Fix me

Chapter 4

Song on the side.............................................................................................................................................

Chapter 4

It’s amazing what three words can do to a person.

            “I love you.” Your heart beats faster and joy has replaced you’re blood as it spreads through you. “I’m leaving you.” there is a crushing weight on your chest that seems to get heavier and heavier with every breath you take. You are confused, devastated. “I’ll kill you.” Fear, icy and unexpected, flows through your body, paralyzing. You are terrified, scared for your life. What is going to happen next? You won’t know until it is too late.

            Well, when Vanessa said those three words to me, “Jeremy drove me.” I stopped breathing. I ignored her; pretended she didn’t just say what she did.

            I am a zombie as I walk to my desk and sit down. I didn’t even glance at Hunter. I am too much in shock, too far gone. All I can think is, VanessaisnextVanessaisnextVanessaisnext. STOP. I tell myself.

            I have to fix this. I have to I have to I have to. I won’t let him hurt her. I won’t.

            But what can I do? I have to confront him. No, I can’t. I have to protect Vanessa. But who is going to protect me? My thoughts are race cars and my mind is the track. I am thinking too fast. The cars go around the track 100 miles an hour. It is too much too much too much.

            A headache forms, but I refuse to acknowledge it. It takes me a full minute to realize Mr. Meyer is calling my name for attendance and I have not answered. “Here.” I say in a quiet voice, but it is too late.

            Everyone is looking at me and I hate it. There are 23 students in this class. 46 eyes are staring at me. 48, if you count Mr. Meyer.

            “Violet, are you okay?” That is the second time someone has asked me that today.

            "I don’t feel well,” I tell Mr. Meyer. It is the truth. My palms are sweaty, my throat is dry, and my headache has gone from an annoying pressure to a pounding torture.

            “Would you like to go to the nurse?” I nod, but when I attempt to stand, I nearly topple over with dizziness. I hear laughter, but then there is a hand on my back and I am freaking out freaking out freaking out.

            “Don’t touch me!” I yell without thinking and jump away, only to trip over my own backpack and land on my butt. The laughter has stopped and people have gone back to staring, speechless.

            Hunter’s hand is still outstretched from where he had attempted to help me. He is looking down with me with worry in his eyes and… anger?

            Vanessa is suddenly there, kneeling next to me. “Violet? Or you okay?” I shake my head. No no no. I am not okay.

            “Hunter, can you please help Violet to the nurse?” At that moment, I hate Mr. Meyer.

            “Of course,” Hunter says. He holds out a hand to help me up, but I squirm away.

            “She doesn’t like to be touched.” Vanessa explains. My eyes are everywhere, looking at the front door, my desk, out the window. Anywhere, but Hunter’s hurt expression. “I can help her.” Vanessa volunteers, but Mr. Myer shakes his head.

            “You are already behind in this class from the time you were absent for a week. You can’t afford to miss the lesson.”

            “But she’s my best friend!”