Page 2 of Friends with Benefits

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ I snap at him as I help Emily to her feet.

‘I’m okay.’ She sniffs.

I lift her chin and see her tears. I don’t know why but they throw me into some kind of rage. I can’t see straight, or think straight. I can only imagine putting my knuckles in Tommy Arnold’s face.

When I turn to him, he’s already taking a swing at me. But he’s slow and clumsy. I block his arm and put all my strength into my fist as I drive a punch into his nose. He rocks back but doesn’t fall. The rest of his group backs away, clearly wanting to see how this pans out before picking a side.

‘Go home,’ I tell Emily. I can see our street from here. She’ll be fine.

‘No. I won’t leave you, Jakey.’

Tommy laughs, hard and nasty. ‘Jakey. Jakey. Should we pick flowers together, Jakey?’

‘Go, Emily. I’ve told you.’

She starts to move but Tommy blocks her, putting his forearm against her neck.

Now he’s really overstepped.

I drive my whole body into him, taking us both to the ground.

‘Go, Emily!’ I shout one last time.

As I watch her leave, Tommy gets an elbow into my nose. I shake my head, shaking off the blow. Then I find some superhuman strength and hold his neck, pinning him down as I smash my fist into his cheek.

‘Don’t ever call me Jakey. And don’t dare touch her again. You got that?’

His head lolls to the side and blood starts to come out of his nose but he nods.

I get off him because I’ve made my point. I hate him. I hate that he dared to go near Emily and that I let him, when I’m supposed to be looking after her. But I know he won’t be bothering either of us again.

As I walk away, some of the other kids call to me.

‘That was awesome, Jake!’

‘We knew you’d smash him, Jake.’

I hear a few bad names being hurled at Tommy and I couldn’t care. He deserves it. Maybe next year, he won’t start off being a jackass.

When I get home, Mom is in the front yard with my brother and his best buddy, Brooks. Emily is clinging to Mom’s legs.

‘See, he’s just fine. You run along home now, Emily.’

Emily leaves my mom’s side and rushes toward me on the driveway. ‘Your nose is bleeding.’

She reaches up to touch my face but I clock the looks my brother and Brooks are wearing and pull back from her. ‘Go home, Em.’

‘I’m sorry, Jake. This is my fault.’ She starts to sob.

I look from my mom to Drew, then to Brooks. ‘It’s not your fault, Em. Tommy wanted to pick a fight with me. Go home.’

‘No. I can’t leave when—’

‘Go home!’ I shout.

She cries harder but heads down the street toward her house.

I close my eyes, bracing myself for the tongue lashing from my mom, and when I open them, she is standing right in front of me.

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