The boy inside the matrix box

12

So I start to say goodbye

Say goodbye to all that we had

Falling Apart – Michael Schulte

It is on a Wednesday afternoon like any other that, for the first time in ten days, Nataniel meets Seven outside their apartment block. Standing on the pavement, Seven seems to be waiting for someone. Nataniel is taking out the rubbish. When he hears a noise behind him, Seven turns around and freezes when he discovers that it is Nataniel. The latter immediately looks away, all desire to engage in the slightest conversation having passed.

"Nataniel..."

He is startled by his name, but when he turns back to Seven, he manages to put on an annoyed expression. Seven opens his eyes wide with surprise and takes a step back. He opens his mouth, stammers something unintelligible, and then begins to cast desperate glances around.

"Nataniel," he stutters, "I... At Peter's party, you..."

With a flashy roar of an engine, a car appears in the street. Nataniel recognises the car of the Hillz guys that Bart had told him about. The drug dealers.

"I think your friends are here, Seven."

The young man takes a step in Nataniel's direction, but immediately freezes.

"Nataniel, please... Wait for me."

With that, he opens the door and gets into the car. The young blond man watches them drive away without really understanding what Seven meant. He probably wasn't talking about waiting for him, there on the pavement? He was more likely to refer to waiting for him to finish his little crisis to pick up where they left off. Ah! Easier coming from the person who decided to cut all ties with Nataniel!

Nataniel slams the lid of the bin down hard and starts back up the stairs, grumbling, with murderous thoughts in his head.

***

"Don't you want to have a party?" repeats Nessie for the sixth time in two minutes.

They are seated in the school cafeteria, chatting about Sam's birthday which is coming soon.

Sam shakes his head gently. "No, I don't. Then again, my house isn't exactly ideal for parties. Something between the four of us is enough for me."

"There'll be booze anyway, right?"

Sam opens his eyes wide with annoyance. "You can't have fun without alcohol? You know that's possible, right?"

"Unlike you, who can spend an evening drinking nothing but orange juice, yes, I like to drink," admits Nessie without shame.

"Well, we'll see. At least there'll be beers," sighs Sam.

"Well, that puts my mind at rest," she smiles brightly.

"What do you want for a present?" asks Nataniel.

"Oh, nothing."

"You always say that."

"Because it's true. Do what you always do, Nat, surprise me."

"I'm running out of surprises."

"We'll go shopping together, if you want," Nessie suggests.

"I'm in too," intervenes Paul.

Nataniel nods enthusiastically at the idea, which put Nessie at joy.

"Great! Shall we do it on Saturday? Let's start in the morning, so we can eat there!"

"That's good for me," says Paul, soon followed by Nataniel.