DROWNED

Ch: 1

"Gabe! Hurry up, you'll be late for your last day of seventh grade!" Mom called to me. I sat up in my bed and rubbed my eyes.

"Hallelujah!" I yelled. "I made it." I rolled out of my bed. I stood up and walked over to my mirror. Oh lord have mercy; I have changed tons since Nina's trial. I grew a solid 5 inches; my hair was longer and a bit lighter (From stress) I constantly look tired or worn out and my voice lowered an octave (from stress) I limped downstairs after getting dressed.

"Did you grow last night again?" My dad asked.

"I don't know, maybe." I said and grabbed Lucky Charms from the cabinet.

"Do you have work today dad?" I asked him.

"My schedule got changed. I work night shift now." He said.

"Oh right. I forgot." I said pouring the cereal into a bowl.

"Can't you have a healthier choice of cereal?" My mom asked walking out of the bathroom.

"I need some sugar in my life." I said pouring the milk.

"That's all you've been eating since December." Mom said.

"He's turning fourteen in a month, Regina, he can handle himself." Dad told mom.

"With everything that's happened with him we never know what could happen next." Mom said.

"I'm everyone's favorite problem." I said bringing my voice an octave higher. "Serial killers and ghosts are obsessed with me." After finishing my cereal, I grabbed my bag and walked over to Ava's house. I knocked on the door and Ava's mom Barbara answered.

"Hey Mrs. Wendall. Is Ava ready yet?" I asked.

"She's upstairs in her room, but you're welcome to wait for her." Mrs. Barbara said.

"Thanks." She let me in, and I sat in the living room.

"Hey Gabe." Billy said walking into the living room.

"Hi Billy, is Randy around?" I asked him.

"I think so. Troy is upstairs watching Ava brush her hair." Billy said.

"Watching her or brushing her hair for her?"

"I think he might be brushing her hair." Billy said.

"Okay." I said and walked upstairs. Troy was indeed brushing Ava's hair.

"Hey ava, Hi Troy." I said.

"Hey man!" He said putting the hairbrush down. Ava walked over to me.

"How are you doing? It's been a while since we've seen each other."

"Physical Therapy's been hell, but other than that my legs are semi functional." I said.

"Limping?" Ava asked.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure walking isn't damaging your spine further?"

"I'm sure. My doctor was pretty clear that the damage wasn't fatal." I said.

"When's your next session?" Ava asked.

"After school I think." I said.

"Speaking of school, we should leave to pick up Jake." She suggested.

"Oh yeah." I said then we walked downstairs. We both walked passed my house and walked up to Jake's house. Ava knocked on the door. Jake opened the door,

"Hey guys. I'm ready I just need to grab my bag." Jake left the door open while he grabbed his bag. He came back a minute later with his bag.

"I'm excited for summer." Jake said.

"I wish I was." I said. "Imagine a good summer after what happened in October and November."

"Man, you never let go." Jake said.

"Try getting stabbed in the back by a serial killer." I said. Jake slapped me on the shoulder,

"Sorry man! You know I was terrified for you." Jake said. I changed the subject.

"Are Alex and Brenda coming?" I asked crossing my arms. Ava looked at her phone,

"I'm pretty sure. Brenda lives in the neighborhood, right?" She asked.

"Yeah." I said.

"She's your girlfriend. You go get her." Jake said.

"You guys can meet us at school. I don't want you guys to wait for me." I said and started limping to Brenda's house.

"Gabe are you sure?" Ava asked.

"Yeah! You guys go." I said and continued to limp to Brenda's house. After walking a couple blocks, I made it to her house. I knocked on the door, Mrs. Collins answered the door,

"Hey Gabe." She said.

"Is Brenda home?" I asked.

"Alex already came by, and they left." Mrs. Collins replied.

"Oh." I said.

"You could still catch up with them." She said.

"Thanks." I said and limped off the front porch and walked where Mrs. Collins said Alex and Brenda were headed. After a couple minutes I saw Brenda and Alex ahead of me,

"Brenda!" I called to her, limping, but trying to run. Brenda turned around,

"Gabe you should stop running." Alex said. Brenda walked up to me.

"You should've rode in your wheelchair instead of walking." She said.

"I'll be fine. If I collapse during school, you can yell at me then." I said.

"You stubborn ass." Brenda said.

"Thanks. I told Ava and Jake, we would meet them at school, we should get going." I said and took Brenda's hand.

"Don't die on me today." Brenda said walking at my pace. "Alex, you can go on ahead."

"I'll catch up with Jake and Ava!" Alex said and kept walking.

"Have you been doing, okay? No nightmares?" Brenda asked.

"I've been doing better. The nightmares haven't been as frequent as they have been the last couple months." I said.

"That's good. How has therapy been?"

"Hell." I said bluntly.

"Okay." Brenda said. "That was fast." I nodded.

"It's too bad I'm not strong enough to carry you. I would carry you!" Brenda said aggressively. I laughed. 

"I just now realized... are you taller? And did your voice lower?" Brenda asked. 

"I am taller and my voice is lower." I said. 

When we made it to school Alex, and Ava were gathered at my locker. 

"Hey guys." I said limping up to them with Brenda behind me. "Is Jake at his locker already?"

"Yeah." Ava said. "He starts class 30 minutes before we do." I nodded. 

"Right. Not me nearly forgetting he's a year older than us." I said. "Anyway, my birthday is in a month. My parents always plan a big trip and I was thinking you guys could come." Ava, Alex, and Brenda looked at each other,

"That would be a lot of fun." Brenda said. "Where do you guys usually go?"

"We go to a bunch of different places. Last year I went to Mexico." I said. Ava's mouth dropped,

"I wanna go to an exotic location!" She yelled. Alex laughed. 

"It probably won't be something that exotic. Although I really need to relax this time around." I said. 

"That's in a month. Your parents will figure it out." Brenda said.