Soft Skeletons

( Author's note. This is 18+ because of language. This isn't adult fiction. I ain't bout to sex it up in my love story. So if you're looking for smut -- go elsewhere. If not, enjoy. But remember, do not fall in love with Jane Draper! )

EPILOGUE

I was feeling lonely, feeling blue. Feeling like I needed you. Like I'm walking up surrounded by me. A&E

         The bell had rung signifying the mid-day release to recess of all the first, second, and third graders of Hollybrook Elementary School. Children that ranged from age six to eight burst out of the doors into their designated play areas to make most of what little time they had of freedom. The boys usually rounded about the jungle gym showing off their manly strength by tackling the obstacle courses. The girls occupied the grassy areas shaded by huge oak trees where they played house or dolls. They were supervised by a single volunteering school teacher, which obviously had a grim outlook on her current job detail.
Everything seemed to be in pristine order, from a plain eye’s view. But rounding about near the swings, close to the dumpster was a small crowd of children. Among them was a single girl who had taken a fetal position as a larger boy stood over her dominantly. The various other children had thought it funny to push around the small girl and were laughing cruelly. The little girl whimpered and waited for the daily punishment to be over with.
         “Are you crying? Stop crying! What are you, one years old? She’s a baby!” The boy taunted towards the little girl as the grin grew upon his delinquent face.
         “Baby, baby, baby!” The crowd cheered.
         The girl shut her eyes tightly and wound her hands around her small calves as she tried to shut out everything, wishing for her father or mother to show up to make the harassment halt. That’s when she heard a large “OOFH” and various shocking gasps from the bullying crowd. She wouldn’t dare imagine what was going on, so she remained still, praying for it to all be over.
         “Hey.” A rough young voice echoed towards the girl. “Are you okay?” She felt a hand place upon her shoulder, a gentle touch as it shook her calmly. The young girl finally fluttered her eyes open to the sight of an older girl. The older girl had a full head of tangled dirty blonde waves, a crooked smile, piercing green eyes and golden skin. She was the most beautiful creature the girl had ever seen.
         The victimized girl began to sit up as she stared at her savior. “What did you do?” She asked curiously as she gave a look around her surroundings and saw her tormentor on the ground wailing as he held his nose. “Did you punch him?!”
         “Yeah? He wasn’t leaving you alone.” The older girl shrugged carelessly as if she didn’t care of the consequences.
         “But.. but, you might get in trouble!”
         “So? Hey, what’s your name?” The older girl asked.
         “Natalie.”
         “Hi Natalie, I’m Jane.”

         Our friendship began on that fateful day. I could remember it like it was yesterday. Jane was the best thing to ever happen to me. She warded off any evil that came my way and I had become the friend Jane had always wanted. We complimented each other in every way. Sleepovers every weekend, trips to the zoo, water parks, various birthday parties – we did absolutely everything together. Our parents thought it was a bit strange how for even a moment we weren’t either talking on the phone or together in person. My mother found Jane insufferable, and felt like the girl wasn’t a good influence at all. I saw no fault in Jane, how could I? Jane didn’t let anything bad happen to me. She was perfect in my eyes.

         Years passed, Jane had entered high school and I was left alone once more at school. But all the students knew to never try to even lay a finger on me because Jane would be right there to exact justice. In a small town where we lived, reputations were a sure thing to follow each person to their grave. And just like all good friendships, most end. Jane and I had lost contact the moment I became a freshman. She was a sophomore. Jane stopped returning my calls, was never home when I came to visit and every time wes aw each other, Jane walked right by without even a look. I was heartbroken. I couldn’t understand how all of a sudden Jane who was a consistent figure in my life was now not at all. My mother kept reassuring me that it was for the best and that new friends would be inevitably made. Still, I couldn’t move past losing my closest companion. Jane was a permanent memory etched into my mind.

CHAPTER 1

"Sunset only seconds. Just ripe then it's gone. Got no new intentions. Just right then it's gone"

         “Mom, you burnt the toast.” A loud groan shrilled from my seventeen year old mouth. Fingers approached the charcoaled breakfast with intimidation as my nose crinkled and brows furrowed. I broke the slice in half, bringing it up to my lips and nibbled at the parts of the bread that didn’t seem crisped to death.
         “Well you can always make your own breakfast, even though there’s no chance in hell you will” My mother chimed in as she herself got ready to start her day.
         I couldn’t let her day start off bad by a ruined meal. I was too anxious to start my junior year. “No mom, you’re right, probably not.” I moved my slender frame from the island in the kitchen, burnt toast in hand, and tossed it into the trash. “It’s whatever. I’m having Mika come pick me up early and we’ll eat at the cafeteria.”
         “Mika is…?” Natalie’s mother could never keep track of any of her friends now.
         “Mika. Short. Blonde. Mousy voice? She’s my teammate? Mom, she’s been over here countless times.” I reminded her.          “Anyway, I have to go.” A roll of my eyes as I heard the muffled voice of which sounded like my mother realizing which one of my friends was Mika.
         Seconds later I received a text message from Mika telling me she was outside parked. I picked up my duffle bag with all of my cross country gear and headed out the door. Outside was Mika’s newly bought BMW Beemer with all the trimmings.
         “Hey, would you hurry your pretty little ass up please?” Mika yelled out of her cracked window as she beeped her horn obnoxiously. I began to intentionally slow down to a snail’s pace just to get on Mika’s nerves. Noticing the frustration on my friends face, I threw a smile upon my face and then hurried up to climb into the car.
         “So how’d you get your daddy to buy you a new car?” I asked as I admired the polished interior of the luxury car.
         “I asked for an advance on my birthday present. They of course obliged.” Mika said with a victorious laugh as she put the car in drive and started off to the school.
         Most of the students at Wilmont High saw Mika Denour as a privileged spoiled brat, and I sometimes wondered if others saw me in that light also. Mika lived in the same gated community as I did; we both lived in significant sized houses, parents had well off jobs and the we wore the latest trending clothes. While Mika liked the role of the rich girl, I felt the need to be more modest than my friend about my financial stability. I didn’t need the added attention there already was.
         It didn’t help that I had grown into such an attractive girl as well. I was so gangly and plain as a child. Unfortunately, this only made me more of a target to envious students who hated me. I didn’t notice my so-called beauty as much as others did. I actually couldn’t stand my height, and that fact I was almost taller than the whole student body. Seriously, I can see over about seventy percent of the student population in the halls. Five foot ten inches was a hard height to deal with. I secretly wished I was more Mika’s size, five foot three inches seemed like a far better number. I had let my light chestnut hair grow out, annoying freckles sprouted around the bridge of my nose because of the tan gained from the summer hangout at the lake. I didn’t think I ever came off as shallow or conceited, I tried to remain a sweet, cheerful individual who had a healthy social life and talked to anyone who wanted to talk to me. I was always painfully shy. Mika and I got along well, but our friendship was more status and comfort than anything. We’d rather be with any group than none. I couldn’t ever stand to be alone.
         “Ew. Look at those two sucking face. Honestly, what the hell is her problem?” Mika cried out in disgust as she pulled into her usual spot in the student parking.
         “Who?” I was in my own little world and didn’t turn to look.
         “Jane Draper.”
         “Huh?” My head snapped towards where Mika was pointing the moment I had heard that name. My peripheral vision set its sights on the figure in front of us and my heart sunk.
         There Jane was. My Jane. My best friend. Well, my past best friend. I had gotten used to not seeing Jane around, because I deliberately taught myself not to notice her anymore. Besides, Jane hardly showed up to school anyway. But there she was, the first day of her senior year and she and some random boy were going at it like animals with their mouths. Before I could put a final judgment on the situation, my attention was diverted.
         The loud blaring honk of Mika’s BMW made my whole body jump from shock. “What the hell did you do that for?!” I automatically snapped at Mika as the blonde friend giggled when Jane and the man unwrapped and looked straight at the car.
In that moment, our eyes finally locked, Jane and mine. That stare made my whole body become completely numb. My mouth became instantly dry as my heart didn’t slow in its accelerated rhythm. Jane’s infamous green eyes were haunting but at the same time extremely alluring and were not letting the sight of me go.
         At that moment I noticed the progression throughout our separated years of Jane’s aging. I firstly examined that Jane was tall. Maybe even an inch taller than me! Jane still had the same hair color, natural dirty blonde with its perfect wave cascading down to mid shoulder length. She had beautiful bone structure, which made the girl look like she was in her early twenties and not in her teens still. She was simply gorgeous, like she had always been. Her make-up was a little dark. She had smoky eye shadow and thick eyeliner which gave away to a soft appearance and gave off an alternative look. It signified the persona she was trying to fool everyone with.
         “Oh look. Miss badass is wanting to chit-chat.” Mika looked eager at having the chance to go toe to toe with Jane.
My eyes widened the moment Jane left the random boy and his parked motorcycle and began walking in their direction. The dirty blonde was wearing a simple black tank and tattered jeans. I was envious Jane could make the simplest outfit look so damn good.
         “Mika. Just leave her alone. C’mon, we’re going to be late for school.” I urged Mika to withdraw.
We decided it would be best to open our doors and vacate the vehicle as Jane walked her way over. Jane’s eyes switched from me to Mika. Then, as she finally reached us, a smug smile upon perked lips became apparent.
         “I see someone got a brand new car.” Jane’s voice was vivaciously cold. It had completely changed from the tone a young Jane bore in which I remembered.
         Mika tilted her head, folded her arms and gave a bragging grin. “Yeah. I did. Jealous? Of course you are, this car cost about how much you’re mother makes annually.”
         Mika and Jane have had numerous encounters before this one. The two completely hated each other for no known reason. I had heard details of the two girls’ previous catfights, but usually tuned Mika out when she would foul mouth Jane. I wanted nothing to do with Jane Draper.
         My eyes shifted from Mika to Jane as my jaw dropped, mouth gapped a bit as I could not believe what Mika had said. I clutched my purse as I started to sidestep towards the school just in case things were about to get ugly. I wasn’t ready for any big confrontation on the first day of school.
         “Hm.” Jane started out. I caught one of Jane’s dainty hands reaching for a side pocket of her jeans as she began to pull something out. I noticed immediately that it was a keychain. “You know what would look really nice on this car?” Jane motioned over to lean against the front side of the car as Mika finally noticed the keys in Jane’s possession. “.. A cool design.” Jane finished as she began etching the key across the new car’s paint leaving a jagged line behind each step.
         Mika screamed as she finally realized the keying of her car. “I’m going to kill you, you bitch!” She was about to lunge out at Jane when the school officer had noticed the notorious two from afar and had been investigating their meeting from the start and called out to us. I was in complete shock at Jane’s antics. Who the hell was this girl? What had happened to her?
          I became instantly angry as I blindingly intervened. I marched from the passenger side of the car to the other girls and stood right in front of Jane. “BACK off!” I yelled, my hand rising to land on Jane’s shoulder as I pushed her back violently.
         Jane reacted with nothing. Facial structure remained the same as eyes latched onto me once more. Not a word escaped her lips as she dropped the keys back into her pocket and took a step back.
         The school officer stepped in moments later and confiscated Jane’s keys and brought all three of us into the principal’s office. That day, Jane became consistent in my life once more.

CHAPTER TWO

"We run away, we run away you and me. You get away and bring on back"

         The principal and Jane were like bitter frenemies. They seemed to be sick of each other’s presence. It would make sense because Jane probably was Mr. Wool’s number one customer. We both sat in his office, completely silent. The tension was so severe a knife wouldn’t even be able to cut it. She drummed her black polished nails against the chair. She had no posture, slouched in the chair, legs apart and head tilted back as she stared at the ceiling. Occasionally, her gaze drifted to a side view of me but then lingered back up to the wall once more.
         I had never been to the principal’s office on misbehavior. Actually, I had never really misbehaved at all before. My nerves were building in me once more as I prepared myself for the worse. Mika had been pardoned; she was devastated by the injury to her car and had taken it to the shop immediately.
         Mr. Wool hadn’t arrived yet. It was just her, the drumming of her fingers, the sound of the ceiling fan and me. Even worse I could feel a sneeze coming on. Ugh, I really didn’t want to add any attention to me. I tried to stare up at the light to do away with the sneeze but it came out anyway. I covered my mouth, and then grabbed some Kleenex from Mr. Wool’s tissue box.
         “Bless you.” Jane broke the silence.
         “Thanks.” I replied reluctantly.
         “Are you nervous?” Jane lazily tilted her head as she spoke to me. “You look really nervous.”
         Was it that obvious I was out of my mind uncomfortable? Didn’t she realize that we hadn’t spoken in almost three years? She left me, and I received no explanation as to why she had. Was she feeling the same way I was? No, she sat there with her calm demeanor and it seemed nothing of the sort was bugging her.
         “No. Don’t worry about it. No wait.” I paused; a bewildered look came upon my face. “Why are you even talking to me?”
         “… I won’t then.” Simply put as she looked away from me to her nails.
         I actually wanted the opposite. I wanted for her to talk to me forever. To finally pay attention to me and let me be by her side once more. But my stubborn will wouldn’t allow it. I was still angry with her, and at that moment felt my decision was right.
         Mr. Wool came in minutes later, adjusting his framed glasses and wearing a disappointed grimace on his aging face. He was around mid-fifties, and the added pressure and stress from his job showcased the depth and breadth to his wrinkles.
         “Ms. Arterton,” he cleared his throat as he directed his attention to me first. “I did not expect you to be visiting me so soon.” He leaned against his desk chair as a hand smoothed over his tie. “Is it true you pushed Miss Draper moments before our S.R.O reached the scene?”
         I nodded without disagreement. There was no point trying to fight it or say something differently went on. My eyes left his as they withered down to his mahogany desk. “Yes sir”.
         “Alright well.” He turned to Jane. “Is that true? She pushed you?”
         Jane gave a half-assed shrug of one shoulder as she kept her face stern. I was expecting as much. The girl didn’t seem to have a caring bone in her body. Wasn’t she scared she might be expelled for keying Mika’s car?
         “Well Ms. Arterton, I believe the appropriate punishment would be one day of after school detention. Since this is your first offense, I’m letting you off easily.” He then signed off a slip indicating the date of my detention and handed it to me. “You can go ahead to your second period. I informed your first period teacher about what happened, so your absence is excused. Have a good day.”
         I sighed a bit in relief as I got up from my seat and left his office. I caught a glimpse of Jane’s stoic demeanor before I left and wished for a second I could have stayed and heard what was about to happen to her. I shut the door, and then waited. If I couldn’t be there in person I could at least be a creep and listen in.
         It was a bit muffled but I could make out their heated conversation.
         “Keying a car, really Jane?” He seemed comfortable enough to be calling her by her first name.
         “Yeah?” A nonchalant reply from the reckless beauty.
         “What the hell did Mika say this time around to make you act so ridiculous?”
         “She made fun of my mom.” Finally there was a bit of life in her voice as it bolstered.
         “I understand that’s a sensitive topic, Jane. But you can’t be flying off the handle this year. I won’t tolerate it at all. I’ve had to deal with it since you first came to my school. I should expel you.”
My heart leapt into my throat as I prayed there was an alternative to that. I know I shouldn’t care, but I could never wish ill on her.
         “Jane, I’d like you to apologize to Mika. I know, I know. You’d rather not.. but she might sue you or the school. We can’t have that.”
         “Fine.”
         “I’m also going to have to give you a week of in school suspension and afterschool detention for about two weeks.”
         “Fine.”
         “How’re you doing? How was your summer?”
         “Fine.”
         “Just fine?”
         “Yes, just fine.”
         “You know you can trust me to talk? I’m here as your friend.”
         “I’d rather not.”
         I heard the ruffling of a few chairs and quickly made my way out of the office in case the both of them realized I had been snooping on their conversation. Why was Mr. Wool so concerned over her well-being?
         The rest of my day wasn’t quite as uneventful. John Reed thought of himself inclined to ask me to be his girlfriend for the fifth time. The way he asked made me feel like he was almost mocking me. The last thing I wanted to be is someone’s joke. Thus I turned him down for the fifth time. He always managed to ask me while we were around our usual group. We sat at the last table in the corner within the cafeteria. I’ve heard most deemed it the popular table. Mika was still sobbing about her car, exaggerating her latest encounter with Jane Draper to the others. The boys could care less about Mika’s car. They were too intrigued to find out details of Jane herself.
         I tuned it out. My mind was still settled on Mr. Wool and Jane’s relationship. Her mother was a sensitive topic, Mr. Wool had said. Last time I saw Jane’s mother was in eighth grade and she seemed okay. But then again I didn’t remember our meeting vividly. Jane never talked about her home life when we were friends.
          Jane usually sat by herself in the opposite spectrum of the room, that’s if she actually showed up. She didn’t today. It’s funny how I noticed now that I was actually looking forward to seeing her.

CHAPTER 3

"I'm not your kind. I'm not your girl. Dreams we seen bright, and pastel times."

         For detention Jane and I were to spray down the sidewalks in front of the school and pick up any loose trash. I had never been to detention before and the punishment of physical labor was killing me. I had never lifted a finger before. Oh god, I sounded prim, didn’t I?
         “Ew.” I bent to pick up a wrapper of someone’s earlier lunch and tossed it manically into the trash bag. I reminded myself never to get into an altercation at school ever again. I wore my athletic casual gear for the grueling task. If my mother found even a stain on any of my school clothes she’d have a fit. I made sure to pin my hair up into a loosely fitted ponytail to get it out of my face and away from the trash.
         Jane was late. Were people allowed to be late to detention? She arrived about thirty minutes later. I gave her a good glare to show her my disapproval of tardiness. In return, she pulled out a cigarette from a pack and lit it up right in front of me. The cancer stick rose to her perked lips and she took a long inhale from it, removing it from her lips and down to her thigh to flick off the particles of burnt cigarette. Then she moved my way.
         “You shouldn’t be smoking here.” I said, as if the law was righteous and to be doing something so illegal was a sin.
         “Thanks, mom.” She took another puff. “Trash bag please?”
         Her response bugged me. She had changed so much and her level of carelessness really insulted me. I reached for an extra and threw it towards her. She caught it and forced a smile.
         “Are you angry at me, princess?” She cooed, as if wanting to egg me on.
         “Smoking makes you look ugly.” I replied, trying my hardest not to let her see how much this interaction was affecting me. “Why were you late? You knew you had detention with me.”
         “Um, thanks?” Finally, she showed a bit of surprise from my response. In that moment, she dropped her cigarette into the grass and then threw it in the trash. Did my opinion really bother her? I tried not to over analyze it. “And excuse me? I have two weeks of this shit. And what do you have? Oh that’s right, one day.”
         Yeah, she did have two weeks. Her point was valid. Still, she had no right to make me work by myself. My anger was starting to boil within my body again. Usually when I rage, my inhibitions are thrown out the window and I make an absolute fool out of myself.
         “Why did you stop?” I stood up, a stern look plastered on my face as I let the trash bag drop. “How come you stopped talking to me? What did I do wrong?”
         She stopped in her tracks also, eyes perked up to stare into mine as her lips dropped a bit into a small tremble. Catching Jane off guard was liberating to me. Good. Let her feel the pain I had been through. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”
         That’s it? That’s all she was going to say? “Bullshit! I want to know. I don’t care if you don’t want to talk about it!” My friends had never seen me in this light. I myself had forgotten what it was like to be visibly upset.
         “Natalie. Stop acting like a baby. You know exactly why we stopped being friends.”
It was the first time I had heard her speak my name since forever. The moment I had heard it, I irrationally teared up. I didn’t know the reason. Why would she think I knew? The butterflies in my stomach were making me feel sick.
Jane watched my reactions. Her face became soft, as if she was tormented the same way I was. Those green eyes didn’t leave my figure as she realized how much this meant to me. She walked closer, leaving her trash bag behind her. She was so close. I could smell her cheap perfume, watch her bare lips, her perfectly arched brows, eyes, that button nose. Everything. My envy to be her left me breathless. Did she know how tragically beautiful she was?
         “Don’t cry.”
         I felt her bare fingers brush against my cheek to clear the debris of my flown tears etching down my face. I couldn’t stop them. All the rush of emotions, those lonely days without her, the emptiness I felt since she had left.. it flooded to my face.
         “I can’t .. can’t help it.” I sobbed. My nose running as I tried to stop myself from being seen as an utter fool.
         “Seriously, I can’t handle that shit.” Her fingers left my cheek as those fingers then dropped to lock with mine. “Look. You don’t want to be my friend. I’m trouble. You’re mom was right. It’s better if we just live our lives separate. Would it make you feel better if I told you I don’t hate you or anything? It’s just the way things are.”
         “No, that doesn’t make me feel any better.” I finally gained a grip on my emotions as choked back any future tears. “I don’t care about my mom, Jane. I want us to be friends again. You’re my best friend. I miss the hell out of you.”
         “Well I miss you too.”
         “Then?!” I pleaded with her.
         “Natalie, you’re in a good place right now. You’ve got friends, you’re popular, a nice house, parents that love you, and a promising future.” She stepped back. “I’m not who I used to be. I’d be a terrible friend for you.”
         “I don’t care.”
         “You will.”
         “No, I won’t. I’ve waited for you to even LOOK at me for three years. And now that we’re finally speaking you’re telling me you want nothing to do with me?” I threw my hands up as the frustration was beginning to build up once more.
         She gave a small lifeless chuckle as her brows rose. “Fine. I give up. You want to be my friend? Okay. Be remind me not to tell you I told you so.”
         My heart leapt with joy as I could not control the huge grin that spread across my face.
         “Oh and one more thing,” She reached down to grab her trash bag as she looked to me with that stern face. “Don’t fall in love with me, okay?”
         Stupidity slapped me in the face as I reacted to her request. “Ew?” The first thing to fly out of my mouth. “I’m not a lesbian or anything, Jane. Gross.” What the hell kind of person would ask that?
         “Alright. Well then good.” She shrugged as she picked up an empty plastic bottle. “I guess we’re friends.”

CHAPTER 4

coming soon..