Busted

They were like fire, uncontrollable to their very cores, but apart they were undeniably complete opposites. The most likely unlikely couple to walk down the halls of their high school. She was small: bones, eyes and lips which were raised so often in a flirty smile that every boy began to believe it was for them. No. It was his, outspoken and strong with intense eyes of blue, matching only hers in allure. Everything Janie was, Adam wasn’t. She could overflow with her temper and grudges, which could and would be held for months even years. He let things go; he had to. Though what Janie could get Adam began not to care about. She was so pretty and smart, at least that’s what everyone thought. Her parents were obviously proud of her and Adam, he never showed it too much, but he was amazed by her, captivated by her wit. It seemed that all he needed to know was that girl, the girl who sat next to him in his truck after school .The girl who would brush her dark hair behind her ears as she looked down. That’s all he needed, and it frightened him on more than one occasion.

They were intensely in love with each other. So much so that everyone began to worry. The teachers constantly took not of Janie’s distraction, and how they kissed in the hallway between classes, the most conspicuous display of public affection. He was a sort of rebel in their eyes, and she was going places far beyond his reach.

Is she loosing herself? they wondered when what they really meant was, My God is she going to end up pregnant and throw her life away? She has so much promise.

To everyone their relationship was like a cliff. The end was near, and the drop was destined to be hurtful. They could make or break each other.

They fought.

One day she practically screamed, “Why don’t you care!”

Everyone in the cafeteria tried not to pay attention to this quarrel, but all five foot three inches of Janie were dominating when she was angry, and by God the flare in her eye was something short of seductive. However, no one but Adam would tell her how attractive she was when she was angry. The very thought or mention made her even more upset.

That day she had her hands on her hips. God, was she about to cry? Adam didn’t seem to even look at her, a fact that made Jamie grab his arm, turning him to face her. This did nothing. He moved around her to the semi-empty hallway and she stood there, a sting of pink humiliation on her cheeks. However, she was not done. She took a deep breath then went to fight on. No one had any idea what was on the table this time, but then no one ever had an idea.

“Adam,” she said in a lowly as she approached him, her arms crossed at her chest.

“What Janie?” he asked, emphasizing that he clearly didn’t know what she was getting all worked up about this time.

He began joking with a friend near-by. For the longest time he hadn’t said more than small sentences to her. The longest time being a few weeks, which turned into a month. He did this everyday at lunch, pretending they weren’t even a couple. It wasn’t that he didn’t smile at her or kiss her once in a while, but what was all so intense was gone. Janie just hadn’t gotten the clue, but then nobody had.

“Why won’t you talk to me?”

He turned to her, but it didn’t even seem as if he was even looking at her. “I am talking to you.”

“No, you’re talking to him and pretending that I don’t exists.”

There was no response. Wait, yes there was in the form of two raised shoulders that went up then down.

“I don’t get you.”

“What’s to get?”

How could she respond to that?”

“Talk to me,” she pleaded as she touched his arm.

“I am!”

“No you’re ignoring me…I am your girl friend aren’t I?”

He backed away from her, said something to his friend then just carelessly looked at her, or what was played as careless. Wouldn’t anyone really like to know what was going on in his head? Janie did, but he wasn’t telling.

“Okay,” she said as she took his hand, trying to win him over by acting sweeter.

“Don’t,” he said, taking it back. “Not now.”

“Not now?” she asked, taken aback. He had never said not now before. That was something he never did, deny Janie anything, ever. “What the hell is your deal?”

“Don’t know-”

“Don’t know?” she mocked. “Idiot!”

“Yeah Janie that’s it…you figured me out…”

“What?”

“You know everything.”

She shook her head, telling him to stop. Janie was uncontrollable, contained only by Adam, but it was he who unleashed her. She began to shake; her hands were at her sides. She took deep breath after deep breath to calm herself, but she shook still. She and Adam had fought before, but never to the point of Janie’s humiliation, and she was humiliated. Perhaps that was the point. No one but Adam knew, and he wasn’t telling.

“Stop it…”
“What?”
“Being-”
“Being?”
“So mean!”
“Oh no,” he mocked in a taunting tone. “I’m being mean-”
Smack!

Janie was small, but her temper wasn’t and it gave her an odd power. So when she punched Adam it was no big surprise. She only dished out what was deserved. Everyone stopped as Adam touched his face, his warm cheek that actually had begun to sting. They only messed around before but this was real; she was really hurt by him.

This was not smart; Janie was always smart. Both of them went to the principle’s office. She sat and listened to clear disappointment in her behavior while outside of the office Adam denied an ice pack from the school nurse. He didn’t want her to be in trouble, just way from him. Could he reverse everything? Should he even begin to try?

The door opened. Janie pushed her long hair behind her ears. There was something about her that made her face radiate as she tried not to look at him. He rested back in his chair with two chair legs in the air while he rested his head on the wall, looking at her. This caught her attention. He smiled, but it was misunderstood. She thought he meant to be smug when he really meant to just smile at his girlfriend. She took her foot, wrapped it very quickly over the raised leg, and pulled, knocking him to the floor.

“Should have four on the floor at all times,” she said then left the office.

He stood, fixing the chair then rubbed his head to relieve the pain. Quickly he turned to watch her walk away. What that walk did he could never explain to her. He had tired to explain how much she meant to him when they were alone together, but she took everything out of him. He leaned in close to her, touching her cheek, thinking, my God I’m in love with this person…I can’t even speak.

“Adam!” someone called from the hallway. Through the glass he saw his friend, signaling for him to hurry outside. “Janie’s headed to your truck.”

“What?”

“You must have really pissed her off.”

He did, knew full well what the consequences could be. When he reach the parking lot she was surrounded by a few people, and grabbed a rock from the ground the minute she had spotted him. He shook his head to tell her no, but she didn’t care. However, he did, and for more than just his truck too.

Everyone saw him grab her hand, holding it. They must have just looked at each other for what seemed like hours, never speaking a single word. The rock was in her hand; the truck unharmed next to them. Her blue eyes had begun to water and Adam must have known she was about to cry because he took the rock, throwing it to the side. He wanted everyone’s attention off of her, so he took his keys out of his pocket, the jingle echoing in the air. Like the many times before he took her hand, leading her to the truck and helping her inside. No one knew what to expect when they drove away. Everyone felt as if they had just watched history or something significant like that. No one said anything as they went back into school despite the fact that everyone had an opinion and was very ready to share.

What no one would ever guess that they would cease to be that a good talk everyone thought would happen, didn’t. No one would ever know the turbulent pain Adam went through at the very thought of letting Janie go. No one would ever guess how much anger Janie felt towards the boy who was her life. Truth be told, he had just brought her home, nothing more, nothing less, and even if he wanted more he didn’t get it. He just watched as she went into her house, waited to see if she would return, making the decision to tell her everything, but only giving himself that one chance. There’s nothing to speculate about anymore because the couple that could have been, should have been, simply isn’t.