Renata

Chapter 4

 Her last two periods went by in silence, there was a surprise test. It was chemistry so it was fairly easy for Renata and she finished before the bell went so they let her go. She walked out of the front of school feeling relieved that she hadn't had to push through the after school crowds. As she walked on she noticed that she was tired. Very tired. She decided to sit on a bench, there were atleast 15 minutes left before school would be out. She sat at the bench that looked out onto the parking lot, filled with the student's cars. She sighed at her feet. She was tired and the bus sounded dreary. She let herself think about how it would be if she had a car, something she never did. She was never prone to envy but when she felt like this she couldn't help it. She felt her eyelids getting heavy and decided she would go and hoped she wouldn't fall asleep on the bus. She'd done that twice and missed her stop. She'd had to pay double on those days. She started walking again, watching her shoes take their steps

.

"Renata!" someone shouted.

She closed her eyes and cursed. What now? she turned around but didn't move towards Michael who was coming her way.

"Hey, do you want a ride home? You just looked like you were a bit sick and I don't think you took any of the pills the doctor said you should when you're at school." He said it casually, like it was completely normal. Renata looked at the green eyes and avoided the look in them. She wanted to say no, she always said no. But he was right about the pills, she'd completely forgotten which is probably why she felt neaar fainting. SHe rocked slightly on her feet and felt the cloud of fatigue settle.

"Yeah sure. That would actually be great, thanks." she tried to smile, she wondered if it had actually looked like a smile.

She was sitting in the passengers seat of the car that smelt brand new, watching the scenery unfold as usual. The big houses that faded into perfect family double stories, a string of shopping centres, more houses and finally the smaller houses wit hardly any fences and hardly any sign of  fortune. Michael noticed it was the neighbourhood he avoided, he felt slightly uncomfortable as a worn out Renata gave him directions. They eventueally pulled up by her house. It didn't look dilapitated but it could use a paint job and the small fence needed some fixing. He noticed how virtually the whole street had these smal double stories and a bigger yard than he would've thought. He thought he was being rude by staring and looked to Renata, she was asleep. He woke her up and he saw how embarrassed she looked that she'd fallen asleep. It was the first genuine emotion she'd given him.

"Will you be okay?" Michael asked.

"Yeah, George is gonna be here just in case."

"No he has practise. I said I'd check in on you, maybe i can stick around till your mom is here"

Renata decided then that she wouldn't be affected by any of these new people, she would treat them like she treated  furniture.

"Ok" Renata said opening the door and as per usual a voice from across the fence called out.

"Hello dear!" Mrs LAurie said cheerfully, eyeing Michael.

"Hey Mrs Laurie."

"Ah I see you brought a friend home, or did a friend bring you home rather?" She had a playful tone and Renata laughed before waving goodbye.

One inside The house she dropped her bag and gestured for Michael to make himself at home while she went up to drink her medication. When she came back down he was sitting rather uncomfortably on one of the couches which they'd had since Renata was born. He looked odd  in the humble room which was filled with happy pictures of family and friends. She poured him some coke and sat down next to him, content to say nothing.