Chapter 3
Over the next few days, rumors spread like wildfire through the school.
"Did you hear Nina's just acting all nice to that weirdo Jimmy, just to catch Gerald's eye?"
"Ugh, that's sick. She's using someone else's dignity as a joke."
"Poor Jimmy, stuck with those two nutcases."
Every time I walked down the hallway, I could hear those nasty comments.
Gerald was clearly enjoying all the attention. Everyone talking about him and me just made his laughable vanity soar.
He got even worse, bossing me around like he owned me.
"Nina, my sneakers are filthy. Go wash them for me."
"Nina, Olivia wants cake from that bakery on the south side. Go get it."
"Nina, hand over your homework. I need to copy it."
I always did as he asked, expressionless.
It was not that I was pathetic or anything. I was just biding my time.
I was waiting for the perfect moment to bring them down in one decisive blow.
But more than that, any pushback from me right now would just give Gerald an excuse to make Jimmy suffer for it.
It was free time during gym class.
I'd just stepped out of the equipment room when I noticed a bunch of people crowding around the basketball court.
In the middle of the crowd, Gerald was aggressively slamming a basketball against the backboard, over and over.
Right beneath the backboard, Jimmy stood there, completely helpless.
Two guys were holding him down by the shoulders, leaving him totally stuck.
Thud!
The basketball ricocheted off the backboard and smacked Jimmy right across the cheek.
His cheek instantly swelled up, bright red.
"Oops, guess I missed."
He took the towel from Olivia without a care, wiped his hands, and shot Jimmy a smug smirk.
"Sorry, Jimmy, my aim's been crap lately. Guess you'll just have to deal with it."
"Go, Gerald! You'll totally hit him next time!" Olivia cheered from the sidelines, playing the perfect cheerleader.
The guys around them jeered loudly, shouting at Jimmy, "Hey, mute, don't be scared! Gerald's just training your reflexes!"
Jimmy kept his head down, his bangs covering his eyes, his expression completely hidden.
His fists were clenched so hard that his nails dug deep into his skin, blood dripping from between his fingers.
He was enduring it.
For his grandmother, still stuck in the hospital with bills piling up, Jimmy had no choice but to endure it.
As long as he stayed in school and kept his scholarship, he could take whatever they threw at him.
I stood on the edge of the crowd, my whole body trembling.
I wanted to storm in, scream, and just beat them senseless, but reason held me back.
If I barged in now, Gerald would just see me stepping in to defend his plaything. He'd get a bigger kick out of it and go even harder on Jimmy.
Plus, Jimmy's wounded dignity would never let him accept having someone like me, the one who's part of the problem, step in to save him, right in front of everyone.
"Look, it's Nina!" a voice rang out.
The crowd parted for me without a second thought.
Gerald's eyes lit up when he spotted me, and he casually tossed the basketball over.
"Hey, Nina, just in time. You take the serve."
He pointed at Jimmy, grinning like a devil.
"If you can nail him just once, I'll take you to the movies this weekend. Sound good, right?"
All eyes were on me.
Olivia walked over, slipped her arm through mine like we were besties, and whispered in my ear.
"Nina, this is your shot. Gerald's finally letting you in. Just give him a soft hit and make it look good. Jimmy's got thick skin. He won't even care."
She shoved the basketball into my arms, the cold leather making me shiver.
"Come on, don't keep Gerald waiting."
Gerald stood there with his hands shoved in his pockets, watching me like he owned the place, absolutely sure I'd play along.
After all, back then, I'd wait in line for three hours just to buy movie tickets, or stand out in the snow all night, just hoping he'd show up and watch a movie with me.
I hugged the basketball to my chest, walking step by step toward Jimmy.
With every step, it was like my heart was bleeding a little more.
Jimmy slowly lifted his head.
In those lifeless eyes, there was finally a flicker of emotion for the first time.
It was disappointment.
It was the kind of complete despair of realizing, "So you really are no different from them."
He closed his eyes, turning away from me, like he was bracing himself for judgment.
I stopped about ten feet away from Jimmy.
The basketball in my hands felt as heavy as a boulder.
"Nina, hurry up and do it already! Stop dragging your feet."
"Yeah, what's the big deal? He's just some freak. If you mess him up, just toss his family some cash and call it a day," Olivia sneered.
I took a deep breath and raised the basketball.
Everyone held their breath.
The next second.
Thud!
A huge bang rang out.
The basketball shot out of my hands.
But it didn't go anywhere near Jimmy.
Instead, it was thrown hard and straight at Olivia, who was standing to the side watching the show.
"Ah!" Olivia shrieked.
The basketball slammed into her, knocking her back so hard she hit the floor with a thud.
Blood started pouring from her nose, soaking the white pleated skirt she'd picked out just for today.
The whole place went dead silent.
Gerald's grin froze on his face.
Jimmy's eyes snapped open, staring at me in disbelief.
I held my shooting pose, eyes icy as I watched Olivia rolling on the ground, howling in pain.
"Oops, my hand slipped."
I casually brushed off my hands, acting like nothing happened.
"Sorry, Olivia, my aim's been crap lately too. Guess you'll just have to deal with it."
"Nina, are you crazy?"
Gerald finally reacted, rushed over to help Olivia, who was covered in blood, and then turned back to me and roared in anger.
"How dare you hit Olivia! Are you looking to get yourself killed?"
Watching Gerald fuss over Olivia, all I felt was cold amusement inside.
"Is it fine when you guys throw balls at people, but when I 'slip,' it's suddenly a big deal?"
I walked right up to Jimmy, blocking Gerald's way, and stared him down without flinching.
"Gerald, you better remember what you said today."
"At your birthday party this weekend, I'm gonna give you a gift that'll haunt you for the rest of your life."
With that, I turned and pulled Jimmy up by the wrist.
His wrist was icy cold, and as soon as I touched him, he jerked back, instinctively trying to get free.
But I held him tight, refusing to let go.
"Come with me."
I dragged him through the stunned crowd, marching us out of the basketball court without a backward glance.
Behind us, Gerald's frantic yelling and Olivia's screaming echoed through the gym.
But I didn't give a damn anymore.
I could feel Jimmy's pulse racing beneath my hand.
It meant he was alive.
And that's what my second chance was for.