Behind The Glasses

Chapter 7

Chase. It is the only thing I can think as I stretch out, his guitar is off its hook in my room; I can hear him playing downstairs. It’s LOVE LIKE THIS by Kodaline – I heard the song a couple of weeks before on the radio, it was stuck in my head; so I got him to learn it. It’s Friday – that means I have to go to school; why did Chase have to come on school days? When I couldn’t see him! 

   After a quick shower, I rush down the stairs –already I can smell the bacon cooking. It smells good! I sit down on a chair eagerly, Chase is in his wheelchair still, expertly flipping the bacon over, then flicking it onto two plates; it came with eggy bread; a perfect breakfast. I poured us both mugs of tea, and a glass of orange juice. “Morning Harper; gosh you look thin; OH MY JESUS WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR NECK?” he cried, dropping the plates; I caught them thankfully, placing them on the table.

   I began to squirt ketchup onto my plate, “Oh nothing” I mumbled, cutting up my food, ramming it ravenously into my mouth. Chase, who was wearing the same thing as usual – jeans and a baggy tee, wheeled his chair into place. “Tell me Harper, it doesn’t look like ‘nothing’ to me” he argued, squirting ketchup onto his own plate. I didn’t reply, instead continuing to eat in silence; every now and again I could feel Chase’s gaze burning into my neck. Were the marks really that obvious?

   As quickly as I can I finish my breakfast, scrubbing at my teeth beneath my braces. Did I mention today my glasses are coming in the post? I rip open the packet, inside is a small box; I quickly shove it in my bag. Chase is still playing his guitar, he says he’ll be gone again by the time I’m back from school. Great! I slam the door shut. What a great way to start the day! It’s also raining; great.

   After walking as fast as I can for twenty minutes I walk into school. No one is waiting outside today, or hanging around the bus stops, or buying sweets in the shop; everyone is inside. I squirm through the wave of people; by the time I get into my form I am covered in rain and the sweat of other people – gross. I keep walking, head down; unnoticed as usual; I take my seat, people nod, I answer ‘here  miss’ on the register; before I turn back to being a nobody.

   First and second period I thankfully manage to avoid my friends, how do I explain my brother to them? When the bang rang for the end of second period I was the last one to leave class. All the way to our bench I drag my feet, my head hung; the rain is just worsening my mood. Xander and Brooklynn are currently engaging in a spit war, Amya has mysteriously disappeared; so now it is only Ryker and I.

   Saying things were awkward is an understatement. We sat in silence for the whole twenty minutes, everyone went to their next lessons, Ryker grabbed my arm, I flinched; “Sorry” I whispered instantly regretting what I had just done; I just couldn’t help it. Ryker shrugged it off, he was debating something in his head. “Want to do something really stupid?” he grinned, I nodded. I hate the saying Yolo; but on a day like this I can make exceptions, “We’re going to break nerd rule number one” he announced proudly, I raised my eyebrows; did he mean he wasn’t going to do his homework? “Come on sweets, we’re out of here” he cried, grabbing my arm; dragging me out of the hall. Of course no one suspected a thing as we walked up to reception, we were exemplary students. No way would we ever think of bunking off school. Well they expected wrong, Ryker and I walked out of the gates giggling.

   “I can’t believe we just did that!” I cried, squealing; I was one weird kid, I know. We kept walking through our small town in a comfortable silence, we passed Ryker’s house; he didn’t stop walking. “Where are we going?” I asked, but I got no reply. So I just kept my head down; we kept walking until I knew there was only one house left to head to – mine.

    The rain came thundering down. I could hear the guitar playing inside, I grinned; “Chase!” I called out as loudly as I could; the strumming stopped; Ryker looked uneasy as I undid the gate, Chase flung open the door; he was propped up his crutches; Ryker froze. “I don’t bite” Chase laughed, Ryker turned and ran; only then did it hit me – Hunter and Chase looked exactly alike.

   I groaned as I walked through the door, “What was that about? Is he your boyfriend?” Chase demanded, taking the few steps back to his wheelchair – which he couldn’t open the door from. His guitar was strapped on the back. “That’s Ryker, and no he’s not my boyfriend; I don’t even think he’ll be my friend any more – he encountered Hunter last night”.

   Chase cut me short, “What happened last night?” – oh bugger I’d really dropped myself in it now. “Well the bruising on my neck; Hunter strangled me; Ryker and my friends came looking for me; and well, got the aftermath” I stated. Chase started crying, I tried to take him in my arms; unsuccessfully. “I think he needs to go and see Dr Stryden again”.

   Tea makes it all better, always; I promise you. I cried into my tea, which didn’t make it pleasant tasting at all. But tea always made things better. “When I see the bastard I’ll kill him” is all Chase said on the matter, before going out into the front garden. I went outside, it had stopped raining now; I took the guitar out back, so I could look at the track. I was training later. Funnily enough I can play guitar, and sing; so I do, it started to rain, but I didn’t care – there was no one to stop me now.

   “Hello beautiful” a familiar voice called over the fence, I opened my eyes; only to be blinded by the rain; the track would be perfect. Popping his nosy head over my fence was no other than stalker boy himself. “This is getting weird, how’d you find out where I lived stalker boy?” I replied, setting the guitar. In a couple of steps I had made it to the fence line; it was over five foot; I had a short run up and flipped over the fence, “That was cool” Evan replied in awe, “Anyway, I just heard the beautiful singing and followed my heart to know where you’d be” the second part was cheesy. “Are you coming to the track later?” I asked, not really caring for an answer, but I didn’t want to seem impolite; Evan nodded. Yes, great; “And don’t forget the party tomorrow” he added with a wink. The party, great; that was what I really needed right now!

   Evan slid out a really expensive phone from his pocket, don’t ask me which, I stuck with technology! “Yes dad I’m on the track… yeah I’ll be there in twenty minutes… yes I want to watch them train…ok…yep…ok, bye dad” Evan rolled out the ‘bye’ so it sounded more like beyeeeeeee; before hanging up on his dad. “I’ll see you later” I smiled, before swinging back over the fence. Evan had left a smile on my face.

   I returned to the house, the guitar was gone, as was the wheelchair; in the space of five minutes Chase had disappeared; again; not even saying goodbye. I went into my room and changed into my training trousers, trainers, t-shirt and pulled my grey loose hoodie over the top once again. I plaited my hair and began the walk to the track. 

  Evan was there, as was his father; our new sponsors, “You’re early” Hunter eyed me suspiciously; I nodded. Hunter ran his hand through his hair, acting casual; “Well my sister and I are just going to get the bike ready, if you would like to go upstairs to the viewing area; I’m sure Harriet, the receptionist, wouldn’t mind showing you if you get lost”. The two scurried away after the receptionist.

   Hunter waited until we were getting the bike ready, “It’s now or never kid; they tell me I can’t race anymore; I keep failing the medical test; but you don’t. This is your future Harper; today is your one chance to prove that” – Hunter’s prep talk wasn’t very helpful. I pulled on my full body leathers; “And if we don’t get the sponsorship?” I asked, thank god I only needed glasses for reading – they would be a nightmare with this helmet. “Then I’ll throw you out” Hunter replied dryly. My stomach dropped; I popped the glass down over my eyes; I was ready.