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"So what's your parents say earlier?" Nicole raised a brow, cigarette between her pale fingers, the end a fiery red as it was freshly lit. They were outside the mall, sitting on a bench by the wall. The sun beat down on them aggressively.
Jecka rolled her eyes. "Dude, they're fucking insane like always. I was at Kelly's party so I got home kinda late last night," she began distastefully. "Then Dad was in the living fucking grilling me, over here--" she lowered her voice to imitate him, "'where the fuck were you!? Probably whoring around, huh?' He told me if I get knocked up, I'm out on the street, Nicole!"
Nicole snorted, "Wow, he's pissed, huh?"
"Yeah," Jecka breathed out. "Then Mom was, like, kind of defending me, but she did it by talking shit."
"How is your MOM of all people talking shit about you?"
"She's, like, jealous 'cuz she's old and wrinkly now and I'm still young and gorgeous. She's thirty-seven, practically fucking ancient." Jecka crossed her legs. "So she was saying, 'No, there's no way she was with a guy, 'cuz no guy wants her fatass anyway.'" She rolled her eyes. "Fucking bitch."
"Dude, they're mad you have a life, huh?" The brunette scoffed. "Little does she know all the teachers wanna molest you, huh? So clearly guys do want you."
"The students wanna rape me too, Nicole! I'm desirable as shit, just to the wrong fucking people."
"I'd say to tell them you're gay, but that won't stop 'em. They'll probably ask to watch or, like, 'fix you'." She scowled.
Jecka rested her face on her hand. "Do you have an extra cigarette?" she mumbled, looking upset.
"Nah. You should've brought your own." Nicole waited for a moment before pulling out her tiny box of cigarettes. "Of course I do. Don't be a bitch about it."
"I didn't even say anything."
"You were going to, though." Nicole handed her a cigarette and returned her own to her lips, inhaling and blowing it out into the sunny sky.
Jecka snatched Nicole's purple lighter and lit hers too, taking a deep drag then exhaling. "Much better..." She visibly relaxed. "Sometimes I wish I was a lesbian."
"Yeah, I know. You've told me."
"Well, is it wrong for me to want a goth bitch at Hot Topic to spit in my mouth?" Jecka rolled her eyes. "Guys say shit like that and no one bats an eye." She bounced her leg. She sighed. "You ready to head home?" She tilted her head and looked at Nicole. "I can drop you off."
"Yeah," Nicole sighed. "Why not?"
They each stood and made their way to Jecka's car.
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The moment Jecka opened her front door, she was met with shouting, though at least now it wasn't directed her way. "Ughhh," she groaned and trudged to her room.
"Jessica Anderson!" Her father's voice bellowed from downstairs.
Jecka froze. She didn't move for a moment, hoping it would just go away.
"JESSICA!" He screamed again
"Oh my God, what!?" She screamed back, stomping back down the stairs and into the kitchen where her mother and father were all but at each other's throats.
Her dad glared at her, rage in his wrinkled face. "Do you wanna explain why your history teacher said you're failing your AP class?"
"Oh, get off my ass, Dad! You didn't even graduate high school!" She barked back.
Her mother reeled back. "Jessica! Watch your language!"
"Shut up, whore!" She spat in retaliation.
And just like that, a large hand slung across her face.
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The next day at school was the same shit as always.
Teachers running their hands down Jecka's back, getting DANGEROUSLY close to her ass. The counselor telling her how gorgeous she was (which was true, but still). The guys asking her if she wanted to "hang out later."
So much bullshit. All the time.
Always adults or men. Or both. Like the only DECENT people on Earth were teen girls and Ryan Sheckler.
And she couldn't have him.
Jecka grabbed Nicole by the shoulder. "Nicole."
Nicole spun around. "What?"
"How much do you love me?"
"I-- you're, like, cool and all. Why?" She cocked her head.
"Okay, talk to you at lunch." Jecka nodded briefly and ran back the direction she came. Nicole was left there, utterly confused.
Lunch rolled around. They sat at their usual table by the wall, and thankfully no extra guests decided to barge in today.
"Okay, so--" Nicole began, but the blonde cut her off.
"I'm SICK," she banged her fists against the table, making it tremble momentarily. "and TIRED, Nicole!" Again, she hit the table.
"Okay, dude, calm down." Nicole raised both hands slightly, palms out. "Sick and tired of what?"
"Just- fuckin'- everything!?" Jecka squeaked. "My dad hits me, my mom is jealous of me, and MAYBE I wanna have some autonomy!" Her palms were flat against the lunch table, and she was leaned forward. "Maybe," she lowered her voice. "I wanna make my parents angry."
There was a beat of silence, then Nicole spoke, "Okay... and how do I help with that?" She leaned on her fist.
"Be my girlfriend."
"Woah!" Nicole sat up. "What? Take me out first, damn!"
"Just be my fake girlfriend for a while! Just to piss 'em off!"
"Jecka, that's how you get beat and killed," Nicole snarled, nose scrunching up.
"Oh my God, is THIS seriously where you draw the line? You'll get shot by a mall cop, steal shit, do drugs, whatever, but the minute I ask you to play pretend with me--"
"I never said no." Nicole interrupted, looking like she had accepted a challenge, brows angled downward, her lips in a thin line.
Jecka was silent before snickering, "Alright then!"
"So, what? You want me to come over later?" Nicole crossed her arms on the table, raising a brow. "Wanna scissor in front of them or something?"
"If you buy me a new outfit first, then maybe, if you're lucky," Jecka teased, sticking her tongue out slightly. Her face returned to a normal content state. "But yeah. Just come over later. I can pick you up if you want." She shrugged.
"Isn't your dad gonna, like, beat your ass though?"
"He can try," Jecka shrugged. "Can't run very far. A heart attack will get him."
"That's fair." Nicole nodded. "What's your escape route then, if he tries to kill you when I leave?"
Jecka blinked at her for a moment. "Uh. No clue. We'll figure it out." She waved the thought away. "Just meet me after school. I'll bring you with me."
The bell rang, and they both stood up, groaning.
"Well, see you later, baby," Nicole mocked her, tilting her head up with two fingers before walking away.
"Don't call me that," Jecka spat at the weird pet name, but she couldn't help but notice the small increase in her heart rate.
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"Hey," she approached gently, opening the door and walking inside. "Mom?"
Jecka's mother, Jennifer, glanced at Jecka with her fierce hazel eyes. "Yes, Jessica?" Her voice wasn't angry, but it held frustration, as if exasperated. Of course, Jecka's dad annoyed the fuck out of her too, so it made sense.
Jecka shifted her weight between her feet before confidently straightening her back. "Where's Dad? I have someone I want you to meet."
Her mom furrowed her brows. "Who is it?"
"Someone... special," Jecka tried to sound convincing. She was never all that good at lying under pressure. If she had a few days to come up with something elaborate, sure, but on the spot was a difficult thing for her. Luckily, Nicole was much better at that. "Just-- where's Dad?"
Her mother lifted her head slightly, snapping her phone shut, and shouted, "Babe! Get in here NOW!" Jecka covered her ears. DAMN, did these people do anything BUT scream?
Her father saddled down the steps soon, and both of them plopped down on the couch.
"Honey, what is this about?" Her father asked gently, doing that shit where he acted like a normal, functioning father. Jecka always thought if you were GOING to abuse your kid, you had to be honest about it at least.
"So," Jecka inhaled. "I've been... seeing someone. For a while now." She clasped her hands together. "Um..."
"You're not pregnant, are you?" There he goes. His voice raised just a bit, the edge in it coming out to play. Her mother, naturally, just raised a brow nonchalantly.
"N-no!" Jecka shut that down quickly. "That's kinda... not an option."
"Birth control is for whores, Jessica," her mother growled, her lips twisting into a scowl.
Jecka built up all her willpower not to roll her eyes. She inhaled deeply yet again. "No, Mom. No birth control. Just... wait here."
And just like that, she scrambled to the door, opening it just a crack to look out, and there she was: brown, almost black, hair in a ponytail like usual, eyebrow and nose piercings glittering in the porch light, lips wrapped around a cigarette, donning her black tank top (scars on full display) and ripped black jeans. Of course, there were two layered stud belts too. Fake, sharpie tattoos decorated her arms too.
Hell yeah. Jecka grinned at the sight. 'Oh, you're perfect!' She thought. 'Gay AND a disappointment!'
"Take a puff," she whispered to her friend. Nicole did so and exhaled smoke, ensuring she reeked of tobacco. With that, Jecka grabbed Nicole by her wrist and tugged her inside.
Her mother's eyes widened instantly. "Uh-uh, why is she smoking in my house?" She snapped her fingers.
Her father pressed a hand to his wife's shoulder. "No, honey... let her be." He looked enamored. Of course he did. He loved 'em younger, didn't he? Just like a man. "Jessica, is your friend here to introduce us to your boyfriend too?" He put on a warm grin.
"No, Dad." Jecka shot him a glare. She snaked her fingers in between Nicole's, and Nicole exhaled another puff of smoke directly in her parents' direction.
The brunette looked down at the intertwined fingers but did not complain. Jecka's hands were so warm. Huh.
"This is my girlfriend Nicole." Jecka bit back a rebellious smile. They typically hung out at Nicole's house, so this was a new face to her parents.
Her father's smile fell instantly. He looked them both up and down. "Is this... a joke?"
Before Jecka could answer, Nicole spoke up: "No, it's not a fucking joke." She dropped her burnt out cigarette and stomped the remains into the wooden floor with her converse. "What? Got an issue with the fact that your daughter gets more pussy than you do?"
"Excuse me!?"
"She gives GREAT head too, I'm always reaching the finish line when my princess is with me." Nicole let go of Jecka's hand and grabbed her face instead, smashing her cheeks in her rough grip. "I mean, just LOOK at that mouth!" Jecka jumped at the accusation, face heating up in just the thought of that.
Jecka wanted to protest, but hey, her father viewed her as his own sexual object, so why not piss him off even more? She pushed Nicole's hand away.
"H-honey," she struggled to sound natural. "Not here... that's so weird. We're not in Arkansas, you don't talk to your parents like that!" She placed a hand on Nicole's shoulder. "Save it for... laterrrr," she said awkwardly, forcing a teethy grin.
"Later when we get fucked up and scissor in the McDonalds bathroom? Hell yeah. I got ecstasy the other day." Nicole paused. "I have coke too." She looked at the parents of her fake girlfriend. "Yeah, hope it's okay with you that I'm a little fucked up." She twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger. "I mean, your wife must be too if she's with you, huh?" She tapped her lip with a black nail.
Jecka's dad stood up. "Okay, that's it--"
"What!?" Jecka sqawked now. "You don't want me to get pregnant, so I'm fucking a hot bitch! Got an issue with that?"
"Jessica, I think it's best if your FRIEND here goes home..." he said through gritted teeth.
"Me too," her mother added.
Jecka turned to her. "You're just mad YOU couldn't pull a hot girl, Mom!" Her mother reeled back again, face twisting in disgust and fury. Jecka took a step back. "Uh, Nicole, baby, I think it's time you, uh... go home. I'll drive you, ya know, since you don't have a license or a car or a job," she called over her shoulder as she pushed Nicole out the front door.
Immediately as they hopped in the vehicle, Jecka's phone rang. They weren't even there very long, and that was ALL it took to make her parents wanna beat her.
"Can you read those?" She winced, handing Nicole the pink phone while she started the car.
Nicole obliged, opening the text messages. "'Jessica hurry up.' 'You are not gonna pretend to be a gay bitch.' 'You are not a faggot whore.' 'I never wanna see that bitch again.' 'I'll beat the queer out of you.'" She put the phone in the cup holder. "Very colorful."
Jecka groaned and let her head fall on the horn, honking it loudly. "Dammit."
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"I thought it was, but-- ugh, I can't go home now." She lifted her head and drove out of the driveway and towards Nicole's neighborhood.
"You could, like... take us to my house. They don't know where I live." Nicole shrugged.
Jecka thought for a moment. "Yeah. Okay. We can do that." Her hands trembled as she drove. "He's gonna stab me with the fire poker..."
Nicole furrowed her brows. "Dude, just spend the night with me." She grabbed Jecka's arm gently. "You'll be fine."
Jecka eyed Nicole briefly, a passing glance. She knew Nicole was pretty. Fuck, she was gorgeous. Duh. That's why they were friends. They were the only hot girls (except for Emily before she got moved to remedial) in their lunch period. But the thing was, Jecka had gone to LHS since first grade. So how come even through her middle schooler years, she never once found any boy attractive? Even when she was twelve with raging hormones?
But one person was attractive to her. One girl. One evil, cold-hearted bitch with piercings and smudged eyeliner. One girl she had kissed briefly during parties, when they were both bored and just wanted a quick taste.
She pushed that away. "Thanks."
"No problem, dude." Nicole groaned, covering her face like the next words physically hurt her. "I care about you, Jecka." She gagged. "Fuck! Emotions! Corny shit..."
And that? That was the last straw.
She pulled the car over to the shoulder, both of them leaning slightly to Nicole's side due to the angle.
"Jecka? Where the hell are we?"
Jecka didn't answer. Instead, she, fully sober and fully aware, grabbed Nicole by the face and pressed her own lips into Nicole's, her grip tight on her jaw.
Nicole pulled away. "Jecka, what the fuck?" She looked bewildered, eyes wide and face reddening by the second.
Jecka did too. Her fists clenched on the middle console. "I don't... I don't KNOW, dude!" She covered her face now. "Let me try again."
"Your parents aren't HERE, Jecka. You don't need to pretend to want me." Nicole covered her mouth slightly, eyes wandering to the dashboard, avoiding contact.
"Oh my God, just let me try again!" Jecka grabbed her by the shirt collar and tugged her, not aggressive, just desperate.
Nicole furrowed her brows. There was awkward silence for just a second, and a bead of sweat ran down Jecka's temple. "Fine," she said as if she didn't very much want Jecka to 'try again'.
Jecka took that as a yes and yanked Nicole towards her, pressing their faces together, moving her lips in accordance to Nicole's. Nicole put one frail hand on Jecka's shoulder and the other on her knee, not trying anything, just stabilizing.
Jecka opened her mouth slightly, and Nicole took that chance immediately, slipping her tongue in.
One of Jecks's hands tangled in Nicole's hair, holding her in place as well as holding herself together. She tasted like cigarettes, duh. But she also tasted like dirt, like rebellion, like teen angst and vicious need.
Jecka, to Nicole, tasted like a smoothie. She tasted like girliness and like a hot, Fourth of July party with all the fruity alcohol and the hot girls everywhere.
"I love you," Jecka muttered against Nicole's mouth.
Nicole pulled back just an inch to say, "Don't say that." Then she dove back in. They were connected by daddy issues and mommy issues and spit and a mutual "what the fuck".
When they finally split, a string of spit connected their lips. Nicole panted, "You gonna drive?"
Jecka nodded, closing her mouth. "Yeah. I'll drive."