The Ugly One novel Chapter 9

"Nice going Janey," Jake snarled at me.

We met up in the basement after school, much to my dismay.

"This is all your fault, buddy. YOU pushed me!" I protested.

"Whatever," he waved his hands in dismissal. "Let's just get this over with so I can go home," he said gruffly.

"Yeap, let's...why don't you start by moving those boxes over there and I'll sweep the floor," I offered.

Jake didn't argue anymore. He went over to the corner and started to move stuff around. I picked up the broom and started sweeping. Jake sneezed a few times as the room was dusty. His eyes were slowly turning red. Dust allergy?

I guess my sweeping skill was rusty because I was doing a terrible job. All I did was move the dirt around and made the room dustier.

We worked together quietly for the first half-hour. I was surprised he didn't attack me with smart-ass remarks or call me nasty names for this long. Must be a new record for him.

"Would you move your fat ass a little faster? I am sick of this dust already," Jake remarked after a while.

And there it is ladies and gents, Jake is back with his insults. "I am sweeping as fast as I can. Just shut up and do your part," I snarled.

"What exactly am I supposed to be doing anyway?" he asked.

"He wants us to stack those boxes neatly on the side of the room so there will be room for more things here. So, chop-chop. Let's use those muscles and start to lift those boxes since I can't," I said.

"Oh, you noticed?" Jake smirked and flexed his arms. I rolled my eyes.

We worked some more. Thankfully, he was cooperating and not acting like an imbecile for once.

"Phew, all done. Let's get out of here," I said. I was exhausted and couldn't wait to get out of this half-lit, musty basement.

"Thank god," Jake said and got up the stairs ahead of me. What a gentleman, I thought sarcastically.

"Uh oh," he said loudly as he pulled on the door handle.

"What?" I asked. I didn't like the sound of that.

"I think the door is jammed," he said.

"Ha ha, very funny Jakey boy. I am too tired for your dumb prank right now," I said.

"I am not kidding. This is really stuck," Jake said and pulled on the door handle again.

"Get the fuck out of my way," I said and pushed him aside. I turned the doorknob several times and pulled but the door was really stuck. Oh hell no.

"Do you believe me now, Genius?" Jake said sarcastically.

"No way, this can't be happening! I can't be stuck here with you! We need to get out of here!" I cried.

"No shit Sherlock," Jake said and rolled his eyes.

I started to bang on the door. "HELP! IS SOMEONE OUT THERE? WE ARE STUCK!" I yelled. I didn't hear any footsteps approaching. No one was around to come to rescue us as the school was over.

"Jesus, stop yelling. Call someone on your cellphone or something," he suggested.

I took my phone out and stared at it. "Oh my god, I have no signal down here!"

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