Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:09:37 +1000
From: Joel Dark <joel_dark15@hotmail.com>
Subject: Aussie Exchange Student - Chapter 3

My alarm clock woke me up. I was still really tired from thinking too much
about Brendan. I knew that I was certain of one thing, which is I should
never gone against my morals and what I believe in.  I hoped in the shower,
taking my time so I could wake myself up. After several minutes I stepped
out and dried myself off. I pulled on a blue t-shirt and jeans and walked
into the kitchen to start breakfast. I got myself cereal as I new I wasn't
a good cook and if I had made pancakes they would have been burnt and
mangled.

Once I finished, I quickly rinsed my bowl and walked back into the bathroom
to brush my teeth and spike my hair up with some hair gel. I noticed that
the swelling has gone down and that there were no signs of
bruises. `Typical.' I thought to myself. I already knew that it was
extremely hard for my body to bruise. I had a small cut left of my cheek
though, which I was happy to have at least one battle scar.  I walked to
the front door, grabbing my bag and making my way to the bus stop.

It wasn't long before the yellow bus arrived full of noisy teenagers. I
hoped of and avoided making eye contact with the students. I took a seat
towards the back of the bus. It wasn't long before it arrived at the front
of the school.  I was startled when I stepped off the bus, greeted by two
guys. I new their faces from yesterday, though their faces were not full of
anger, it was fully of sorrow.

"Hey, William." The guy on the left greeted me. "We are truly sorry about
what happened yesterday. It will never happen again."

I was in shock. What could have sparked the two guys from yesterday to
apologies for their actions? I was sure they were not going to cause me any
grief and I was surprised at myself for how I wasn't angry towards them.  I
felt very calm and in control. "It's ok guys." I smiled. "Have a great
day."

I walked off to my first class of the day. I took my usual seat at the back
of the class and pondered on what could have triggered their apology.  `Did
they really mean it?' I asked myself. `Or was it a forced apology? If
someone had anything to do with it, the only person would be Brendan.'
Thinking about Brendan and what has happened last night totally sidetracked
me until lunch time. I still didn't know or what I was going to say to him
if I bumped into him.  I packed up my stuff as the bell went.I walked into
the cafeteria and found an empty table and sat down gathering my thoughts
about Brendan. I heard my name being called out. I turned to see who was
calling my name. I automatically recognised his face. He was of the
football players I saw when I first met Brendan.  He had very similar
features to Brendan. He was muscled, slightly tanned, had a chiselled face
yet he had blue eyes and short sandy hair. He walked right up beside me.

"Hey, William." He greeted me.

"Hey." I smiled. "Take a seat."

He sat down beside me. "I'm Jacob, I play football with Brendan."

"Yeah I thought I recognised you."

He had a concern look on his face. "I heard that you were bashed yesterday
for sticking up for Brendan's little brother Taylor."

I wasn't sure what he was going on about. "Yeah that was me."

"Well um, there is this house party tonight..." he paused looking to the
floor.

"Yes Jacob, I'll go if you're inviting me." I smiled.

He was now looking at me. He seemed really nice so far and instincts where
telling me that he was a good guy, nothing like Brendan. Jacobs eyes were
inviting and friendly. I don't think I could ever say no looking at this
guy.

"I was going to ask you but wasn't so sure."

I just laughed. "Here is my number, just text me the details and I'll see
you there." I handed over my number that was scribbled on a little piece of
paper. He rose as he took it and entered it into his mobile.

"Alright, awesome, well I better get going anyhow. Don't want to be late
for practice."

I smiled and waved goodbye. I couldn't believe I was invited to a house
party. I mean I've seen them in the movie Mean Girls and American
television shows but yet to experience one myself.

My new high of going to a party and making a new friend didn't live for
that long as my eye caught Brendan's. He was heading my way. I didn't know
what to say to him. My head was screaming at me to move away, to get away
from him, yet my body had its own opinion. I was frozen solid like an iron
statue. My heart began to speed up as Brendan began to approach me.

"What did Jacob want?" Brendan bluntly asked.

"Um, he just invited me to a party." I couldn't look him in the eye. I was
filled with so many emotions, I wanted to cry, scream at him for what he
did but most of all, I wanted this conversation to end.

"I don't think that's such as good idea." He spoke seriously. He had a hard
look on his face as if it was some kind of warning.

"It's none of your business if I go or not." I snapped at him.

"William, listen." He sighed while grabbing my hands. I looked down at his
hands and noticed they where bruised. "I just don't want you going, it's
complicated to explain."

`His hands are bruised' was all I could think off. I was angry, why would
he go and do a stupid thing like that? Who would he fight? I wasn't
entirely sure but I had a hunch.

"And if I go, will you bash me like you bashed the two guys who assaulted
me?" I was now looking directly into his eyes.

"What?" Brendan choked out.  "That's a different issue." He became
defensive. "I only bashed those two guys because they hurt you and I don't
want to see you get hurt."

"Hurt me." I was fuming, tears where ready to begin flowing. "Speaking of
hurting me, you hurt me. You're nothing but a jerk, I can't believe I let
myself fall for you." That sent me over the edge, tears where running down
my face. I grabbed my stuff and walked to the front of the school, I didn't
want to make a scene. I knew I still had classes to attend but I too
emotional to go back and finish them. I sat myself down under a huge oak
tree. I closed my eyes and let myself drift off to forget everything that
just happened.

The bell rung and finally it was silent. There was a nice cool breezy
gently blowing on me. It felt so relaxing sitting there listening to the
birds sing.  It was helping me to forget about what just happened with
Brendan. It was perfect being alone apart from the thudding noise in the
back ground which was begging to become louder which each thud. I was
afraid it might be a dog going in to attack me. So I quickly opened my eyes
in surprise not to see a dog yet a person running towards me. It was Jacob
and he looked worried.

"Are you ok?" he asked while taking a seat beside me.

"Not really." I spoke while wiping a tear away.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Ok" I looked around to see if anyone was around us. It was embarrassing
enough just telling Jacob but if someone was ears dropping, that would make
it a lot worse.

"How about we talk on the way to the beach?" he smiled. "We can chill and
relax and you can clear your head."

It was like he could read my mind. I loved the beach. I use to visit a
place called Point Cartwright on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland,
Australia. It was the perfect place for me to clear my head, watch the
waves crash over the rocks and relax look into the rock pools and see all
sorts of different ocean creatures.

"Sounds perfect." I simple spoke. With that, Jacob was on his feet and
standing in front of me with his hand out. I extended my hand to his and he
helped me get off the ground. We strolled side by side over to the car park
in silence. We finally came to a stop in front of a shiny black
convertible.

"Is that your car?" I asked in disbelieve.

"Yeah it is." Jacob chuckled.

He opened my door and I sat on the red leather seats. This car was
amazing. Jacob got in beside me and started the car. It was very quiet. He
quickly pulled out of the car park and was headed south on the main road. I
stared out the side of the car, watching the tree go past me so I could try
to work out what I was going to tell Jacob. I wasn't sure of if I should
tell him everything about Brendan, however I knew it would be better to be
honest and straight forward.

"So" Jacob broke the silence.

I guess it was now or never. My time was up, I had to tell Jacob everything
and I prayed that it wouldn't damage our friendship because I wasn't so
sure if he liked people my kind. And with someone who was so physically
fit, it would he so easy for Jacob to hurt me. I turned and looked him in
the eye, something told me that it was safe, and that he would
understand. That somehow telling him would ease my pain. I felt like I was
a grazed knee and he was the bandage that would rap over me, to protect me
until I was totally healed.

"Here is the confession of a broken heart." I sighed.

 I've heard that line over and over again. I never knew the extent of how
it actually felt but it was exactly how it came out. It was like someone
had ripped away part of your sole, a thousand knifes stabbing all over your
body.

"Brendan and I were sort of a couple, I think. We were talking, laughing
and joking with each other the whole way back to the locker room on the
first day of school." I looked out the window I was embarrassed to tell
Jacob this part. "I quickly developed a crush on him and while we were in
the locker room, he surprisingly kissed me. I fell in love with him after
that. However in class after the kiss, I saw footage of him hooking up with
some other guy. Even since then it's been drama, getting bashed, him trying
to get back with me. I guess now, I'm waiting for the good Lord to make me
feel better."

I thought that would have sent Jacob over the edge. I was waiting for him
to pull the car over. I couldn't make eye contact with him. I knew it was a
stupid idea to tell him all of that I felt something touch my arm. I looked
to see what it was. It was Jacobs hand rubbing it.

"Seems to me, that your carrying the world on your shoulders." He half
smiled.

To me, it seemed that he understood. That he cared and that he wasn't going
to chuck me out of the car.

"Personally, Brendan is a jerk for doing that to you. You don't need
someone like that. If he has cheated once he will do it again, trust me I'm
on the football team as well."

I was scared to admit but Jacob was one hundred percent correct. I just
needed to find a way to get over him and the whole situation.

"Yeah your right." I sighed.

We had reached the beach by now. I could smell the salt in the air. Jacob
pulled into the parking lot and into a spot close to the beach entrance. He
quickly got out of his seat and ran around to my side of the car to open
the door for me.

"Thanks" I said while stepping out of the car.

"No problem" Jacob smiled.

We began walking down the sandy trail surrounded by sand dunes, trees and
grass. It was a perfect day to spend at the beach, clear blue sky and a
light breezes.

"So what made you like Brendan anyway? Did he remind you of an ex-boyfriend
back home?" Jacob asked.

"Um..." I was totally unprepared for the question. I didn't know how to
respond. I scanned my brain for an answer.

"Sorry, you don't have to answer that." Jacob quickly apologised.

"No, it's ok" I reassured him. "Well, it's kind of lame, love at first
sight. He seemed to be prince charming for me. And no, he didn't remind me
of anyone back home because I've never had a boyfriend nor been interested
in anyone back home."

"It's not lame. It's kind of sweet." He smiled. "And for the boys back in
Australia, they are crazy for not liking you and going out with you."

"Thanks, I guess." I blushed looking away from Jacob. I couldn't believe he
just said that. I turned my eyes onto the landscape. The waves were
crashing against the shore, the sea gulls flying over and the endless
golden sand.

"It's beautiful." Was all I could communicate to describe this breathtaking
landscape.

"Does it remind you of somewhere?"

"Yeah it reminds me of a beach back...home." I was quiet on the last
word. I couldn't believe it was now sinking in. I was coming down with
homesickness. I honestly didn't think I'd been feeling homesick so early
into my stay here in America.

"Feeling a little home sick? What was home like?" Jacob asked while lightly
squeezing my hand.

It was if he could read my mind or was my face that obvious to read? "Home
was beautiful in the area that I lived. I lived one hour north from our
capital city. Great beautiful open beaches and only a twenty minute drive
to the mountain ranges. There is heaps of wildlife such as kangaroo's."

"Sounds perfect, what is your family like?"

"Honestly pretty messed up. I live out of home. My parents spilt 4 years
ago due to my father having multiple affairs, committing fraud, bashing me
and after trying to be the father roll for my younger sister for the past 4
years. I moved out cause I couldn't handle the constant criticism that I
was under all the time from my mother, I was just a big disappoint to her
and now I don't see any of my family."