“That’s okay I like this one, besides Belle and I were talking about something.” I dismissed her and turned back to Belle.
“I think we should go call your friend before class starts back.” I got up from the table and pulled her up with me.
Jared gave her the once over and went back to talking with his friends, with the two limpets still hanging all over him.
I heard the name Jace again as we walked away but didn’t pay it too much mind, just another mindless jock no doubt.
“Ooh you’ve done it now, they’re not gonna let you play with their toys. Look, all kidding aside, I like you; you’re the first person since first grade that I can actually say that about, so I’ve got to tell you.
This, what you just did, is social suicide. If you haven’t noticed I don’t exactly fit in with that crowd and not to sound bitchy or anything but you do.
By that I mean I bet you were part of the in crowd back where you came from, so you know how these things work.
I appreciate what you’re trying to do and all, but you’re not doing yourself any favors, just thought I’d let you know.”
“You done?” at her nod I turned and continued walking, “let’s go call Tammy I can’t wait to meet her. If she’s been putting up with your crazy ass since the first grade she must be something.”
“Hey watch who you call crazy around here, these freaks take that stuff seriously. Half of them are always hopped up on something.”
I pushed my arm through hers and we laughed our way outside to call her friend and see what was up.
Chapter 4
JACE
“Mom how’re you feeling?” I removed the washcloth from her forehead and checked her temperature again. She looked and sounded like hell.
“Son, I told you to stop worrying about me, Marisa could’ve taken care of me just fine.”
“Yeah and dad would’ve had my ass. It’s time for your next dose open up.” My mom had come down with the flu two hours after dad left to go out of town.
It was supposed to be a busy weekend for me, but I had to put some things on hold to take care of her or like I said, my dad would’ve ripped me one.
It’s just the three of us and we’re pretty close not to mention whenever dad leaves on business he always reminds me that I’m the man of the house and mom is my first priority.
I was a little bummed about missing the first day of school but not much, there wasn’t going to be much going on there today anyway, and dad was due back tonight.
“Didn’t you say you were supposed to practice with your new wide receiver today? I know you needed to do that, it’s all you’ve been talking about for weeks.”
“Mom quit it would ya, I met Jared on Saturday, he’s cool and if he can do half the things coach says then one missed practice isn’t going to make a difference.
I went in earlier to talk to coach while you were asleep, he understands.
Besides, I’d rather be here taking care of my favorite girl.” I kissed her forehead and gave her some medicine before making sure she was well covered up.
“You want one of those coma inducing books you read or the TV on or something?”
“No, the medicine knocks me out so I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Fine, I’ll stay until you are.” I sat on the edge of the bed with her and held her hand while she got settled. It’s the same thing she did for me when I was little so I know how comforting it is.
We’re not the Cleavers or anything that trite, but both my parents have always instilled a certain set of values in me.
I guess it’s because I’m an only child and they were afraid that I might turn out like some of the offspring of their peers.
Mom’s always regaling me with tales of some of the other kids in the neighborhood who happen to be some of my classmates, and her biggest fear seems to be me turning into a little asshole, influenced by daddy’s money.
That’s not really my style though, so she doesn’t have anything to worry about there. That’s the reason I’d broken things off with Mandy after a year of dating.
She was the hottest girl in school yeah, and her dad was almost as rich as mine, but the girl was missing something.
I’d tried to overlook her shortcomings in the beginning, what seventeen year old wouldn’t if the sex is that good? But in the end it just wasn’t worth it.
As dad likes to say, ‘you’re known by the company you keep.’ If I was still dipping my wick in that well then people might start to think I was a stuck up asshole who only cared about my newest car or whatever the latest in thing was. I was too old for that shit.
My focus this year is the game, not that it hadn’t been before, but now I was being scouted seriously and I had made up my mind that this is what I wanted to do.
I had a lot of opportunities before me. As the son of one of the leading studio heads in Hollywood, there wasn’t much I couldn’t set my sights on.
But I never knew what it was I really wanted to do until now. And now with the new wide receiver who has taken the nation by storm coming to join us, I had no doubt that we would do great things on the field this year.
Mom fell asleep five minutes later and I headed downstairs to toss the ball with my dog Jasper.
My mind wasn’t on anything in particular. I’d just turned seventeen and was looking forward to my last couple years of high school. I was doing pretty good in all my classes, so I was looking forward to cruising it.
Dad got me the new Phantom Drophead Coupe for my birthday in the summer, and I was itching to take it out and put it through its paces, but that was about it. Pretty lame when you think about it, but I’d grown pretty jaded.