Invitation to a Better Life (Shedding Life's Miserys Part Six) (standard:drama, 6752 words) [6/8] show all parts
Author: Siobhan	Added: Oct 01 2002	Views/Reads: 2298/1714	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Jessica looses control of herself at several parties when she allows grief to rule her decisions. Before she knows it, she is in Brandon's arms, but before she leaves, her and Brandon are going to have some serious issues.

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The drugs, whatever they were, had a strong effect and her mind felt as
if it were blanketed.  She saw Rhonda smile suddenly with a tiger's 
mouth and then she bit Jonathon's strong neck.  Jessica shook her head 
and the image was gone but there were monsters hiding in the shadows of 
the room and there was a doorway in the ceiling.  There were flames 
flickering in the doorway, bright, burning flames that whispered her 
name which though it was a whisper was louder than the beat of the 
music.  She heard the voices of all that she had ever loved and saw the 
other partygoers laughing with dark, soulless eyes and hideous mouths 
full of decaying teeth.  Brandon's teeth were upon her neck, nibbling 
and his lips were sucking, leaving bruises Jessica was sure.  The music 
was giving her such a headache and then she blacked out. 

Jessica woke up in her bedroom, a pounding headache throbbing in her
skull.  The sunlight was blinding and she let out a curse at whoever 
had opened her windows.  She sat up and her stomach and brain groaned 
at the slight movement.  The room tilted for a moment then righted 
itself.  Jessica was in one of her nightgowns and she wondered if the 
night  before had only been a dream.  Her neck was stiff and tender but 
she assumed that could have been from sleeping funny, at least she 
hoped.  She stepped unsteadily out of bed and stumbled to her mirror, 
grogginess clogging her vision and making functioning difficult.  Her 
breath caught in her throat when she saw the dark purple hickeys upon 
her neck. 

How was she going to explain those to her mom or Steven?  They would
both flip at the evidence that she hadn't been as good as everyone 
claimed and she did not want it getting out about what had happened 
last night.  Especially considering she wasn't sure of all that had 
happened last night, 

She was in the middle of concealing the incriminating marks when someone
knocked upon her door.  She threw herself into her bed and pulled the 
covers up to her chin.  She hoped and prayed that whoever it was would 
not look to closely at her. 

“Who is it?” she called lazily, sounding as if she had just awoken. 

“Steven, can I come in?” the voice replied, sounding muffled through the
heavy wooden door. 

“Sure,” she sighed and he strode in.  She feigned a yawn and stretched
her legs out but stifled anymore movement lest she disturb her covers 
and reveal the bruises upon her neck.  She could not allow him to know 
what had happened last night, she would not permit him to see the 
evidence upon her neck.  It would be the end of her going out or doing 
anything because she knew that he would tell her mother and her mother 
would ground her. 

“You overslept so you don't have to go to school today,” he explained
but the sentence seemed to cloak something else and it hung upon the 
air as if it needed prodding.  She didn't want to have to pull it out 
of him so she decided that she would play his game and not ask what was 
wrong. 

“Oh, well thanks,” was all she said.  She knew there was more to why he
was in her room and she awaited him to say it. 

“Um, we're going to the doctors again today for some more tests. One of
your friends, Rhonda, said to come over to Brandon's tonight.  You know 
when and where.  I think it would be best if you did cause I don't know 
when we'll be coming back,” he swallowed and looked out into the 
glaring sunlit world.  He seemed so distant and away in another place, 
almost as if he were walking down memory lane, admiring all the 
beautiful sites. 

“Alright,” she responded and he turned to leave, “Steven, I know that
you're doing your best.”  He nodded his head and quietly shut the door 
behind him.  She laid her head back into her pillow and squeezed her 
eyes shut.  She knew that she should do something about the hickeys but 
for the moment, all she wanted to do was sleep the darn headache away.  
So she began to count sheep and sleep blissfully came to her and she 
left the world of hangovers, dying mothers, and evil stepfathers who 
were broken by love. 

When she awoke again, it was to Rhonda gently shaking her.  Her face was
one of the most tender compassion that she had seen since her mother, 
and Jessica felt comforted by the warm presence of her new friend.  
Even though Rhonda was sweet and truly caring, she did not want to get 
up.  Her head no longer was killing her too much but her neck still 
was, and she was exhausted. 

“Come on hon, we have a party to attend to tonight,” she insisted. 
Jessica groaned and rolled over, trying to shut out her friend.  Not 
another party, she was barely recovering from the one she had attended. 
 In fact, she hadn't recovered yet and could need a couple more days to 
recuperate. 

“No Jessica, you need to get up!” Next thing Jessica knew, she was
tossed on the floor in a pile of her blankets.  She grudgingly sat up 
and saw Rhonda flexing her muscles, a playful smile teasing her lips.  
Jessica blinked a couple of times and lazily yawned, wishing she could 
just flop back down and sleep. 

“Supergirl proves her superior strength by defeating sleep and rescuing
Jessica from its evil grasp,” Rhonda playfully boasted and Jessica 
permitted a small smile.  It was hard to believe that only a day ago, 
she had believed Rhonda to be possibly one of the most conniving and 
scheming girls in the school.  She was such a great friend and a one of 
a kind person, it was impossible to believe that she was capable of 
causing any harm. 

“Ok, fine, I'm up,” she stood and stretched her arms into the air.  She
was so darn tired and drained of energy.  She felt as if each movement 
were killing her but she knew that it was just her mind playing with 
her.  All she had do was exert some effort and she would feel fine in a 
little bit. 

“So, what do you plan on wearing to the party tonight?” Rhonda wanted to
know, but she was flabbergasted by that question.  Did she really have 
to change for another party?  She had just been to one last night, and 
anyway, she didn't know what to wear.  She was happy with the idea of 
crawling into the basement wearing her nightgown but she knew that when 
the moment actually came, that she would not enjoy wearing the pajamas. 


“I don't know, didn't we go to a party last night?” she questioned,
hoping that perhaps Rhonda had forgotten and was a bit confused. 

“That wasn't a party.  Brandon knew you were upset so it was more a
forgetting your problems deal than anything,” Rhonda plunged into 
Jessica's closet, already on the search for the perfect party attire.  
She felt touched that they had gotten people together to cheer her up, 
it made her feel better and loved. 

“Oh, how'd he know I was upset?” she asked, for she had not told anyone
of her issues until last night.  It was almost as if the group had 
psychic powers and even though they made her feel better, it kind of 
creeped her out that they always knew what she was thinking.  Rhonda 
pulled a risqué strapless green dress with a gauzy green scarf. 

“Ooh, this'll be perfect,” she crooned, her eyes lighting up at the
beautiful sheer material. 

“Where'd that come from?  I don't remember owning that one,” she strode
over and fingered the wispy material.  She really thought it was pretty 
but couldn't imagine that she had the guts to wear it, much less buy it 
in order to wear it. 

“Oh yeah, a gift from me to you,” Rhonda chuckled.  Jessica shook her
head and took the beautiful dress into her own hands.  No wonder it was 
not registering with her mind, but it was stunning.   So unlike what 
she usually wore, and then suddenly a horrible thought occurred to her. 


“I...I didn't do anything “wrong” last night, did I?” she had to know,
fearing the worse.  She was sure that in her drug and alcohol induced 
coma that something had occurred and that she was now “soiled goods”. 

“Naw, you blacked out so Katherine and I took you home.  We dressed you
in your night clothes than we went home,” she explained and Jessica 
felt relief swell in her stomach.  She was so glad that Rhonda was her 
friend and her neck started hurting her as if reminding her of another 
question she should ask. 

“But the hickeys, from Brandon...,” she left her sentence hanging,
afraid that she would learn more about the night before than she really 
wanted to. 

“You guys were just kissing.  Brandon was a gentleman, there was so much
more he could have done cause, uh, you would have let him last night, 
but he controlled himself,” she laughed and Jessica felt as if she were 
a joke now for the entire group.  But she was sure that she was not the 
only person who had ever got drunk or high at their parties, in fact 
she was probably just one of the hundreds.  But somehow that didn't 
make her feel better. 

“Was Katherine that other girl?” she inquired about the girl with the
gray eyes.  She felt grateful and indebted to the girl who had not 
known her but shown her deep compassion and caring.  It was unusual to 
find such an unselfish person in the world today. 

“Yep, she was your other savior,” Rhonda teased, rubbing in Jessica's
previous mistakes from the night before.  She felt insulted and angry 
at the crude teasing,  which so openly made fun of her choices.  She 
had decided what to do in a state of mind that wasn't exactly stable, 
she had to be given a break. 

“I really don't want to go to the party tonight,” she mumbled, afraid of
a repeat of the night before and unwilling to put up with anymore of 
the crap that Rhonda thought was appropriate to rub in her face.  She 
was tired, still had a slight headache, and had too much to think about 
to deal with her thoughts that she was really funny when she wasn't. 

“Of course you do.  You have fun and enjoyed everything which is why
you're afraid.  You're afraid to have fun in light of everything that 
is going on,” Rhonda's words hit a note and Jessica realized that she 
was right.  She was afraid that having fun would be bad because of what 
was happening to her mother, but she needed to let loose or she would 
destroy herself.  She was just afraid of being too loose. 

“Ok, so maybe you have a clue what you're talking about.  Turn around so
I can change,” Jessica announced and Rhonda grinned triumphantly.  She 
turned around and Jessica threw on the adorable dress.  After that, 
Rhonda braided Jessica's hair into thousands of braids then pulled them 
into a tight ponytail. She took the delicate scarf and wrapped it 
around the ponytail.  She then revealed a cute pair of light green 
platforms shoes.  Jessica admired herself in the mirror and smiled.  
Once again, she had been changed into someone else but tonight she 
would also enjoy the life of someone else, and not because she was sad. 
It would be because she wanted to. 

A black suburban screeched to a halt in front of her house and the two
girls raced to the window. A chunky boy who looked as if he were twelve 
stepped out of the driver's side.  He had black hair to his ears and 
his left ear had an earring in it.  He had leather spike bracelets upon 
his wrists and he wore all black.  He gestured to them to hurry up and 
get down there then he stepped back into the car. 

“Who's that?” Jessica wanted to know, aware that she had never seen the
young looking boy who somehow also looked evil. 

“That's Ryan, Katherine's boyfriend,” Rhonda explained as they flew down
the stairs and out the front door.  Jessica paused only for a moment to 
lock the door then she caught up with Rhonda.  They squeezed into the 
tiny back seat.  She couldn't believe that she was going on her own 
freewill rather than the grief induced passage that she had taken last 
night. 

“Everything better?” Katherine inquired, her gray eyes full of sincere
concern.  It was strange how a girl who hadn't been her friend could 
actually care so much. 

“No, but for tonight, I'm forgetting all about it,” Jessica decided and
smiled confidently.  Ryan chuckled and roared down the street, the 
rumble of his engine echoing in the quiet neighborhood.  They reached 
Brandon's house and piled out of the built-up  SUV.  Another group of 
giddy teenagers poured out of a Saturn next to them and they converged 
into one big group.  They tumbled through the door and the sickly boy 
nodded his head in acknowledgement as they walked by.  He didn't even 
look at Jessica tonight, but ignored her as if the sudden change were 
apparent in her and unattractive.  She didn't mind. 

They half walked and half ran down the stairs and the scents were
pungent in their nostrils but this time, Jessica recognized them as the 
smells of beer, drugs, and sweat that she had been a part of yesterday. 
 They reached the broiling mass of teenagers twisting to the music.  
Brandon somehow found them almost immediately and he casually slipped 
his arm around Jessica's waist.  She didn't pull away and instead 
leaned into him for she craved the touch, as if it were proving that 
she were alive and not dying like her mother.  She couldn't believe 
that she was allowing herself to be swallowed by the idea of being 
popular but the looks she received made her feel powerful and awesome. 

“You made it,” he whispered into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers
down her back and his lips barely brushing her skin.  She wanted to 
pull him into one of the backrooms and do everything that she wanted 
to, but she knew that even though she was changing, she had not changed 
so much that she could throw away that one rule. 

“Of course I did,” she smiled and he kissed her on the lips.  The touch
of his skin against hers was an overwhelming temptation and she gave in 
ever so slightly.  She kissed back and when he pulled away, his eyes 
were blazing with something, almost hunger.  He strode over to the 
wall, leading Jessica by the hand and he reached into a cooler.  He 
pulled out a beer and handed it to her.  She opened it and took a sip, 
flinching somewhat from the taste but finding that she liked it in a 
strange form.  It was weird how everything was growing on her, but when 
she thought about it, she knew that was how everything in life worked.  
It was like a fungus that grew on everything, the lifestyle was too 
much fun not to allow it to take over.  He took the beer from her and 
also took a drink. 

They began strolling around the moving kids, his hand around her waist. 
It was as if he had claimed her as his and she had claimed him as hers. 
 No one else could be a part of them, no matter how much they touched 
and pleaded.  She knew it and thrilled her, especially when she saw the 
looks of jealousy from the girls and guys everywhere they went and she 
felt as if she were being worshipped, and she liked it. 

Rhonda and Jonathon showed up by their side all of a sudden and Jessica
noticed a look of seriousness upon Rhonda's pretty features.  She 
wondered if everything was ok or if something had gone severely wrong.  
She wanted to know and she curled her arm up tighter around Brandon's 
arm. 

“Can we speak with Brandon, alone please?” Jonathon inquired, a current
of aggravation underneath his warm voice.  She felt herself get annoyed 
and fought the urge to be nosey, she wasn't completely one of them yet 
so she decided to comply and back off. 

“Sure,” Jessica replied and Brandon gave her a quick peck upon the lips
before releasing her.  She stood alone watching the three converse.  
She wanted to join them for once alone, her sense of daring and 
breaking new ground began to fade as if they were the electrical 
socket.  When they became disconnected, the energy source became cut. 

“Are you Brandon's girlfriend?” a slender but young looking girl
questioned.  She looked so hopeful and innocent that Jessica wished she 
could tell her to be happy with who she was and realize that someone 
else had already noticed her and that Brandon wasn't the one for her.  
Instead she just responded in her same, not changing  a life way. 

“Um, no I don't think so,” Jessica laughed and the girl looked relieved.
 The girl appeared to genuinely believe that she had a fighting chance 
with the handsome “god” of the school.  She knew it wasn't so but who 
was she to destroy such naïve dreams? 

“So, you're just hanging with him?” the girl wanted to know, “Are you
one of them?”  The girl's face held an unidentifiable question and the 
girl searched her face, hoping for the right answers. 

“What do you mean?” Jessica crinkled her forehead in true confusion. 
Did she mean was she popular now or what?  She had no clue how to 
respond and hoped that the girl explained herself in better form. 

“I mean, are you one of their group?” 

“I don't,” she started to say when a strong hand was about her waist
again.  She knew who it was and an unimaginable warmth spread through 
her body at the thrill of his touch.  It made her feel so special and 
needed every time that he was near. 

“Of course she is.  She fits in perfectly don't you think?” Brandon's
rich voice asked. 

“I think so,” the girl giggled and began batting her eyes most
desperately.   It took all of Jessica's self control to keep from 
laughing at the silly girl.  Brandon whisked her away and Jessica kept 
drinking the endless supply of alcohol.  She knew she was drunk when 
she couldn't see straight and her feet seemed to be miles below her.  
She was having trouble standing up and it was then that Brandon's body 
next to hers truly became her support. 

Finally she found herself in a room, alone with Brandon.  Once in there
where the smells toned down a bit, she didn't feel quite so light 
headed and felt more like herself.  The room was dark and soft, darkly 
sweet music played gently from unseen speakers.  There was a black iron 
canopy bed with dark red silk hanging down and blood red sheets.  There 
were two tall black candleholders and the blazing flames of the candles 
were the only source of light, casting eerie shadows across the room.  
She sat on the bed and Brandon followed suite.  He reached his hand to 
her face and leaned towards her but she withdrew slightly. 

“What's wrong?” he wanted to know and his glowing blue eyes studied her
face intently.  It was amazing that even drunk, she could make her 
decisions clearly.  Obviously those that were drunk and tried to use it 
as an excuse were apparently doing just that, making excuses. 

“I don't want to do anything that I might regret later,” she explained
and Brandon nodded his head understandingly.  He grabbed her hand and 
squeezed it gently.  He was so understanding and caring, it was 
difficult to decide why she hadn't wanted to be interested in him. 

“I understand, what do you want to do?” he questioned and she felt as if
the highlight had been placed upon her.  She truly did not know what 
she wanted for she wished that Brandon would press his lips to hers and 
yet she was afraid that if he did, she wouldn't be able to stop 
anything from happening.  So much for being in complete control of 
herself. 

“I don't know, I guess...talk, maybe?” she suggested and she saw a smile
flash through Brandon's eyes.  He began to softly massage her hand and 
his other hand slowly rubbed her knee.  She felt little electrical 
pulses shoot out from the places that he was touching and she knew that 
was why he was doing it.  To draw her closer, relax her, and make her 
his. 

“We could do that, what do you want to talk about?” even though he
hadn't moved, Jessica felt as if he were closer.  It was strange the 
way the shadows disturbed her perception. 

“Um, you expect me to pick what to do and pick the topic?” she laughed
nervously, looking away and trying hard not to react to his mild 
massage.  He knew just what to do, what to say, and she couldn't escape 
him.  It was like being in a mental vise that was actually weirdly 
comfortable. 

“Want to talk about your mom?” he hit a nerve and she couldn't help it. 
She pulled away from him and refused to look at him.  She had come to 
forget her mother and he had to bring her up.  Didn't he know that she 
just couldn't deal with that subject at the moment. 

“No,” she whispered but her voice cracked.  She swallowed down tears and
felt reproachful towards Brandon.  She had came to forget her worries, 
just to have fun, but Brandon cared enough to up the sour subject. 

“How about your dad?” he began to rub her back, his fingers strong and
relaxing.  She didn't know why he was pushing such issues with her but 
she decided that she would give in and talk to him.  She needed to get 
it off her chest anyway, she felt as if she were being crushed by the 
weight. 

“He left us a long time ago.  Steven, er I mean Stevie, met my mom. 
They fell in love, got married even though we hated each other, and he 
made us move out here.  Now mom's dying from a brain tumor,” she bit 
her lip but a tear spilled over her cheek.  Brandon did not say a word 
but just wrapped his arms around her.  She leaned her head against his 
shoulder and looked at the graceful curves of the silk on the roof of 
the canopy.  It was such a comfort having people to hug and people that 
cared, she was so glad that she had met Rhonda and Brandon.  They were 
so important to her. 

“It's not fair, if she dies, I'll have no one,” she muttered and she
began shaking uncontrollably because she was trying so hard not to 
break down. 

“You'll always have me,” Brandon crooned in her ear and he softly placed
his chin on top of her head.  His words stung bitterly because she knew 
that wasn't possible.  It wasn't even an idea worth considering.  But 
the fact that he had thought to say such a sweet thing touched her 
deeply and made her want to let him more into her life, but she knew 
that wasn't a good thought either. 

“Brandon, you're just another teenage boy.  I couldn't come and live
with you and I cannot stay with Stevie.  I don't want her to leave me, 
I love her so much that I start to get sick when I think of her dying,” 
she began to cry silently and she swallowed briefly before continuing, 
“She's been my best friend for so long and when dad left, she was all I 
had left and I was all that she had.  Then Stevie came along and ruined 
everything cause with him came her tumor.  Oh, I can't even say that.  
She's had the headaches for several years now but has been dismissing 
them but they've been growing worse and worse, more intense.  Oh 
Brandon, what will I do without my mommy?”  Brandon didn't say 
anything, just held her and let her cry.  She began to feel drowsy so 
she curled up in a ball with her head upon Brandon's knee.  He stroked 
her hair while his other hand held hers reassuringly. 

She fell asleep and didn't know how long she was asleep but when she
awoke, Brandon still sat with her.  He was asleep, his head leaning 
against one of the poles and a contented smile lingered upon his 
handsome lips.  She couldn't believe that he had not left her or at 
least situated himself so that he was comfortable.  He was so wonderful 
and caring that she actually considered staying with him forever.  She 
knew that he would protect her and love her unlike anyone else, but her 
mother needed her.  Maybe not for long, but she was still around. 

She stood up quietly and began creeping towards the door when a deep
voice asked, “Leaving without saying goodbye?”  She spun back around 
and saw him standing there, his face drawn into a pretend pout. 

“I didn't want to disturb you,” was her response and he opened his arms.
 She walked to him and let him squeeze her tight to his chest.  His 
touch was what she needed and she longed to have more, to give in to 
her desires and to his.  Though she knew if she did that things would 
never be the same and she would regret it for the rest of her life. 

“You could never disturb me,” he whispered into her hair.  She looked up
and realized how truly caring he was.  She kissed him softly then 
applied more pressure.  They spun around and fell upon the bed.  He 
moved his lips to her neck and began kissing most passionately.  His 
teeth nipped at her skin causing her to wince with pain but he didn't 
stop.  Jessica gasped in protest as his hand lay on top of her dress, 
against her breast.  She felt lightheaded and the room seemed to be 
spinning, Brandon was sucking viciously against her neck.  She 
struggled weakly, unable to escape his vicious grip.  His kisses became 
even more excruciating and then she passed out. 

When she awoke, she was still fully clothed and Brandon, also fully
clothed, was sleeping beside her with his arm around her waist.  She 
didn't feel as if he had touched her but her neck was so tender.  She 
hadn't believed how weak she had been last night and was thankful that 
he had not done much. She shook him lightly and he groggily opened his 
eyes.  He smiled at her and sat up. 

“Good morning beautiful,” his grin was so sweet and affectionate but she
had to make sure nothing had occurred for sure.  Just because she felt 
as if nothing had happened didn't mean that she hadn't been so drunk 
that she hadn't realized that something had happened. 

“Brandon, when I passed out last night, you didn't...do anything, did
you?” she asked and she saw his face fall as if he had been wounded.  
She knew then that he would never do anything without her express 
permission and probably only when she was sober and not on anything. 

“Jessica, there is no way I would do anything to a girl without her
permission, especially you,” he promised and she could see in his eyes 
that he was being truthful.  Her heart leapt at the trust she knew she 
could place in him.  He was so different than her original impressions 
and for this, she was thankful. 

“I'm sorry, it was just a little discontenting to wake up and still be
here,” she giggled and he placed a hand upon her arm.  His eyes were so 
warm and loving, and she wanted to hug him and kiss him until the world 
ended. 

“Don't worry, you're safe with me,” he squeezed her arm and she reached
up to her neck.  She hesitantly applied pressure and winced from the 
arches of pain that shot through her neck.  She wished 

“I do believe you added to my hickey collection again,” she joked even
though she wished that he had not caused so much pain. 

“Oh I'm so sorry, did I hurt you last night?” he wanted to know. 

“A little, it's alright,” she mumbled, now embarrassed that she had
drawn attention to the issue. 

“I'm really sorry, I have a tendency to get a little rough sometimes. 
You just need to tell me if I'm inflicting pain,” he grinned at her but 
she could see that he too was uncomfortable. 

“Oh don't worry about it.  I'm sure we all get a little rough
sometimes,” she responded, hoping that they would drop the subject but 
when he said something, she had to say something.  And, she was sure 
that it was the same way for him. 

“Well I can't help it, when I get near such succulent flesh as yours, I
just loose control of my teeth,” his blue eyes lit up with mirth and 
Jessica laughed.  What else could she do?  It was such a strange 
statement that she could think of nothing intelligent to say. 

“Ok, whatever Brandon,” she had no response and wasn't sure whether to
be flattered or to laugh until she cried.  He couldn't really think 
that was a compliment but then again, he was a guy and they seemed to 
have a deranged perception of things. 

“Seriously, there is something different about you and I can't seem to
see straight when I'm with you but I feel hopeless when I am not,” he 
turned serious so fast that Jessica felt as if she were talking to two 
different people.   She felt trapped and uncomfortable with such a 
serious note that she decided that she had to lighten things up.  She 
didn't want him to have serious thoughts about her, that was just too 
weird. 

“Well, don't tell that to your fan club or they might riot,” she teased
but his eyes stayed serious. 

“Who cares about them?  They're just a show, not really important,” he
replied with a dismissing gesture of his hand.  His words hit a note 
with her and she wanted to slap him. How dare he assume such an 
attitude about people.  They did have feelings and she knew every time 
he rebuffed them, they hurt. 

“That is so shallow and artificial,” Jessica puffed.  She hated that
attitude and wished that she could break Brandon of it.  She didn't 
know how she could handle him if he made such rude and inconsiderate 
cracks like that. 

“How so?  It's a part of life and we just happened to be on the good
end,” Brandon spat and his face had changed from adoring to one of 
anger.  He was obviously used to such fights and it was apparently his 
tender subject. 

“It is way of life that is held up by superficial believers such as
yourself.  I've been at the other end of the spectrum and I hated you 
guys for holding power over me.  How can you be so shallow that you 
think this is a good thing?” Jessica retorted.  She had to make him see 
the error of his ways, he was destroying people with that attitude.  
People like her were being his casualties and she wanted to stop him. 

“You wanted in on this just as bad as everyone else.  That is why you
are here with me,” Brandon smirked.  She felt anger rush through her 
system at that comment.  How dare he say such things?  He had no clue 
who he was dealing with and she started wondering again, how she could 
ever be interested in such a jerk. 

“Maybe so but I'm not so cheap as to ignore the fact that I still have
other friends,” she huffed, “I care for more than just you and this 
tiny group.” 

“Yeah, well maybe you should go home to them,” he hissed, for once his
handsome features ugly with a rage that had no explanation.  She felt 
he had no reason to be upset, he was the one who was being the total 
jerk.  How could he not see what he did caused great distress to many 
people? 

“Willingly,” she began walking to the door, shaken with an
incomprehensible anger and yet feeling justified.  She needed him to 
realize what he was doing was wrong and the fact that he didn't made 
her mad.  Just plain mad.  She would show him somehow but at the 
moment, leaving seemed like the best idea. 

“That's right, go home to your dying mother who you probably took
another couple of days off her already shortened life by not showing up 
last night,” he threw at her, “Real nice daughter, helping to kill her 
mother.”  Jessica froze and rage flowed through her body, as thick as 
her blood.  She turned around slowly, her face an unreadable mask.  She 
felt each heartbeat pumping blood with heated wrath flowing through it 
to her brain.  He had gone where no one should go, he had pushed the 
right button to make her hate him, truly hate him. 

“That's real nice Brandon, you've truly impressed me.  You can gain my
trust and shatter it all in one night.  Well, have fun with your' 
nobodies cause I am done with you,” she smiled a strange, indifferent 
smile.  She would never care for him again, he had hurt far more than 
if he had physically beat her.  He had stabbed her heart with the 
cruelest, most sharpest weapon he could find and nothing could heal the 
wound which he had created. 

“I'm really sorry,” his whole attitude changed and Jessica could see
that he was genuinely apologizing but he had gone too far.  He had 
destroyed the bond that they had created, he had ruined everything with 
a slip of the tongue that should not have been.  He was a total jerk. 

“Yeah, you are but too little, too late,” and with that, she casually
strolled out the door.  She was barely restraining the tears that had 
built inside her and all she could do to keep from slamming the door 
through the frame and into Brandon's lap.  Finally, once into the 
basement, she abandoned all constraint.  She then flew up the stairs 
and almost ran over the sickly boy. 

His face registered shock and he questioned, “You're still here?”  Even
though he had said nothing offensive, his words grated upon her nerves 
and she wanted to smash her fist through  his face.  He needed to just 
step out of her way and let her go on running, running off the emotions 
that pummeled her soul.  She needed to give vent to what she felt and 
he did not want to be the victim. 

“Not any more, I'm so out of here,” she snarled and flung open the door.
 Morning light poured upon her and she ran out, afraid to look back.  
She ran and ran, up and down streets that she had no reason to.  She 
ran until she had a stitch in her side and each breath burned in her 
lungs like fire.  She finally reached her house, unlocked the door, and 
dove in.  She quickly relocked the door and leaned against it, trying 
to catch her breath. 


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