Not What I Wanted
By: Breann Wathen
* * * * *
Today was just another day Jade had the walk the halls of West Woodcrest High. Almost missing Pep Club, Jade was running to room 144. Did she want to join this dumb course? No, Jade's mom thought it was a "fantastic" idea so she would get to know more students around WWH since she was a junior and only had three friends.
"Jade, you're late. Head to the front office." Mrs. Hale was standing near a white board with the word 'PEP RALLIES AND FUNdraisers' on it. Barf. Jade couldn't stand being in that class, having to come up with ideas to get the student population excited about being here. Jade could think of twelve ideas that would really get these kids happy about school. No time now. Jade was cruising down the halls, taking her time to get to the office. Strolling her finger down the cold lockers covered in graffiti and streamers for the upcoming homecoming game. Jade was thinking of going, hoping to make her mom get off her back. She would probably ditch the game and go to the hookah lounge with her friends.
Jade had made it to the office a million miles away.
"Hi, I, um, need a tardy slip." Jade was cringing at the sight of the clerk with multiple hairs and boogers creeping out of his nose.
"Name?"
"Jade Benson."
"Aha. That's the fourth one this week Ms. Benson." He scribbled Jade's name on the olive green slip.
"Please, Ms. Benson is my mother." Jade rolled her eyes at him.
"Detention today at three, Ms. Benson." He handed Jade the slip, peering over the huge glasses. Mainly focusing on the huge skull dangling from Jade's neck. Jade's ex-boyfriend, Adam "The Villain" Peters gave it to her. They had to break up because Adam's parents sent him to a military school in Virginia.
"Damn, I can't go drag race with my friends." Jade snatched the slip from him and stuffed it in one of her pockets. As she was walking back to room 144, she heard a familiar song. Jade turned her head and there he was, that mysterious guy she saw in the student parking lot every day. He was sitting down on one of the benches outside the office, like he got into some trouble. He was listening to one of her favorite songs, "Runaway" by Ladyhawke. Jade sat down beside him. He looked up at her with bone-chilling green eyes.
"I love Ladyhawke. Has to be one of my top, like, three hundred and forty-five artists. Like, singing wise not paintings and stuff." Jade giggled at her on joke but the guy turned his head back down to his MP3 player, scratching at some jelly glued to the screen. He had a weird vibe and Jade had to be getting the worst of it.
"Yeah, she’s cool. Hey, um, do you have any gum?" Jade could see why he was asking the question. His breath stunk of stale motor oil. The guy had a deadly but attractive look about him. Maybe it was the way he swept his very dark brown hair over to his left side. Or maybe the way his licked his lips before he said 'um'. Jade reached inside all of her pockets but couldn't manage to find a single piece.
"Sorry dude, no luck. I'm Jade by the way. And you?" Jade stuck her hands back inside her hoodie pocket, only to feel the sharp edge of that tardy slip, reminding her to stop flirting and get back to Pep Club.
"My name is Clyde, Clyde Jones. Nice to see you again Jade." The words slithered smoothly out of his mouth like a snake. Again? Jade thought. Is he in one of my classes because if he was, I would've noticed him by now. What does he mean? Jade reached for his hand and it was strikingly cold. So cold she almost snatched her hand back. But she couldn’t, she actually enjoyed his cold hand touching her warm one. It was like a tornado between their palms. Alright, cut the mushy-gooey lovey-dovey crap.
“Look Clyde, I gotta head back to Pep Club.” Jade swirled her finger around in the air like a cheap party favor noisemaker. She got up from the bench and started to wave goodbye but Clyde grabbed her hand and pulled her close to him.
“Let’s ditch this place.” He said in a breathy whisper. Jade followed him towards the doors. Together, the two slipped outside into the student parking lot. How could she pass up an opportunity to ditch school with an ultra-hot guy?
* * * * *
Jade was sitting in the passenger said of Clyde Jones’ car. What the hell?
“Where do you wanna go?” Clyde was driving was along freeway in 2010 Honda Accord.
“Um, I dunno. Never really skipped school before, unless I was sick, but that was a reason.” Jade played with the thread coming off the seatbelt strap.
“Well, I know just the place.” Clyde flashed Jade a smile. Jade turned her head down quickly. Why am I getting myself so worked up over him. He’s just a regular guy. Jade lifted her head back up and smiled, only to see that Clyde wasn’t paying her any attention
* * * * *
Soon they were in the drive-thru at the local burger joint.
"I'll have the number seven combo but onion rings instead of fries. Tack on two apple pies and make that drink a Pepsi." Clyde was leaning out of the window, shouting at the rusty old speaker box.
"Sev-combo-no-pies-anything else ma'am?"
"I'll have the number three, with a Sprite." Jade's stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten since six o'clock. Sitting in the cafeteria tearing apart her soggy toast and blowing bubbles in her milk, real appetizing.
Clyde pulled up to the next window and handed the worker a plastic card, so elite.
The two got their food and decided to eat at one of the sticky patio furniture tables. Jade unwrapped her burger carefully, trying to act ladylike although her stomach was growling like a bear. Clyde rummaged through the bag grabbing all of his meal.
“So your name is Judith right?” Clyde had stuffed several fries in his mouth. How could he not remember my name? I mean, he has bought me lunch and everything.
“It’s Jade.” She nibbled on the side of her bun. Clyde stuck his straw inside his cup, sucking it dry.
“Oh, sorry ‘bout that.” He pounded his fist against his chest three times before burping loudly. Jade saw that since he was being quite obnoxious, she could loosen up a little. It seemed like he wouldn’t mind.
Jade took a full bite of her burger, leaving some mustard on the side of her mouth. Clyde rubbed his mouth on his sleeve, motioning at Jade. She giggled and dabbed the napkin on her mouth.
“Thanks for buying me lunch; it really beats the shit they serve at school. Am I right?” Jade swirled her remaining fries in a dollop of ketchup.
“No prob. And yeah, it does.” Clyde made a swift chuck of his hand over his shoulder, sending his trash straight in garbage bin.
“Nice.” Jade dropped the fires in the bag and crumpled it up. She tried to copy what Clyde did but failed. The wrapper hit some 40-something year old in the arm and he yelled at her. While the guy was yelling and spitting at Jade’s face, she could that Clyde got a kick outta this. Jade smiled but that set the guy off even more and he threw his hands up and left.
“Someone has their panties in a bunch.” Clyde was holding onto his stomach from laughing so hard.
“True. So now what?” Jade crossed her legs and laid her arms on the table. Her sleeve instantly became covered in ketchup and relish. She shook it numerous times, trying to get all of it off.
“Well, I got a washer at my place so if you wanna…” Clyde voice trailed off but Jade could see where this was going.
“Sure.” Jade rose from the table, making sure her hands didn’t land in any more of someone else’s mess.
“Let’s go.” Clyde had a smile on his face, a smile Jade couldn’t read but it seemed harmless. Jade had no idea what she was getting herself into.
* * * * *
The big black steel gates creaked open. He punched in to code and the gates opened. He parked into the cul-de-sac driveway. So many questions were racing in Jade’s mind. Where the hell are we? Is this his house? The lawn looks fantastic.
“Welcome to my place.” Clyde opened the passenger door and sighed. Jade was astonished. The house was a mansion. Very Victorian/gothic aged. How could a 17 year old possibly afford this? Jade plodded along the push lawn in her Converses. Clyde pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The smoke circled around his perfect face. Jade’s knees felt weak.
The strange man in a tuxedo opened the bulky door.
“Good afternoon Mr. Jones. I see you have brought a guest. Shall I prepare anymore to eat?” The butler held a white napkin over his left arm.
“Why yes, Reggie. This is Jade. Jade, this is my butler Reginald, but I call him Reggie.” Clyde motioned for Jade and Reggie to shake hands. Reggie cracked a smile beneath his faintly gray, well-trimmed goatee. He knew something Jade didn’t.
“Hey Jade, come over here.” Clyde was sitting on a dark brown leather couch, swirling around two glasses of wine. Jade sat a far distance away from him. He handed her the glass of wine and she quietly sipped. Jade was surprised by how little decorated the mansion was. Barely any pictures on the wall, numerous paint swatches and the huge fireplace looked as if no one had dusty it for three thousand years. There was a strategically placed mirror in front of them. Jade kept looking at her reflection as Clyde kept scooting closer to her.
“It’s Kinedraw, aged for 69 years.” Clyde tucked a piece of Jade’s hair behind her ear. Is he coming onto me? I’m not like that, I mean, I’ve only known him for2 hours. It’s our first real conversation. I’m not like that. But I know plenty of girls who would’ve jumped at the chance.
Clyde sat the wine on a nearby end table. He scooted even closer to Jade, sliding his hands up Jade’s thigh. Jade knew this wasn’t right, but she was frozen still. Clyde brushed his lips down her neckline. Jade felt a sharp prick in her neck and something oozing down her neck. She touched her neck and looked at her fingers, dripping with blood.
