Silence

Chapter 6

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Murray wasn't in our first class that day, and I wondered why. I tapped my pencil absently against the paper I was supposed to be taking notes on. Riagán leaned back towards me when the teacher wasn't looking and gave me a ripped piece of paper. I turned it over. It read:

Pay attention dingus

I chuckled a little and wrote back.

I'm paying more attention than yer sorry ass

I handed it back to him. I heard him crumple it. He was going to be getting revenge later.

I tried to avoid Riagán during lunch, and go sit with Shane, but he found me and made me sit with the guys.

"What were you trying to do?" He said, giving me an angelic smile.

"Nothin'."

"Then, sit with us like usual."

"Yessir," I said, scooting into the seat beside Murray. Murray was a good option to sit by because he rarely got mad and I felt comfortable around him... But why was he there? I turned to ask him but Furgus started talking. 

"So," Furgus said, "heard you've been hanging around Shane a lot recently." He poked at his salad. He wasn't going to do this.

"Yeah, we're friends, why?" I said, gripping the table.

He smiled at me. "Just worried, since Shane's so popular. Don't want you to be led on, y'know?" He didn't say anything that I hadn't thought about before, but suddenly I was pissed off.

"Thank you for pointing that out. I'm happy to know that my friends care for my well-being, but I have to go."

"Oh, c'mon. You just got here," Riagán said. He obviously couldn't see or feel the tension that was covering the table.

"I'm leaving," I said, getting up.

"Please don't," Murray said, grabbing my forearm. I gave in immediately. Murray has a way of convincing people.

"Hah, okay. I'll stay, but keep away from my business." I sat down again and picked up my sandwich, but Murray kept his arm on me as if making sure I didn't leave. Why was that?

Everyone was acting awkward, and they started talking about random things. I wasn't paying attention, really. I was just staring at my food, left uneaten.

I wanted to eat, I really did, but I couldn't. I felt sick. I'd almost been outed. How dare he? I thought of Furgus as a friend, but he had no place to say things like that.

"Are you okay?" Murray whispered, leaning towards me.

"Ah, yea. I am."

"Sure look it22."

"God, Murray. I SAID I'm fine. Everything's just grand," I said, rolling my eyes. Murray reached towards me, and someone slapped his hand out of the way. Murray's eyes grew wide as someone grabbed my torso and lifted me up.

I flung my arms around.

"What the—"

And then my feet were touching the floor. I was leaning against Shane's chest, his arm on my head. He was pushing my head down.

"What are you doing, Shane?" I said, trying to look at him.

"Nothing. I've got you."

"Hey, you're squishing me," I grumbled.