Yuma

Chapter Four

Chip's p.o.v
It's been a while since I've seen Yuma at school. I'm starting to worry about him. His relationship with L has never been one I envied I'm always worried if one day I'll see his name on the news. I decide to do the worst. I know him and Yuma recently got back together so if anyone knows anything it's him.
"Hey Lucas."
"What do you want? Make it quick."
"Have you seen Yuma? I'm really worried about him. While yes I know he can sometimes miss school he's never missed school for this long before?"
"You know what shrimpy? I help you, you help me." I feel a pit in my stomach. I know I have an interesting reputation at this school so I can only imagine what he wants.
"Depends on what you want because I always have others I can ask. I just thought since you two are back together you'd know something."
"You wanna know anything from me and it costs you since I'm not to fond of you squirrelly."
"I'm not a squirrel I'm a chipmunk so cut to the chase and tell me what you want from me."
"First lose the attitude you little slut. Second me and my friends need some entertainment tonight." He runs his hand down my cheek before holding my face to look at him. "Maybe you can change my mind on you being such an annoying mouth piece. I hear you're quite the active little fellow." I smack his hand away from my face.
"I'll ask someone else. I'm not going go anywhere near my best friends man sexually just so I can find out if he's okay or not. I respect Yuma too much." Lucas looks pissed but decides against following me when I walk away. I see another person Yuma usually hangs out with. "Hey! Asa!"
"Oh hey you're that little Chipmunk boy Yuma hangs with."
"Yeah about that actually. Have you seen Yuma recently? I'm really worried about him. It's going on a month and half since he last showed up to school."
"To be honest I haven't I'm sorry man. I did hear somethings about him though that are starting to look very very possible."
"Please tell me! I'll do anything."
"Beg any harder and you're gonna look less like a chipmunk and more like my dog blossom two minutes before feeding time. I have nothing to hide from you man." He shoves his bag into his locker before closing it and turning to face me. "Come with me. None of this has been confirmed by Yuma or anyone yet but my sister was apparently talking to cops recently." He pulls me into the janitor's closet. If this guy didn't have people constantly talking about how he flakes out of sexual activities I'd almost think he proposition me in here. "So apparently there is this situation going on that happened god like three months ago now. Ayak held a party I guess and everyone that went is getting questioned. So here's all that my sister told me since she went to the party. Well now the cops are investigating something asking if they noticed anything weird with Yuma or Ayak. How out if it did they seem. A bunch of questions like that. My sister tried reaching out to Yuma to ask about it but he's gone radio silent. I tried texting him too cause I was starting to trip too. Nothing back. Whatever happened fucked him up. He's a good person caught up in the wrong crowd. Worst part is Ayak has a history."
"She does? What is it? It could be related to what happened." He opens the door and looks around before popping his head back in.
"I told you nothing alright?"
"My lips are sealed."
"Good." He takes a deep breath. "Me and Ayak used to go out."
"Oh yeah I heard about that. Everyone said the breakup was messy."
"It was. She didn't respect my space, touched me when I didn't want to be, I'd wake up after spending the night at her place freezing cause instead of the usual clothing I wear to bed I was in nothing. Eventually I told my parents that I didn't feel safe and didn't know what to do. My parents filed a restraining order cause she promised she wouldn't do it to anyone else. I've got like four more years of it before I either leave it be or renew."
"So it'll flag if they look into her?"
"I hope so. Yuma's a damaged kid already with this happening I'm scared to see how deep he's gonna spiral." My hearts racing. "With Lucas being the way he is, this situation, and what happened with his dad. He's definitely not going to have a great time."
"Do you hang out with Yuma still?"
"Nah I quit the drinking and drugs after the breakup he just kept going. I still text him and check up on him when I can but I don't usually hang out with him."
"Okay well thank you Asa. I owe you big time."
"Don't stress it. You two are thick as thieves I could never not say anything." Asa and I head to our class. Apparently we both have first class music. "I hope we aren't late Ms. Chip just needed someone to talk with."
"I'll let you two slide. It's only four minutes." He sits down in his seat after pulling out a trombone case covered in stickers of different metal and rock bands. Of course he'd be a trombonist. He's tall, quiet yet a little chaotic, strong yet delicate, and usually super sweet. I grab a saxophone from the back and clean the mouth piece. Once I'm done that I pull my reed from my bag and put everything together. I finally sit down with the rest of the saxophones. Half way through class a cop comes in and talks to the teacher. We all watch very carefully. We are a school of troubled kids after all. "Asa come out to the hallway please." He looks really confused.
"Can I just clean out the valve?"
"Make it quick." He does what he has to before putting his instrument in its case and heading out to the hall. The teacher says nothing and continues on with her lesson. It's something serious. Usually the teachers including the music teacher would give us some explanation as to they aren't in trouble or the cops just want to verify something. I can't shake the feeling it has something to do with Yuma. At the end of class I put his trombone away properly and clean up both of our seats. I slide my reed in my bags front pocket and leave the class. I don't see Asa anywhere. That is until he comes out of the office and heads towards me.
"Chip they asked if Yuma had any close friends I could think of and I told them about you. You're his only friend I know that's actually worried about him. They might ask you some questions about his character. Be as honest as you can. I know it'll be scary but it's for Yuma. It might even get you out of school early." I nod. "I know cops are scary especially to people like us but this isn't about us. This is for your best friend."
"Got it."
"Good. They aren't looking to get you in trouble." I take a shaky breath before heading to my next class I'm stopped at the door by the same cop that took Asa out of class.
"Are you Chip Green?"
"That's me."
"Can we bring you to the office we have a few questions for you. It shouldn't take long." I nod.
"I'm not in any trouble am I?"
"Not at all young man. You haven't done anything to be on our radar. Come with me please." I follow him into the one room in the office where you usually get yelled at in private for being a degenerate or some shit like that. "Please take a seat." I sit down across from an officer I've seen before.
"Hey I know you! You've taken me to a grippy sock vacation before."
"A grippy sock vacation?"
"Mental health facility as people like to call them."
"Why call it a grippy sock vacation?"
"It makes it less scary and dark. When you've got issues like me or the other people in there you need as much positivity as possible. We still take it seriously it just makes us feel a bit more human and like people who are better off than us."
"Got it. So obviously you have a history of mental health."
"Correct."
"Do you know a young man named Yuma?"
"Yeah he's been my best friend for a while."
"How close would you say you two are?"
"As close a friends can be. He protects me and listens to me when I need someone to talk to. He's really nice to me and has on many occasions saved me from myself. I'd do the same for him. He's the only thing good I have going for me." The officer nods as he writes down everything I said.
"Would you say Yuma has a tendency to lie?"
"It really depends. If you're talking something small like if he ate the last cookie or smoked a joint possibly. If you're talking something serious like heavier drugs, anything about his bio dad, or legal absolutely not."
"When he is lying is there any tell tale signs?"
"He puts his hands in his pockets, sometimes he grins, he'll jump on anything and everything you offer up as an explanation even if it doesn't make sense."
"Got it. Does he have any other friends that know him well?"
"He likes to think he does but they all use him as entertainment or a punching bag. Nobody really genuinely listens to him. Hell even his own boyfriend thinks it's fun to kick him while he's down. Sometimes even literally."
"So Yuma tends to form bonds with people that are false in nature?"
"Yeah. When you went through what he did as a kid you tend to search for relationships hopelessly. He wants to fill the void of his bio parents but since his dad was a villain and emotionally distant anyone who shows him a glimpse of positive attention is someone he'll befriend even at his own detriment."
"How long has Yuma been into addictive substances?"
"Shortly after he met his boyfriend Lucas. Lucas promised he knew something that would help numb the pain Yuma was feeling mentally. Yuma was so desperate for any form of release he jumped on it like a fly to shit. The drugs didn't change him much unless he did too much."
"What would happen if he did too much?"
"He gets really really woozy, weak, he gets really sleepy, and completely just isn't present at all." The cops show me a video. It's Yuma at Ayak's. He's is way way too high. Maybe even a little drunk. I can't watch it and turn it back to them.
"Is it like that?"
"It's exactly that. He turns into an empty husk. It looks like Yuma, possibly sounds like him but he isn't at all present his mind is just gone. He can't hold a conversation let alone speak a full sentence." The continue to write down everything I'm saying.
"Does Yuma have a close relationship with his adopted dad?"
"Yuma loves Enji whole heartedly but he's scared to show it in fear of something bad happening to him. When something bad happens though Enji is always his first call. If he's upset and crying he'll call Enji. He's not good with expressing affection but you can tell he so deeply cares about Enji and what Enji thinks of him." The cop nods.
"Do they fight?"
"Well yeah. Of course. Yuma has substance issues and he's sixteen. It's bound to happen one way or another."
"How does Yuma obtain the substances?"
"Lucas will usually loop him into going over to his house and his parents are addicts themselves. Lucas will humiliate Yuma, make Yuma do sexual acts, or even beat Yuma. If Yuma does everything Lucas wants Lucas will send him home with some drugs to tie him off until the next time Lucas needs something to laugh at."
"Who is Lucas?"
"Everyone calls him L. If you ask around there will be people who will help you find him but I have a photo because others will give you the wrong person." I pull out a photo of Yuma and Lucas. The only reason I have it is because of Yuma.
"Do you have a phone?"
"No unfortunately I lost device privileges after a suicidal episode a few months back. I used to have a small device that was like a phone though."
"May I ask why you have this photo on you?"
"I told Yuma I really wanted a photo of him so I could do a cool photo thing on my wall with photos of my favorite things. Since it had Lucas in it I never put it up. I just folded it and put it in my wallet."
"Do you do any substances?"
"No. The group home is very very strict about that and I am not trying to end up in a cell with someone I can guarantee is bigger and stronger than me."
"Okay."
"Anymore questions for me?" The cops look at each other. "I want to do whatever I can to help Yuma. He means everything to me. He doesn't care about the rumours floating around about me and it makes me feel good."
"I think we know everything we want. If we think of anything we'll know where to find you." I nod as the get up to leave. I go to the principal.
"Can I please leave early?"
"Why what's going on?"
"I'm really worried about Yuma and it's starting to really get to me."
"Alright Chip. Do you want me to call a staff member to pick you up?"
"No I think walking home will be a well needed breath of fresh air."
"Be safe. I want to see you in school tomorrow please."
"Yeah." I leave the school and head to Maxine's. It's this little diner that is owned by this really cute couple and formerly their daughter was a waitress there. Until Moscow tore through like a strikingly beautiful yet horrific tornado. It feels really different in here but Max and his wife Maxine kept it open against all odds. It's honestly kind of heartbreaking to see the photos of their family behind the counter knowing what would eventually happen. I enter and sit in a booth. I work on some homework from yesterday. Max comes up to the booth.
"This is a familiar sight."
"Huh?"
"A sad looking teen sitting in a booth during school hours doing homework that should have probably been done already."
"Oh. Yeah this is due today."
"Although what's not so common is seeing a group home boy in here."
"I just miss someone."
"You wanna talk to someone about it?" I shrug. I don't really like confronting my feelings. It always makes me feel weird. "You know the last time someone from my family sat in this booth trying to cheer someone up they died." He talks about his daughter's death so nonchalantly. "And the man who did it never got justice." Confusion waves over me.
"But-?"
"Ramsie didn't kill her. I saw that man run for the hills to get to Yuma and my daughter. He took every shortcut he knew. I saw the fear painted all over his face. I'm not saying he's innocent of his other crimes but he is innocent when it comes to my daughter's death. It's Dabi who killed Tali."
"So why do you guys hate Yuma so much?"
"It's not that we hate him. He just looks so much like his mom it hurts. We love him but looking at him all we can see is Tali. Her purple hair, beautiful dark skin that always seemed to just glow, her smile, even down to the way they do their hair. When he uses hair jewelry it's always his mom's. It's not fair to him. He is his own person with his own struggles, thoughts, and personality. There is also so much of his father in him."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"It's very bittersweet because I watched his dad grow up with my daughter. I watched his dad go from a mostly care free little boy to such a terrifying angry man. Seeing Ramsie on TV even to this day makes me itch. Yuma reminds me of the middle school aged Ramsie. He's on the verge of destroying himself but you can still see that childlike wonder in his eyes."
"I miss him."
"Who?"
"Yuma."
"Why what's going on?"
"I don't know. He just stopped showing up to school and according to some people has gone radio silent. The most information I got was from a former friend of his and a cop. I haven't seen him outside of his house and I live on the next street. I also miss my parents but that's just a constant thing." Maxwell takes the pen from my hand.
"I gonna give you some advice. If you want to help someone you walk with them."
"God what is it with old people and their advice sounding like some all knowing riddles? If you wish to seek greatness you must lose something to find it! How about you guys just give some actual advice instead of a motivational quote your heard in an anti bullying campaign? Is that so hard?"
"Son-."
"I'm not your fucking son!"
"You know how you are struggling with your mental health right?"
"Well yeah."
"It helps to have someone walking with you rather than making you follow right?" I glare at him.
"Either speak normally or I'm done listening." He seems to be thinking. "Cool so you don't have advice you just have a half finished quote. I love having my time wasted and my homework interrupted. I get this is your diner but seriously." I leave needing to clear my head. I just go on a walk. I sit on a park bench and pull out my unfinished homework. Out of the corner of my eye I see a cute family. A man and a woman playing with a little girl on the playground. The little one seems to be having the time of her life as the two adults chase her every which way. I remember when I was three and my parents would take me to a water park or splash pad. I remember how my stomach used to hurt from laughing as my mom and dad begged me to slow down. The most painful part of that memory is I don't remember what their voices sound like so my brain fills it in with different voices every time. I'm starting to feel the same with Yuma. I can remember every feature of him except his voice. I decide I should probably go home before they call the cops and report me missing.
"Where the hell were you? The school said you left. We were expecting you home shortly after not four hours later!"
"I've been out for four hours?" Two other staff members come running.
"Did you find him?"
"Yeah he's right here."
"I'm sorry I just needed some fresh air and lost track of time."
"Well next time come here and tell us first we were worried sick! With your history you disappearing like that is never something we will take lightly."
"I KNOW OKAY! I know I'm the suicidal sex addict orphan! I know that I can't be trusted with literally anything. I don't care though. I have absolutely nothing! NOTHING! Even my last name means nothing! The only thing I have going for me is my fucking body and I know it! The only reason you guys are worried about me coming home is you want to avoid investigation."
"Chip that's not at all what I meant. I was referring to your self harm tendencies and that is all."
"You don't give a flying rats ass about me as long as I am here and accounted for. None of you do!" I go to head to my room so I can get some sleep but one of the staff members stands in my way.
"We do care Chip-."
"If you truly cared you would get the fuck out of my way and let me go."
"No we need to discuss this behaviour."
"No."
"Do you need to go back to the psych ward?"
"Get out of my fucking way."
"Chip this discussion needs to happen now. You can't avoid it."
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" The other boys attention has been grabbed they are watching as the staff steps closer towards me.
"You are being highly irrational right now."
"Because you won't get out of my way! I just want to go to fucking bed! Is that a crime? Is that soooo fucking dangerous?"
"We need to have the discussion or you will continue to avoid it!"
"Because I already know how it goes! Now move or I swear to god!" He gets in my face.
"Or what?" I turn around and kick the table by the front door with a bunch of stupid decorations. I'm done trying to talk to them. Some of the female staff back up and the men restrain me before I can do anymore damage. Looks like it's a ride in the back of a cop car for me. Kaori is making a phone call as I continue to thrash trying to get free of the men's grip. I'm able to kick one of their knee caps and attempt to run but I'm stopped by one of the women with a strength quirk grabbing me. I'm able to get the other entrance table filled with a lot more breakable items.
"Chip calm down! What has gotten into you?"
"PUT ME DOWN!" I'm done listening and trying to be calm. Eventually the usual cop gets me and I'm on my way to the psych ward. A staff member has to come with so they can explain the situation at intake. We get there and they do the usual intake things. Take everything dangerous off my person, gauge where I'm at, get the staffs side of the story, give my the classic ward kit no sharp objects, grippy socks, nothing that can be used to harm myself, all that fun jazz.
"There you go. Everything you need. Once you get it set up to your liking you can join the others in the main room."
"Yeah I know the drill." I toss my kit and whatever they let me keep from my backpack on my bed, Which isn't much, before heading to the main room. I flop on to the familiar uncomfortable couch not caring who I'm next to as I scan the room. I notice a lot of familiar faces. They wave so I wave back.
"Back again?" Jonah sits next to me. "What's the story this time?"
"I went ape shit-." I get a glare from a nurse. "I lost my cool and started kicking things. Like I was mad mad."
"At least it wasn't you know what."
"Honestly would have been if things went differently."
"Well at least you're safe in here."
"Yeah I guess so. Any new faces?"
"Yes actually! He's in the bathroom right now but he sticks our like a sore thumb. We've been calling him mime because he doesn't talk. Like at all." All of a sudden Yuma comes around the corner and I can't contain myself from hugging him crying.
"YUMA!" I have never been happier to be in a psych ward.
"Hey! Chip! No hugs!" I let go of Yuma after getting in trouble.
"Sorry."
"What are you doing here Chip?"
"I was having a really really tough time and it all just exploded. I was worried about you, I miss my parents, all that kinda stuff. I can't get too deep into."
"Why not?"
"Ward rules."
"Ward rules?"
"Outside of group circle or one on one you're not supposed to discuss your intake reason. It's supposed to be a place of healing and improvement. It's also to avoid comparisons between patients."
"Oh I get it now. What room did you get?"
"I get a view of the hospital's little outdoor area. Not the good view though."
"Lucky you I'm staring at a brick wall."
"Oou sucks to be you I had that room last time."
"Does the view ever get better?"
"Yeah the day you leave." Yuma cracks a small smile. "You look so weird in the ward clothes I'm so used to your usual style."
"Yeah I know but it's actually kind of comfy so I'm not complaining."
"So was this a self turn in orrr?"
"Cops."
"What!"
"I said something that worried them and well said more worrying things during intake. The rest is history."
"Do you have long?"
"I was just brought in yesterday."
"Why such the long absence I was worried sick about you. Literally I vomited sometimes I was so worried."
"It's a long story I will catch you up on later. Also I have a gift for you."
"You do?"
"Yeah. You'd have to talk to a nurse to get it but I remember you saying you wished you had a phone and well I quit an extremely expensive habit and had a bunch of money from my birthday and work so I added a phone to my phone plan for you. I don't mind paying your bill one bit as long as you stay alive for me. Just talk to that nurse over there at med time."
"One night and you already know somethings."
"This isn't my first time here in the past three months." Yuma scratches the back of his neck.
"I'm sorry to interrupt whatever this is but you actually have a voice? And you know him Chip?"
"Yeah! He's my best friend I always talk about."
"Well it's nice to actually have a name and voice to the face." Yuma nods.
"Sorry I'm just iffy with new people. It's truly nothing against you guys I just have a lot I'm trying to avoid."
"All good. We are all here for a reason. We get it for the most part. Hopefully today you join group therapy today or as Chip calls it group circle. It helps you get out faster."