Theme: Irresponsible Babysitter

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     Jared grunted, annoyed. "But Mom! I'm too old to be babysat! I'm fourteen for fucks sake!"

     "Language! You know very well why you need a babysitter ever since you pulled that last stunt!" His Mom scolded.

     "This is Bogus!" Jared fumed.

     "We'll talk later, the sitter will be here any minute!" His Mom consoled, trying to get him to stop fussing.

      "But-" Jared tried to say, but the doorbell cut him off.

      She glared Jared dead in the eye. "Be polite, you know the consequences if you misbehave."

     He turned away as his Mom got up to answer the door. He heard the door click open as he ran upstairs, frustrated that his Mom thought he still needed a babysitter. 

      I'm fourteen! A Freshman, I don't understand why she can't trust me.. Well, maybe I do understand. It's still unfair for me! And tonight- Shit! The babysitter will ruin the plan for tonight! I have to do something! Jared thought as he slammed his door.

-Break-

     Katherine stepped up onto the porch, and pushed the doorbell. This is the address that Mrs. Fahlstrom sent me, right? She thought as she waited.

     She heard aggressive whispering and stomps before the door opened.

      Mrs. Fahlstrom gestured for her to come inside. "Hello Katherine!"

      Katherine set her coat on the coat rack. "Hello Mrs. Fahlstrom, how are you and Jared doing?"

     "I'm okay. Jared has been being.. Difficult.. to say the least. But he'll be fine once he eats." She said nonchalantly.

       Katherine nodded. "Yes ma'am, how long will you be away?"

      "Only a day, so it wont be as hard on you." Mrs. Fahlstrom replied.

      Trying to convince her to stay longer, Kathrine offered a deal. "You don't have to do that, I know how hard you and your husband work, and you both deserve a break. I could do another day for free, because I'm completely fine with working longer." 

       Mrs. Fahlstrom shook her head. "That wont be necessary, a day away from home is already a lot. I have to get back and take care of my little Jared. Anyways, his Bar Mitzvah is coming up, so we have to prepare him for that."

        Hearing this, Katherine was puzzled. "Isn't it supposed to happen when he turns thirteen?" 

        Mrs. Fahlstrom had an embarrassed expression on her face. "Yes, but that's our fault. We have had such a busy year we couldn't celebrate it last year. So we're going to make this one extra special."

        Katherine checked her phone clock. "That's really sweet, but I think your plane is leaving soon, so I would get going." 

        "You're right! Todd, get the bags!" Mrs. Fahltstrom exclaimed as she started gathering her things.

        Her husband came down the stairs with bags under each arm. "I'm already on it, Honey!" 

        "Thank you so much for coming on such short notice. Frozen food is in the fridge, get him to bed by Eleven O'clock, and make sure he showers!" Mrs. Fahlstrom gushed out as she and her husband rushed out the door.

        "No Problem, ma'am." Katherine said as she closed the door behind them.

        Katherine set her things down on a small stand near the door. She glanced around, looking for Jared.

      "Jared..?" She called out.

       There wasn't an answer.

     "Hey, I know it's weird for me to be watching you, since I'm a senior and you're a freshman, but don't think of it that way. Think of it more as hanging out." She called out again, trying to coax him out.

     "Leave me alone!" She heard him call out from upstairs.

     She sighed, seeing that this was going to get her nowhere. "Okay, just tell me when you're hungry and I'll make us something to eat. That sound good?" She offered.

     Her answer was a slammed door.

     She decided to leave him alone, since he clearly didn't like that any of this was happening. She understood why he was acting this way, since he was a social outcast at school for being Jewish, and if anyone found out he had to be babysat when his parents were away, he would probably have to change school districts.

      Katherine plopped down onto the couch and began to watch television, as there was not much else she could do. Her conscious slowly lost focus of the show as her thoughts wandered.

     Her thoughts focused onto one memory from not too long ago. She was in the hallway going to her next class. She rounded a corner and saw three boys gang up onto Jared. She remembered them punching and kicking him until they eventually had to leave for class.

     This one memory had been haunting her for months, as she was just a bystander. She had done nothing to help, just so her social reputation would stay intact.

      She felt guilt slowly build up inside of her. What would I have done anyways?  She thought.

      Help.

      She had originally taken this job as a way to pay back Jared, She was gonna be a cool babysitter, lenient and all, but it all she had done was make it worse.

      Katherine debated on whether or not she should apologize. It could help, or it could just do more damage.

      Her thoughts were cleared as Jared spoke up. "Hey Katherine, could you help me with somethin'? I'm on the left, three doors down.

      Her decision had been made for her. 

      She got off the couch and onto her feet "Sure thing! What do you need help with?"

       "Just come on!" Was all that he said.

      Katherine ascended the stairs and walked to Jared, but avoided eye contact. "What's up?"

       Jared rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Th..There's a spider in the room.."

      She chuckled upon hearing this. "Are you serious? You're about to have your Bar Mitzvah, a celebration where you become a man! I think you can handle a spider."

     Jared's expression changed slightly- as if he were hurt by her words. "I'm.. scared of spiders."

     "Fine, I'll go kill it." She said, oblivious to Jared's feelings.

      She stormed into the room with a flyswatter in hand. She glanced around, her eyes searching for the bug. "Where is it?"

       "It's in the back corner!"

        Katherine walked to the corner. "I don't see it!"

        Jared called back. "It's there, I know it!"

        She lifted up a shoe, looking for the spider when she heard the door slam shut and a clicking noise.

        "Jared, what was that?"

        There was no answer.

         She ran up to the door and tried the knob. Locked. "Ha Ha, this is funny Jared! But can you let me out now?"

        Again, no answer. Damn it! She thought as she slammed her fist on the door.

       She put her back to the door and slid to the ground. I probably deserve this.. She pouted.

       She moved her head slightly to the side. "Jared.. I'm sorry for not standing up for you in school that one time.. I..I just didn't know what to do.."

        She briefly heard 'Welcome To The Party' in the background. That's a weird thing to say.. Maybe he feels the same way..? Guilty and Sad.. Katherine thought, but quickly realized what he had meant.

       That brat is throwing a party! 

-Break-

     Jared cupped his hands over his ears to drown out the music. "You girls having fun?" He shouted to them. 

     They turned to him and giggled as a response as they continued sipping on their alcohol. Jared smiled and continued asking each guest if they were fine, and if they needed anything. He had to act as a good host if anyone here were to like him. 

     The party's going good.. The night might not be ruined after all.. Katherine was just a minor set-back.. Jared thought as his muscles relaxed and his breaths became more steady.

     Katherine.. He shook his head. She was the last thing he needed to think about right now. Jared felt guilty about locking Katherine in the room, sure, but this party was needed. His social life depended the night being successful.

      A tap on his shoulder interjected with his thoughts. Jared turned around to see one of the boys that had been bullying him.

      Jared had an audible gulp as he swallowed his spot and braced himself for the impact of a punch. He waited for a moment, and felt nothing. He opened his eyes, confused. Instead of a hard punch to the gut., he felt a playful slap on his shoulder.

      "Damn JJ! I didn't know you could party this hard, like shit dude!" Arin admired.

      JJ probably stands for Jewish Jared, but whatever, at least they're not picking on me.. Jared thought as he smiled at Arin.

     "Thanks man, that means a lot." Jared said, feeling content.

     Arin nodded. "Yeah yeah, anyways, is there any chance we could get some more scotch? You kinda ran out."

     "No, sorry. Stores are closed by now and that's all my parents had.." Jared admitted, awkwardly laughing as if it were a joke.

      "See ya' around." Arin said, waving his hand back as if the liquor was the only thing he had wanted out of Jared.

       Jared relaxed again. He felt much safer now that the encounter was over. Or so he thought.

       As he began to walk away, he heard a shattering noise. The guests at the party stopped and stared for a second, and began to dance again. Not Jared, he ran up to the shattered vase.

     "No, No, No!" He stammered when he saw the damage to the pot.This is Mom's favorite vase.. She's gonna kill me! Jared thought in a panic as he rushed to gather the shards together to sweep them into the garbage can.

     I'll go to the store and buy a new one tomorrow with my saved up money.. No one will ever know and this will all be behind me.. Jared thought as he pushed his hair back.

     He breathed in and out, calming himself down. This is all worth it in the end.. Was his way of thinking.

     The radio changed stations, and the music became smooth and steady. Guests around him paired up with one another, and with no adult supervision, they all got rather close.

     Jared realized this, and went up to girls and asked them to slow dance with him.

     "No, sorry."

     "Isn't this, like, against your religion or whatever?"

      "You're not really my type.."

      "Nah, I'll get someone else."

     Jared walked over to the kitchen in defeat. He had literally asked every girl to dance, and he wasn't about to ask a guy.

     He poured himself some water, holding his head in his hands, regretting every decision he had made that night. He gulped down the first glass of water and went for a second. When he was getting it, felt a shove connect with his back, sending himself toppling forward, ending in a crash. 

     Jared grunted and turned himself over, rubbing his head. He opened his eyes, his vision focusing. It was Arin again.

     He was obviously drunk, since he was slurring his words. "Ey', I got a tip that you still got som'ore booze, where is't?" 

     "N..No Arin, I already told you that we ran out.." Jared got out, holding hands in front of himself for defense.

     "Fuck this 'hen." Arin slurred as he stumbled out of the house.

     "No beer?"

     "That's what Arin said.."

     "Why are we here then?" The guests all said as they followed Arin's example and walked out of the house.

     "No! Don't leave guys! There's still the whole night ahead of us!" Jared called out to them, trying to convince them to stay.

      The guests kept walking away, not even bothering to look Jared's direction.

     He heard a soft, familiar voice behind him. "I'll keep you company if you want.." 

     Jared turned, and to his surprise, it was Katherine. "How did you.."

     She smiled. "There's a thing called a window."

     Jared nodded in understanding. But he was still confused. "W..Why aren't you mad at me?"

     Her eyes darted to the side, guilty. "I..I feel bad for not even trying to stand up for you earlier this year.." She awkwardly shifted her weight. "And I just wanted to make up for it by being a 'cool' babysitter.. But I guess I kinda made it worse huh.."

     Jared recalled the moment from the beginning of the year. He remembered being mad at her, hell he was still mad at her, but he could see that she had good intentions.

     "It's.. Cool.. You didn't really effect the party.. And I forgive you for that one time." Jared 

      Katherine was visibly relieved. "Thank you so much, you have no idea how much I've been thinking about this."

     Jared nodded, and remembered what he had done to her. "Oh! I'm sorry for locking you in.. the room.."

    She giggled a bit. "It's fine, not the worst you could have done."

    Jared was glad they had cleared the tension between them, but he was still worried about his current problem. "Do you mind if I ask for a favor..?"

    "Whats up?" She asked, puzzled.

    He gestured his arms outward, to the house itself. They had just began to realize the damage the Teens did.

     "Sure thing." She replied as they got to work.

      They both got trash bags and began to parole the house for garbage.

-Break-

      Katherine made grilled cheese for lunch for the duo. They had cleaned up the entire mess from the night before, and were waiting on Mr. and Mrs. Fahlstrom to come home.

      Jared looked up from his sandwich and at Katherine. "Can I ask for one more favor?"

      Katherine nodded, chewing her sandwich.

      "Can you not tell my parents that any of this happened..? They would blow it if they found out, and they might not even celebrate my Bar Mitzvah.." Jared asked.

      Katherine shook her head up and down. "Even though it's pretty irresponsible, I wont tell. We're even-steven now, right?" 

      Jared nodded. "Right."

      They heard the noise of the front door opening, and Jared's parents stumbled through.

      "Is everything all right?"

       "Did Jared behave?"

       "Are you okay?"

       Mr. and Mrs. Fahlstrom barraged them with questions.

       Katherine shook her head, dismissing the questions. "He was very well-behaved. I'll do it again if you need me to."

       Mrs. Fahlstrom let out a sigh of relief. "That's good.. Thank you so muc-" She paused as her eyes glanced over to where her vase should have been.

       "Whereisit!" Mrs. Fahlstrom yelled, her voice dripping with worry.

       Shit! Katherine thought. We forgot to replace the vase!

        "Mom, I accidently-" Jared was cut off by Katherine.

        "We were cooking.. And I bumped into it. We cleaned it up, but we couldn't find a new one.." 

         Mrs. Fahlstrom stared at her.

        "I'll give you money back for it.." Katherine offered, feeling bad.

       Mrs. Fahlstrom nodded, still in shock. Katherine went to her purse, took out the money and handed it over to her.

        Mrs. Fahlstrom's hand gripped the money, but she did not move.

       "She'll be fine.. I've been trying to get rid of that ugly vase for years.." Mr. Fahlstrom whispered. "You can go now."

       "Yes Sir, let me just gather my things." Katherine whispered back.

        Katherine walked away, but not before gesturing for Jared to come with.

       Jared followed her around the hallway corner. "Whats up?"

       Katherine pecked his cheek. "I had a good time, maybe we can do this again.

       Jared was stunned, and held his hand to his cheek, as if he were trapping the kiss there.

      "I.. Um.. I" Jared stammered.

      Katherine giggled and waved goodbye.

     Katherine opened the door. "Goodbye Mr and Mrs Fahlstrom, see you guys next time I come by."

     Mr. Fahlstrom nodded as he continued helping his wife. Jared and Katherine's gaze met.

     She smiled at him, he smiled back. Katherine looked at Jared one last time and closed the door.

Word Count: 2660