A slow fall

Chapter 6 - Caleb

After my Sunday low, as much as I dislike school, I was happy for the distraction the over crowded, obnoxiously loud and teenage angst filled building offered. 

More so I was grateful for my friends. My mental state was toeing the line between a bad place and one of no return. I was trying to prevent myself from taking that final step into the abyss, but for so long i've felt like I was fighting a loosing battle. Being out of my house that no longer offer the comfort to be called a home, provided a guiding light, a temporary escape that I relished in.

My facade stayed in place. No matter how hard I was finding things I didn't want the other to worry so I did what I did best and played pretend. I felt so wrong and deceitful, like I was lying to them by hiding, but I wasn't sure what else to do. I didn't feel ready to share, though I new sooner or late the truth would come out. Either through my words or my actions. 

I watched in amusement as Marcus ate the canteens spaghetti, pasta sauce smeared around his mouth and some even on his nose, and wondered how I called this boy one of my best friend. His shoulder length blond hair hung precariously close to his food and I was counting down the seconds until they made contact. His childish eating habits, though disgusting, were something to marvel at. The way he still managed to get food everywhere at eighteen was a testament to his character. 

"Dude, you've got food everywhere. How much of it has even ended up in your mouth?"

Marcus looked at me with a frown before assessing the damage he has cause to his clothing and the table.

"It's all in my mouth." He replied around a mouthful of food after checking once more that no food had escaped him. I just shook my head in response. He mental age was that of a toddler.

I gestured to everything that was evidently not in his mouth. "And all of that?"

"Crumbs." His expression was proud, as if what he said made logical sense.

Before I could probe him, further Shane dropped down into the seat beside me.

"Brody's an absolute dickhead."

"Care to elaborate?" I asked, preparing myself for a rant. Shane was not a people person and venting was his hobby. 

Today he was even more so annoyed because he had run out of contacts and was forced to wear the wire frame glasses he hated so much. It was less so the design and more his obsession with his appearance and the negative impact he believe they had on it. From the perspective of a man with an interest in the male gender, while he wasn't my type, it couldn't be disputed Shane was attractive. The glasses in no way changed that fact.

"Yeah, I do. Dumb fuck was copying all my answers for the test, and like I'm fine with that, but I'm not even good at Math and he copied everything. So, it was blatantly obvious and when Miss read over them, she called us out it. Now we've both got detention and need to do a make-up test because he's an idiot who doesn't know copying etiquette."

"Copying etiquette?"

Shane huffed as if Marcus' question was stupid and explained, "Yeah, you know, like not copying word for word, writing somethings down intentionally different, not copying everything."

I made a hum of agreement while Marcus just stared at Shane as if he was insane, before muttering a quiet whatever.

We were sat on a table in the courtyard, none of us being fans of the seating inside the canteen. It was too loud and cramped. The outside was still bustling with life, a soft autumn breeze in the air signifying the season change, though not yet claiming the heat brought by the sun. It was pleasant. The in-between seasons – autumn and spring – had always been my favourite. They were just the right amount; not too warm and not too cold. You could tell we were heading further into the winter, the slight dip in the temperature signalling a shift, but for now we were determined to soak up as much of the warm weather we had left.