A Mirror of Imperfections Chapter 6
Title: A Mirror of Imperfections
Author: Cassie
Warnings: None
Prompt: Shopping
Word Count: 1629
Jared awoke to find that not only could he fully open his eyes but that he was also not laying in Chad’s room. Jared had assumed that his interactions with his teacher had been a dream, a way of calming himself after the punishment. Even through all of the pain the only comfort he really longed for was Chad’s arms around him. Typically after a punishment Jared was left on the rough carpet while Chad slept in the bed. Chad never touched him in even the most casual ways, and especially never in sexual ways. He had informed Jared early on that he wasn’t good enough to be touched. Jared had once been whipped for hours because he pressed his lips against Chad’s.
Naturally the feeling of fingertips running along his arm sent Jared’s eyes flying open, searching once more for Chad. Before him Mr. Ackles sat, a cup of tea in one hand while the other gently shook Jared awake. The teacher looked slightly disheveled and exhausted, as though he had been up all night. A deep sigh of relief passed through fully lips, green eyes practically burning through Jared’s skull. Moving quickly Jared pushed himself flat against the wall, slamming his eyes shut.
“Jared, I’m not going to hurt you. Your mother is trying to catch a flight home but a storm rolled in and the airport canceled all flights. She asked me to keep you here until she gets home. I think we should take you to the hospital just in case your injuries need treated.” The man’s thick voice was calm, almost as though he had come to terms with the events passed.
“Where is Chad?” Jared’s voice was shaky from lack of use, his eyes still pulled tightly closed.
“I don’t know who Chad is. Is he the one you snuck off to meet?” Mr. Ackles reached out for a small glass of water, leaning it over Jared’s damaged, cracked lips.
Drinking deeply, Jared sucked down as much water as his throat could hold before turning away. Water spilled down his chest and the strange shirt covering him. Opening his eyes for the first time, Jared stared down at the simple Blue Oyster Cult tee shirt. Knowing Chad’s taste in music it became clear that the shirt belonged to his teacher.
“Jared, do you have a key to your house? I lent you a shirt and a pair of sweat pants but I am sure you would feel more comfortable in your own clothes.” The teacher asked as he let the glass gently thud onto the table. “I could take you home to get some.”
“No, I…my mother haven’t made another key for the house yet. We keep meaning to but…” Jared’s voice slipped away as he considered his mother leaving him without a way to get inside. “Do you know where my cell phone is? I think my mother meant for me to go and stay with my father.”
“You didn’t have a cell phone on you when I found you. You can call your mother from my phone.” The teacher fiddled around in his pocket before finally freeing a new iphone. Chuckling at Jared’s shocked facial expression he mumbled “The joys of being a bachelor and having money to spare”
Jared carefully dialed his mother’s phone number, his fingers shaking slightly as he pressed the screen. His mother answered on the second ring, happily laughing when Jared asked if he should go to his father’s. The simple answer to everything involving his father was no. No he was not meant to go to his father’s house, no she had not thought about the fact that he didn’t have a key, no he could not go to see Dad because he had left town as well. Jared was simply left with nothing but “no” and a deep sense of rejection. His family had practically forgotten his existence and went along with their own lives. Jared simply handed the phone to his teachers, closing his eyes once more and letting his mind wander back to Chad.
“Jared? Your mother would like me to take you shopping. She says that she did leave you some money in the mailbox. Your going to stay with me for the weekend and when she gets home she will make you an appointment with your regular physician.” Mr. Ackles took a deep breath, almost as though he was relieved to have the phone call over with. “Do you want me to help you out of bed so that you can join me shopping, or would you rather I go and pick out your clothes. I should warn you that when I try and dress young I end up looking like Kevin Federline.”
Jared couldn’t help the giggle that escaped his lips as he pictured his stunning but very professional teacher dressing like a wangster. Pulling himself from the bed Jared declined help, he had been punished enough times to not only accept the pain but to embrace it. This was all a part of his punishment and he deserved every second of pain he endured. After all, Chad knew best.
The walk to the car was painful, the material of his sweat pants rubbing painfully across the fresh cuts on his thighs. Each step the pain slowly faded away, his ability to accept and forget the pain instantly working to his advantage. By the time they had arrived at Jared’s house, the pain had faded away to a dull ache when he moved. His mother had left two hundred dollars in the mailbox and a note instructing him to go to a hotel or stay with friends. Jared wasn’t sure if his teacher actually counted as a friend, but pocketed the money.
The mall was crowded as people rushed along the paths, all in search of the perfect deal. Jared made a beeline for an American Eagle store, wanting to impress his teacher with his fashion sense. Almost immediately guilt washed over him. Had Chad not punished him enough for his affections towards Misha and Mr. Ackles? The familiar ache and burn as he moved provided enough relief as he slipped into the too cold store. Other customers and employees stared at Jared’s damaged face, some almost moving to question the bruises. Moving quickly he grabbed two pairs of jeans and two shirts from the sale rack. Knowing before trying them on that they would fit, he paid and rushed out of the store, his teacher silently following.
“You didn’t buy anything to sleep in? Would you like to visit another store?” His teacher’s voice was etched with concern and hesitation. Clearly he wanted to leave as soon as possible.
“Yes, I uh I need to buy that so I’ll um hit Old Navy.”
Jared practically ran into the store, his eyes scanning for underwear and sweat pants. The familiar men’s section almost comforted him as he scanned the shelves until he found a thin pair of navy blue sweats. Tossing a package of underwear onto his pile he practically ran to the check out line.
“Jared?” A voice called to him form behind, the familiar flirty voice hanging in the air as Jared turned to face Misha.
“Hey,” He faked casual as he smiled sweetly, his eyes set on the floor.
“Holy shit! Your face is…wow what happened?” Misha moved quickly, his fingers tracing the purple bruises around Jared’s eyes.
“Um I fell down the stairs.” Jared flinched away from the touch, not wanting anyone but Chad to touch him.
“You…fell down the stairs? Are you in an abusive relationship and covering for your angry husband?” Misha joked, smiling and accepting Jared’s lie.
“I really, really gotta go. We can uh talk later. I lost my phone though, so don’t call or text me. I’ll see you on Monday.”
Jared heard a goodbye in the distance as he tossed his items onto the checkout counter, nervously looking behind him. Mr. Ackles was seated on a bench just outside of the store, his eyes locked on Jared. Fumbling with his money, Jared practically threw the bills onto the counter. The sales woman simply smiled, her eyes looking anywhere but at his face. Jared tucked the few left over bills into his bag and bolted for the door.
“Would you like to stop by the food court?” Mr. Ackles asked, pulling himself from the bench.
“No, I…lets leave. Please Mr. Ackles?” Jared practically pleaded as he stared into the jade abyss of his teacher’s eyes.
“Okay, we can leave. Jared, I would like you to call me Jensen when we are not in school. I really hate how formal it sounds.”
“Okay” Jared mumbled, knowing he would probably still refer to him as Mr. Ackles. “I just wanna leave”
The walk to the car was almost as silent as the ride home, each mile sliding away until at last they reached the teacher’s house. Jared hadn’t bother looking as they left and couldn’t remember entering the first time, but the house before him was quite nice. The red brick was lined with thick green vines, swirling up a trellis and outward to cover most of the house. The yard was large and hidden from the road by a large stone fence.
“How can you afford this house? It’s huge.” Jared asked as his eyes scanned the many windows.
“It is the house I grew up in, I inherited it when my parents died when I was 18.” The man said quietly as he walked past Jared.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jared needed to learn to keep his mouth shut, just as Chad had said. Apparently the lesson had not worked well enough, Jared would simply need to visit Chad again. Soon.
Chapter 7,