Breaking Loose [Original]

29

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Twenty Nine
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"They will really hate us" Raquel murmured the moment Everest pulled up at the campus parking lot.

He couldn't help the chuckle that left his lips when he pulled out his keys.

"We're bible buddies now, they're supposed to hate us"

The events of the past days flashed through his hazy mind.

He remembered the night so well and was sure he'd remember it for the rest of his life.

The night he broke free.

"Still thinking about last night?" A soft whisper drifted to his ears, cutting his thoughts apart.

He turned to face her, speechless.

It was like she looked different every day...like an angel as she stared back sheepishly through her lashes.

As soon as he could speak last the lump in his throat, he did  "What would you think if I told you I have absolutely no idea how I'm supposed to act right now?"

She passed him a tiny smile and took his hand giving a gentle squeeze "Aren't we supposed to leave that to God?"

Parting his lips to sigh, he nodded "Of course. I... I'm not quite used to—"

"—Letting people do things for you?" She stitched in. After seconds of watching her stunned, he managed a crooked smile.

She mirrored his expression and they just sat there, holding each other's gazes. The morning sun made every fleck in her honey eyes prominent. In a moment, he felt the same way he did a year ago when she walked into his school cafeteria... knocking all the air out of his lungs.

Raquel stole something that day...

Raising a shaky hand, he cupped her cheek as she melted into his hold  "We should...get going" he forced out unwillingly.

Her eyes fluttered before she nodded her agreement.

True to her words, everyone hated them.

The news from two nights before had spread like wild fire, pictures too.

He trusted the boys on that.

Taking Raquel's hand in his, he strode confidently through the gossiping crowd. Their eyes were like tiny daggers, prodding but he was unwavering. He was going to take all of it.

"Holiest couple of the century" Kevin Lawson—someone he supposed always wanted his spotlight —called out after them in a mock tone. Raquel winced but he gave her hand another light squeeze, a reassuring smile for her that he was there too.

They sat through the class, in a separate seat from the feisty pack who looked betrayed by their decision.

When his gaze crossed with Gaines' he could still find hurt in his eyes. He didn't fully recover from the separation.

Everest hoped he would see the light one day because he wasn't ever going to force him.

Oren never forced him, he only suggested on few occasions. The choice to leave his past was fully his. He had nothing to lose.

After Beatrice—his mother.

He saw the stigmatization on Raquel's side. Her girls were disappointed, but each time he'd reassure her: I'm here.

Asher made her way into his second class and she looked rather worse than usual.

He watched her drag her feet to a seat and stare at the girl beside it with a hint of terror before raking her hair and sitting.

They weren't friends, he was quickly reminded.

That was the agreement.

But they had a project they're lives depended on. He had a football career to look forward to, she said she wanted something too, and he thought in those few days and nights of spending time together, feeling curiosity wasn't weird.

When he called out to her after class, she kept walking and he thought best to leave her be.

"Is she more than that?" Raquel appeared by his side, snaking her fingers in his.

"How?" He smiled down at her

"The regular, quiet, goth -ish character?"

He chuckled "Goth?"

" You call her Wednesday " she defended and he laughed

"She talks, and at least there has never been a creepy hand or people showing up at my door" he shrugged.

Raquel pulled him the other way and he followed, wondering if it was totally okay.

---

It wasn't.

He hated that his instincts were right.

He stared ahead, his hands tightly gripping his steering wheel.

What was he waiting for? He had two choices:

Go there or go home.

His phone rang again and he picked it up.

"What were you saying, bro?" Jaden's voice echoed on the other side

"What were you saying?" He returned, not want to believe it's what it was.

"Asher had an accident and we're at the hospital now"

He stiffened.

You're not friends - his subconscious nudged

Only friends get concerned about each other.

He wasn't her friend.

What if she died? Another voice spoke

He gripped the steering wheel.

Wasn't he supposed to care for people as a child of God?

What would Jesus do? He wondered.

The answer was quite obvious, yet he hesitated.

He kick started the engine and turned his car around.

He would do what Jesus would do.

---

He had never been to a hospital before, the smell irked him.

Jaden greeted him at a hall, a slight uneasiness on his face.

"You okay, bud?"

Jaden forced a smile "I spent ten minutes talking to her, it's so weird"

Everest understood.

"Is it obvious?"

"Well I can tell, your face is all red"

Jaden blew out a breath to calm himself

He directed him to the room, telling him others were there too.

"You not coming?" He asked

"No... just...go on"

Everest patted his shoulder lightly "Jesus is loosening you up. It's slow but it's happening, you'll be fine"

Jaden patted his friend's hand too, a lopsided smile making its way up his face " Thank you"

With that, they separated.

Everest could hear voices behind the door of room 160A, he was tensed when he reached out his hand. What was he doing?

He wasn't her friend!

"Everest..." Someone came up by his side and took the handle

Mikalsky.

"Nice to see you" she still recovered from her pants. He wanted to say something when she slipped in, leaving the door open.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, pressing himself to the door frame.

He watched her, the surprise wasn't hidden as she tried to smile at everyone, oblivious of his presence.

Until she glanced his way.

***