Join The Club

'The Mask I Wear'

Cody smiles as Sarah hugs Lance goodbye at the door. He sighs and pulls out a fresh pack of cigarettes, "Those are going to kill you someday." Lance grins. Cody stuffs his hands into his pockets and stays silent. "Oh, I forgot to grab my chem book. I'll be right back." Sarah says as she runs back into the house. Lance walks down the front steps and up to Cody. He puts his hand on Cody's face and lifts up his chin, "How are you going to explain this one to her Cody? She's not completely dumb. She'll catch on eventually and you know it." Cody looks down at his shoes as he tries to contemplate on what to say. "Do you realize that you're letting him basically kill you?" Lance holds up Cody's hand with the cigarette, "Almost as much as these are." Lance kicks the curb, "It pisses me off that you just sit there and take that crap. You deserve better than that." His voice rises, "A rabid dog deserves better than that! And you know it." Cody opens his mouth to speak, but nothing can come out. Sarah opens the door and comes skipping down the steps with her chemistry book, "Hey Lance, I might be home a little later today Kasandra wants to stu... Oh my God. Cody, what happened to your face?" Sarah drops her bag down onto the ground and grabs Cody's face to examine it. "You look like Lance did when he wouldn't wear his helmet during practice with his friends." Cody chuckles a little and takes hit off of his cigarette, "I'm fine sunshine. I was running home too fast and I tripped. It'll be fine." he lied. Cody flicks his cigarette to the ground. He smiles at Sarah then he bends down and grabs her bag for her. Sarah stares at him in astonishment as he slings her bag over his shoulder. "Are you sure that you're okay?" she asks as she looks at Lance. Lance shakes his head as Cody nods with a smile. "We should get going if we want to make it in time. I'm sorry that I couldn't bring my car." Cody looks down, "I hate making you walk." Sarah laughs, "Don't hate it. It's good exercise. I enjoy walking." Cody smiles slightly. "Well, I guess that I'll be seeing you two after school then." Lance grins. Cody nods as he pulls out a cigarette, "I'll be sure to bring her home." he says as he lights his cigarette. Sarah smiles, "And I'll be sure to protect him from the curb." Lances cracks a smile and hugs Sarah, "je t'aime." Sarah smiles as she hugs Lance as tightly as she can, "je t'aime aussi." Cody smiles as he shoves his hands into his pockets, "That's so cool how you guys do that." Sarah looks at him, "Our grandparents used to say 'I love you' to us in french. So after nana died, it just stuck." "Well you two better get going." Lance says as he hugs Cody. Cody smiles, "Thank you Lance." "Any time."

Cody sighs, "I will see you after first period, right?" Sarah hugs Cody, "Of course." Cody closes his eyes tightly and hugs Sarah. He gently strokes her hair, "I have to go now." she sighs. Cody lets her go, "I'll meet you by your locker in a little while." Sarah nods and walks off. Cody stands there and watches her walk away and join up with the 'in crowd'. His smile fades away and he looks down, "God. I could use a cigarette." he mumbles as he shoves a sucker into his mouth. "Hey Cody!" Cody turns around a runs his hand through his short brown hair, "Hey Wess." Wess runs up and holds out a brand new pack of cigarettes to Cody, "Just got these and realized that I bought the wrong brand. You want them?" Cody quickly grabs the pack and shoves it into his pocket, "How much do I owe you?" Wess laughs, "You're funny. Dude, if you owed me something, it wouldn't be considered a gift. Just don't let Sarah know that you got them from me. She'd cut my you know what off if she found out." Cody laughs and shakes his head, "Yeah, I think that you're probably right." Wess smiles, "Check it out." Wess sticks his tongue out, "New piercing." His tongue ring is pink with black swirls and has a pot leaf on it. "Nice." Cody smiles. The bell shrieks and Cody throws his head back, "Please kill me" Wess pretends to shoot Cody in the face, "Damn, my fake gun isn't loaded. Sorry man, I tried." Cody rolls his eyes and cracks a smile, "Smart ass." Cody grabs Wess' septum piercing and gives it a light tug. "Ow, dammit. I just got that done last week! It's still sensitive you jerk." Wess whines. "Sorry princess." Cody laughs as he messes up Wess' long black hair. Wess rolls his eyes, "Yeah, I'm the princess. Totally.:" Cody shakes his head and walks off to class. "You'll miss me and you know it buttercup!" Wess laughs as he turns around and walks off in the opposite direction.

"After what seems like forever... He finally stopped being such a prick." Sarah giggles to one of her girl friends. "So Sarah," Kasandra smiles, "How much longer until you break the news to Cody?" Sarah's face grows still, "I... I haven't thought about that. I don't think that I will be telling him." Kasandra's jaw drops, "He deserves to know that you're talking to his ex 'brother'. Why won't you tell him?" Sarah looks down and sighs, "He acts as if he is in love with me. I can't just tell him 'Oh, by the way Cody, I'm sleeping with your ex best friend.' He would be devastated." Kasandra puts her hand on Sarah's shoulder, "And you'll kill him if you aren't the one to tell him." Sarah looks down, "I guess you're right." Sarah's phone goes off and she pulls it out. A smile crosses her lips, "Speaking of the devil. I'll be back Kasandra." Kasandra nods as Sarah gets up and walks to the fountain. "Hello?" "Hey beautiful. How are you?" Blake beams. "I'm good. and how are you?" "I'm way better now. I have some good news." Sarah smiles, "And what is that?" "I'm transferring back over to Slywoods. Isn't that great?" Sarah pauses and her voice goes softer, "That's great babe. So you'll be attending here again?" "Yeah. Isn't that great?" Blake says happily. "Yes it is." Sarah says as she looks down. "Well I have to go. I start tomorrow. I wanted to surprise you, but I just couldn't wait. I'll talk to you later hun. Bye." "Bye." Sarah says softly. The screen on her phone fades to black and she slowly walks over to Kasandra. "What's wrong?" Kasandra asks as Sarah's face grows pale. Sarah sits down and looks up at Kasandra, "Blake is moving back to this school. Tomorrow." Kasandra smiles, "I told you that you'd have to tell Cody."