On Saturday evening Michael Stormfield left St. Sophia's School alone. He offered himself to take her with him in his bicycle, but Cindy said that she rather go by herself, so that she could order her things prettily before going. All that I know about their date and the rest of this story is due to a person that I met, that was there in the occasion and told me everything; Michael's stalker, you can say, and that is nameless, for privacy policies, right?
It was a beginning-of-summer night in Salt Lake City, Utah. Michael lightened up a cigarette the moment he left the school gates behind him; he usually never smoked, only when he was very nervous. And he'd not admit it to anyone, of course; anxious because of a girl! He! Bad joke.
But he was. Cindy made him shy.
Ellio Young, who had been with him in the dormitory some hours before and warned him about his reputation after what had happened with Tom Drew in the cafeteria, had noticed he was airy (more than usual) and asked if he was ok. As Michael didn't answer, he followed him when he left by the evening and realizing he was to leave the school, dared to reveal himself from behind a bush in the garden with a worried face:
"Hey, Michael, where are you going?"
Michael turned to him, blowing off the cigarette quickly and, recognizing him, burst out swearing. "Go mind your business, Young!" he said dryly. "I'm worried about you, ridiculous!" screamed Ellio, annoyed, and surprised with the aggressive tone. He had always been friendly to Michael when he was sick. And when he wasn't, he was one of his favorite chums. They had been what girls call "besties", for years, and now Michael suddenly cut him off like that. Ellio, as I said, was a very sensitive boy, and that offended him. Not Michael's bad words, because those were only superficial, but his disdain, his coldness, that didn't exist before. It was a breakup: "I'm not your friend anymore, why are you caring about me?" ... and he appreciated friendships so much. Michael was a monster now. He used to be real cool... back then, when he was a kid. Always would share his candies and defend the weak ones from the bully boys. Ellio had always admired him as being cool. But now he was trying to play the adult before the time, and nothing fair would come out of it, he was sure.
"Fuck your worries, darn you! I'm in a hurry. Stop following me!"
"Michael, until last week you could barely walk!" insisted Ellio, trying to control his anger for charity. "Fuck you!" repeated the other with a reprehensible gesture, going away with no more words. His friend stood there, unable to move or speak, just watching that unknown shadow that emanated illness get farther and farther from him, out of his grasp, out of his life, and trying to believe it was only a bad dream and when it ended and he woke up, his cheerful and cool little mate would say ironically, with that energic hand around his shoulder that meant their friendship, "Good night, Excellence; we're late for breakfast, can you believe it?! There'll only be burnt toast left for you, 'cause I'll get down there first!"
But for what I know he never saw Michael again.
