Ten Days To My Death

The Fifth Day (Pt. 2)

TW: Panic attack?
(back to Nat's POV btw)
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"Lets... Go to the nurse office?" Clay suggests, and I rely on Chace for him to respond. My mind can't think. I ran out of social battery, but I was still hanging around other people.
"Okay, Nat you have to get checked or something... " Chace nudges my shoulder and I wince from the pain, causing Chace to gasp and apologise almost immediately.
"Get a room, I hate lovebirds." Amanda and Clay both say at the same time, and I force a laugh down. Chace doesn't bother to hide it.
"You guys are actually connected in words man!" Chace continues to burst in laughter, and I give a quick punch to Clay's ribs for calling me and Chace 'lovebirds'. He was my life saver, yes, but not someone I liked romantically. I think.
"Shut up, no. Its just that great minds think alike." I decide that Clay is an okay person, and I could bear with Amanda.
"Welp, we've arrived!" Amanda remarks and I notice that we already walked to the nurse office. A feeling of uncertainty shakes me, I had never been here before despite the countless wounds I earned from abuse and bullying.
Abuse. Such a small word for such a huge thing.
A gush of chilling air greets me when I enter the nurse office, and I immediately detect the strong smell of antibiotics and just general office scents.
"Hi, what are you here for?" the nurse at the front desk starts.
"Oh uh, she fell down the stairs and-" Chace begins, but the nurse interrupts him.
"What do you say when you see me? " I roll my eyes. Not this again, ordering students to greet people that don't deserve being bowed to. We all murmur a quick 'good morning miss' and allow Chace to continue his lie.
"So, Nat here fell down the stairs and got some bruises, I was wondering if you could help with that? Do you have some ointment or medication for that?"
"Ice should be good enough, just go grab the ice pack from that box over there." The nurse impatiently replies, gesturing to a small cooler box.
"Ice won't do anything you-" Amanda begins to insult the nurse for me, but Clay nudges her in the shoulder and she stops. Thankfully, the nurse ignores Amanda and continues with whatever she was rapidly typing on her laptop.
With a quick wave to the staff at the nurse office, Chace takes hold of my hand and walks out of the office. For the slightest moment, I notice a flash of pink or red, I couldn't tell, from under Clay's sleeve while Chace pills me out. Hastily, Clay covers the spot and pulls out a jacket from the bag he was carrying before wearing it.
"Nat, just hold the ice on which ever wound you want to ease the pain from okay?" I nod at Chace's words and press the small ice pack against my wrist. I needed my wrist.
Glancing at the clock, I gasp when I realise we were already ten minutes late to class. Not that it was a big deal, but I wanted to avoid having to explain to the teacher about our absence. Frowning slightly, I eye the clock and point at it slightly.
Somehow, all of them notice my vague movements and nod before speedily getting ready to run to class.
-
Finally, we arrive at the classroom, panting furiously. At least it was art class. Painting was cool.
"Come in, late students," the art teacher, Mrs Niki tells us coolly, "Just tell me why you're late, I'll have to write it down."
"We were at the nurse's office. She... Natalie got bullied okay." Clay tells her and I remain silent. Amanda gives a nod of proof that she had been with us at the nurse's office.
"Okay, I'll have to hear it from you though." Mrs Niki stares directly at me, and the i can feel everyone else's eyes burning into my soul.
"Aeh,uhmmn," I try to form words. I can feel a sob coming up, but I swallow it. I couldn't afford to cry, not anymore.
As if sent from heaven, I feel a hand on my back.
Amanda.
Amanda, who left me for new friends. Amanda, who still cared.
A small sizzle of confidence rises in me, and I form my first words.
"I-"
"You..?" Mrs Niki gets impatient, I can tell, but she understood. Understood my inability to socialise sometimes. She had the same problem, not as often as me though.
Another angel from heaven sent to save me, I think when Chace also places his warm hand on my shoulder, my angel. My first friend in forever.
"I- I was at-" Just abit more, just abit more confidence to get me talking. Cmon, you dumb self, you can't just say three more words? I open my mouth but no words roll off.
And then, Clay shifted closer to me. Just like that. Clay, standing right beside me, filled my heart just enough to form more words.
"I was at the nurse office." That's all. I smile internally. I had managed to speak.
"Ah, okay, today we are just continuing the repeated pattern painting project we started last week, so just get started quickly, yeah?" We nod simultaneously and walk to the only seats left at the seats by the window.
-
"Right, it's times up, just keep your paints and leave your unfinished art pieces at the back. If you're already done which would be very impressive, just hand your art piece to me. After that, you all can leave. Have a great weekend!" Mrs Niki says as I finish the last brush stroke on my painting. Not the worst work, not the best either. I think as I look at my finished piece. Quickly, I give my paint palette and fast rinse and place my canvas on the teachers' table.
"As expected of my best art student," Mrs Niki nods at my artwork, "How was your week?" I can't help but feel glad about the question. Before Chace, that sentence was the only thing keeping me going.
"Not too bad, slightly hectic though. Have a nice weekend, stay safe I guess." I reply and shrug before exiting the classroom to find Chace and the others waiting for me.
"Sorry if I took too long-" I mumble awkwardly but relax when they smile and start to walk towards the school gates.
"So, you all going home?" Clay asks, breaking the comfortable silence.
"Yep, I might go to Nat's house first though." Chace says.
"I don't know, probably." Amanda replies Clay and stares at him for a brief moment.
I notice the very slight change in Clay's mood. He shifts his gaze to the ground, his smile fades just slightly, and his emerald green eyes turn just a little bit sad.
"You okay?" I question Clay.
"Uh- yeah, I'm fine why? I'm going home too by the way." His fake smile widens and I take note of it.
"Tell us what's wrong, please." Chace insists as if reading my mind.
"It's really... Nothing." Clay's voice cracks. His shoulders tremble.
Amanda, without warning, steps forward and gives Clay a hug. Just like that. Just like that, the strongest guy in the school lets a tear fall from his glowing green eye.
"I'm... So so sorry i- I'm having- having a... A... P-panic-" Clay's whole body is shaking and tears fall from his eyes, just like mine does when I get an anxiety attack.
"Do you want to go home? Yes or no, be honest." I tell him in my strongest tone.
"No, not at all. Never, actually." Clay tries to hide the hint of anger in his voice, but it's futile.
"Lets all go to my house then." Chace understands Clay, and I nod in agreement.
We all start walking to Chace's house, a place that was going to be our refuge.
But I didn't know yet.
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A/N: okay that chapter was nice, ummm next chapter will actually be about Clay and his back story and stuff. Thanks for reading! I've actually been going through a really tough time with my family, I don't have depression, or at least have not been diagnosed(and probably never will) but I hope you understand if I'm abit inactive at time. Tysm!