Chapter 4 (2012)

PEARL

"What? That's absolutely insane, impossible, and ridiculous. $200 for just to clean a jean jacket," I shrieked, almost dying from the price the laundry man gave me.

"That's the regular price young lady, I'm afraid," 

My mouth was wide open as I stared at him in surprise, confusion, and curiosity about how Lucas Anderson was going to successfully bury me alive. I didn't wait for the last bell to ring before I left school to sort out the laundry. I could practically feel his eyes at my back every second throughout the school period and I swear, that every time I looked back, he either wasn't looking at me or he wasn't even in the vicinity at all.

I swear to God that I'll kill Jerry before he turns 18 for putting me in such a dilemma.

"Can't you do it for me at $50? It's just one jacket, not a truckload full of jackets," I insisted, almost crying in the process.

The man sighed. "No, that's because the cloth has to be hand washed and ironed manually. If we try to use a machine, it might spoil it," 

"Why? Every other clothes in the world are cleaned with a washing machine, why is this stupid jacket different?" 

"It's a hand-stitched Jacket. Just ten of them can be found worldwide. Washing it with a machine will destroy its pattern, I'm sorry I can't help you," 

The man dropped the jacket in my hand and walked away. I almost crumbled to the floor in despair. How did I get so unlucky?

Once I realized people were watching me, I quickly stood up and dragged myself out of the place. I hailed down a cab and went home with the twenty dollars I was planning to use for the laundry. 

By the time I got home, my parents were already in which was unusual, they usually arrive home late from work every night. 

"What's wrong? Why are you back so early?" I asked as fear gripped me. Did Lucas Anderson inform his father about the incident and his father in turn informed mine? 

Will I die this night? 

My father and Lucas's dad are currently working together on a multimillionaire project which my dad thinks will change our lives and financial status forever. He said and I quote "After this contract is successfully completed, we'll be amongst the richest families in California" 

It's not like we were poor or wretched, we are just a middle, the average family who could definitely afford the necessary good things of life but I guess my father wasn't satisfied with that.

"Did something happen?" I asked again when I realized my mother was ignoring me.

"Pearl, please go upstairs and get changed. I'm preparing dinner and I'll be expecting you downstairs in ten minutes," She replied without even looking back at me.

"Mom, did something happen?" I asked the third time. "Did someone die?" 

"What? Why will someone die before I make dinner or ask you to go wash up?" She shrieked as she turned to me.

"Because it's unusual, we usually eat out every night," 

She scrutinized me.

"Have you done something wrong at school? Were you asked to invite your parents?" 

What! 

I know I'm the problem child but seriously.

"No, absolutely not. I was a perfectly good girl in school today,"

I half lied. Well, if I'm to remove Lucas's part from it, I can say I was a good girl.

She rolled her eyes. "Go get changed," 

"Okay, mother," 

I walked up the stairs and breathe a sigh of relief. At least, I was still safe and lucky that day. No one would actually kill me after finding out I almost spoiled dad's business plans.

Aurora entered my room immediately I entered and shut the door behind me.

"So, what happened?" She asked. 

"$200 to get this shitty thing cleaned," I told her.

"What? Why is it that expensive?" 

"Stupid story about how expensive the jacket is and blah blah blah. I'm so dead, Aurora," I dropped to the bed, crying.

"If I had such a huge amount of money, I would've borrowed you but I have like 30 dollars," She explained.

"He will bury me alive, Rory," I cried out again.

"That's just an exaggeration. He probably can't bury you alive," 

"Have you forgotten how he beat up the guy that smashed his car's side mirror to a pulp? That guy missed a whole school year because of it. He nursed broken bones for that whole year" 

"You're a girl, he shouldn't hurt a girl. It's not right," 

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Sis, weren't you in the cafeteria last year when he pushed bitchy Caroline into the drinks machine breaking her hand in the process just because she said hi to him?" 

Aurora was frozen. "Okay, I think we're in deep shit," She finally agreed.

"What am I supposed to do?" 

"Beg him on your knees," She suddenly suggested, her eyes changing.

"What?" 

"Either you beg him on your knees or get killed, which one would you prefer?" She asked.

"How about I write a letter first? Then beg him if the letter doesn't work out because I don't see myself talking to him. What if he breaks my arm too?" 

I was afraid and confused as well. 

"GIRLS. IT'S TIME FOR DINNER" 

My mom screamed from the kitchen.

"Write the letter first and I'll find a way to sneak it into his locker. Okay?" I nodded. 

I quickly changed my outfit to something casual and together we walked into the dining area.

It was in between dinner that dad told us the project with Anderson was almost successful and he promised a vacation after he concluded the project.

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual to write a detailed apology letter. Starting from how I made a terrible mistake and how my effort at cleaning his cloth was in vain. I asked for forgiveness and told him I could go on my knees if he wanted me to but asked if I could do it in the Janitor's room and not in front of everyone because I could die from disgrace and embarrassment.

Aurora and Lyla helped me to get the letter to his locker as promised and they were able to do that successfully because his locker was broken. 

I didn't see Lucas Anderson throughout the first half of the day and suddenly during lunch, in the cafeteria, Aurora grabbed my hand tightly.

"Don't look back, Pearl. He's coming here," 

"Lucas?" I whispered and she nodded.

"Does he look angry? Is he holding the letter?" 

"I'm afraid so," 

Fear ran its course through my body and with each step that I imagined he took, I also imagined myself walking closer to my grave.

"Where's my jacket?" He yelled from behind me, gaining the whole cafeteria's attention.

I swallowed hard as I jumped from my seat.

I brought out the jacket from the bag and he snatched it out of my hand.

"I'm sorry," I apologized.

He stared at me for a second and I could feel warm on the inside as our eyes met for that second.

"Apology doesn't fix shit," He spat and turned, walking away.

I almost dropped in relief, thinking it was over. 

"Meet me at the gates after school," 

"What?" 

"You owe me two hundred dollars, Augustus. You don't have the fucking right to question what I say," 

With that he marched off, leaving me in my inner turmoil of death.