Payback
“30 for gas and a pack of New Ports” The girl behind the counter heard, ringing the two items into the cash register.
“Anything else?” She said putting the pack on the counter.
“No”
Making eye contact with the man, she recognized him instantly, looking back down at the register.
“That will be 37.50” She said getting the receipt. She accepted the money, giving him back 3.50 out of 2 20’s.
She sighed as he turned around to leave the store. “Hey, do I know you?” She heard from the same person, causing her head to snap up.
“I don’t know, do you?” She raised an eyebrow. If he couldn’t remember her, she definitely wasn’t going to help him with it.
“I swear I’ve seen you before” He drifted off into thought. “Hmm, maybe I haven’t, I wish I did though” he winked, walking out the store.
“You okay, Arie?” Her co-worker and friend, Loyal asked her.
“No, Guess who just walked his happy ass into here” She quizzed her friend, who gave an eyebrow in return. “Jack Swagger” She said with a gag noise.
“Him? Really? What did he say?” She questioned with wide eyes, she knew how much Arie hated him.
“Oh, nothing much. Just that he thought he’s seen me before, but all those steroids has shrunk his brain and he couldn’t remember” She rolled her eyes as she served another costumer.
It’s been 5 years since she’s seen him. Her memories of him vivid, but not fond. She was 16 at the time, now 21. He was friends with Loyal’s now ex-boyfriend Phil Brooks.
“Hey, Phil” Jack said, slapping hands with the man.
“Hey, my girl brought her friend with, she’s cool. Mind if she comes with?” He questioned the man.
“Nah, it’s good. How fine is she?” He winked
“She’s 16” Phil said back with furrowed brows.
“Oh”
“Yeah, Oh!” He rolled his eyes at his friend, how he was friends with the man sometimes, he’ll never know.
“Hello!” Loyal approached the two men with her arm slung over a short brunette’s shoulder.
The two men saying their hello’s back. “This is my friend, Arie” She motioned to the girl next to her, to the blonde man.
Jack nodded his head towards them, not saying a word.
“Okay, let’s get going” Phil said, letting the girls walk first.
“Didn’t know she befriended Shamu” Jack whispered to Phil, who got a swift back hand to the chest by Phil and a glare, in which Jack just shrugged in return.
Loyal seen the hurt look on her friends face, flipping off Jack behind her back.
Arie sighed remember the first time she met him. “What an ass” She muttered to herself.
“What?” The customer asked, looking up from their cell phone.
“Oh, Uh. Did you get any gas?” She covered up her annoyance.
“Oh, no” They smiled, going back to what they were doing.
“Oh, you are not okay. I seen the look on your face” Loyal said once the customer left. “He’s getting to you again, isn’t he?”
“No. Yes. Maybe” She stuttered over her words as she leaned back on the counter, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Why? It was so long ago and you’ve changed and matured so much since then. He’s just an ass and probably still is”
“Oh yeah, he is”
“You’d know? Did he do something else you’re not telling me?” Loyal raised an eyebrow at the younger woman.
“Hmm, maybe after he said he thought he knew me, that he winked and said he wish he did”
“Oh, ew. Yep, still an assclown” Loyal wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“It’s such a beautiful day today” Loyal stretched as she got out of the car.
They all decided to go to the beach today. The house was too hot and they needed some relaxation time.
It was only going to be Loyal and Arie but Phil wanted to come with, he was working on helping Jack construct something for his house and he needed a breather. Much to the girls chagrin, Jack decided to tag along too.
It’s been a couple weeks since Arie and Jack met, and over time, Jack made his distaste for the young woman more and more known. Finally getting to the point that he would just flat out insult her, and she would take it without a word.
Taking off her over clothes to reveal her one piece swim suit underneath.
“Hey, look. A beached whale” She heard from behind her.
“Hey!” Loyal gave a stern shout to Jack.
“Hey? Nah, she oinks” He snickered again. “Move, Oinkzilla. Go back to the farm”
“Oh, those days” Arie groaned remember more of the past.
“If you had the confidence then, that you have now, you would of destroyed his ass” Loyal laughed.
“True” Arie joined in.
After a couple months of dealing with Jack’s harassment, she finally got a break when her mom decided to move to another state.
She kept in touch with Loyal, there for her when Phil and her decided to break up. Phil got a job out of the country and they knew they would have been better off friends.
Eventually Phil and Loyal got out of touch. Jack still wanted to harass Loyal about her friend, but eventually told him off, he eventually left her alone.
When Arie turned 20, she moved back to her hometown, taking up an apartment with her friend.
Loyal helped her friend out and got her a job at the gas station she works at, thus leading to now.
“What was wrong with you last night?” Loyal asked her friend who just came down the stairs.
“What do you mean?” Arie questioned with a raised brow as she plopped down next to her friend, stealing a Hershey Kiss from the bowl in her friends lap.
“Bitch” She stuck her tongue out. “You were moaning in your sleep. Well, not moaning. More like grunts and groans. Like you were annoyed with something”
“Oh god. The disadvantage of knowing you talk in your sleep. Yeah, I had a dream of our Lisping Douchebag”
“OH GOD. Did you fuck him?!”
“As if! I do have standards you know” Arie raised an eyebrow at her friend for such a stupid question. Even though she did think the man was sort of attractive when she first met him, but his ugly attitude and personality quickly vanished it all.
“Tell that to your 16 year old self”
“Ugh, why do I tell you things?”
“Cause you love me” Loyal smirked, popping a kiss into her mouth.
“Damn skippy” Arie replied, laying her head on her friends shoulder, watching part of a movie that was on tv.
“I’m going to go take my jog”
“Where to?”
“I think the beach. It’s a good, hot day out. It’s ironic how I have to take the car to get to a place to go for a jog” Arie laughed making her way up the stairs to go change.
“Hey, that’s like my workout. Except no jogging and no beach”
“Oh, Dohoho” Arie laughed sarcastically.
“I know I’m funny” Loyal grinned going back to her movie.
“Hmm. It isn’t that packed today. Surprised” Arie mumbled to herself as she found a place to park easily.
Getting out of the car, she checked her jean short pockets to make sure she had her few items she brought along. Tightening her shoe laces she headed off along the 2 mile long beach walking path.
Arie hummed to herself as she listened to her ipod. She already ran the 2 mile long trail and she was already half way back.
She jumped when she felt a tap on her shoulder making her stop and take out her earphones “May I help you?” She asked, facing the person who interrupted her. “Oh hey. You’re the person from the store” She smiled covering up her annoyance. In front of her was a sweaty, swim trunk clad Jack Swagger.
“Yeah. Jack”
“Nice to meet you, I’m A-” Shit, I need a codename. I can’t let him know it’s me. She thought. “Kristen” She said using a friend of hers name spur of the moment.
“Lovely name. Lovely lady” He said taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it.
“Thank you” She smiled, trying not to let the bile that was teasing her throat to come up.
“I gotta get going. I have to pick up a friend from the gym. But I would love to get to know you better” He said scanning his eyes over the woman. She became very uneasy under his gaze as she was only wearing a red sports bra, denim shorts and sneakers.
“Okay, how about you come over to my place tonight?” She smiled
“Really?” He asked
“Sure. My housemate will be out for the night and I would sure like some company”
“Sound like a date” He smirked.
They exchanged numbers and she gave him her address. She sighed a puff of relief once she got back to her car. Her plan was in motion sooner than she expected.
“Coming” Arie yelled at the violent knocker.
“I hope not this soon” She heard opening the door. Putting on a smile for the man in front of her.
“I hope not either” She winked. “Please, come on in”
“Nice home”
“Thank you. Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes I would. I happen to have brought something with” He said bring out a bottle of wine from behind him.
“Why thank you” She took the bottle. “Make yourself comfortable on the couch”
“Will do” He said, watching her retreat to the kitchen.
“Here you go” She sat down next to him, handing him a glass.
Taking a gulp from it he let out a satisfied sigh.
No manners still I see. She rolled her eyes when he wasn’t looking.
Jack went on to talk about himself as Arie listened. Or so he thought. Wanting to punch him every time he tried scooting closer and laying his hands on her as he talked loudy about himself.
“Woah” He shook his head mid sentence.
“Something wrong?” She questioned, a worried look spreading over her features.
“I got a little dizzy” He mumbled, his words becoming slurred.
“Why don’t you lay down” She said getting up. Leaning over she went to help him feeling his gazing wander to her exposed cleavage.
She looked up to find that assumption correct. A moment later to find his eyelids to flutter shut.
“Where am I?” Jack questioned as he shook his head.
“You’re in the hospital” He heard a voice come from the side of him.
“Why- AH” He let out a loud groan as he tried to sit up.
“That” The nurse said, pulling his blanket down a bit. His eyes going wide as he seen what was there, or lack thereof.
“2 women brought you here. Apparently you were trespassing in there yard at night when you tripped over a garden, ending up in a garden spade dismembering your penis. We interviewed them both separately and did tests. They even gave us the object that did the damage itself and the story checks out. But we couldn’t save it in time to re-attach it. I’m so sorry for your loss” The doctor explained. Then leaving the room.
“Come in” Jack said, hearing a knock. His eyes going wide as he seen the woman who walked in.
“How are you?”
“I lost my most prized possession. Pretty much life over”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I stopped by to check on you and give you this.” She said handing him a bag. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she left saying a quick goodbye and get well over her shoulder.
Opening the bag he pulled out a stuffed bear holding a heart. On the heart was the number 16. “Odd number” He mumbled to himself.
Attached to the back was a card. Opening it read - “Dear Jack. I hope you get to feeling better. If you need anything, please let me know. I know you lost something that was a great deal to you but you’ll get through it. Lots of Love, Arie”
Smiling he set the bag and the bear on the table. Reading over the card. He raised an eyebrow when he seen there was something attached to the back. A lumped formed in his throat as he stared at what was in his hand. A group shot that was taken 5 years ago of Jack, Phil, Loyal and Arie at the beach.
“Anything else?” She said putting the pack on the counter.
“No”
Making eye contact with the man, she recognized him instantly, looking back down at the register.
“That will be 37.50” She said getting the receipt. She accepted the money, giving him back 3.50 out of 2 20’s.
She sighed as he turned around to leave the store. “Hey, do I know you?” She heard from the same person, causing her head to snap up.
“I don’t know, do you?” She raised an eyebrow. If he couldn’t remember her, she definitely wasn’t going to help him with it.
“I swear I’ve seen you before” He drifted off into thought. “Hmm, maybe I haven’t, I wish I did though” he winked, walking out the store.
“You okay, Arie?” Her co-worker and friend, Loyal asked her.
“No, Guess who just walked his happy ass into here” She quizzed her friend, who gave an eyebrow in return. “Jack Swagger” She said with a gag noise.
“Him? Really? What did he say?” She questioned with wide eyes, she knew how much Arie hated him.
“Oh, nothing much. Just that he thought he’s seen me before, but all those steroids has shrunk his brain and he couldn’t remember” She rolled her eyes as she served another costumer.
It’s been 5 years since she’s seen him. Her memories of him vivid, but not fond. She was 16 at the time, now 21. He was friends with Loyal’s now ex-boyfriend Phil Brooks.
“Hey, Phil” Jack said, slapping hands with the man.
“Hey, my girl brought her friend with, she’s cool. Mind if she comes with?” He questioned the man.
“Nah, it’s good. How fine is she?” He winked
“She’s 16” Phil said back with furrowed brows.
“Oh”
“Yeah, Oh!” He rolled his eyes at his friend, how he was friends with the man sometimes, he’ll never know.
“Hello!” Loyal approached the two men with her arm slung over a short brunette’s shoulder.
The two men saying their hello’s back. “This is my friend, Arie” She motioned to the girl next to her, to the blonde man.
Jack nodded his head towards them, not saying a word.
“Okay, let’s get going” Phil said, letting the girls walk first.
“Didn’t know she befriended Shamu” Jack whispered to Phil, who got a swift back hand to the chest by Phil and a glare, in which Jack just shrugged in return.
Loyal seen the hurt look on her friends face, flipping off Jack behind her back.
Arie sighed remember the first time she met him. “What an ass” She muttered to herself.
“What?” The customer asked, looking up from their cell phone.
“Oh, Uh. Did you get any gas?” She covered up her annoyance.
“Oh, no” They smiled, going back to what they were doing.
“Oh, you are not okay. I seen the look on your face” Loyal said once the customer left. “He’s getting to you again, isn’t he?”
“No. Yes. Maybe” She stuttered over her words as she leaned back on the counter, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Why? It was so long ago and you’ve changed and matured so much since then. He’s just an ass and probably still is”
“Oh yeah, he is”
“You’d know? Did he do something else you’re not telling me?” Loyal raised an eyebrow at the younger woman.
“Hmm, maybe after he said he thought he knew me, that he winked and said he wish he did”
“Oh, ew. Yep, still an assclown” Loyal wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“It’s such a beautiful day today” Loyal stretched as she got out of the car.
They all decided to go to the beach today. The house was too hot and they needed some relaxation time.
It was only going to be Loyal and Arie but Phil wanted to come with, he was working on helping Jack construct something for his house and he needed a breather. Much to the girls chagrin, Jack decided to tag along too.
It’s been a couple weeks since Arie and Jack met, and over time, Jack made his distaste for the young woman more and more known. Finally getting to the point that he would just flat out insult her, and she would take it without a word.
Taking off her over clothes to reveal her one piece swim suit underneath.
“Hey, look. A beached whale” She heard from behind her.
“Hey!” Loyal gave a stern shout to Jack.
“Hey? Nah, she oinks” He snickered again. “Move, Oinkzilla. Go back to the farm”
“Oh, those days” Arie groaned remember more of the past.
“If you had the confidence then, that you have now, you would of destroyed his ass” Loyal laughed.
“True” Arie joined in.
After a couple months of dealing with Jack’s harassment, she finally got a break when her mom decided to move to another state.
She kept in touch with Loyal, there for her when Phil and her decided to break up. Phil got a job out of the country and they knew they would have been better off friends.
Eventually Phil and Loyal got out of touch. Jack still wanted to harass Loyal about her friend, but eventually told him off, he eventually left her alone.
When Arie turned 20, she moved back to her hometown, taking up an apartment with her friend.
Loyal helped her friend out and got her a job at the gas station she works at, thus leading to now.
“What was wrong with you last night?” Loyal asked her friend who just came down the stairs.
“What do you mean?” Arie questioned with a raised brow as she plopped down next to her friend, stealing a Hershey Kiss from the bowl in her friends lap.
“Bitch” She stuck her tongue out. “You were moaning in your sleep. Well, not moaning. More like grunts and groans. Like you were annoyed with something”
“Oh god. The disadvantage of knowing you talk in your sleep. Yeah, I had a dream of our Lisping Douchebag”
“OH GOD. Did you fuck him?!”
“As if! I do have standards you know” Arie raised an eyebrow at her friend for such a stupid question. Even though she did think the man was sort of attractive when she first met him, but his ugly attitude and personality quickly vanished it all.
“Tell that to your 16 year old self”
“Ugh, why do I tell you things?”
“Cause you love me” Loyal smirked, popping a kiss into her mouth.
“Damn skippy” Arie replied, laying her head on her friends shoulder, watching part of a movie that was on tv.
“I’m going to go take my jog”
“Where to?”
“I think the beach. It’s a good, hot day out. It’s ironic how I have to take the car to get to a place to go for a jog” Arie laughed making her way up the stairs to go change.
“Hey, that’s like my workout. Except no jogging and no beach”
“Oh, Dohoho” Arie laughed sarcastically.
“I know I’m funny” Loyal grinned going back to her movie.
“Hmm. It isn’t that packed today. Surprised” Arie mumbled to herself as she found a place to park easily.
Getting out of the car, she checked her jean short pockets to make sure she had her few items she brought along. Tightening her shoe laces she headed off along the 2 mile long beach walking path.
Arie hummed to herself as she listened to her ipod. She already ran the 2 mile long trail and she was already half way back.
She jumped when she felt a tap on her shoulder making her stop and take out her earphones “May I help you?” She asked, facing the person who interrupted her. “Oh hey. You’re the person from the store” She smiled covering up her annoyance. In front of her was a sweaty, swim trunk clad Jack Swagger.
“Yeah. Jack”
“Nice to meet you, I’m A-” Shit, I need a codename. I can’t let him know it’s me. She thought. “Kristen” She said using a friend of hers name spur of the moment.
“Lovely name. Lovely lady” He said taking her hand and placing a kiss on the back of it.
“Thank you” She smiled, trying not to let the bile that was teasing her throat to come up.
“I gotta get going. I have to pick up a friend from the gym. But I would love to get to know you better” He said scanning his eyes over the woman. She became very uneasy under his gaze as she was only wearing a red sports bra, denim shorts and sneakers.
“Okay, how about you come over to my place tonight?” She smiled
“Really?” He asked
“Sure. My housemate will be out for the night and I would sure like some company”
“Sound like a date” He smirked.
They exchanged numbers and she gave him her address. She sighed a puff of relief once she got back to her car. Her plan was in motion sooner than she expected.
“Coming” Arie yelled at the violent knocker.
“I hope not this soon” She heard opening the door. Putting on a smile for the man in front of her.
“I hope not either” She winked. “Please, come on in”
“Nice home”
“Thank you. Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes I would. I happen to have brought something with” He said bring out a bottle of wine from behind him.
“Why thank you” She took the bottle. “Make yourself comfortable on the couch”
“Will do” He said, watching her retreat to the kitchen.
“Here you go” She sat down next to him, handing him a glass.
Taking a gulp from it he let out a satisfied sigh.
No manners still I see. She rolled her eyes when he wasn’t looking.
Jack went on to talk about himself as Arie listened. Or so he thought. Wanting to punch him every time he tried scooting closer and laying his hands on her as he talked loudy about himself.
“Woah” He shook his head mid sentence.
“Something wrong?” She questioned, a worried look spreading over her features.
“I got a little dizzy” He mumbled, his words becoming slurred.
“Why don’t you lay down” She said getting up. Leaning over she went to help him feeling his gazing wander to her exposed cleavage.
She looked up to find that assumption correct. A moment later to find his eyelids to flutter shut.
“Where am I?” Jack questioned as he shook his head.
“You’re in the hospital” He heard a voice come from the side of him.
“Why- AH” He let out a loud groan as he tried to sit up.
“That” The nurse said, pulling his blanket down a bit. His eyes going wide as he seen what was there, or lack thereof.
“2 women brought you here. Apparently you were trespassing in there yard at night when you tripped over a garden, ending up in a garden spade dismembering your penis. We interviewed them both separately and did tests. They even gave us the object that did the damage itself and the story checks out. But we couldn’t save it in time to re-attach it. I’m so sorry for your loss” The doctor explained. Then leaving the room.
“Come in” Jack said, hearing a knock. His eyes going wide as he seen the woman who walked in.
“How are you?”
“I lost my most prized possession. Pretty much life over”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I stopped by to check on you and give you this.” She said handing him a bag. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she left saying a quick goodbye and get well over her shoulder.
Opening the bag he pulled out a stuffed bear holding a heart. On the heart was the number 16. “Odd number” He mumbled to himself.
Attached to the back was a card. Opening it read - “Dear Jack. I hope you get to feeling better. If you need anything, please let me know. I know you lost something that was a great deal to you but you’ll get through it. Lots of Love, Arie”
Smiling he set the bag and the bear on the table. Reading over the card. He raised an eyebrow when he seen there was something attached to the back. A lumped formed in his throat as he stared at what was in his hand. A group shot that was taken 5 years ago of Jack, Phil, Loyal and Arie at the beach.