A twist in a twist

This is a story I started many years ago but never finished. I endeavour to finish it. You guys will be the first to see it.  Enjoy. Constructive criticism please.

A twist in a twist. By Jsaymmeess
Prelude.

I don't know how I did it but as I approached the bus stop I realised that what I had done was more than what I could handle. I realise now that what I did was more than what either of us could handle. In all of our time together, not once did I think it would result in what had happen. Why does life have to be so harsh?

~

⚫I thought I knew him, but clearly I didn't. He just walked out on me. Right through those doors without a look back. I stood and stared not daring to think more than I had to, for fearing what reality would do to me if I did. Why does life have to be so harsh?

 

@Adam. You have to be far from right. All will be revealed.

 

Chapter One: Day One

Moving school is hard, that is a fact of life. Every teenager experiences the difficulties of such an event. Losing friends, having to make new friends, leaving everything you know for something that you don’t know and of course, the fear of not knowing what would happen in the distant future. For me it is much harder.

Being two years older than everyone else in my year was partly the reason. Being timid, shy and scared of everyone around me was the main reason. Both these reasons together create my life’s story of success and ultimate fail.

Why was I two years older than everyone else? Long story short, I was abducted by my so called ‘father’ at the age of twelve and locked up for a year. Then I spent a year in trauma rehabilitation. So all in all, I started year seven two years later than everyone else. Starting year twelve at a new school was going to be more hell, especially if anyone found out that I was already twenty.

It must be that feeling you get when you meet someone and you know that they're new to the campus. Every eye was on me. Watching. Judging. I knew what they were thinking, was I geek, jock or in between. Me? Well, I'm geek. Black hair, messy, immaculate green eyes; so I've been told, and a small body. Luckily though I'm quiet tall, towering over six feet.

As a geek, I enjoyed anything to do with computers. I've built twelve of them to prove it. Calibrated hundreds of sensors and created billions of applications. Okay, I exaggerated a littler there. Maybe a few.

Probably the year locked up like a dog has taught me a thing or two about being alone. It is the likely reason I am so happy to code geek stuff, you can do it all by yourself. In fact, I probably enjoyed being alone more than I did with...'friends.' Actually, it isn't probably, it is definitely. I definitely love being alone. I was a loner or as the internet portrayed it - forever alone.

I began to sweat. The Australian heat was pouring on me. The eyes didn't help. Each step I took was slow and excruciating. Not wanting to make a fool of myself in front of my new peers I took things slowly.

Like everything that has happened to me so far, in my twenty years, nothing seems to go right for me. All I wanted was to be happy with my life and be happy with this new school. I had three goals when coming to this school. One, try not to be bullied. Two, don't make a fool of myself. And three, try and get to know some people. But alas, clearly someone else had other plans.

Without a moment to think, my face was falling, falling to the white tiles below. My feet had been pulled from the floor and laughter started almost before I had hit the ground. I had a feeling that everyone knew what had been installed for me.

I already hate this school. I hate it as much as I hate my old school. In the old school every single person in that place did nothing to help me. Everything I did was either wrong or not right. I tried to make friends, and all I got were bullies. I really did try my best, my very best. But, like I've said many times before; nothing seems to work out for me. I don't even think the old saying, ‘if at first you don't succeed, try again’ applied to me. I've tried for twenty years. So clearly I'm the only exception.

To be continued.

 

Chp. One. Continued.

So as you can probably imagine, life at that school was evil and hell. I don't know how many times I tried to end my life. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. I don't know how many times I've disappointed my mother or made her cry. Pause.

Checking to see if I had broken my nose, I noticed that I hadn’t actually damaged anything. Weird, I thought my nose would need bandaging. I lifted and dusted myself off. Looking around to see the who on the earth had tripped me. A blonde hair, blue eyed and absolutely handsome guy was snickering with teeth baring at me. I opened my mouth to speak but he spoke before I could.

"Take it as an initiation," said the unnamed blonde guy. And before I could say even a single word he just walked off. Others followed. I guess they were his henchman.

Sometimes reality and imagination can mix together, well maybe just for me anyway, but; I swear I saw a girl glare at him. Clearly my head isn't working right. No one would ever be bothered to defend me. I'm an idiot, worthless piece of junk who likes to code more worthless piece of junk. Then it happened again, another girl glared at him. Or were they glaring at me? No, they were clearly glaring at him. What could this mean?

Then it happened, something that almost gave me the most terrible migraine. The two girls that I saw glaring at the blonde guy, turned and smiled at me. And, and, they gave me a wave. Oh my God, what does this all mean? Do they like me, feel sorry for me or were they smiling at some other dude? Surely it must be the last option. They wouldn't waste a smile on me. Let alone a wave.

"Are you all right?" said a voice that interrupted my train of thought. I looked to the direction it had came from and saw that it belonged to a another guy. I didn't know what to say. I've been in this school for a mere five minutes and billions of things have happened. I just stared into his eyes wondering whether I should answer or not. It must have been quite clear that I was uncomfortable with the situation because he asked again.

"Are you all right mate?
"Yeah, thanks." I said after a while. He smiled again. I didn't know what to do. Smile back or look away. He smiled again. I couldn't help myself. I let out a weak smile, nonetheless it was a smile.
"The names John," he said putting his hand out. I reluctantly shook it, softly though. I haven't actually shaken many hands, not because I didn't want to but because no one wanted to shake a loser's hand. You've probably heard enough about my life but, I assure you, my life's tale is only unfolding. The past, present and future will be told to you. Slowly, but it surely will be told.

"And yours?" John continued happily.
"Fletcher," I replied shakily trying not to catch his eye. I find it quite ironic that a twenty year old is getting intimidated by this seventeen-eighteen year old. You would think that a twenty year old guy like me would be good at acting in control.

"Fletcher, I saw what they did to you, don't take it to heart. James and his gang are always doing havoc. You're not the first so, yeah..." he trailed off, looking at me as he said the last words.

I just looked at the ground without moving a muscle or making a sound. There was a moment of awkwardness between John and I before he broke the silence.

"Hey, you're new yeah? Want me to show you to you're homegroup?" I didn’t reply. I just continued to stare at a spot on the ground as if it was the most exciting thing in the world. I heard a small shuffle of feet and then John spoke again.
“I’m not going to bite you man... loosen up.”

To be continued.

 

Chp. One Cont. #2

John started to walk and motioned me to follow. I didn’t know whether to follow or just stand there in the middle of the corridor. John again motioned me to follow him and when I didn’t move he grabbed my hand and dragged me in the direction he wanted me to go.

“What homegroup are you in buddy?” John asked nonchalantly. Somehow that took me by surprised. John had had this awe of happiness a moment ago and now he seemed quite unconcerned.
“Dude, listen, I’m not going to lie. I’m trying to help you here so the most you can do is help me out by answering my question” he trailed off looking at the ceiling and the doors around the corridor.
“Okay,” I paused. I hadn’t actually looked at my timetable at all. In fact I was only given it 15 minutes ago so I barely knew how to read this confusing 10 day timetable. I grabbed it out of my pocket and before I had even finished unfolding it, John had grabbed it out of my hands and started to read.
“Sweet!” John exclaimed a few seconds later, clearly realising something interesting about my timetable, “you’re in my homegroup Fletcher!”

I didn’t know whether to be happy, concerned or confused. As I’ve said lots of times before. No one has ever been happy to see me and ever since stepping foot into this school I got an impression that things might be changing for the good.

John spent a good ten minutes explaining to me how to read my timetable and I was surprised at how easy it was to read. The first three periods was kind of the same as the events that happened before school. I went to class, got an interesting welcome from the teachers, got a few smiles and pats of the back from a few people. In the end I had a bigger migraine then when I started school. It could be because I wasn’t use to this affection or ‘friendliness’ that these people were displaying.

You could imagine how grateful I was to hear that it was morning tea time. The next problem was I didn’t know where to sit or what to do. But again John came to the rescue. Within moments of morning break I was sitting with John’s group of friends. There was April who from what I could work out was the stereotypical cheerleader girl. Gorgeous, amazingly beautiful, spectacular body and a heart captivating smile. She was always flanked by at least three or four other girls of similar body shape and beauty.

Then on the other end of the spectrum was Amanda. Dorky and geeky are probably good words to describe her. Somehow, like everything so far in this school that I’ve come across with, Amanda and April were amazingly good friends. Laughter could be heard from the girls corner of the circle constantly. It was surprising to me to see that two girls of such different cultural classes could be such good friends. At my old school the cheerleaders, jocks and popular kids were there in corner A and all the dorks and geeky and unpopular ones were behind the lockers or somewhere out of everyones way. Yet, Amanda and April are chatting away in from of me talking about the latest magazine or movie. I just could not comprehend it.

In terms of the gentlemen. There were three types, the muscular and well built lot, the geeky lot and the group of guys that didn’t fit in either. Albert seemed to be the head of the jock, muscular group and like April had a number of guys that flanked him where ever he went. And then there was Matthew. He was quiet. He didn’t speak as much as the others but when he didn’t they would listen. He had a look that told you he liked to take control or probably better to say, ‘listen when I talk’ appearance. In the thirty minutes of morning break I heard him speak eight times and every time he would say something with words that I’ve never heard of. The others seemed to understand so I just followed everyone’s reactions as to not bring attention to myself.

You’re probably asking, how was the reception? Did the group like me? I told you before, going out into morning break without a clue of what to do just made me really nervous. John’s group of friends from what I could see really tried their best to make me feel welcome. At one stage, they all looked at me and tried to make some conversation out of me. But that didn’t work very well.

All in all, it was a pleasant lunch. I didn’t get punched, spat on or ridiculed once.

Then it was time for classes again.

As lunched neared I was thinking this day couldn’t be any better. It was running quite smoothly and I was hoping to end on a high note. Alas, nothing ever worked out for me.

To be continued.

 

Chp. One. Cont. #3

I was putting my books away into my locker when I heard a few snickers behind me and I knew instantly something bad was about to happen. I just knew it. Think of it as previous experience has taught me snickering is never a good sign. Especially when it was getting closer and louder by the microsecond.

All reality came crashing down as I found myself dangling from the air held up only by my briefs. I started to scream, well I tried to. Do you know when you have those moments where you laugh so much that no sound comes out? Well imagine that but with pain. It was excruciating. It radiated up my spine into a spot on the back of my neck. It was like getting a million needles and jabbing it in places that you would expect to jan. Not to mention my lower body was in so much pain it felt paralysed.

As quick as it happened the pain subsided and I was released from midair into a pile on the ground.

A shadow loomed over me and before he spoke I knew who it was. Again instincts told me.
“Did that hurt you new kid?” James asked with a hint of laughter. Not a hint probably more like a bucket full of laughter. I swear he was laughing so hard he was crying. I probably should be angry at him in someway but honestly I couldn’t care less. To me this felt normal. It was something I felt comfortable with, something I could relate to. Getting a wedgie by the popular kids is normal, isn’t it?

I've been bullied all my life so anywhere I go I expect to be bullied. I thought making friends on my first day was to much to be true.

“Hey! James is speaking to you!,” shouted a guy I didn’t know from the back. I continued to look at the ground at a point a few centimetres from James’ shoe. He does have a nice legs doesn’t he? The shoes were coming towards me. Shit! I tried to look at something else. Then with a flick, his foot and shoe came into contact with my face. It hurt, a lot. I was on the verge of crying at that point. My behind was in pain and my face had just being kicked. The only thing that I hadn’t endured today was being spat on. Oh wait, here it comes. A big blob of saliva came flying towards my face and it hit my left cheek with a splash.

Laughter erupted from almost every corner of the corridor at that point.
“Answer my question!” James suddenly yelled, “did it hurt you asshole?”

He grabbed my chin and pulled it up to look straight into his eyes. Our eyes locked for a moment and I could see mixed emotions behind those beautiful blue eyes. Spectacular blue, almost the colour of clear water in a lagoon.

We locked eyes for a moment longer before James broke the contact. James stood up and looked around at the people that hard formed a circle around us. From whatever he could interpret of their facial expresses James seemed to come to the conclusion that I need to be beaten up more. He swung his fist back to go for the blow.

There are events in your life where everything moves very slowly. A good example is the event that was about to happen. The clenched fist slowly came towards me, moving swiftly through the air. I could see the ridged of his skin, coarseness of his knuckles coming towards me. It was only a few centimetres from its target - my nose. I closed my eyes expecting the worst, but it never came.

I opened my eyes to see a hand holding James' wrist. I looked up to see who it was and almost instantly looked away again feeling shame.

“Get lost James” John said calmly.
“What the hell do you want Bolt?” spat James angrily, “this is none of your problem, get lost!”
“Fletcher is my friend James. Just leave him alone and...” Before John could finish his sentence, James cut him off.
“No, get the hell out of here before I kick your ass to!” James practically screamed at John as he said those words.
“This thing doesn’t belong here, he doesn’t belong anywhere in this district even. Why do you...” This time John cut him off by saying:
“James I am not going to argue with you. Leave the poor guy alone!”

James and John got into a stare off and after about fifteen seconds of this James breaks away.

“What ever, just make sure he doesn’t miss me off”

As quick as they had come, James and his crew vanished down the corridor out the door.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come early Fletch. I really am sorry. Forgive me?” James said this with a bemused look, “do you need to go to the nurse’s station for first aid?” I shook my head and took the hand that John was offering me to help me get up.

“Again, I’m sorry. Don’t take it to heart. James and his crew are always making havoc.” John smiled at me, “lets have lunch. Food!”

End of Chp. One.

 

Chapter Two: The New Kid

Waking up this morning I have to say it was quite uneventful to say that least, even for my standards. Even my parents found this morning quite boring. They’re usually the life of the breakfast table, wishing me a good day and talking about the events in the news. Today was a different story. Mum was cooking breakfast and dad was just sitting at his side of the table not really doing much at all. I guess it is this heat wave that has hit us hard. Six days straight the weather has been sticky, hot and humid. Six days straight the whether has been forty degrees Celsius or for you other folks that’s 104 degrees Fahrenheit. No wonder everyone is tired, angry and annoyed.

I laughed quietly to myself which received a few weird looks from my parents but neither said anything so I continued to think to myself. What made me laugh was this. Yesterday dad was so annoyed at the whether that he started to argue with the lamp, yes, the lamp. It was an interesting scene to watch is all I could say. Coming home from football practice and walking into your dad screaming his lungs out at a lamp is very amusing. I chuckled to myself again and this time dad said something.

“What are you laughing at?” he said sternly.
“Nothing much dad, I just remembered something funny.” I replied hoping he would drop it and not ask any further. He just looked at me oddly and turned back to staring at the kitchen table.

I took the opportunity to look around. I’ve been in this kitchen so many times now that I’ve lost count. I loved this kitchen dearly. It plays a huge part of my memory as a kid. I’m seventeen now and ever since I could remember everything good, bad, sad and happy that has happened to me happened in this kitchen. The earliest birthday I could remembered happened right here. My tooth coming out for the first time happened her. The first time I cried happened here too. You could say that I am being quite nostalgic and you wouldn’t be wrong there. Some people are very patriotic, I’m more of a ‘kitchen-iotic.’ Is that even a real word?

Not to long and I was back in my bedroom again getting ready for another long day at school. God, I just hate wearing a tie. Yes, my lovely parents decided that they wanted to send me to a blazer wearing high school. And thank heavens these people have some common sense. We were told we could wear a short sleeve shirt with shorts and no blazer when it got hot. Imagine having to wear the full uniform in forty degree heat. Heavens. We would melt!

Beep, beep.

A text message came through as I was tightening my tie up. I looked at the screen. Josh.

Ey, make sure u come early 2day i heard tat there is a new kid 2day we have to show him the initiation. dont be l8 meet u near the car park by the big tree

I took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. I honestly don’t get why we do this kind of stuff. But I am the ‘leader’ of the group as they called it and apparently we’ve been doing this for so long we couldn’t stop now. I hope the kid is wearing boxers or else that wedgie is going to cane like hell.

To be continued.