With Me | Chris Sturniolo

22

Monday. Today was important for different reasons.

First, I had a calculus test. Second, I finally got my car back. Third, it marked a month until I leave this town and my friends forever.

There's so many reasons why today was an awful today.

First, because of Josh punching me in the stomach, now I had a big bruise on it, which hurt when I walked or moved. Second, Chris wasn't at school to give me my car keys and third, it was a month until I leave this town and my friend's forever.

Since Chris wasn't at school, I don't tell everyone how I'm going to spend my money- I didn't tell them that he gave me the money. I will, but I want to do it with everyone here and the group wasn't complete without Chris.

No one knew where he was, but people just assumed he was angry about Justin calling the cops. I talked to him on Friday, and he seemed okay. It was the others who needed time to calm down, and they did.

By the end of the day, I was still thinking about Chris and why he wasn't here. Come to think of it, I hadn't spoken to him since Friday night.

I looked in my locker, just incase Chris put my car keys in there. But he didn't. I sighed and slammed the locker door when I find Nate standing where my locker door used to be.

"What the fuck, Nate?"

He laughed and gave me a small smile. "Sorry, but you looked busy and I couldn't resist"

I glared at him, but I couldn't keep a straight face. "Did Chris tell you where my car keys are?"

"I haven't heard from him"

"Fuck! I just want to get out of here!"

Nate smiled at me. "That's why your best friend is here to bring you home"

"I don't see Matt anywhere"

Nate scowled at me. "I meant me"

"I know- that was for scaring me" I laughed. "Thanks for the offer"

We walked side by side, in silence, through the halls, but I can tell Nate wants me to say something by the way he keeps looking at me like I don't notice.

I sighed and stopped walking. "What's wrong, Nate?"

He looked away from me and messed with the hem of his shirt, which was unlike him.

"Nate?"

"How are you?" He asked, catching me off guard.

"Good?"

He shook his head, not happy with my answer. "How are you?"

"I'm good?"

He huffed. "Look, I know I promised to forget it so we could be friends again, but I wanted to apologise for leaving you alone, causing you to get hurt. I need you to know that"

"I know, Nate. I forgave you, remember?"

"No, I know" he added, but his eyes were still full of guilt. "I want to make sure we're good"

"We're good"

"Wait" he stopped walking again, turning to face me and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "When you slipped and said Luke saved your life, did you mean..."

"Yeah, it was that Luke.."I said, referring to Madison's brother, Luke. "Nate, it's not important. Let's go, I'm hungry"

"Does Madison know?"

"No one knows. And it's staying that way"

"Not even Chris-"

"Especially not Chris. We're keeping the same deal as before, Nate. I forgive you and I'm return, you drop it. I mean it when I said I don't want any fights breaking out. Chris knows I met Luke at the Track, but not how we met"