What He Didn't Take

Chapter Two

Mr. Vang continued.

"One of the things I value the most is the spirit of unity and I think that each one of you have the obligation to bound with your lab partners, given that, he or she will do everything with you during this year. So, I proposed to the school that we'd do a retire. The project has been accepted so, this Friday, we are going camping!"

Excitement was being heard all over the room. I looked at Madeleine and she seemed annoyed. I didn't know what to feel, I mean, I always loved camping and Madeleine didn't seem that bad, but she just makes me feel like I'm unwanted, and I'm definitely not used to that.

The bell rang and Madeleine stood up immediately. Without even saying a word, she collected her stuff and went talking to Mr. Vang.

I didn't want to know what she was going to talk about so I left the classroom, even though I wanted to make some questions about the trip.

David was at the end of the hallway waving at me. I reached David and he introduced me to another girl, Jennifer.
She was really nice but I needed to go so, I said my goodbyes and went home.

On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about Madeleine and how she became what she is now. I mean, I couldn't picture her being that super nice girl, with super good friends. All I could see was her dark brown eyes judging me. But at the same time, I saw in her eyes what I'd never seen before. No emotions, no complications. Just this huge nothing. And it made me feel so helpless. Because what can you have, if you have nothing in your eyes?

When I got home, my mum was lying on a special bed and Carmen, her nurse, was reading to her, she has a brain tumor.

"I can do that Carmen, thank you.
Carmen looked at me and handed the book. She seemed exhausted."

"You're an angel, Sean, you really are, you're mother is so lucky to have you."

She went upstairs, probably to sleep. I looked at the book and I saw that it was "Dear John" from Nicholas Sparks.

"Romance, mum? That's not healthy, couldn't you choose an agatha Christie book or something? You love those books! And I don't have the patience to read "Dear Jonh"."

She half laughed, but truth is I can't stand romances. If true love really did exist, then why my dad left my mum when she got sick?

In spite of the fact I hated romances I read it out loud just to make my mom happy. When she fell asleep, I closed the book, and I went to bed. Those romance stories always make me wanna go to sleep.

My first class the next day was Maths, which is pretty cool, because believe it or not I always loved Maths.

I went to the classroom and I saw Natalie sitting alone, so I decided to sit next to her.
"Hi" she says

"Hi, Natalie. Where's Malcom?"

Natalie and Malcom started dating an year ago, or at least that's what I've been told. Until know, I had never seen those two apart.

"We have different Maths schedules, I think he is having geography now."

"Geography? That sucks" I remember how much I used to hate geography.

"Oh, I actually enjoy geography, but I can't stand Maths" she says politely.

"We are completely opposites, I see."

She laughed. "Yeah, I guess so."

The math teacher, professor Robin, came in and we started paying attention to the class. I was understanding the subject quite easily but I could see Natalie wasn't. I explained to her a few things.

At the end of the class we went to find Malcom and the others. When we saw them, Madeleine passed by us, alone as usual.

"I'm just... wait...hun...bye."

I think I heard Natalie saying okay, but  I ran after Madeleine.

"Hey!"

She looked at me with the most don't-want-you-here face. "What are you trying to do?"

I started to understand how ridiculous I was behaving. I mean, why was I even there?

"Hum, I've been thinking about it, and we are lab partners."

"So?"She brutally interrupts me.

"So "it's our obligation to bound". And I couldn't just see you there alone."

"Yes, you could, and you will."

That was probably the rudest thing someone has ever said to me. She turned around without saying anything. But I wouldn't just give in. I went after her and grabbed her wrist. At first she was shocked, but then she reacted very quickly.

"Let go of my hand. Now." She tried to sound calm, but there was nothing calm in her voice.
I let go of her hand quickly.
"Oh.. Sorry... It was just, look, we are lab partners, and we will be together all year. I just thought that we should get along. Being nice to each other."

"Actually, this is me, being nice." She rudely point out.

"Ok, maybe just a little bit nicer?"

She shrugged. "Fine, I'll try."

She surprised me by agreeing, I thought that she would make a rude comment or something.

"You know it would be a lot easier for you if you didn't even try, right?"
She left before I could say anything. But that made me think, why would I even try?