The Boy Who Cried Help

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It had been two weeks since I found out we were moving and we were almost done packing up out stuff. Originally I wasn't going to tell anyone at school that I was leaving just because I didn't really talk to anyone anymore. My best friend Mark, I had pretty much blown off since that night but we had been friends since second grade so I figured that I should tell him I was going.

Even though we hadn't exchanged more than a few sentences at a time for three years, I'm sure he'd want to know if I just up and left. That and I am sure there would be some sort of rumors spread on my leave. I hesitantly picked up my cell phone which was collecting dust and scrolled down to his number. I pressed the dial button and tapped my fingers nervously as it rang.

On the second ring, he picked up sounding surprised. "Hello?" he asked. I don't blame him for sounding surprised since I hadn't called him in years. "Hey Mark, I was just calling to say that I'm moving." Short, sweet and right to the point. There was silence for a moment before he asked "Why?" "Well, my dad got a new job and so we're going to move half an hour away to be closer to it."

"Oh, okay. I-I umm don't really know what to say. We haven't really talked in three years and now you're just leaving?" he asked accusingly. "Well I haven't been talking to too much of anyone, you know focusing on my studies," I said lying through my teeth.

"Yeah right. And even if I believed you, just because you study and get good grades doesn't mean you cut off all ties to your social life."

Silence. I was trying to come up with a clever comeback when he said "I know there's something you're not telling me. Something that's been eating at you for three years. And even though you're moving away, know that whenever you're ready to tell someone what the hell happened, I'll still be here." He paused.

"God, I just sounded like the biggest pansy ever," he said and we both laughed. "But seriously, you're only half an hour away so you can even come visit me. Please let go whatever you have on your shoulders because I want my best friend back."

He cut the line and I just sat there with the phone in my hand. He was right. I needed to tell someone if not to catch the bitch then to give me a restful piece of mind. This thing has been controlling my life and causing me to change my whole personality.

But I'm just not ready to let go. Every time I think of the horrid night I get tense and my blood turns cold reliving the horror and her devilish look with her bright orange hair completing the nightmare. It's horrifying enough to think about it in the privacy of my own brain. But to verbalize it... to verbalize would make it even more scary, more painful, and more than just a horrible nightmare.

Even with all the strength, and endurance of the world, I just can't do it right now. I know my mom saw the change in me those years ago. Instead of a jerk and "ladies man" I turned into a reserved workout machine almost overnight. I don't know exactly why she didn't question my behavior because I'm sure she noticed it but maybe she knew that I would say something when I was ready.

I laid down in my bare room thinking once again that this move was definitely going to be a good thing. A few days later there was nothing left in the house except tacks from pictures. Mom and I piled in the car with our rented U-Haul truck connected to it. Dad was going to meet us there because he had a last minute emergency at work.

I had seen the house a few times when we drove up there to make the final arrangements but I had never actually been inside the house. We drove up to a beautiful three story home with a garden and perfectly trimmed grass. I got out and grabbed a box full of things as I headed inside. The foyer was lined with tile and a large chandelier as I approached the steps.

There were a lot but it shouldn't be too different from being on a stair-stepper when I'm working out. I got up the stairs in no time not even breaking a sweat. There were a bunch of rooms and I put the box down as I opened the door to the first room. It was very spacious but nothing was drawing me in. I walked to the other rooms and they were similar some having four poster walls and others having walk-in closets with bathrooms.

All of the rooms had beds already in them; I have no idea where my old bed is. I got the end and the room was slightly smaller but when I looked around I saw that there was an easy way out the window to the ground because of a tree. Not that I knew what I would use that tactful escape for but it seemed useful. Plus it was cozier than the others so I decided on that room.

I went back out and got my boxes and put them in my room. For the rest of the day, my mom and I went back and forth and put boxes into the house until we finally finished. By that time it was dinner and we were both too tired to cook so we ordered Chinese. After dinner, we both crashed. Today had been a long day and I was exhausted but first thing in the morning, I was searching for the nearest gym.

When I woke up the next morning, I looked around confused for a moment as to where I was. I looked around and saw the room I picked out yesterday. I looked through my boxes trying to find my clothes. Once I found some basketball shorts and a white tee, I headed to my bathroom with a towel taking a shower. When I finished, I went to go find my mom in her room.

"Mom," I said softly not wanting to wake her. "Yeah honey," she said looking up at me. "I'm going to looking for a gym this morning and later I'm going to finish unpacking my room." "Okay, well eat before you go." I nodded as I exited her room. I went downstairs to the kitchen finding cereal and milk. After I put the dishes in the sink, I grabbed my phone and my keys walking out the door. I drove out of the neighborhood and into shopping plazas.

I had been driving for about ten minutes when I saw a sign that said 24 Hour Fitness. I turned into the plaza and once parked went inside. I got registered and even though it was later in the day than when I usually worked out, I decided too. I got many looks from the girls that were there and I just rolled my eyes.

I did my normal routine and then went home. I explored the house since I didn't get to see much of it anyways. It turns out we have a pool, a game room, a lounge room, a room with a bunch of open space that looked like it would be used for dinner parties and an attic. When I finished giving myself a tour, I went back to finish unpacking.

2 months later

It was only a week until my senior year of high school started and presently I was out shopping for school supplies. Yesterday my mom got my school supply list in the mail. At my old school, we would figure all that out after school started so this was a little weird for me. Thankfully there were no uniforms here either. I got all my stuff and then organized it when I got home.

The week passed by quickly and by Sunday night, I was really just ready to get this whole year over with. I woke up a little before five in the morning and changed into workout gear. As I made my way to 24 Hour Fitness, I thought about this year and what was to come. This was supposed to be the year of my life and here I was trying to get through the whole thing as fast as I possibly could. Oh well, to each his own I guess. I did my work out and got back home at 7:15.

I took my shower, throwing on a black t-shirt, jeans and a hoodie along with my Chucks. I went to the kitchen and saw my mom making breakfast and surprisingly my dad was there with her. True to his word, my dad had been spending more time at home. No, we weren't throwing footballs in the backyard and having heart to hearts but at least he was there.

My mom was a happy person but it seemed that when my dad was here, she got even happier. Her face always lit up when she talked to him or about him and I was happy for her. "Hi mom, dad," I said getting a plate. They murmured their hellos as I started to eat. When I finished and was about to leave my mom came up to me giving me a hug and said "Have a great day at school, make friends."

My body turned frigid as I nodded stiffly. I had entirely no intention of talking to anyone unless I absolutely had to. I grabbed my stuff and drove the fifteen minutes to Gray High School home of the Titans. I pulled in further away from most of the other cars as I got my stuff and got out my car. I walked with my head down so as not to draw attention to myself. I pulled out the paper with all my info on it and walked to my locker.

After I dumped all my stuff in there, I took my notebook and some pens closing my locker. I closed my locker and was about to go to my class when someone clouds my vision. We almost ran to each other but narrowly missed. I glanced at her and the only thing I noticed was her bright orange hair.