You're My Second Chance

Chapter 8

When I walk into the house I see John, the woman, and the man I presume to be Oakley. He walks over towards me to hug me.

"Feels like forever since I've seen you," He says

"It certainly does feel like it," I say not knowing who he is  

"How's school, has everything been ok, anyone been messing with you," He asked

He must be my brother I thought to myself

"Schools been great, how have you been," I say learning more about him

"Ya know college stuff," he says cackling 

"Well I'm gonna go to bed, it's been a long day," I say

"Ok, see you tomorrow morning, night," Oakley says

"Night Adrienne, Betty, and I love you," John says

I shake my head. Why does he call her Betty instead of mom, at least I know her name?

"My feet are killing me, how do they walk in these all the time," I say throwing my pumps in the closet.

I go to my dresser and pull out a set of black polka-dotted pajamas. I walk into the bathroom and remove my makeup brush my teeth and head to bed. I close my eyes in exhaustion ready to fall asleep instead all I could think of was Jesse. An arrogant self-entitled guy. I feel there is good in him it's just deep down. I shouldn't have said the things I said. 

When I wake up, I pick out my outfit and grab my shoes. I take a shower and head downstairs and Betty is already putting food on our plates, I sit down and start eating.

"You want me to walk you to school," Oakey asks 

"Sure," I say 

"Bye guys, I'm heading to work," John says grabbing his suitcase and kissing Betty's forehead.

"We should probably go too," I say to Oakey. 

I put my dish in the sink and grabbed my books heading outdoors. An awkward silence filled the majority of Oakey and I's walk.

"Are you dating someone?" Oakie asks

"You've been gone, and you ask me if I'm dating someone," I say

"Yea, I'm trying to get caught up, with that attitude I'd say you were,"  He says

"If you were planning on making me mad this walk, you did," I say

"Hey don't even start with me, you're the one keeping secrets," He says

"I don't have anything to keep from you, why don't you just go back home I can make it to school myself," I say

I abruptly get shoulder swiped again. I turn around and sure enough, it was Jesse Wright, no cousin with him this time. 

"I'm sorry, guess I didn't see ya there," Jesse says cackling 

"I guess you didn't see me yesterday either," I say with a jokingly smile 

"This him," Oakey asks angrily

"No, I am not with anyone now back off, I can take care of myself," I say

"Apparently you can't, hanging out with this trash," Oakey says

"Ouch" Jesse mumbles sarcastically

I smell a familiar smell, one that gives bad memories. Alcohol.

"Have you been drinking, it's eight in the morning" I say angrily and confused as if I knew this person forever.

"No, what's wrong with you, just because I've been gone, I'm an alcoholic now, oh yeah I forgot I was the black sheep cause you are little miss perfect,"  Oakey says

"Is this why you wanted to walk with me, so you could lay your problems on me. Let me tell ya something, things aren't easy back home and you have a lot of room to talk about perfect. Mom and dad worship the ground you walk on. You didn't think I noticed did you. They slipped you money last night because you needed gas. Now you're drunk. I came down to get some water and I heard the whole conversation," I say 

I feel a blunt jab towards my head not painful but shocking. My mouth drops as I realize Oakey had just hit me. I grab my face while my mouth is wide open.

I look up and I see Jesse strike Oakey right in between the eyes. The two were throwing punches back and forth. 

"JESSE STOP" I kept yelling

I grabbed Jesse's arm and pulled him back and looked into his green eyes. 

"Stop Jesse," I say scaredly 

"You just go on and have fun with that little whore" Oakey yelled 

Jesse jolted forwards and I grabbed him and looked into his eyes. He could read them, he rolled his eyes in the back of his head and jerked his arm away from my grip, and started walking away. I wanted to chase after him. But Despite not knowing Oakey I knew something was wrong and he needed help. Jesse had hit him so hard he lost his balance and was barely walking a straight line. I walked him back home when Betty came into the kitchen.

"Adrienne, your face is bruised. Why are you guys home? What happened" Betty asked concernedly 

"It's a long story, but we need to get Oakey help I'll talk to you when I get home from school," I say

I walk out the door and start practically running. As I was running all I could think of is why Jesse would have done that. He knows me nor Oakey. All I know is I need to talk to him. 

When I get to school the bell had just rung, and I ran to Mary Sue.

"What happened, Adrienne, are you ok," Mary Sue asked concerned

"Yea, a bunch of crazy things happened this morning, can you cover up this bruise," I ask

" Yea, of course, let's go to the bathroom," She says.

" We are gonna be late, you better tell me what happened later, "She says fixing my makeup 

"I will, I say" 

"There," She says.

I look in the mirror and it looked like the bruise never existed.

"Thank you so much," I say running out of the bathroom 

I walk into Geometry taking my seat. As Mrs. Smith is passing out the tests that we took yesterday. Great something else to deal with today. I grabbed my test and was shocked to read I got a ninety percent, the highest I have had in years. I had to practically contain myself from screaming. I hear someone grunt in disgust I turn around and of course, the only greaser in my class happened to be Jesse. That's where he looked so familiar when I saw him in the diner.

" Ok, you guys are free to talk now, not too loud or we will get straight back into the book," The teacher said

I walk over to Jesse's desk and notice all the bruises on him. 

" Why did you do that for," I ask sternly

"He hit ya, what was I supposed to do just let it happen, "He said 

"Well look at ya now, ya got a gash in your cheek and bruises everywhere," I say grabbing a tissue out of my bag and bringing it up to his cheek. He jerks away. 

"What do you think I'm gonna do, hit you," I say sarcastically

"I don't know, you could probably pack a more powerful punch than that bafoon you were with this morning," He says cackling. 

"He's my brother, he just got home from college, I guess he picked up some bad habits there too," I say 

He squeezed my hand giving me a warm smile. Like Alex did. 

"I'm sorry," I say getting up grabbing my things, and leaving the classroom. I don't know if I felt worse from the bad memories that were brought back or the confused disappointed look on Jesse.