Page 21 of Too Sweet
Unfortunately, I do. I learned how to restrain a woman when I dated Kaya. She was an alcoholic. Out of control. Whenever she got hammered, she either threw anything within reach at me or tried to hurt herself. “Yeah. I know a few things.”
We go over two more scenarios. After a couple of attempts to explain how Cody should do it, he waves me off and leaves me in charge.
Fine by me.
I have Mia pinned against the wall half a minute later, her wrists locked in my hand, legs boxed by one of mine. I tell her—calmly—what her next move should be while I scream inside my head, schooling myself not to do something stupid.
There are more things she should learn, more things I could show her, but she’d have to lie down, and if I cover her body with mine, there’ll be no rationalizing.
Instead of turning my brother against me, I call it a night.
∞
Mia
First day at kindergarten
“Cooties!” Jake yells, pointing his finger at me. “She’s got cooties! Stay away!”
All the other children squeal and stumble back, leaving me alone in the middle of the room.
“I don’t have cooties!” I say, my voice squeaky.
“You do! You’ve got cooties! Don’t touch me!”
“I don’t have cooties!” I cry again and take a step forward. Tears pool in my eyes when all the other children start running away every time I step toward them.
I don’t want to be here. I miss Daddy and my sister.
The children are mean, and Mrs. Jeffrey smells like onions.
“Don’t let her touch any toys!” Jake commands again. “She’s got cooties! If you touch her, you’ll have it too!”
He runs around, scooting toys off the floor and throwing them in one corner. All the other children follow his lead until all the toys are out of my reach.
“Now, now, Jake, that’s not nice, is it?” Mrs. Jeffrey asks, lifting her head from a stack of papers on her desk. “Play nice. All of you.” She looks back down, and Jake whispers to the other kids, pointing his finger at me and laughing while I stand there, alone, sad, and crying.
SIX
Mia
I LEAVE THE CLASSROOM, avoiding eye contact with other students like I did in elementary, middle, and high school. I no longer have a reason to hide, but it’s a habit I can’t get rid of. After years of bullying, staying out of everyone’s way is second nature. I’m a master of avoidance.
Students from all over the country study here, but a big chunk moved from the same private high school in Newport. Thankfully, Jake Grey’s influential father shipped him off to Brown. With the instigator of the bullying I endured for years gone, the harassment almost ceased in college.
His friends still find it entertaining to call me names sometimes, though it doesn’t happen often, and no one pushed me, tripped me, or slingshot a spitball at me since graduation.
Makes for a nice change.
I’ve been fairly undisturbed for six months, minding my own business. Students hardly noticed my existence... until the Spring Break party. Now, the spotlight’s back on my face. Although in a different way than I’m used to.
People pass me by, looking me over with approving smiles instead of distasteful scowls. A few even sayhey, Mia,as I rush down the corridor leading to the courtyard.
Looks like manhandling and humiliating the football captain works wonders on social status...
It helps that Brandon’s a jerk. Most want him to fall from the pedestal he put himself on. I may have wobbled the foundations a bit.
Still, I expected rude comments or the occasional pushing and shoving from his friends while Brandon took time off school to heal his nose, but no. Everyone is eerily nice, which is why I’m looking over my shoulder again.
