Unpleasant memories continued to flood Jason’s mind with scenes from the past. The awful ordeals he endured, all thanks to this petite bitch who didn’t even reach his shoulders. He snapped out of his daze when he heard someone clearing their throat. Looking up, he was met with the bright smile of a more mature red-haired woman who seemed to have misunderstood his gaze towards her daughter. While the only other man in the room shot him a rather hard glare.

“Hello Jason, good to see you awake and dressed,” Ginny teased, rising from her seat to greet him. Damon followed suit, standing beside his wife. “I’m Genevieve, but you can call me Ginny,” she said, extending her hand to him. Jason took it, returning the handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lins,” Jason replied, opting for the more formal way to address her despite her suggestion.

Ginny raised an eyebrow at the formality, and the man’s sweaty palm as they shook hands. Curious about how he already knew her last name. Wondering if perhaps Katia had mentioned it to him before they arrived. Choosing to just brush it off for now, she introduced her husband.

“Well, this is my husband, Damon.”

Both men extended their hands to each other. Damon gave Jason a firm grip, a testament to his years in construction, while Jason’s grip was equally strong. They shook with a competitive energy that Ginny swiftly diffused by clearing her throat.

“Ahem….And these are my two daughters. The younger one is June. She’s a bit shy, so please excuse her if she’s doesn’t say much.” Jason nodded understandingly and offered a slight smile and nod to the timid teen, who let her hair fall in front of her face to hide herself in plain sight.

“And this here’s my oldest, Jillian.” Ginny said, wrapping up the introductions. Jillian stood up, giving Jason a more than obvious once-over.

“Hey there, Jason. Nice ta meet ya. I’m sure we’ll be best buds in no time, Popeye.” She said with a cheeky grin on her face. Ginny couldn’t help but facepalm at her daughter’s brash nature.

Jason managed a weak “Uh-huh,” feeling like he was facing off against a curly-haired demon from his past. He fought the urge to retaliate with every fiber of his being, nails digging into his palm as he clenched his fist.

“Uh, why don’t I go fetch dinner now that we’re all acquainted?” Katia jumped in, trying to diffuse the strange tension. Quickly vanishing into the kitchen.

“Jason, please have a seat,” Ginny said, motioning towards the empty seat at the table. Jason nodded and made his way over, settling into the chair. Of course, the only empty spot, aside from his mother’s, was right across from Jillian. Once he was seated, his gaze meet hers once more. Her eyes seemingly locked onto his, her devious grin now reduced to a mischievous smirk. Gripping his fork tightly, he felt the metal bend under the pressure of his thumb. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm the anxiety that was building rapidly, only to notice another pair of eyes on him. Glancing over, he caught June quickly looking away, her shyness actually making him feel a bit more at ease. It was somewhat reassuring to know not everyone in Jillian’s family was out to get him at least.

Katia appeared a few moments later, coming out of the kitchen with plates of food. She set them down one by one, as she placed one in front of Jillian, she noticed the empty glass.

“Oh, Jillian dear, help yourself to more wine if you’d like,” she spoke kindly.

“Why thank you, Katia, don’t mind if I do!” Jillian replied excitedly, reaching for the wine bottle. Her mother shot her a warning glare, but Jillian just stuck her tongue out at her. Tilting the bottle, she poured herself a generous amount of the deep red, filling her glass far more than what was considered a proper pour. With a satisfying thud, she placed the near empty bottle back on the table.

After making sure everyone got their share, Katia finally took a seat.

“I hope everything tastes okay. This pot roast has been slow cooking practically all day, so I hope it’s as tender as it should be. Please dig in!” she said with a proud smile as everyone dove into their meal. Katia was, if nothing else was an amazing cook. Her meals never failed to satisfy in terms of flavor.

“Kat, this is amazing! If you ever decide to become a chef, you’ve got a job waiting at my place, no questions asked,” Ginny exclaimed with a laugh as the two women delved into some gossip about some of the neighbors while they ate. Ginny eventually turned her attention to Jason.

“So, where do you work and what kind of work are you doing now?” she asked with a smile. Jason was distracted as he picked at his meal, blinking a few times before he noticed the silence and that he was the one being addressed.

“Oh, well, I’m down in Tampa, working for a data security firm. We also handle stocks and bond investment portfolios.” His response rolled off his tongue like it was routine. Ginny had basically known most of this beforehand, but she knew it would be a good conversation starter. He explained some ins and outs of his job and what it entailed. It wasn’t really a very exciting field to talk about, but he was good at his job.

Jason struggled to eat very much while Jillian’s eyes on him felt like weights on his soul, dragging him down. She only broke her gaze to look down at her food momentarily. Despite the uneasy feeling, he forced down about half of his meal before giving up.

“Thanks, Mom, it was delicious,” he said, keeping it short as he placed his napkin on the table. Katia quickly spotted his half eaten meal. For her son, of all people, to not clean his plate was a true oddity. Even in the last time she visited him, he still had the habit of finishing every morsel she made for him.

“You usually love my pot roast. Is everything alright dear?” Katia had genuine concern in her voice. Jason just nodded.

“Yeah, I’m alright, I think it’s just the jet lag that’s messing with my appetite.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. Maybe you should go lie down a bit more?” Jason’s sweet, perfect mother suggested. He took a deep breath and nodded with a small scowl on his face.

“Yeah, I think that’s for the best. Sorry, everyone. Maybe we can have dinner again before I leave.” Silently hoping they’d all just leave and never come back, especially Jillian.

All he had wanted to do was simply spend some time with his mom and relax. Now he would have to spend most of his vacation attempting to steer clear of the fiery-haired she-devil sitting across from him.

As Jason rose from his seat, he gave Ginny and Damon a polite nod, and the same to June, skipping you know who.

“Good night, everyone,” were his parting words before he walked out of the dining room. Katia frowned sadly as she watched her son leave.

“It’s okay, Kat. I’m sure it was just a rough flight. A good rest will have him feeling better.” Ginny reassured her friend, bringing a small smile back to Katia’s face. “We can come back, or you two can come over, and I’ll cook.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“I would like that. You know me, any opportunity to spoil your youngest.” Ginny smiled and laughed softly at Katia’s words.

“Well, I think he already likes you more than he does me, anyway. All Calvin gives me is trouble. You get all the sweetness.” Ginny said with a slight huff, but smiled wistfully.

Instead of heading to his room, Jason turned left a few doors earlier and into his father’s study. He slipped off his fancy watch and pulled the turtleneck over his head, leaving him in a simple gray tank top that hugged his muscular frame. Casually tossing the discarded clothes onto a nearby chair, he started pacing. Running his hands up through his hair, letting out a long groan of frustration before letting his arms fall to the side. Tilting his head back, he stared up at the ceiling.

“What the hell am I going to do?” closing his eyes, he took a deep breath.

The office that hadn’t been actually used in over a decade was surprisingly well kept. Full book shelves lined both sides of the room, and a sturdy wooden desk sat in the back, complete with an old swivel chair. All in all, it looked like something you would see in an old private eye movie. He walked around, his fingers running along each surface, barely noticing any dust. It was a testament to his mother’s meticulous cleaning despite his father’s passing so long ago.

Lost in thought, he wandered the study before sinking into his dad’s favored leather armchair, draping an arm over his eyes. As awful thoughts and memories of Jillian were pushed aside, replaced by ones of his father, leaving him unsure which hurt more.

Back at the dinner table, Jillian piped up. “Excuse me, Katia, where’s the bathroom?” her glass was empty again, the wine already coursed through her.

“Oh, it’s just down the hall, second door on your left, sweetie,” Katia replied.

Jillian nodded in thanks, then stood up, looking down at her little sister. “I’ll be right back,” she said, turning to make her way down the hall to the bathroom.

She wasn’t exactly eager to return to her mom and Katia, who were chatting away like hens. So, she took her time. After she finished in the bathroom, she walked back down the hall, albeit a bit more slowly this time. When she heard a noise coming from one of the rooms, she passed by.

Approaching the door, she listened intently, hearing some rustling inside. Her heart raced, wondering if it might be Jason. It was pretty wild to think that this Jason could actually be the Jason she consistently thought of during her frequent moments of self-loathing. It was pretty clear from his glares that he remembered her. She’d been so awful to him back in high school. They hadn’t exactly parted ways amicably either. Her mind-boggled to think that the guy in the room was the same socially awkward, overweight boy she’d mercilessly teased and tormented back then. Recalling the recent image of him half-naked in the entrance way made her shiver. Biting her lip, she took a deep calming breath and pushed the door open, stepping into the study.

Jason jolted upright from the armchair, expecting his mother, but instead, he saw Jillian shutting the door behind her. He stood up so fast, he felt a little dizzy. His whole body was now tense as she turned toward him. His expression failed to hide that anger, not that he was trying to. Barely able to keep his cool at the dinner table, but it was far more difficult now that they were alone. Flashbacks of all times she made him doubt himself, and the worth of his life raced through his mind.

“How dare she just walk in here like she owns the place,” it was an irrational thought, but it was all he could think at this point.

Jillian froze as she turned around, catching Jason’s gaze fixed on her, his anger no longer restrained by common civility. The hostility in the way he clenched his jaw and fists made it extra clear to her he hadn’t forgotten her at all. She threw up her hands in front of her in a feeble attempt to deescalate the situation.

“Whoa there, big guy, chill out. I’m not here to start anything.” But her attempt at peace just seemed to stoke his anger even more. Using the term big guy like it wasn’t the cherry on top of nearly every back handed insult/compliment she’d hurled at him in the past.

“What the fuck do you want?” Jason’s tone was sharp and to the point, his patience already worn razor thin. Jillian frowned at his choice of words and tone.

“So, I’m ninety-nine percent sure, but just in case I gotta ask, you’re Jason Merris, right? You went to Grove Falls High about nine or so years ago?” Jillian asked, as Jason did his best to keep from letting his rage spill out.

“Yeah, that’s me. Any other stupid fucking questions?” he shot back. His best was apparently not very good.

Jillian clearly didn’t appreciate his tone as she scowled. “Okay, you’re clearly pissed off, I get it, but I’m trying to be civil here, okay?” trying to keep her tone even.

She took a few steps closer, still holding her hands up like she was trying to calm a rampaging bull.

Jason’s lips curled slightly in anger at her nonchalant tone, as if her past actions hadn’t messed with his head permanently.

“I don’t think you do get it! You are only now you deciding to be civil, just because I’m not some fat loser who won’t defend himself. It all seems a bit too convenient to me,” he growled, his anger showing no signs of subsiding. Jillian actually rolled her eyes in response. She tried to recall the letters she had written under her therapist’s guidance—letters meant for those she had wronged in the past, which she would later burn as part of her attempt to at least live with the guilt.

Jason was making it very difficult for her to maintain her composure and not revert to her old self.

“Look, I’m trying to fuckin’ apologize, okay? I was going through some shit back then and I took it out on you. It was messed up, I know. I don’t know if I’ll ever have this chance again, so I wanted to say it now. Will you please accept my apology?” Jillian felt like she had nailed the apology in her mind; there was no way Jason wouldn’t forgive her.

“Fuck! You!” Jason spat back. Jillian acted as if his words had physically struck her, her head flinching back while blinking in dumbstruck silence, staring at him.

“Haha, umm excuse me?” Jillian replied with a forced smile.

“You heard what I said, just in case, I’ll say it again. Fuck you and your shitty excuse for an apology. I’m not buying it and I’m sure as shit not forgiving you,” he almost shouted. Jillian glared at him, fists clenched in her own building rage.

“Seriously, what’s your fuckin’ problem?” she shot back.

“You’re my fuckin’ problem bitch. You think a few half-baked words will fix everything? Do you even realize the hell I went through because of you? Every. Single. Fucking. Day, I got harassed, picked on, or just straight beat up. You painted a target on my back and made my life miserable for four long, agonizing years! So excuse me if I’m not ready to just let bygones be bygones and simply accept your last-minute, barely cobbled together, bullshit apology. The fact you think I would even consider it shows how fuckin delusional you are!”

Jillian’s stomach churned as he recounted his school experiences. Could she forgive someone for doing that to her? Probably not. But it infuriated her that he was being so mean about it.

“Well, at least I’m making an effort. Fuck, what’s a girl gotta to do to earn forgiveness? Get on my knees and beg you?” “Damn, that sounded kind of hot... No, no snap out of it.” She wasn’t that person anymore; she needed to move on from that chapter of her life.

“Haha!” Jason burst into laughter, his booming voice filling the room. Jillian’s expression suddenly took on a pleading look at what she felt was coming next. “Oh no, please don’t go there Jason,” she silently pleaded with him. She may have walked herself right into it, but she still didn’t want to hear it.

“Ha, I bet you’re used to being on your knees, but not begging for forgiveness or praying. Like I would let you whore,” Jason spoke with a sudden cocky grin, crossing his arms defiantly. A flicker of rage ignited in Jillian’s eyes.

“Yeah the fuck right loser! Maybe in your dreams, you fat, tiny dicked, moron!” she shot back, words dripping with venom. Jason appeared mostly unfazed by her insults, though there was a small twinge of anger beneath his calm facade.

“Do you honestly think I couldn’t do so much better than your skeleton looking ass? You can say what you want, but anyone could see the truth. You’d have to pay me to even consider touching you at this point. Why don’t you go throw up my mom’s cooking, you ungrateful fuckin trash!”

One simple word could sum up Jillian’s expression: devastated.

“Screw you, you... j-just screw you.” Her lower lip trembled slightly as she swiftly exited the study, rushing back to the bathroom. She refused to let him see her tears.

At last, Jason had won. He’d finally bested her after all these years, he’d verbally murdered her till she was running away… And yet… to his displeasure, victory didn’t taste as sweet as he’d imagined all these years. Instead of feeling this triumphant surge, he was left with a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. All those times he’d acted out the scene of him putting her in her place, and now… there was nothing but a strange gnawing ache in his gut.

With a heavy sigh, Jason sank back into the armchair, resting his elbows on his knees, his fingers threading into his hair as he leaned forward, staring at the floor.

“Well. . . fuck.”