Elements of a Shattered Past, Chapter 15: Ultimatum
Story by FeuerfoxKA8 on SoFurry
Chapter 15: Ultimatum:
Faced with a difficult and inevitable choice, Holly's chickens start coming home to roost. Will there be a way out of this predicament?
Notes: I have one more chapter down the pipe, but it's highly unlikely that I will have any more content to post until significantly later this year. I will focus on continuing this story, but it will likely be a couple of months before I post the next chapter and longer still before I start to make any progress. Please be patient; it will come along. :)
Harrison High School
Colorado Springs, CO
May 21, 2001
The cafeteria was as noisy as ever; while I started to enjoy the social aspect of it I wasn't sure I would miss the raucous, chaotic atmosphere. This was one of the final days we would meet like this; we seniors had our final day next Wednesday. The Knights of the Lunch Table had just about run its course.
The conversation was remarkably jovial. “So, you finally convinced him?" Julie beamed.
“Yep!" Holly affirmed from the seat next to mine. “We're going to prom together. Just as friends, though; sorry to break your matchmaking high score."
I chuckled at that. “I never said I was willing to get hit with Cupid's arrow, but it'll be a good night to spend with friends."
“Spoilsport." Seth smirked.
“Hey," Julie shot back. “I can't win them all, but at least I got the long distance trophy by getting Will and Em together. How's that going, anyway?"
“Pretty good!" Will answered, pulling out his wallet. He removed a picture from it; a tall brunette girl standing there smiling and wearing a purple basketball uniform. It was taken in a park of some kind.
“She looks cute!" Holly chimed in. “You said you're going to visit her over the summer?"
Will nodded. “Yep! My parents talked with hers, and they have a spare room downstairs so I don't need to pay for a hotel. I had to pay for the flight to Cleveland, but I think we'll have a great time."
“I'm glad for you, man." I really was; I know Will had a bit of a rough patch after Courtney ditched him at homecoming. I really hoped things would turn out well, even if I was content to keep things with Holly strictly as friends. I wasn't stupid; Julie was trying like hell to play matchmaker one last time and Holly was amenable to the idea, but I knew I just wasn't ready.
Julie was about to speak up but the passing period bell rang; cutting everyone off. It was time for most everyone to get to class and I was going home early anyway. We got up from the table in a move that could nearly have been choreographed.
I was brought out of my thoughts by a hand settling on my shoulder; Holly's smiling countenance shifting into my line of vision. “I'm helping out with the end of year party in my trig class," she explained. “I'll instant message you tonight?"
“That works," I answered. “I'm pulling a closing shift so I probably won't be home until nearly nine. Will that be too late?"
Holly shook her head. “My dad's a stickler when it comes to the computer, but he's out on maneuvers and my mom lets me stay up. I'll wait up for you." She hugged me quickly and waved goodbye as we went our separate ways.
I made my way to the exit where my mom typically parked; as I was closing it was easier for her to pick me up and drop me off at the shop. As I turned down the hallway to the south wing of the building, I heard a somewhat unfamiliar voice call out. “Where do you think you're going, Jennings?"
I spun around to see the student traffic clear around the three people I wanted to see the least. Matt, Katie, and her boyfriend Ryan strode up to me as if I was a piece of meat on a hook. The two athletes could have kicked my ass one on one, though if they tried anything physical right now the chances of them getting booked on assault charges was pretty much guaranteed. Katie flashed her trademark sneer in my direction as I took a step back on reflex. “What the hell do you want?" I snarled.
“I think you already know what we want, Jennings," Katie practically purred. “That skank Holly has been hanging all over you right before prom. That's not a good look for Matt, especially after you got him shit-canned a few weeks back."
“Don't think we're not done with that, Jennings," Matt snarled back. “You're gonna regret going to the principal about me." That wasn't exactly how that went down, but I would let that slide.
“We're all out of here in a week, Sorenson," I countered. “You can't do jack shit to me without screwing yourself even harder."
“Maybe I'll pay your ass a visit at home after graduation!" Matt threatened. “You won't have your precious Mrs. Callaway or Mr. Briggs to save you then!" Out of all the things to say, he picked the wrong one.
I fixed him with a look cold enough to stop all three in their tracks; even the borderline sociopathic Katie blinked. “Ryan's buddy, Sam, had a history class with me. He should be able to tell you that I have some particular interests that make breaking into my home a very bad idea. Do you get me, or will you wind up in the back of a cop car after staring down the business end of a .38?"
Matt puffed up even further, but Ryan seemed to realize what I was talking about as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder. “The geek's right, Matt; this isn't worth jail time or getting shot."
Katie seemed to recover her slight loss of composure as she spoke up. “I have a different approach. I looked at the senior college plan board in the main hall this morning. Apparently Jennings isn't smart enough to go to college," she smirked. “He's right, anything we would usually do to wreck someone's college plans won't work on him. But he knows who they will work on."
I didn't like where this conversation was heading. “If you…"
“You're going to listen to me, geek," Katie hissed. “Your little skank wants to go to CC. That's a very expensive, exclusive school. It so happens I have some dirt on her. That dirt can find its way into Mr. Briggs' hands anytime I feel like it."
Ryan nodded; a sadistic grin tugging at his lips. “Matt's pretty pissed that you stole his girl; he had a pretty enviable thing going with her. Practically had her eating out of his hand before you came along. Seeing her with you is embarrassing, and we don't like to be embarrassed."
“You turned her into a little goth freak, Jennings," Matt growled. “And Katie has something you're going to do for us as an apology, twerp." My eyebrows narrowed at them.
“You're going to stand her up at the prom," Katie smirked. “Don't pick her up or meet her. If she comes to your house, don't answer the door. Fuck around with your computer like a good little geek. Leave her crying and alone, wondering why she wasn't even good enough for a computer nerd while we have our victory dance as prom king and queen."
“And if I tell you to fuck off and show up with her anyway?" I snarked, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.
“Then I spill all the dirt on her to the entire school, right in the middle of prom." Katie's grin grew malicious. “Embarrass us and Holly's college dreams are going to vanish in the wind. She'll be lucky to get a career at Wal-Mart when I'm through with her."
“And don't get any bright ideas about telling your teacher friends about this, either," Ryan added. “If we catch wind of that, we'll make sure Holly gets the worst of it."
Katie chimed in once more. “Oh, and don't worry. I'm sure I can come up with some juicy dirt on you too, flower boy. So, play ball with us or we'll make this last week here a living hell," she turned to Holly's jilted ex. “Matt, get me that card tomorrow just in case this little geek doesn't do as he's told."
I couldn't do much more than glare at them, but I noticed Matt's sneer falter for a split second, replaced with a look of uncertainty. Did that mean something? “You've made your point. I'm leaving." To a chorus of jeers I pushed past them and made my way to the exit; dark thoughts settling over my mind. As I walked out into the cool spring air, I blinked as I saw my mom standing in front of the passenger door of the silver BMW parked at the curb.
“Hey, son!" she greeted, but paused as I walked up to her. “Something wrong?"
I shrugged. “A bit of a rough day. I don't want to talk about it." That wasn't an answer my mom usually liked to hear, but I wasn't about to tell her what had just happened.
“Well," she started, “how about I make it a little better? Catch." An object flashed in the air, and I somehow reached out to grab it in mid-flight. I blinked again as I realized I was holding the keys to her prized roadster.
“If I'm letting you borrow this car to go to the prom on Friday," my mom explained, “I'd like to see you drive it. Ben told me you're picking up driving stick pretty well." That didn't quite chase my troubles away, but I wasn't about to tell her there was a pretty good chance I wouldn't be going to prom. Not after working up the courage to tell her I had been asked out.
I nodded. “You want me to drive to the Fountain store to work the closing shift?"
“Yes," my mother answered as she opened the passenger door, motioning me over to the driver's side. The hardtop had been removed in anticipation of warmer, sunny days and weekend trips to places like Ouray and Estes Park, but today was cool enough that having the ragtop down wasn't that comfortable. I opened the driver's door and slid into the seat; adjusting it back as I was several inches taller than her. After an entire lifetime of riding in passenger seats, being in the driver's seat felt somewhat foreign.
My mom patiently waited as I went through and adjusted what I needed; the seat and mirrors were critical so I could see correctly. I pushed in the clutch and shifted the gearbox into first; a little too heavy on the throttle as the small, powerful sports car shot out into the street with a snarl of its engine.
“Whoa, whoa!" she called out as I eased off the pedal. “A little less stick, Adam. Take it easy. Now, a gentle shift into second, then to third." I followed her directions as I drove up the street; the complex distraction of driving a manual sports car placing what had just happened into the back of my mind for the time being. I needed to get my game face on for work; I couldn't let the threats that had just come my way get in the way of doing my job.
[5/21/01 8:52PM] Instant Message from RockinHolly83: ** adam! did you just get home?**
PaintedBlack05** : Yeah. It's been a very long day.**
RockinHolly83** : did something happen at work?**
PaintedBlack05** : No. Something happened at school that we need to talk about.**
RockinHolly83** : you're making me nervous. what happened?**
PaintedBlack05** : I got cornered by Katie, Ryan, and Matt before I could leave. They're pissed at you and me, to the point that Matt physically threatened me and I threatened him back.**
RockinHolly83** : what?? what did you tell him???**
PaintedBlack05** : It got ugly. Matt threatened to break into my house after graduation and hurt me. I insinuated that if he did that he would get held at gunpoint and arrested.**
RockinHolly83** : jesus christ, adam. i think you need to go to mr briggs about that. matt is a hothead, even if i'm done with him i don't want to see you or him hurt. you really have a gun?**
PaintedBlack05** : No, but my stepdad has one. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything stupid. I don't want to hurt him. He got the hint.**
RockinHolly83** : please promise me that, adam? i care about you and don't want to see you mess your life up over this.**
PaintedBlack05** : I promise, Holly. I'm more worried about you right now.**
RockinHolly83** : why? what's wrong?**
PaintedBlack05** : Katie told me to stand you up at the prom, even if you came to my house looking for me she told me to ignore you. She told me if I don't do that she has a way to ruin your college prospects...**
PaintedBlack05** : ...I think she means those photos you mentioned, but I don't know for sure.**
PaintedBlack05** : Holly, you there?**
RockinHolly83** : yea, i am. this is bad. really bad. i want to go to prom with you. i've been really looking forward to it since you told me you'd go. fucking katie.**
PaintedBlack05** : I don't know what to do about this. I don't want to be the guy who screws a friend over, but I'm concerned that if we do go it's going to ruin you.**
RockinHolly83** : i'm tempted to go with you anyway, adam. i'm pissed enough at katie to do it and slap her right in her face. i'm sorry that shit in my past and who i am has come back to bite you in the ass as well as me.**
PaintedBlack05** : What do you mean by that?**
RockinHolly83** : i don't want to explain now. not over im. i've done some stupid things and katie is hanging them over my head.**
PaintedBlack05** : You mentioned photos. Maybe we could figure out who has them?**
RockinHolly83** : they're on a camera card that katie keeps a secret. good luck finding it because she likely doesn't even have it, it's blackmail against a lot of her 'friends'. bitch got jeremy kicked out with that pot in his locker.**
RockinHolly83** : terry's parents sent him to a private christian school after katie slipped them photos of him kissing nate. she gets us all together and uses our private lives against us. i guess she wants to do the same to me.**
PaintedBlack05** : If we have to, we could go somewhere besides prom? I'll have my mom's car. We could even find a concert or something in Denver if you wanted.**
RockinHolly83** : our parents want prom pics and i'm sure julie and seth aren't going to keep quiet if we don't show. i don't know what to do. risk it and keep away from katie and her friends?**
PaintedBlack05** : Are you sure that's wise? I don't want them to screw your chances at going to the school that you want.**
RockinHolly83** : adam, i appreciate you looking out for me. i really do. the problem is that i let it get this far. i was told it was safe to be who i was around katie, and it wasn't.**
RockinHolly83** : i made bad decisions and i need to own up to them. i wish things were different. i know you don't want to hear this right now but i wish i had been with you instead of matt. i wish megan was still here. i wish i had picked friends that wouldn't judge me and use me.**
RockinHolly83** : please pick me up for prom. katie will find out, and things will get very rough for me. my parents will be pissed. you'll find out things about me that i am very uncomfortable about. i'm going to need a friend, and you, julie, seth, and will are better friends than they were. please don't judge me too harshly?**
PaintedBlack05** : Are you completely sure about this, Holly?**
RockinHolly83** : yes, adam. i am. i gotta face this, it's the only way i'll be able to stop katie from having power over me. i wish there was another way, but i'm tired of living in fear of that bitch.**
PaintedBlack05** : Okay. I want you to be safe, Holly. Hopefully this doesn't matter that much once we're out of school and we start our lives.**
RockinHolly83** : it's not that simple for me, adam. i'm glad i have you as a friend and i don't want to fuck that up. i hope I don't fuck it up at prom. but, these things have consequences. i know i'm being vague as hell, but i'm not quite ready to face it yet.**
RockinHolly83** : it's late and even my mom's patience has limits. i'll talk to you at school if i can, but i don't know if i'll be able to tomorrow. don't worry about me too much. goodnight, adam. get some sleep.**
[5/21/01 11:12PM] RockinHolly83 Signed Out