Survive

Chapter Twenty Eight

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

October 21, 2022.

Madison Stone's Point Of View.

I walk through the halls of the school and enter the history room wishing that these last two times of the day would be over soon so that I can leave.

In the first two weeks of classes, the timetables were provisional, so I had history class on Mondays and Wednesdays, but then the coordination gave the students the permanent schedule and now I have history class on Thursdays and Fridays.

Yesterday, like every day, I went to the hospital to visit Anthony with my mom and Andrey and the doctor told us that he had gotten worse.

I don't know what else to do to try to keep up the positive thinking that he will be okay, because it is getting harder and harder.

Yesterday, I also called my father to ask if he knows about the accident, but I think he changed his number.

I haven't been sleeping, so I'm finished physically and psychologically. I missed class yesterday because I was sick with the news I got and I only came today because I have a history test and the teacher won't take a second call. I even thought about skipping and getting no grade, but I really don't want any more trouble.

I sit at the last desk in the room since I am keeping distance from the teacher.

I spent the day alone since Andrey had an appointment and couldn't come. But he made a point of coming to drop me off and said he will also come to pick me up. I guess the only good thing I am having in life lately is him doing what he can to see me happy.

Ashley didn't come today either, and coincidentally, neither did Ryan. He probably had the courage to finally ask her to date him, which the boys and I are grateful for, since we can no longer stand having to listen to Ashley on one side complaining about his slowness and him on the other side saying that he is waiting for the right moment.

Bryan and David came, but since we don't have class together today, we only talk when we meet at class changes and at break time.

"Come on my beautiful ones. I'm going to pass by handing over the test sheet. Put your names and class in, and when you're done, give them to me and you can leave," teacher Alexander takes the sheets and begins to hand out the test.

I am glad to know that I can be released early if I can finish the test quickly, but I remember that I didn't study for it even for a second, so it is very likely that I will only get out at the normal time.

"Is everything okay, Madison?" he hands me the sheet.

"Yes." He doesn't need to know about my life.

"I learned about what happened. I'm sorry," I give him a forced smile and he realizes that I'm not in the mood to talk about it, so he walks away from me.

After his argument with Alexander, Andrey has become so angry with this professor that he cannot even bear to hear his name and I don't take his reason away.

I take my pen to start my test and read the questions, which makes my head hurts, because it feels like they are in Greek.

I try to concentrate, but my mind leads me to Anthony, which causes me to lose focus several times.

Time passes and when I realize there are only me, two more students and the teacher in the room. I look at the clock on my wrist and see that in a little while Andrey should be arriving to pick me up so we can go see Anthony.

I read and re-read the questions, some of which I can understand and answer after reading them several times, and others I keep trying. Since it is past time for me to be released early and it is possible that I will leave later than usual, may I at least get a good grade then.

Minutes pass and there is only one question left for me to finish the test, but I can't understand it, so I call the teacher to come to my desk.

"Do you need some help?" He stops right next to me and brings his face closer.

"Could you explain this question to me?" I ask seriously so that he doesn't think I'm letting him ask me about my personal life.

"Sure," he moves closer and looks down at the paper to read the question.

I feel my heart speed up and my body paralyze the way it is when I feel his hand squeezing the side of my chest.

He explains the question as if nothing is happening and I don't even hear what he is saying because my brain is focused on what his hand is doing.

I can't look where his hand is, because my eyes focus on a single point and can't move, and my body doesn't seem to respect my commands.

I try to scream, but it seems that my mouth has been taped shut and that I am completely without a voice to make any kind of noise.

Another student calls out to him and I thank him for it, because it causes him to move a few inches away from me and let go of my chest.

"Just remember what we talked about the Cold War," he has the audacity to pretend that nothing happened and walks away from me, walking over to the student and leaving me here completely paralyzed and in shock at what just happened.

I give up on the test and just mark something on the question, grab my things and leave the sheet on the table, as I really won't go anywhere near him, and head towards the exit of the room.

"Where's your test, Madison?" he asks as he sees me leaving and I just ignore him, leaving the room as quickly as possible.

I see that the school is empty, so I look at the clock with my eyes already blurred with tears and see that it is quite a while past the normal exit time.

I feel the regret of keeping quiet hit me, which causes more and more tears to fall from my eyes. I start to feel nauseous and sound cold out of desperation to get out of here soon.

I get out of the school and look around hoping that Andrey is already here, but I don't see anyone, so I grab my cell phone, wipe away the tears that prevent me from seeing what's on his screen and look for his contact, calling him when I find it.

Call On

"Hello?" And I feel more nauseated when I'm attended to.

"Sarah?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Where is Andrey?" I question angrily.

"Your voice sounds strange. Is everything okay?" She asks with a tone of preucupation, but I know she is only pretending.

"I asked where is Andrey." I cry out in desperation.

"Calm down Mad," she mocks. "We're in a snack bar. He went to pay the bill. Do you want to talk to him?" That's too much for me.

Call Off

I hang up the call and I turn my face to the side, starting to vomit while crying about how shitty my life is.