The Last Page

Chapter 3.5- Living As A Shadow

California, 10 months earlier.

Anthony walked down the hallway after class making his way toward the cafeteria. Gabe walked out behind him. Gabe was Anthony’s friend, practically his brother. He and Anthony were much alike, mainly because they’d been friends for the longest of times. Gabe was almost as tall as Anthony, and had sort of the same style as Anthony. They practically looked alike, except Gabe’s hair was short and he wore large glasses.  Gabe caught up to Anthony just in time to get sneezed on by him. “Haha! Dude I’m so sorry!” Anthony said as he laughed.

“It’s all cool. I heard it’s good for the skin..” Gabe said sarcastically as he wiped his face.

After Gabe finished wiping his face they walked toward the cafeteria stopping along the way because Anthony stopped to talk to a few girls. Gabe didn’t show it, but he was awfully jealous of Anthony. He had so much luck with the girls, and that made almost every guy on campus dislike him. Many times Anthony explain that he just had to talk to girls more often, but that wasn’t going to happen, he was just too odd looking.

As they walked to the cafeteria, Anthony noticed something different about Gabe. Gabe wasn’t jumping around and being uncontrollably loud as usual. He stopped to ask him, but Gabe wouldn’t admit there being anything wrong. Anthony responded by letting him know that he could count on him with anything, but Gabe was hardly listening. He was too worried about things he and Anthony had to work on with the Student Council, of which he was the Vice President, and Anthony was the President.

Once Gabe and Anthony got their lunch and were sitting at the table they always sat on, they waited for their friends James, Bethany, and Valerie to arrive. Gabe took advantage of being there with Anthony to discuss ideas for projects for the student council to work on. As Anthony began to respond their friend James arrived. Anthony and Gabe looked at each other as if mentally telling each other they’d talk about it later.

James sat down, his upperclassmen friends had brought him food from McDonalds, which stirred up Gabe and Anthony. “What? If you guys want some, I advise you to make upperclassmen friends, or wait a year or two to be able to go yourselves.” James said as he took the first bit from his burger. “Also, where are the girls?” “They’re probably in the restroom fixing their makeup as usual.” Gabe replied.

As the tree of them ate, some of the cheerleaders walked over to where Anthony sat and whispered something into his ear. Anthony whispered back to them as Gabe watched them as they giggled and walked away. Gabe couldn’t help but looking at them as they walked away. “Rule number one, don’t make it obvious you’re looking at them!” Anthony said as he laughed. “Unless you want to get slapped,” James muttered, “then continue staring.”

Gabe looked at both at them and felt pretty embarrassed. “So anyways what they tell you?” Gabe asked Anthony. Anthony smirked, “They asked me to do them a favor later.” The way Anthony said that made Gabe uneasy, how could this guy have so much luck with the ladies? “Well, just use protection.” James said as he took another bite from his burger. Anthony gave James a ‘what the hell is up with you’ stare. “What are you talking about James?! They asked me to make a football banner for the football players first game that they will be able to run through!” Anthony exclaimed. “Aww, where’s the excitement in that? The football players don’t even like you.” James replied.

Anthony looked over at James, “You’re right, but it only makes me look better.”

Bethany and Valerie walked over to the table while carrying some sort of shopping bag. “Eww, what were the cheerleaders doing here?” Valerie asked. “They asked Anthony for a FAVOR of sorts...” James said as he took another bite of his burger, “and what’s with the bag?”

Bethany placed the bag on the table, “Well, I brought Anthony some stuff! And also I couldn’t find a smaller bag...” First she pulled out a SLR camera and handed it to Anthony. “For Mr. Artist, my dad found the missing parts to your camera, he says it should be as good as new! Luckily you have it now to get pictures for the yearbook.” She then handed him a box and told him there were more things for his camera in it.

“Holy crap I completely forgot about the yearbook!” Anthony said as he took a look at his camera. He then took advantage that they were all there to ask them to help him make the football banners, he struggled a bit in convincing them to agree and help.

Later that day Anthony walked to the school auditorium to begin work on the football banners. The cheerleaders waited for him on the stage while warming up before going to their meeting. What a view, Anthony thought as he walked up the steps. The cheerleaders greeted him asking if he needed more materials, he took a look at what they provided him with and thought that was enough. The cheerleaders thanked him one last time and walked out.

As Anthony started laying things out, Valerie showed up to help. She placed her backpack on the seats, and then proceeded to removing her sweater. Quickly Anthony noticed something about her arms, they had way too many bracelets than usual. He got serious and called Valerie. She looked at him and already felt that something was wrong. He called her up to the stage where the banner was placed, “Let me see your arms.” he said. Valerie was terrified, “No, you’re not seeing anything.” “Well if you won’t let me see at least tell me what’s causing it.”

Anthony and Valerie started laying things out while Valerie tried to find a way to explain what was going on and as they talked everyone else but James walked in. Anthony gave Valerie a hug and told her he was there for her and to stop doing what she was doing.

Gabe and Anthony started drawing the design on the banner while Valerie and Bethany mixed the paints. James then walked in halfway through with a bag full of food. “Break time!” he said as he walked in.

It was starting to get really late, and they had finally finished the banner for the football players. “This looks really awesome, it’s a shame the football players are going to run through it.” Bethany said as she gathered the materials. “Okay guys, get together for a picture for the yearbook!” Anthony said as he pulled out his camera.

Gabriel sat down. They’d put so much work into this banner, he was pretty upset that the football players would tear it up at the first game. But there was something else upsetting Gabe, something he couldn’t quite make out.