Harvey

Seven

Seven
The Screaming Field

Toby and I texted all through detention and when it was over and me and Maria left the classroom, she told me never to talk to her in my life again. 

She said the only reason she had been my friend in the first place was to get in a good place with my mom, Angela Celestine and that other than that, she absolutely hated my guts. She said that I downright had the worst personality on planet earth and was a walking nobody. “Without your mom, you'd be nothing!". 

She even called me out as a betrayer for "stealing Toby from her". I didn't think he had ever even looked at her twice before. He didn't even like her that way so what on earth was she saying?

When Toby and Penny found me crying under the bleachers later that day, neither he nor her could console me. Fake or not, Maria had been my first friend and the horrible things she said to me got to me. They got to me so bad that I wanted to kiss school goodbye for another week. This made me groan. If I did that then I was proving her right. 

She had said I always acted to be the strongest yet was the weakest. Ouch. 

I had bailed on school all because someone threw a bloody rock into my window. They hadn't even done anything to me. 

I began to view myself as the villain until Penny decided maybe she should talk to me. 

I remember that day like it was yesterday, me seated cross-legged in the grass and Penny standing above me talking and talking and talking. Gosh, this girl could talk. 

I looked up at her as the sun set that evening, all her hair dangling like curtains around her frame. I don't remember what she said exactly, but I do know that she was funny as heck. 

I laughed once at a joke. Then twice. 

And soon, I was heaving and snorting and laughing. 

Penny offered me a hug and I immediately, with golden retriever energy, accepted. 

She laughed so adorably after that. 

I won't ever forget that day because of the love I felt from the two of them. Imagine they stayed back and waited for me to be done with detention and even made efforts to cheer me up. 

Also, I literally fell in love with Penny. She was so amazing and when we talked, it was almost like we could go on forever which was unusual because I was sure at first that the only words she knew how to say were "hi" and "thank you". 

"Hey, Harvey, have you maybe noticed that you're kind of emotional?" Toby asked me when Penny went to get her school bag from the class. 

"Yeah". 

"Just now?". 

"Yeah. I mean, I've never been put in situations like these before. I'm used to my life being so calm and predictable. Today was so shocking for me. I can't believe I would actually hit someone like that so easily. I won't lie, I'm kind of scared". I chuckled nervously. 

"I know". Toby took my hands and placed them in his, looking me straight in the eyes. 

My heart did something that made me jump and I swallowed, looking everywhere but him. 

"What are you looking at? “He asked, checking the grass where I seemed to have directed my entire attention. He was so adorable and clueless, I thought with a smile. 

I shook my head and urged him to continue. "Look, Harvey, everyone has been in difficult situations before. It's what you do in these situations that make the difference". 

"Well, the first time, I ghosted the whole world for a week. The second time with you, I completely avoided you and our moms, the third time when Maria confronted me about our movie, I completely ignored her text and now, I just went full on bat crazy". 

Thinking about it, it was actually my fault. When Maria sent that message to me when she saw the video, I shouldn't have ignored her. When I voiced out my thoughts, Toby banished them instantly. 

"Now, that's crazy. The girl was only using you for your fame and here you are blaming yourself for not replying a stupid text when she didn't even give a tiny rat bum what was happening to you in your dark time". 

I laughed at that. 

Toby immediately thought of something and got up sharply. "Do you still have time? I want us to go somewhere". 

I checked my watch and pretended to think. "Just kidding, I can basically get home any time I want". 

Toby pulled me up with a smile and flicked my nose, making me chuckle. 

Penny ran to us and hugged us both from behind, announcing her arrival. She was so adorable. 

We drove in Toby's car to a field which he and Penny named "The screaming field". 

"Wow". I looked bored. "Nice name". 

Toby flicked my ears, making me hiss at him. What was it with the flicking?

"It is a nice name and we named it that because we come here to vent '', Penny explained. The screaming field earned its name because according to them, when they were younger and had any problems they would come here to just have fun and before leaving, they would scream all their feelings away. 

"So..... you want me to scream with you guys?". I'm sure my face was giving my thoughts away. These guys are bird crazy, I thought. 

"Come on, Harv," Penny said, making me smile. I finally rolled my eyes and caved. 

And so we ran around the field, racing and playing on the swings. We drove around too and by the time it was dark and the night was pretty, Toby suddenly yelled, "I'm scared of the future!". 

Penny instantly followed. "I don't want to go to college yet! I don't know what I want to study!". 

Toby smiled at her. "I wish people didn't have to suffer sometimes!". 

"I like sprinkles and cheese!". Penny couldn't hold her laughter. 

"I love my new friend!". Toby gave me a brief, playful look. I looked down, shyly. 

"I think Harvey is awesome!". Penny grinned at me. I smiled big. 

I didn't even know when I shouted "I wish I had never met Maria!". My hands came up to cover my mouth immediately, but Toby and Penny gave me an encouraging look. 

"I think Maria's a rude little piece of crumpled paper!". Penny screamed into the empty field, making me choke on air. 

"I think Harvey and Penny are awesome!". Toby smiled. 

"I think Toby's amazing!". Penny and I looked at each other. 

And so we kept on going until I just had to ruin everything. 

"I think I like Toby!".