Noticed By Rich Blood

Chapter 15: Smell of Betrayal

I grab my phone from the sidewalk quickly text Patrico back:

ME: Who did you hear this from?

PATRICO: Are you in school rn?

ME: No, I js dropped by the hospital where Kaleb was supposed to be discharged from. Why?

PATRICO: Well, I am in school and heard Kaleb's friends talking about how he transferred.

ME: Yeah, he's not picking up my calls or responding to my texts.

I close my phone and run to the nearby bus to school. As I arrived in front of the school building, I run to Kaleb's friend. "Um, excuse me?" I tap[ed him on his shoulder.

He turned around from his friends and says, "Si?" (Yes?)

"Um, do you know where Kaleb is or where I can reach him?" I ask, quickly.

"No, I'm sorry, I just woke up and came to school. I didn't even text him," he shook his head.

"Can you please text him for me? He's not responding to me," I said, panicked. 

"Yeah, sure," he said. He pulled his phone, ready to text him. 

"Please, don't tell him it's me, just text him as you," I replied.

"Sure," he nodded.

CARLOS: Hey, Kaleb, where are you at? I've been looking for you at school.

Kaleb almost immediately responds. OH, so he's ghosting me, now?! What the fuck is this game!

KALEB: Hola, amigo, I am in Belleville, why?

CARLOS: As in the county like right near Hampton?

KALEB: Yes, why tho?

CARLOS: Wym why? It's been such a long time since we seen each other.

KALEB: True, I'll try to make a visit soon to see you.

CARLOS: Gracias.

KALEB: De nada. :)

"Yeah, he did seem to move away," Carlos looked up from his phone. Tears stung my eyes and I could feel my face turning red. Carlos furrowed his eyebrows and gently rested a hand on my shoulder, "You good?"

"Not really," I forced a smile and ran out of there. Bruh, not him too. He's choosing to just ghost me entirely. How he's going to respond at like 15 miles per hour to his friend but not me?! Like sure, I am not his girlfriend or anything, but I thought we had something special. These thoughts ran around in my head as I ran farther and farther away from the school. I run home.

                                                                           * * * * * * * * 

The front door slammed shut as I run up the stairs. My mom stood at the foot of the staircase. "Honey, is that you? How was that friend of yours?" she asked.

"I don't know, I don't care anymore," I said, trying hard to not let my voice quiver.

"Well, do you want anything to eat?" she asked again.

"Nah, I'm fine," I closed my door. Then I ran to my bed and dug my face into my pillow, loud sobs came out from me. Fuck this world, what is wrong with them? I loved him so much, and every time I try to love someone, they just prove to me why I shouldn't  even begin to try to like anyone. 

I cried until I no longer can, my throat raw, and my eyes stinging. I fell asleep, leaving it at that. When a thought awakens me immediately, I should probably visit him in Belleville or wherever he is at.