Once His [ON BREAK]

Five

MUST READ CHAPTER FOUR BEFORE THIS!! LOVE U💛

Two days after the meeting with my brother, Bryce was in a coma.

I cried for exactly three hours, seventeen minutes, and thirty-eight seconds. My best friend was in a coma, and may not come out of it. And it was all my own brother's fault. Or, not even his, my fault.

When I went to school on Wednesday, I was greeted by Jason at the front gate. A smile was pasted to his face, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. I walked up to him and forced a grin on my face to, but I had to hold my tears back.

Jason ran a hand through his dark hair.

"Sorry about Bryce, Casey. I know he means a lot to you." he says, making me blush a light pink. I frown and look at my red Converse.

"Yeah, I'm visiting him after school," I say, looking pathetically up at him. He smiles again at me, then raises his chin to get a better look behind me. I have no idea whats behind me, but it seems to please him.

"You know, the school dance is this Saturday." he states, brushing a stray strand of his dark locks out of his light eyes. My eyes widen, and my heart flutters in my chest. My crush is actually talking to me about a dance?

Then I think about Bryce. But he would want me to be happy, right?

"Mhm," I mutter, wiping my shoe back, hearing the crack of the gravel under the sole.

Jason looks down at me, then unexpectantly grabs my hand from my side. "So, I was wondering; would the one and only Casey Blue want to go with me?" My eyes dart up to him, and as they widen, a huge, cheesy grins appears on my face.

I try to wipe it off, but it seems to be stuck. "I'd love to, Jason." I think about Bryce, but he soon is torn out of my head when Jason speaks.

"Thanks Casey. I'll pick you up at seven," he says, running a hand through his hair, causing the strands to fall onto his forehead. "Now I got to head to class. See you around?" I nod numbly, waving a hand in his direction, then heading past him to the front of the building.

As I approach the large, marble stairs, I see a small group of sophomore girls whispering to one another. I slowly put a foot on the first step, then listen in on the conversation.

"Did you see what happened to Bryce Layne two days ago?"

"Casey Blue is so not a good friend for letting that happen to him."

"I know right! But I so see them together!"

"What!? He's way to hot to be with her."

Anger boils in my chest, but I don't say anything, just keep walking up the stairs. Maybe I was a bad friend for letting Bryce get cut up by Jacob. Maybe I was just a terrible person in general.

Maybe I wasn't really good.

+++

"Ms. Blue, have you decided on your art project yet?"Mr. Stark says over my shoulder, looking at my doodle. I shake my head, letting out a small sigh. He chuckles, then sits down in the seat next to me. His red hair flops on the top of his very pale face, the white striking out his soft blue eyes.

"I'm still thinking," I say numbly, returning to penciling in the shapes on my paper, trying to think clearly about designs.

"You know, Casey, I think you should draw someone." Mr. Stark says, looking at me, patting my free hand on the left side of my paper. I think about what he said for a moment, then look up at him, smiling a bit.