How To Save A Life

Chapter 5

For about three weeks nothing happened. Seriously all I did was drive Mavis to her appointments and finish Gatsby. The book wasn't very good, really just a glorified love story. This dry spell ended on a Tuesday when I got a text from Sean. Apparently Scott had another hook up to attend to and Sean was in need of a ride. All I'd done today up until this point is lay in bed and watch Roswell, some show I found on Netflix about aliens, so I was happy to pick him up. I invited Mavis but she was unprepared for soical interaction today, so a few minutes later I'm headed out the door alone to pick up Sean.

After I arrive I get out of the car to collect Sean from inside, but he's already walking out. I don't know if I should get back in the car or not, maybe that's awkward? Should I just pretend like I got out of the car to greet him? Well I guess I have to it's been to long now and he's almost here.

"Hey, thanks so much for coming to get me. Anything I can do to repay you just say the word and I'll do it." Seab says as he walks up. As he aproaches me he holds his arms out. For a hug? I guess so. He pulls me in quickly, he smells good, and pulls away just as quickly.

"Like I said, no problem, but if you ever feel like buying me some onion rings I'm not gonna stop you." I tell him as we both get into the car.

"Onion rings, huh? Most girls are too afraid of bad breath to eat oonion rings."

"Yeah, well, I usually don't get so close to people that they can smell my breath. So don't be mad but I don't really remember how to get to your house." I tell him cautiously, you never know how a nut is going to react.

"Why would I get mad? That would be silly. I'm PTSD, not anger management. Turn right out of the parking lot" Good thing he told me, I thought I remembered going left. Shows what I know.

" Hey, how should I know what sets you off? Maybe it's my bad memory, maybe it's a gun shot. I wouldn't know."

" Yeah, maybe." He replies, he's slightly tensed up and staring out the window. Shit.

" It's gun shots isn't it.Gun shots are your trigger." I say hesitantly.

He doesn't say anything in response, he just nods his head and continues to look out the window.

"Shit, look I'm really sorry I had no idea. I wouldn't have said anything if I had known. Really I feel terrible." I say in a rush.

" It's fine, it's not your fault. I shouldn't have assumed you knew, I just figured cause it was all over the news recently. Take a right up here."

"What? What's been all over the news recently? Wait, are you talking about that school shooting? I totally forgot about that seeing as I don't actually go to school."

"Yeah, I figured as much now. I shooting didn't have anything to do with me, I was just an unlucky bystander. Or a lucky one if you look at it a certain way." He says without looking at me.

" You left the situtation with PTSD, how could you be considered the lucky one?" I ask.

" Well I'm alive, aren't I? Can't say as much for the other bystander. Either of us could have died, I'm just lucky the gunman ran out of bullets. Left on Fourth Street." He still hasn't turned away from the window.

" That's really terrible. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. And I thought I had it rough driving Mavis around. Speaking of driving people around, I so don't remember this as the way to your house."

" That's because we aren't going to my house. We're going to Joe's." He tells me, finally looking at me and giving me a smile. I like that, when he smiles.

" Joe's? As in your friend Joe?" I ask, slightly confused.

" No, Joe's as in the restaurant. You said you wanted onion rings, I'm getting you some."

" Oh no, I was kidding. You really don't have to do that, I don't mind driving you around." I tell him honestly. I really do enjoy driving him.

" Just drive to Joe's, we're getting onion rings." He tells me with a smug look. What an annoying scat. I do as he says and drive to Joe's.