The Religious & The Damaged

29

Elias

  I'm standing in the courtyard with my friends—a cigarette in my hand as we talk about how annoying our creative writing teacher is.

  "I'm pretty sure she's a hoarder, maybe a murderer." Spencer says.

  I laugh. "That's two very different things." I state.

  Spencer looks at me. "Taxidermy, bro. Taxidermy."

  I furrow my brows and look at Nick, in which he says, "She collects taxidermy."

  I hum and nod, and Spencer continues, but I get distracted.

  I look to my right and see Joseph.

  "Joseph!" I call out, and he noticeably flinches.

  He looks over, and I smile softly.

  He looks to my friends with a hint of hesitation, but I still wave him over.

  He walks over, and I hear Spencer groan next to me.

  "Hey, Seph." Kelsey greets him, in which Joseph responds with a slight smile.

  "How are you?" He asks me.

  I smile at his consideration and say, "I'm feeling better."

  He nods and looks to my friends again briefly—he looks uncomfortable.

  I take his hand and he noticeably blushes.

  I tug him over to me, and he sits. Nick takes the cigarette I held.

  "Anyway, as I was saying.." Spencer continues, and I subconsciously lean my back against Joseph's side.

  He tenses against me, but it settles and I feel him adjust.

  He extends his arm out behind me—my only indication being his arm appearing on the opposite side of me, and my body leans back further until I'm against his chest.

  I take a drag of the cigarette once it's handed back to me.

  "And she talks like a soft spoken person, no one is that calm." Spencer continues.

  "What is he talking about?" Joseph whispers, his breath tickles my neck.

  "Ms. Campbell." I answer.

  I take another drag of my cigarette, and the bell rings. I stand, and so does Joseph.

  We follow my friends into the school, and depart our ways to go to class.

  I want to ask Joseph if his father hurt him again for not going home, but the way he walks gives me the heart wrenching answer.

  His hand holds his side briefly, and I want to ask—but my human decency stops me.

  I know he wouldn't want to talk about it.

  We walk into our class and take our seats. I glance up as the teacher speaks.

  "Okay, so your teacher has informed me that you all should be working on the pretest assignment she gave you a few days ago. She also informed me that today will be the last day to complete them, so get started and I'll be here to answer any questions."

  I push my desk close to Joseph's, and I look over at him. He's staring down at the packet in some sort of panicked trance.

  "What's wrong?" I ask.

  He looks at me. "I still barely understand anything, I don't think I can afford another bad grade." He says.

  I think for a moment. "I can come over after school." I offer.