Silence to the Surface

What do we do?

I slammed through the door, leaned over the railing and threw up my breakfast from that morning. Tears left my eyes, streaming down my face, I was gasping for breath now. I heard Jaden come through the door after me. I wiped my mouth as I turned back to him, crying in a shocked state of panic. Jaden waited for me to catch my breath, to look him in the eyes. He closed the door to the staircase then turned back towards me. His eyes were huge and he was trembling. 

"Ena." he softly spoke.

I shook my head so violently, replaying the scene over and over again. It filled my head creating horrible images and thoughts. Over. And over. And over. And over again.

"Ena, we- we have to tell someone, right?" he stammered, panting like me. "I mean, that in there, what we just saw, that was- well that was-"

"I don't know, I don't know." I muttered, running my dirty fingers through my hair. I glanced at Jaden, his brown eyes were huge.

"You- you don't know? You don't know what?" his voice cracked, getting louder. "I mean that was fucked, right there, I never thought that Rosenburgh would- and Denise?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know what!"

"I don't know! I don't know what the fuck to do!"

Jaden stared at me, I couldn't tell if he was scared, angry, or confused. Probably all three. 

"I know what to do, we gotta tell someone!" he started for the door in a rush.

"No, wait, wait!" I moved in front of the door, slipping in front of him. He towered over me by a lot but was a bit stunned.

Jaden's eyebrows furrowed but he backed off, staring at me in a daze. "What? Why?"

I relaxed, rethinking the situation to myself. Get it together Ena. You have to get it together.

"I mean I thought when fucked up shit like this happens, you don't keep it to yourself, you tell someone." his eyes moved around thinking frantically. "I mean if there was a time to do this, now would be that time."

"I agree with you, we have to tell someone, but we cannot go around making accusations without evidence." Jaden's face softened. "Who knows how many girls he's done this too and we cannot let him get away with it, but we need proof, video proof, him confessing it, o-or something!"

Jaden's hands were linked on his head and he was rocking back and forth like a little kid. A silence filled the stairs, taking forever to break.

"You know I dated her," he suddenly said.

Why on earth is he telling me this?

"I mean, she was good, and she was really good at- well, I just would never expect this." he laughed uncomfortably.

"What are you talking about?" I snapped. "You're talking about her like it's her fault this happened."

The way he was staring at me made me want to slap him, but at the same time the urge to hug him so tightly came like a tsunami.

"Oh no! I didn't mean it like that, I just-" he cut himself off. I could tell he felt bad, he should.

"Look we don't know the whole story, but whatever it is we can not blame, Denise. We don't know what she's been through."

"I know, I know. I know that whole "don't blame the victim" shit." He chuckled

"Shit?". Jesus.

"That was just, so fucked up." he said again as if he was talking to himself.

"Jaden, you can't tell anyone about this, not yet. Go on with your day, do not talk to your friends about it, don't spread rumors about it, and don't ask Denise about it. Do you understand?"

He nodded quickly. I think he's a little scared of me. Hah. Good. I hesitated but then headed toward the door picking my backpack off the ground tugging on the door.

"Wait, Ena." he called.

"Huh?"

He played with his fingers and tugged the rims of his hoodie. Oh God.

"I mean, when will  we tell people, and who?"

I sighed closing the door again, I wiped the stained tears off my cheeks and wiped my nose with my sleeve.

"Look, I know it sounds fucked up to keep quiet, for now, but we will get him fired and in jail, I promise, we just need to wait for the right moment. Now, I'm not asking you to forget what you saw and do nothing, just put this whole thing in the back of your mind. You know, just go on with your life. Smoke pot, skip class, make out with girls in this back staircase-"

His eyes grew. "How do you know-"

"Do all that, as well as know this incredibly dark and illegal secret our teacher is hiding from...everyone. Okay?"

I didn't know if what I was saying was the right thing to say, or even if my advice was helpful. But all I know is I felt like bursting into tears at any second and I could feel my heart was pumping through my chest. 

There was an incredibly long silence among us, I looked up at him as he met my hazel green eyes with his rich brown ones. We finally shared something in common, as well as the same shock and fear. The silence was so loud, so I took the first step out the door and walked to my first period class. 

I was extremely late anyway.