Second chances

A week has passed and Jessie's seat was still empty. He hasn't been back since the court yard event. Cant say that I blamed the guy, but running away wasnt going to fix anything. My hands clenched into fists thinking back to that day. Frustrated, I hit my desk a bit more than I intended, knocking my books off the top and stopping class. Grimacing, ducking my head down in embarrassment .

"Mr Taylor is everything alright?" ,sneered the professor.

"yes sir" I managed to say while uttering under my breath curse words.

" what was that Mr Taylor ?"

Waving my hands I shook my head side to side.

I hung my head and closed my eyes as class resumed, my face burning as all eyes one by one looked away from me.

After class I strolled along the south end corridors making my way to the edge of the school where the yard met the woods. I took a small unknown path aways inside till the sounds of a small creek could be heard.

I had found this place back in the summer while I toured the campus. It was a remote spot ,in a small clearing ,the sun broke through the tree tops and cast a brilliant light upon a huge red rock that hung over the creek a bit. A large Oak tree nestled at its base, providing the area with just the right amount of shade. I would come here to finish my work when I needed time to reflect or just to destress before heading home. I had become numb to being alone.

I decided to shove off homework and sat back against the base of the Oak tree, putting my arms behind my head and closing my eyes.

I wasnt asleep for very long when I heard a rustling noise in the woods. It was coming towards me. I sat still, waiting to see who or what was coming up the path. No one that I knew of knew about this spot or the path to come here. My hands began to sweat , heart racing! What if it was Blake, or a bear? To my relief though what popped out of the tree line was a slouched dark headed guy. Jessie was walking towards the creek. I squinted my eyes to see clearer, he was bleeding from his nose again. Blake! I screamed in my head. what the hell is wrong with that dude.

Jessie knelt down by the creek and began washing his face off in the creek. His fists began slamming into the water as hot streams of tears fell from his face. He held his hands out in front of himself, shaking he sat back on his heels. Reaching for his bag he unzipped the second section and pulled a gun from the pouch. Glancing at it for a moment he slowly began to lift it to his head.

" Do you really think this is the answer your seeking?" I spoke out, walking up behind him.

Startled Jessie flung the gun , landing it in the creek with a splash. He scuttled across the ground like a scared rabbit looking for a way out. He glanced up and locked eyes with me, panting and red faced.

" Ho...how ...how did you get here? None knows of this place." Jessie fumbled his speech, helplessly looking over his surroundings.

"Jessie its okay! " I began to reach out for him but he yelled at me sobbing like a little kid. "Why, did you stop me? Why! You dont know me from Adam , you know nothing about my past , my life , NOTHING! So why....why get invloved?"

I stood there mouth open, but my throat had swelled shut and words couldn't form. Stepping closer to the crouched fragile body before me , I placed my hand upon his shoulder. All I could think of at that moment was to pull him close to tell him it was gonna be ok.

" Because Jessie, death never solves the problems we face. As your friend, it's my Job to step in when you cant handle the weight on your own. No, I dont know all the things that have happened in your past, or why Blake keeps beating you. When you're ready to tell me you will. Until then , I've got your back." I felt his body fold as he poured all his emotions into my shoulder. We sat there for what seemed hours till the moon had set itself high into the sky. Jessie had stopped crying awhile ago, but we sat there in peace as we bother sobered up.

"You must think I'm a fool and a weakling, huh?" quietly searching my face for an answer.

" Not at all". My response was not at all what he expected for his eyes widened in suprise.

" We all have our moments of weakness, it's what we do after we fall to the bottom that counts." I stared at the night sky, lowering my head only to see him gawking at me. I smiled softly at him. " We all have secrets, skeletons in the closet if you will. Sometimes, those coming out in the open can tear down the walls we have built around us. Leaving us bare and raw. No one likes it. However, sometimes, I think it can make us into better people." By this point Jessie was looking at the ground shaking his head.

" Can you forgive me?"

" For?"

"Today, everything"

" Is there anything to really forgive?You fell, I stepped in, You're here, I'm here. We are all good."

" Thank you" he whispered

" mmhmm"

I stood up grabbed my stuff, turned and stuck my hand out. Jessie took it.

"What about the gun?"

"Leave it. It's where it needs to be. C'mon I'll take ya home.

I walked towards the clearing glancing back at him smiling.

" okay Parker" he whispered

How cute.....