything like I expected. She opened a random door and pushed me inside.
I felt saliva start to fill my mouth.

She had a flat screen, a monster bed, an awesome stero, a bean bag chair, and other crap I didn?t even know the name for. Oh my God, I really like it here.
“Like it?” She asked snidely.
“I?”
“Guess you?ll be coming more than much more often huh?”
“No, I mean that?s not why I would-”
“Oh so you?re here just for me? What happened, Ms. Holy not sufficient for you?”
“I told you…” I sighed. “I?m not here to fight.”
“Then why are you here?” She stretched herself out on the bed in a sexy position. I slick think she can?t help but do stuff like that.
“I? don?t know.”
“Well I do.” She patted the spot subsequent to her.

I swayed. That really wasn?t the reason I came. But she looked so great. She had on brief black shorts along with a white T. Barely any makeup today. I liked her much more for it. I couldn?t help it, I moved to sit beside her. She kissed me on my neck. I groaned, this girl knew all my spots. I put my hands on her face and turned her for a kiss. We half laid there, propped up on elbows, kissing. She went to take off my shirt?
“Sissy I?m hungry!” Jay started pounding on the door.
“Shut up you little freak!”
“I have to go.” What am I doing? This isn?t why I came here.
“Whatever.”

Her lack of emotion didn?t bother me this time, I needed to get out. The family members scene by no means sat well with me, and Anna had a perfect household. The one thing I by no means thought I would find. I opened her door and looked down at her brother.
“Hi.” He said. His cheeks had been chubby and red from banging so hard. His brown hair wind blown, probably from running, and his little fist was still in position to resume it?s pounding.
“Hey.” I cracked.
“Are you sissy?s friend?” I heard Anna snort behind me.
“Kind of.”
“We fuck Jay.” She announced, I winced.
“F-o-c-k.” He pronounced innocently, his eyes wide with curiosity. “What?s that mean?” He asked me.
“It means we have fun sometimes.” She chuckled.
“Oh.” He looked at me. “Can I fock too?”
I ran down the hall and ignored the sound of Anna?s laugh. I ran past Anna?s mom, past her dad, and didn?t stop till I was in the car and far from that house.

It took only a couple of minutes to get to Beth?s house, but I drove around the block a couple of times. Going to Anna?s had me freaked. I could still see her brother?s wide eyes staring at me, not understanding what was going on before them. I use to be like that. A little boy who didn?t understand half of the things that happened right in front of me. I understand now. And soon sufficient he will too.

Finally I parked in front of her small house. The kind of house I thought Anna would have. Nothing special. It was white, with white windows, plus a white roof. I wasn?t so scared about going to Beth?s house, in fact I rushed up the drive way. I needed to know if Beth was ok, and that was much more essential to me than anything. I knocked.

A minute later I heard some russling plus a sound I couldn?t describe. Like a moan plus a croak put together. I watched as the door cracked open to a slit.
“Aaron?” I saw beth?s coffee brown eye appear in the door. She looked tired.
“Hey you weren?t at school today so I? I came by.” I said weakly, realizing how dumb that sounded.
“How did you realize where I lived?”
“Oh, you realize, the office.” Dumb, dumb, dumb.

She stared me down by way of the door. Somehow it was worse than a full on gaze. At last she opened the door fully and stepped out onto the porch. Her hair was in a messy ponytail, she had on a baggy shirt and jeans, and she just looked drained.
“So your not ok.” I pointed out.
“What are you doing here Aaron.” She asked wearily.
“I don?t know.” I said for the second time.
I heard that sound again, it came from inside the house. Beth?s head snapped around, then back at me.

“You need to leave.”
“I just got here.”
“And now you need to leave.”
“Why can?t you tell me what?s wrong.”
“I?ll see you at school.”
“Is there some thing going on?” She tried to step back into her house. I grabbed her arm, and that?s when she snapped.
“It?s none of your damn business Aaron! Why do you even care? It?s not like it?s your problem, so what exactly is it? Do you want one thing from me? Is that it? I should have known. All guys like you want is some thing to fuck. I don?t need your kind of help so just-” I pulled her into my arms and held her tight.

I didn?t know what else to do. The way she was talking? I hated it. It scared me to death that some thing was effecting her this much. That I couldn?t do anything. So I held her, and maybe if I do it long sufficient all her problem would go away. She buried her head in my chest and held me back. We stood there like that for some time. A crash from inside broke the silence harshly.
“Beth.” The wail from behind her was understandable that time. She pulled out of my arms.
“Please leave.” She open the door and was inside before I could blink, she looked back one last time.
“Please.” And then she was gone.

What do I do? What can I do? I was by no means one to be pushy. I?m not that person who can keep poking until you finally break. I hated it when people did it to me, I by no means got why they couldn?t just leave it be. But now, as I stood outside Beth?s door I wanted desperately to barge in and demand an answer.
I waited and listened. I heard sounds, but didn?t know what they had been. I took a step backwards, it almost hurt. But if she didn?t want me here?I turned around. I took another step?then walked back up to the door and gently turned the knob. Unlocked. If she didn?t want me in why keep the door unlocked. She wanted me to know, but only if I wanted to. I thought about leaving, and I thought about staying. What was right and what was best. Then I decided I didn?t give a shit about that, I had to help her, and so I walked in.

And what I found in that house, I?ll in no way forget. I won?t forget the way the house smelled, how dark it was, how everything was too quiet as I walked past the den into the hall, and I won?t forget how I watched as Beth cowered against the wall as a shadowy figure hovered more than her, a piece of broken glass in its hand.
Because it was the scariest moment of my life.
I lunged swiftly, grabbing the attacker from behind and throwing him to the floor. I stood preparing to attack.
“Aaron no!” Beth cried, wrapping her arms around my waist to stop me.
“What?s wrong with you, he?s trying to kill you!?” I yelled.
She looked at me with tired eyes.
“That?s my mom.” She whispered.

I could only stare. First at Beth, them her supposed mother. I didn?t understand. She let me go to try to pick her up from the floor. What the hell was this?
“They had been going to take your mind honey. They told me they had been coming for you, make you like me.” She whined.
“I know mom, it’s ok.” She moved her towards the couch. What have I gotten into?
“They told me you?d be better off dead. They keep telling me to kill you.” She babbled on and on. Beth nodded, told her it was ok more than and more than. She looked at me with sad eyes but all I could think was, why did I come in?

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