Strawberry Blonde

五十六

" Laurence ?"

" Laurence sweety ?"

A distant voice that seemed to grow louder with each call jolted me awake, the bright lights stinging my eyes as they opened.

Hassan's mom was standing in front of me startled at my rough revival.

" Sorry honey I didn't mean to scare you ! It's just you've been here all night and I wanted to know if you were going to school today ?"

School today ?

I looked at the closed blinds that seemed to be fighting off sunlight

SCHOOL TODAY !?

I jumped up but instantly felt a sharp tingling pain from my lower back travel all the way down to my feet and almost stumbled on top of her.
" I've been here all night !?" I asked, trying to wake up the lower half of my body.

" We all came home pretty late, Bee and Michelle seen you guys sleeping and your sister said your parents were alright with you staying over as long as you go to school today. I tried to wake you up last night but you were out like a light !"

Looking at the clock I could still make it home, change, take a shower and be only a couple minutes late to first period if I took Jason's car.

I heard a small groan and seen Hassan throw covers over his head to muffle out our noise.

He was too tired to tell him about last night now and probably still in too much pain to process it. After school I'm coming straight here.

" Thank you Mrs.Jameson I gotta go !" I gave her a small hug and zoomed past her, saying a quick hi and bye to both Bee and Mr.Jameson who were in the kitchen.

                                 ><•><

My stomach grumbled in the cafeteria but it was having no problem digesting the anxiety my heart was feeding it.

Where was everybody ? No Bryan, no Charolette, Tanner was still suspended I guess but the others ?

It felt like square one all over again...

This time Hassan wasn't here to pop out of the blue. I started to replay my first memory of him before a slap on the lunch table and zipping of a bag pulled me out of it.

Charolette's orange hair seemed lighter than usual and she looked different, she looked almost normal.

She wore a grey knitted sweater which fit oversized on her arms. Her hair was thrown into a messy orange bun that adorned two wavy strands that decorated the side of her face making her seem more pale.

" Hey." I said to her awkwardly waving my hand.

" So about yesterday, did you mean what you said ?" She asked folding her arms.

" Which parts ?" I asked.

" Mine."

" Ohhh, well..." I said scratching the back of my head.
" Not really, I was just mad. Mad and in the moment. I do remember what you were like before Hassan but I don't hold it against you and I'm sorry for throwing your past in your face like that...it wasn't very nice of me."

She puckered her lips nodding her head.
" So we're still good right ?" She asked.

I pretending to think about it and she gasped in shock before throwing a plastic spork at me.

" Yeah we're good !" I laughed.
" Have you seen Bryan today ?"

She shook her head.
" No can do, as much as I'd love to see two hotties fighting to the barbaric death I can't allow it in honor of Hassan."