Push You, Pull Me

By Ann Marie Kucic

Calandra-Callie-Evans is a typical fourteen-year-old freshman. She has an annoying little sister and a large list of expectations to live up to. She’s starting high school and has to learn the ropes some way or another. She may have expected all this homework and a gigantic book bag, but she never expected to bump into Jaysen Jackson the senior.
Jaysen Jackson is failing high school; or at least that’s what he wants to do. However, that may be a hard task to accomplish with his father being the superintendent of the school district and his father’s girlfriend being the principal of the high school. When he manages to bump into Callie, the interesting new freshman, he realizes that some of his hatred for ninth graders might not be as big as he once thought it was.
With Callie gaining new friends and enemies and Jaysen reconnecting with older ones, high school seems to be flying by for the both of them. They discover that some things in life aren’t so bad when you have someone to push while you pull. But, when two people are trying so hard to help each other, someone is bound to get hurt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rocket Science Productions LLC
• Release date: Apr 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781937121334

Book preview

Chapter Thirty Nine - Callie

Chapter Forty - Jaysen

Chapter Forty One - Callie

Chapter Forty Two - Jaysen

Chapter Forty Three - Callie

Chapter Forty Four - Jaysen

Epilogue

Chapter One

Calandra...well, Callie

I’ll only say this once... My name is Callie. Not Cal, or Cals, or even Andy. It’s Callie, no matter what the attendance sheet says. I stared at the teacher standing in the front of the room, looking at me with that perfect smile on her tiny face.

Yeah, I was there to learn, but getting my name straight was the major issue just then.

Okay, Callie. Thank you for introducing yourself to the class. Who would like to go next?

A skinny brunette with thick, black eye make-up raised her hand and the teacher nodded for her to go next.

It was the stupidest class so far. Media class. I mean, who cares how many words you can type in one minute as opposed to the freshman next to you? First day of high school and I already hate one class.

Yo, peeps. I’m Tanya. Not too hard of a name to forget, so don’t. The girl winked at the other freshman sitting down at their computers before looking away, back up at the teacher.

Great! So good to have you in our class, Tasha.

Tanya. The girl rolled her eyes and picked at her black nail polish. Guess the teacher was zoning out when Tanya said never to forget her name.

The bell rang then, making me jump out of my seat for the fourth time today.

We shouldn’t have started the introductions at the end of the class, should we?

Okay, guys, we’ll finish the ice breaker tomorrow! The teacher called as all the freshman filed out of the room.

Hey, you’re Callie, right? Tanya tapped my shoulder and I spun around. She stood next to me, her book bag thrown over one of her shoulders.

Uh, yep. I smiled, my backpack falling onto my shoulders, making me slump over. These high school books were getting heavy and it was only fifth period. Lunch time, finally.

Cool. What middle school did you go to? I don’t remember you at George Washington. Tanya followed me out the doors of the media center and around a corner.

No. I went to Thomas Jefferson. Worst school ever. I laughed.

Tanya nodded. Yeah, so I heard. At least Benjamin Franklin High School isn’t that bad. Kinda neat if you ask me. I love how we get to eat lunch outside.

She knocked into another freshman running the opposite way in the hallway.

Yeah, that beats eating in the classroom like last year.

The warning bell rang and Tanya bit her lip.

Science now. But I’m going to the guidance counselor to switch lunches. What about you? she asked, taking out her schedule from her bag.

Lunch.

Tanya nodded and looked at a sign on the wall before opening her eyes wide. God, I’m gonna be late. Catch up with ya later. Maybe we’ll even get to be in the same lunch. She waved and turned back around to get to her class.

And that’s when I realized I had no idea how to get to the lunch room from wherever I was now. Damn.

I thought I’d have to spend about three minutes looking for the lunch room before the final bell rang. Just great. And it’s not even like I could trust anyone but a teacher to tell me the right directions. Not that there were any teachers in the halls – they were all teaching their classes. And I refused to walk into a random class to ask for directions.

I jumped when someone slammed a door behind me and I realized that I was the only straggler left in the hall while everyone else had made it to class.

Okay, I was prepared for this, right? And it’s only lunch. Not like I need to find a table or anything. Or eat. Or get hydrated after three long hours of hot, sweating kids and teachers in the same building, rushing to find their next class in five minutes.

I turned back down the hall and around the corner when I saw a kid walking towards me. Maybe I shouldn’t say kid, though, because this guy looked a bit older than a freshman.

Hey! I shouted to him because he had his iPod in his ears. His gray hoodie was pushed up over his short, dark hair, and his red V-neck tee hugged the tight lines of his body. His blue jeans hugged his waist (thankfully), and black and white Converse made him look... cool. They even matched his book bag.

Hey, you! I put my hand up as if to ask him to stop. The guy looked up at me and smiled before pulling an earbud out of his left ear.

Hello. He smiled, his perfect white teeth shining against his pale skin.

Someone spent the summer indoors.

Hi. Um, can you tell me where the lunch room is? I asked, stopping a foot away from him and looking down at my schedule again to make sure that was where I needed to go.

His friendly smile curled into a mischievous half smile. Now that I had a good look at him, I realized he was hot. Even with that scar on his cheek. Maybe even sexy.

Directions, Callie. Focus.

Lunch room. Don’t you mean the cafeteria? His voice was deep and gruff. He swung his head to the side, his eyes rolling to the side. They were a deep blue-green.

Um, I guess. Can’t you work with me here? I asked, my hands moving all around in crazy motions. My Italian was coming out for show-and-tell today.

Are you a freshman? he asked, one of his eyebrows raised, that half-smile still at his lips.

God, this guy was good.

Uh. No. I’m... a... transfer. From... Denmark. I raised my eyebrow this time, trying to figure out what a Danish accent would sound like to the unknown mind.

Apparently, it wasn’t so great to be a freshman. I mean, stereotype much?

Oh, right. And what grade are you in then? The kid was messing with me. I just wanted to get to the cafeteria. That was all. Nothing more, nothing less.

I sighed. Look, I just need to get to the lunch room before someone notices that I’m skipping by total accident and give me detention on the first day of school. That would be weird. And bad. And all because of you. I put my hand on my hip and blew my bangs out of my eyes.

The kid shook his head and looked down at the floor. He laughed before looking back up at me. Freshman. He sighed. No one really cares what you do around here. They just lay down all these rules and get you scared so that they look like they’re doing their job. He shrugged.

Just like you are doing now. Stalling me and then more than likely giving me the wrong directions on purpose to look like a good senior.

The kid laughed again before saying, You know, you’re smarter than most girls your age. He smiled again. And I never did catch your name.

Did I throw it to you? I asked. I hated when guys tried to act laid back and cool. Somehow, it never seemed to work for any of them.

He laughed loudly and pointed a finger at me. You’re good.

Thanks, now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to find the lunch room. Cafeteria. Whatever you seniors call it. I rolled my eyes and pushed past him, bumping my shoulder with his.

Wait, seriously, what’s your name? he called when I was halfway down the hall.

I turned around and began walking backwards so that I could look at him.

You didn’t help me, so why should I tell you?

Cafeteria, down the stairs and to the left. We’re right above it. He pointed to the floor and shrugged. Now, tell me.

I laughed a little. I never said that I would tell you. I just said that there was no reason to.

But now I told you so that’s a reason. He put his hands up in the air as if to say, What the hell?

Hasn’t your mom ever told you that life isn’t fair? I asked, still walking backward but slower. I didn’t want to bump into anything and I really didn’t know what was behind me.

My mom died when I was five, he said, his face serious.

I stopped walking, my jaw dropping open. I felt so bad for saying that, so stupid, that I wanted to fall down the stairs right then so that I had a way of getting out of this situation. I walked toward the kid again.

I’m so sorry, I began.

His face broke into a smile. Joking. Oh, that was awful. She died when I was ten. He shrugged.

My jaw snapped back together and I narrowed my eyes at him, the evil Senior. You are a jerk. I turned around and walked over to the staircase in front of me.

Hey, I’m sorry! he yelled after me when the stairway door closed behind me. I thought that would be the end of our conversation, but the kid followed me onto the staircase.

If it makes you feel any better, she really did die when I was ten!

I kept walking down the steps, my backpack heavy on my shoulders, my feet tired from running around the school all day.

My name’s Jaysen. If you even care. He murmured the last part. I was already out the door and turning the corner to the left, already too busy with the rest of my day to care about some senior jerk.

Chapter Two

Jaysen or Jay...whichever

Mrs. Pulley, the secretary in the main office, didn’t even care when I walked into the room for sixth period. Instead of going to fifth period, I met this interesting freshman and now, instead of going to math, I feel like skipping to do nothing but sit in the office, pretending I got into trouble.

Hey, Mrs. P. I wave at her as I plop down onto a chair in the corner of the room. My skipping chair.

Good afternoon, Jaysen. Mrs. Pulley’s usual grumpy mood didn’t fail on the first day of school. She was such a miserable person, but she didn’t care what I did, so I took advantage of that. Skipping classes already? I’m shocked. It’s only the first day. Mrs. Pulley’s monotone voice sounded weird with her sarcasm. She was like a robot designed to joke.

Yeah, me too. I usually wait until the second day. I guess I just wanted to beat last year’s record. Actually, I hadn’t started skipping classes last year until the end of the year. That’s when I realized I would soon be a senior and that meant after that came college. Or work.

Well, you certainly have. Mrs. Pulley answered the phone that was ringing on her desk and went to work. Benjamin Franklin High, how may I help you?

They should have put a cute little perky blonde at the desk to work the phones.

At least she would seem happy to be doing her job.

I looked out into the hallway at the passing kids. The hallway wasn’t as crowded as usual because the warning bell had rung and everyone was already in their next class. I, however, was here with Mrs. Pulley waiting for Principal Jones to come out and see me. She was always sweet on the first day.

My eyes roamed the halls looking for a familiar face or even just someone interesting to watch. There were always different types of characters here at Franklin. That’s when I spotted Matt.

Matt Jacobs and I used to be good friends back in Freshman year. We met the first day of school and clicked automatically. Everything went well up until Sophomore year when a bunch of seniors told him to dump me and hang out with them. They were on the football team together and since I wasn’t, I wasn’t welcome. Whatever, I didn’t need it. Or them.

Matt was walking down the hall, books in hand, a sly grin on his face. He slapped hands with some football jerk and whistled at some girls walking down the hall in short skirts. Then Matt turned to the big window in the main office where I was clearly visible. Matt stopped laughing, his smile turning into a frown and he looked down at the floor for a second. Then he looked back up at me and had the nerve to wave with a half smile. I didn’t need his sympathy.

Hey, Mrs. P. Do you need any help with those papers? I asked, getting up and walking over to her desk.

Mrs. Pulley looked up at me with a smile and nodded. She seemed happy that someone was doing her work and I was happy that I had a distraction from Matt and his stupid football playing buddies.

Of course, Jay. Can you please put all of these papers into the teachers’ mailboxes. Two in Zafreni and three in Calasanto. Mrs. Pulley pushed the papers together and handed them off to me. I took them with a nod and made my way over to the mailboxes at the back end of the office. Even if I wasn’t getting any credits for class, I was sure getting in some office time.

There were close to fifty mailboxes lined up for freshman classes alone, so I got to work on sticking the papers into the right slot and finished shortly.

Only when I turned around to go back to Mrs. P with empty hands did I hear the voice from hell. I tried to turn back and pretend to be stacking more papers, but I was too slow.

Jaysie! That annoying, shrill girly voice came screaming toward me.

Hey, Avril. I managed a smiled and tried to keep to myself but Avril and all her cheerleading glory pushed right into my arms, her big, bumpy fake breasts slamming into my chest.

Hey? That’s all you have to say after I haven’t seen you in over a year!

Avril practically screamed. She never was a quiet one.

Has it been a year? Or more? I asked with a smile. In truth, I hadn’t thought about Avril at all since she left to study in France for a year. She did have a slight accent .

Oh, only a year. Don’t get cocky. I missed you, hon! She smiled and pulled back into my arms for another hug. I guess Avril wanted to pick up where we had left off. Guess who didn’t want to? Me.

Yeah, I... um, missed you, too. I looked over at Mrs. Pulley’s desk to silently plead her for help. All she did was raise an eyebrow and shrug. I whispered a please to her and she rolled her eyes with a silent sigh.

Avril Lusque? The principal would like to see you now. Mrs. P. shook her finger at me and Avril pulled back.

Principal, huh? I asked. What did you do now? You’ve only been back for about a day or so. I laughed.

Avril sighed and pushed her caramel bangs away from her face. I remembered them being a deep brown before she left. Try a month. And I didn’t do anything bad. I’m going in to talk about colleges.

I thought that wasn’t for another few weeks. I mean, Avril just got back from France. She should take a breath before jumping onto the next thing.

Early information would be nice. You should try it. Want to come into my meeting? I’ll ask Mrs. Pulley if it would be okay and-

No, it’s okay. I cut her off mid-sentence. I felt sort of bad for disagreeing too quickly so I added in, It’s your meeting. I’ll make my own. Just like you had to do. I smiled. If Avril liked one thing, it was making people do the same amount of work as she does if not more.

All right, then. I guess I have to go now, but when do you have lunch? Maybe we could meet up and I can tell you more about France and this guy I met there and one of my girlfriends who I showed your picture to and wants to come to the U.S. and meet you! Avril’s smile got impossibly bigger. I looked over to Mrs. Pulley to ask her when Avril had lunch and she reluctantly looked down at her computer and quickly typed something in before looking back up and holding up six fingers. Sixth period, that was next. Avril had lunch with me. Seventh. I said, automatically. I really didn’t want to hear anymore about how great France was. I wasn’t French and I didn’t want to be.

Aww, boo. Avril pouted and Principal Jones walked out of the office with a grin on her face, looking for Avril. She spotted her standing next to me and frowned for a second before waving Avril into her office.

Well, I’ll see you later. Avril gave me a peck on the cheek and bounced off into Principal Jones’ office, her short skirt going up in the back to reveal her pink mini-underwear. I shivered from her touch. God, it was like freshman year all over again.

Some character she is. Mrs. Pulley pointed to Principal Jones’ office where Avril was now sitting and talking about early acceptance into colleges.

Oh, you have no idea. I sighed, sitting back down in the chair.

After fifth was over, I skipped lunch and the rest of the day to take a drive around town. It was more relaxing than listening to Avril drone on and on about France or sitting in a classroom for forty-five minutes all over again. I mean, seriously, you can get tired of that shit.

I stopped at Lou’s for a slice of pizza and then went over to the mall for the rest of the school day. If I went home and Dad was there, he would kill me for skipping on the first day.

Finally, when two came around, I hopped back in my car and drove on home, hoping Dad was staying late at work today. He wasn’t exactly in such a great mood on Mondays. I pulled into the driveway and said a silent thank you that Dad’s car wasn’t there.

I whistled while I walked into the house, and I wondered if I should make a snack first or watch some of the videos I ordered from Netflixs. But then my mood changed when I saw Dad sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper.

Oh. Hi, Dad. I mumble, dropping my backpack on the floor. I walked toward the living room with no choice but to go in a make a sensible conversation. Although Dad was never one to talk and talk for hours. I hoped he would dismiss me quickly.

Hey, son. How was school? Dad didn’t look up from his paper, but turned the page and nodded at some picture.

Same as usual. And... uh... work? Dad is the superintendent of all the public schools in our town. I wouldn’t exactly call what he does work so much as ruling my life in a different perspective.

Good. I have to attend a meeting tomorrow so I won’t be home for dinner. I hope you don’t mind, it’s just that it is immensely that I go. I’m the one running it and I need to explain the new dress code to all the principals. Don’t worry, son, the girl’s won’t be too distracting anymore.

Dad smiled and got up from the couch.

Oh, thanks, Dad. I hated to tell him that his new dress code won’t stop the senior girls from wearing short, skimpy stuff. Maybe the freshman’s, but not the seniors.

I’m actually meeting with the Principal of your school tonight for dinner. She can’t make it tomorrow, so I decided that a one-on-one would be the best solution. What’s her name, Principal Johns? Dad pushed his newspaper onto the table and checked his wristwatch. His dinner probably wasn’t for another two hours, but he’d leave now just to avoid spending time with me.

Principal Jones.

Dad nodded. Right. Well, I should be leaving now. He headed toward the front door with a stern glance back at me and a wave of his finger. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.

His usual leaving words.

When Dad was gone, I headed into the kitchen and grabbed a pre-made sandwich that Linda, our housekeeper, made last night. She usually isn’t here during the week, so every Sunday night she makes tons of sandwiches and puts them away.

After I ate, I flipped through the channels of the television in the living room and when I came up short, went upstairs and take a shower for the fuck of it. There was nothing else to do in Jackson Kingdom. So, I towel-dried my hair and walked over to my window, peering out into the dark night sky when I heard the click of heels on the gravel below.

Usually, no one goes out past seven at night. Everyone was in bed by now, sleeping soundly and dreaming pleasant little dreams. But, tonight was different.

Oh, Jaysie! I cringed and shook my head.

No, man. It’s just water in your ear, right?

Jay-Jay!

God, what was with those damned nicknames? Call me by my real name!

I looked down into the dark and see Avril waving her hand in the air. What should I do now? Can she see me? What does she want?

Jay! Is that you? Can I come up? Is your father home? I want to tell you all about France and this girl I met there and my host family and-

I slammed my window shut. Hopefully I can pass it off by telling her that my father closed it because I was sleeping and getting over a cold. But, honestly, I couldn’t care less when I think about it. Avril annoyed me and maybe she’d get the point.

Chapter Three

Callie

Second day of school. I managed to get through the first just fine, made a new friend and learned to avoid an obnoxious senior. I had everything under control. Until the end of the second day when I had to get on the bus. Why isn’t it in the same spot as it was before? I swear, it was just here yesterday.

Uh, move much? A girl a little older than me pushed into my shoulder as she sped by and walked right into a bus’ open door. God, how did she find her bus so fast?

I looked around at the twenty or so buses lined up and shook my head. This wasn’t going to work out so well, was it? Oh, wait! That looks like the girl I sat next to this morning! I hope she doesn’t think I’m following her.

I ran to catch up to the girl with the red hair and followed her up to bus number twenty-three. Yes, this was my bus! I knew I sat next to her.

I smiled at the familiar blonde-haired bus lady and fell into the front seat next to the same girl with red hair. She didn’t smile at me or give me any indication that she knew I existed, but that was okay with me as long as I was on the right bus and didn’t have to walk home. I lived too far away to be walking.

The buses eventually took off and I got home in twenty minutes, the red-headed girl still left along with a few other kids who hadn’t reached their destination yet.

Thanks. I told the bus driver, but she just waved me off with a mumble. So much for manners.

I walked into the house and saw Mom lying across the couch, her computer in her hand. Mom was usually home before me because she works from six in the morning until two in the afternoon. She’s a secretary in the doctor’s office just around the corner.

Hey, Callie. Mom looked up from her e-mailing long enough to give me a smile and then looked back down. Mom was a facebook addict, which made my life much harder. I didn’t have one of those accounts because they take up too much of someone’s live. I mean, take my mother for example.

Hey, Mom. How was work? I walked into the kitchen and dropped my backpack on the floor. I needed water, quick. High school was tiring.

Same old, same old. Mom shrugged and then looked up at me when I didn’t answer. How was school? Meet any new friends, cute guys? Anything?

I sighed. Mom’s all about being social. She could care less about my grades as long as I had cool connections and a hot boyfriend. Dad, on the other hand...

No, Mom. I went to school and learned like every other kid who wants to have a life when they graduate. Which isn’t too many. I’m one of a few. I opened the fridge and took out some cheese and crackers left over from last night’s dinner.

Mom laughed at something on her screen and then looked up at me. Oh, that’s good. She shrugged.

She had no idea what I just said. I know she didn’t.

But, seriously, no hot guys?

I rolled my eyes. None. None that I like, at least. Most of them are oblivious and have no ambition. Sounds exciting, right?

Mom shook her head and that was about it for our conversation. No matter how many things I could go to Mom for, none of them was good old small talk.

Mom always had something better to do. And, I won’t lie, so do I.

I’m home! Tangy walked through the door with her back pack hanging off her shoulder and her bangs matted down into her face. Tangy, my twelve year old sister, has a real name. It’s Katherine, but she hates it, so we call her Tangy. I think it started when she used to take the tangerines Mom continuously fed her and throw them at the wall.

We can see that! I yelled back at her.

Mom, can you bring me to the mall today? I need to get something for school. I mean, these teachers keep asking for more school supplies. Tangy rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Uh, Tangy? I don’t think a new dress counts as school supplies because some new cute kid is in your math class. I mean, Tangy had a history of being dramatic and spending too much money on guys. I knew she didn’t have to get school supplies just as much as Mom did.

Sure, honey. Whatever you need. I got paid today. Mom smiled, still not averting her gaze from the computer.

Cool, I’ll go and change. Okay? Tangy didn’t really want an answer because she was already up the stairs and slamming the door to her room. The vibration from the sound pushed through my ears like nails on a chalkboard.

I shook my head, and decided to head downstairs to my room, escaping the inevitable fight that would soon break out.

I got downstairs to my room and took my phone out of my pocket, checking it for any messages. The little flag bleeped a few times and I flipped it open, watching as a new text message popped up. It was from Tanya, the girl in my media class. I later found out that she was also in my seventh period class, biology.

Hey, do u want 2 hang l8r? a bunch of us r going 2 sandy’s

Sandy’s was the ice cream polar down the street and it wasn’t like the teachers were giving out too much homework