Cars & Cracks
Three Years Ago
Jayden leant against the wall, his head resting back against the hard stone as he watched the scene unfold before him. A small kitten was wrapped around Jayden's friend's leg. The friend, Riley, was shaking his leg angrily, and muttering curse words, trying to dislodge the black ball of fluff that had its claws in his leg. Jayden decided he's had enough and stepped forwards to help.
"Calm down Riley, you're scaring the poor thing." Jayden hissed, pulling Riley's leg back down to the floor and easing the creature of darkness of his friend's leg and into his arms.
Riley scowled, "Blasted thing deserved to be scared after ripping my leg to shreds!" He waved his hands at the eight little puncture marks on his shin. Jayden rolled his eyes and continued petting the cat, "Who knew that the school sociopath has a weak spot for cats." Riley mused.
Jayden's smile broke for a second before picking up again but not as strong, "I'm not that scary."
Riley raised his eyebrows, "You got a hand tattoo last week. You're fourteen! To everyone else that makes you scary." He laughed.
"I was in Spain and my Aunt was there so it was legal. Also are people really only scared of me because I have a tattoo!?" Jayden was slightly hurt at that.
Riley shrugged, "They say your scary because you look like one of those hot bad guys in movies."
Jayden grinned, "They're basically the only type of person you wanna date. Does this mean you wanna date me!?" He asked, faking shocked.
Riley shrugged, trying to hide a smile.
Jayden turned back to the cat and said to Riley, "Your inner Bi is showing." They both laughed quietly at that.
After school the two boys were walking down the winding path by the road, laughing at the fact they'd been able to conceal the kitten in Jayden's pocket. They stopped by the bus shelter for their bus back home. It was empty except for them and some strong looking dude that Riley was not very discreetly staring at him. Jayden pulled the kitty out his pocket and rubbed it's head, "Riley, bud, what should I call this little fella?" Jayden looked so happy with the cat that Riley nearly forgot to be sarcastic.
"Name it after me. It did nearly kill me."
Jayden laughed and said, "I'll think about it." He pulled his wallet out his pocket as he saw the bus coming closer.
Everything that happened next was a blur. Hands grabbed his wallet and tightly held onto his wrists, he could hear Riley shouting in the background, scared. His heartbeat skyrocketed and his breath left his lungs and he was pushed onto the road, pain engulfing him. All he could see was blaring lights as the bus was meters away, he could see the panicked expression on the driver's face as he tried to pulled the breaks in time. Suddenly everything was in slow motion, the kitten's mewl from the side of the pavement then Riley pulling himself up and throwing himself over Jayden, covering his body, protecting him. Someone screamed. Maybe it was Jayden. He didn't know. All he knew was there was blood and unbearable pain. His vision was clouded and something warm ran down his forehead, he tried to turn his head to see Riley, to see his warm smile and embracing arms. To hear his snide remarks and sarcastic comments. Tears mixed with blood on the road and the last thing he felt before his eyes close was the soft fur of the kitten in his hand and a small mewl before his eyes closed. That's the day his soul finally started to crack.
