WingWard Side

Chapter 15: Return

School was... pretty rough if I'm being honest. In the morning I was walking around with Pluto, and like 10 kids came up to me to ask where I was, why I was gone. Every time they did my parents would pop up in my mind and I'd freeze up. Luckily Pluto would pop in for me, saying I had a doctors appointment and took the whole day off. And tell them to leave me alone because I got a shot and wasn't feeling great. (She's literally the best she got people to go away and stay away in one excuse.)

But Pluto couldn't protect me forever. In first period I tried to sit back and hide and hope no one noticed me. But my dang teacher pointed me out, stopping the whole class just to say he was glad I was back. Then everyone started asking, and my stomach started churning, and I had to run to the bathroom to escape. And I hid in there for a while, texting Pluto about it. She wanted to come comfort me but I wasn't gonna let her hang out in the boys bathroom with me. The teacher actually apologized after class, which was nice, but I still had to deal with the rest of the day.

In social studies I sat down by Pluto, who asked how I was doing, and snuck me some candy she'd bought. We played with each other's hands all class period instead of actually listening. Afterwards I was on my way to gym, and Keira came up to me in the halls.

"Where were you yesterday? You missed health." She glared at me.

At that point I had been asked so many times that I didn't really react anymore. Well, not too noticeably at least.

"I had a doctors appointment and took the day off." I said quietly, still walking.

"You said you were sick." She raised an eyebrow.

"I felt kind of sick." I lied (partially). "I had to get shots and by the way I still feel sick so keep your distance."

She took a step away, but persisted. "I'm not sure I believe that but anyway, have you talked to you-know-who yet?"

"I'm on my way to gym now." I grumbled.

"Well are you gonna...?"

I groaned. I wasn't in the mood for this. "Yes yes I will now go away."

Keira paused for a sec, biting her lip. "Actually maybe you shouldn't. He might realize I'm the one behind it. Maybe he saw us walking together and knows we're friends. OH GOD what if he knows I like him and thinks it's funny?!" She hid her face with her hands. "He's gonna make fun of me. Oh God he probably has a girlfriend or something. This was a bad idea."

I really didn't feel like helping anyone that day. But she was spiraling and I had to keep learning to jitterbug.

"Keira, I'm sure he likes you." I reassured her. "And I doubt he knows. And if he doesn't, I'll find out today. Kay? Then everything'll be cleared." I came to the stairs that led to the boys locker rooms. She stopped me before going down.

"Cake, please please pleaaaase don't make it obvious it's me." She begged, eyebrows furrowed all nervously. "Maybe don't even mention me. Just- here, ask him if-"

"Keira I'm gonna talk to him and tomorrow y'all'll be dating or something." I snapped, trying to get away. "Now stop worryin'. You're like a... panicked chihuahua the second somethin' scares ya." I quickly walked away, desperate to be alone. I could feel her watching as I walked, probably regretting everything. But I wasn't gonna deal with it right then.

"Hey Cake!" Elliot walked up to me. Oh lord how was the day still going... "How ya been, man? You were gone yesterday!"

"Doctors appointment." I grumbled, opening my locker.

"Did you have to get shots? Dude those suck."

"One."

"Ew, did it hurt?"