A Total Nightmare

Chap. 6

After Sunday, on Monday, of course. I wear my new bracelet to school. I show it to Matt and ask him what it was, maybe. Or at least what it was made of, but all he said was, "I dunno really. If it's something you're dad made then, who knows." He shrugs. "Oh..." I say slightly disappointed. But. Not really, because I should've known that since my dad had made it. And he is just as surprised as me. "But hey. It's still very intriguing. I'll have to study it. You know. See what it's made of and stuff." He says, getting on his geek boy charm. I sigh. "Matt. You know I can't do that. I can't let you even take it just for a few hours... Now. Don't get me wrong, I know you'd never lose it. But I just got it and besides. It's very special to me. I don't know what I'd do without it. It was a gift from my dad... It means a lot to me..." He nods in understanding as we continue to walk towards the school. "I know. And I promise I won't ask again. But you know how I am." He says with a mischievous glint in his brown eyes and a smile on his face. I laugh and playfully punch his shoulder. "Yea. I do. All too well." We walk inside the school and I head to my locker to get my books. As I walk to it, my eye catches Shiro. He seems... The usual way he's been lately. But also... He looks exhausted. I decide to go say hi and to see how he's doing. "Hey Shiro. What's up? It's uh... Been awhile since we've talked. And I was wondering how you were doing. You seem. I dunno.... Tired. Did you sleep last night?" I ask him. Concerned. He doesn't meet my gaze. "I'm fine." He says quietly. "Are you sure? Because... Listen. Shiro... I'm worried about you. You've been avoiding me and Matthew. And well. I was wondering why." "I said I'm fine!" He suddenly says. a dangerous glint in his steel-blue eyes. I back away and raise my hands. Palms up. "O ok! Sheesh. I was just worried. You haven't been yourself lately." I then walk away and let him have his space. After that, I get my stuff and head to class. The day passes pretty fast. I am now heading to lunch. I make a quick trip to the bathroom. I reach the door. But, Shiro suddenly, out of nowhere, stops me. " Jamie- Jamie... Wait." I turn to face him. "Yes? What is it?" He rubs the back of his neck. "Jamie... Listen... I'm- I'm sorry about earlier. It's just...." He sighs. "It's just... What?" "Well... I've just been having a hard time. I guess. Between... Dad and then... Seeing you with... Matt? You know..." "Shiro.... Why didn't you say something? I know you've been having problems seeing me with him. But I didn't know it was... This bad." He looks away. "I... I don't know. I just... I didn't- i- I guess I was.... Afraid to... Get in between you two." I put my hand on his shoulder. "Listen. You're my best friend. You can't get in between us. You're apart of our group." "Y you know what I mean...." "I know what you meant. But still. You Are my best friend." He turns to face me again. His steel-blue eyes filled with longing and pain. And regret. "But that's the thing. I don't want us to be Just Friends. I want you back Jamie. I Need you back." Now it's my turn to look away. I sigh. "Shiro.... Y you know I can't...." He reaches out to touch my hand, but I pull it away. "But why? Why stay with- With him? Why can't you be.... Be mine again?" I clench my fists. I spin around to face him. My green-gold eyes gleaming with pain. "Because! Shiro! You- you cheated on me! Because you left me in the rain! You lied to me saying you had some sort of work or whatever to worry about! But when I'd saw you with her- i-! Ugh!" He's speechless for a moment. Once he blinks and clears his throat nervously, he finally talks. "Jamie.... That wasn't- it wasn't like that.... That's not at all what had happened." "Wasn't it?! Because that's what it sure seemed like!" He raises his hands. His eyes wide at this side of me. "Please let me explain...." "Explain?! Oh. Like you'd explained that you had some work to do?!" He takes a step back. A few students passing by cast nervous glances towards us. "Please.... I-" I stare at him. "No! Shiro! We're done! We've been done for a year or two now!" He freezes for a moment. He's shocked. But it seems he quickly regains his composure and clenches his fists as well. "Fine! Be that way! I don't want you anymore either!" He then storms off. I sigh and realize what I'd just done. I reach out my hand. "Shiro.... Wait." But it's too late. He's out of sight. I enter the bathroom, do what I need to do, then head to lunch. When I make it to the cafeteria I look around for Shiro, but he's not here. Like. He'd vanished. I make my way over to my usual seat with Matthew and sit down. "Hey! What's-" he sees my expression. "Up...?" "I'm fine..." I mumble without looking at him. He doesn't press. But I know he can sense what I'm feeling. After a long moment of silence, I finally ask, "where's Shiro? Did he not come into the cafeteria?" Matt shakes his head. "No.... Why? Did something happen between you two again?" I sigh and look at him. "Y you could say that..." He doesn't say anything else. But. For some reason. I sense something is wrong. Like. Really. Really wrong. Throughout the rest of the day, I don't see Shiro. At all. Like. He just vanished during lunch and never came back. And that makes me worried.  As time passes and school ends. I can't get my mind off him. I don't even hear Matthew trying to talk to me until he taps me on the shoulder. "A are... Are you sure you're ok?" I look at him as we walk. "Y yea... I'm fine. Promise. I'm just.... Worried." He raises his brow and stops for a moment. "Worried, about what?" I look away again. "A about Shiro...." "Oh... W well. I'm sure he's fine. He'll get over it." I look at Matt once again as we start to walk once more. "No. He won't. I yelled in his face. That we were done." He stops again. He then holds up his hand. "Wait. That's what that was about earlier today?" I nod. A pained expression on my face. "Y yea... It was." "He still... Likes you?  He wanted you back? But why?" I shrug. "I... Don't know. But... He Used to like me... Now things have changed. And that makes me more worried about him. He was... He was really really upset and didn't you even notice he'd never showed up for lunch or the rest of the school day?" "Come to think of it. Yea. He wasn't there. I wonder why. Maybe you should text him or call him?" I nod. "Maybe... I'll do it once I get home." "Ok. Because, I'm worried about him now, too." After that, we walk in silence. I say goodbye and we part ways. Not long after, I am walking upstairs to the apartment. Ignoring the yelling  or arguing neighbors as usual. When I walk in, I find  a note on the table from mom. Saying that she's working late again and that supper is in the fridge. I eat supper then go to my room to do my homework. As soon as I'm done, I text Shiro. While I wait, I scroll on my phone. Time passes and mom comes home and goes to bed. She's always tired after a long day of work, so I leave her alone. I check if Shiro had messaged back. But oddly he didn't. Knowing he's upset. And actually, so upset he won't talk to me again? That... Makes me nervous. I know now that something if Definitely wrong. But for now. I decide to get some sleep. After. I do my nightly routine. Once I'm done, I get into bed. Exhausted. I close my eyes and my peaceful sleep takes over.