My best friend's brother

Alone

I started packing all the stuff I could carry in my small bag in my closet. I opened the floor and grabbed the money, diary, and a fake ID. I closed it and went to get my clothes. I threw in three pairs of pants, shirts, and underwear. I ran to the bathroom and grabbed all of my stuff. I went towards the stairs and was about to go down them when I thought about Deric's room.

I looked down the stairs hesitantly and then looked back at Deric's room. I walked into the room and frantically looked through the drawers in his desk looking for money. I found about two hundred bucks in his bottom drawer and stuffed it in my bag. I slipped my shoes on at the bottom of the stairs and ran out.

I didn't know where to go or what to do. I just kept running. I couldn't go to Cats house. I couldn't let her know what was going on. I couldn't tell anyone. I ran about two miles before I stopped, barely conscious from lack of oxygen. I was wheezing and needed my inhaler. I was on the sidewalk on 28th street and there were plenty of people around. I don't know how I forgot my inhaler but I did.

I was freaking out and it was getting harder and harder to breathe. I started asking for an inhaler. I ask one person after another; most didn't even answer me. I fell to the ground and started to grey. I was about to pass out. A women ran up to me and helped me up.

"Are you alright," she asked me.

"Inhaler," I gasped.

"What, I can't understand you."

I was gasping for air but I couldn't get any. My chest felt like an elephant was jumping on it. "I need an inhaler," I gasped. I couldn't even understand what I was saying, how was she supposed to?

She started tearing through go her purse. Her purse started to change colors and my vision was becoming more blurry. She pulled out a blue inhaler and removed to cap. She told me to inhale at a certain time. She pushed down and the medicine was pushed through my lungs. She did it twice more.

I slowly started to regain my vision and my chest began to get lighter and my breathing was getting better. I couldn't stand on my own yet and there was now a crowd of people looking at us wondering what was going on. She pulled me up and started pushing people out of the way. I could hardly stand. My legs felt like they weren't even there. She helped me to a bench at a bus stop and sat down with me.

"How are you now," she asked me.

"Better thank you," I replied, panting still.

"My son has asthma so that's why I carry an inhaler around with me. My name's Karen.

"I'm Connor. Thank you so much. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Don't you worry about that. What happened to your face? Did someone hit you?"

"Is it bad," I asked her.

She chuckled a little. "I would lie and say not really, but it's too bad for me too lie. Who did this to you? Is that why you needed an inhaler?"

I was speechless for a second. I almost told her what actually happened but I knew that would only be worse for me. "It was this kid at my school. We got into an argument over something and he hit me."

"Come with me, I'm taking the bus back to my neighborhood. I'll get you cleaned up and give you an extra inhaler I have."

"Thank you but I'm okay now."

"Are you sure? If you need anything just let me know."

"I'm okay now. I don't know how I can thank you though... For saving my life."

She smiled at me and said, "just you being here is enough. Just promise me that you won't take your life for granted."

"I promise," I said laughing a little. The bus pulled up and she stood up.

"This is my stop, you sure you'll be okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sure, Thank you." She turned and walked onto the bus. It pulled away and I sat there thinking about how a complete stranger cared so much about me. I stood up slowly and began to walk to a hotel near by.

I entered the hotel and bought a room for the night using my fake ID. The name on my ID was Jeffery Thomas, 18 years old. I payed and walked to the elevator. I pushed the third floor button and waited for it to start.

I walked down the hall past a few doors until I came to room 313. I slid the card in and out and heard the door unlock. I put my stuff on the bed and grabbed the bags that you can put ice in. I walked further down the hall and filed the bag with ice. When I got back to the room I put it on my face and laid down.

I laid there thinking about nothing. My mind had gone blank and all senses went away it seemed. I heard nothing, I saw nothing, I felt nothing. Not even the ice on my face. After a while I sat up and took the ice off. I walked to the other side of the room and looked in the mirror. When Deric had hit me the ring on his finger had cut me once with each hit. I let a single tear roll down my cheek before I went to bed.

~~~~~~~THE NEXT DAY~~~~~~~

I woke up and changed clothes. I went down stairs and ate the biggest breakfast I had in a very long time. I had eggs, sausage, yogurt, and two cinnamon rolls. After I was stuffed, I went back to my room and gathered my things.

I left the hotel and went to Cats house hoping that she didn't have anything to do. I was walking by a local store and turned to see my reflection in the glass window. The swelling had almost disappeared overnight and the bruising wasn't as bad. I knew I couldn't go to Cats house looking like this; she would do something and I would have to pay the price. I walked inside and bought some makeup. I bought the one closest to my skin color and went to the bathroom to apply it. I had blended it in pretty well to where you couldn't even see the bruises or cuts.

I was almost at cats house. I pulled out my phone and looked to make sure that the makeup was still working and you couldn't see the bruises. Thankfully it had stayed and it wasn't visible. I threw my bag under the bushes next to her house and made sure that you couldn't see them. I then walked to her door and nocked. She opened it and motioned me to come in. "Is everything okay Connor?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"

"You look different."

My first thought was "Oh shit, I didn't cover my face everywhere."

"It's something about your eyes. They look tired, worn out."

"I didn't sleep well last night if that's what you mean."

"Oh, that's probably it. Anyways, what would you like to do. I'm free all day today as well."

"You really have no life do you," I chuckled.

"No, not really," she played along.

"Let's go grab lunch at Chipotle."

"Okay, I'll go get Jase and I'll be right back."

"Okay," I said. I walked to the steps and leaned on the railing. Jase was down in a flash. We all got in Cat's car and drove off.