After Midnight

Chapter 11

At school the next day, I started talking to Tom and we had a long conversation about if Marvel or DC comics were better.

"How can you even compare a DC comic to Marvel. DC is so much better", I argued.

"That's a lie. Who's better? Batman or Spider-Man?"

I looked up at him and he nodded."Okay, I probably need a better question than that"

I nodded."Yeah. Batman is way better than Spider-Man. I don't know what you're on about"

"Well, yeah, I know. But what about the arrow and the green lantern?"

"The arrow is way better. Have you heard his backstory?"

"Thor and The Flash"

"The flash can run faster than the speed of sound. And can Thor turn back time?", I shook my head."I didn't think so"

"Probably. He's a God"

"The Flash is way cooler"

My phone rang and I stopped to take it out of my pocket and check who it was. Tom stopped walking and stood next to me.

"It's just my dad", I said and answered it."Hey, dad", I smiled even though he couldn't see me.

"Arin?", He sobbed. My smile went away and my heart dropped. I've never heard my dad cry before.

"You okay, dad?", I asked.

"Dane..", He took a few seconds while he sobbed some more.

Tom gave me a concerned look."What about him?"

"H-he tried to commit suicide"

I felt my entire body go numb. My vision blurted, not with tears, but from nothing. I felt my body go cold and my fingers shake.

"What?", I barely whispered.

"I'm coming to get you right now", He said."I'm so sorry, baby", He sobbed some more."I'm so sorry"

I dropped my phone and ignored the shattering sound it made.

"What's wrong?", Tom held my arm. I looked up at him and the ran as fast as I could through the school.

"Hey!", A woman in the office shouted. I ignored her and ran out the door. I ran until someone's arm wrapped around my waist and forced me to stop.

"Hey!", A different voice yelled as I squirmed to try and escape their grasp.

"No!", I screamed."No", I gave up and fell to the ground. If it weren't for the man behind me, I would have hit my head on the concrete slab that was under my knees.

"Arin!", He shouted. I grabbed his arm tightly and sobbed.

"Arin", He repeated."What's going on?"

I looked back at Dalton who's arms were tightly around me.

"Dane!", I screamed at the top of my lungs."No", I sobbed. Those were the only words that could come out of my mouth.

"Dane", I let my head fall down and my tears fall freely.

I felt Dalton pull me to my feet and wrap my arm around his neck. He helped me into a car.

"Get in!", I heard my dad shout. Dalton got in the back seat and my dad drove away faster than he's ever driven before.

"I'm sorry to ask this at probably the most inappropriate timing, sir. But what's going on?", Dalton asked.

"My son", My dad whispered."He tried to take his life", My dad's voice was barely audible. His sobs overpowered his words. I felt Dalton tap my side. I looked back at him with my fist over my mouth. He smiled slightly at me and tapped my side again. I slid my hand over his and held it tightly. He rubbed the back of my hand soothingly as my dad drove down the highway, way too fast.