" It'll be okay " I felt Vincent's hand going through my hair.
" They haven't talked to me for days and I feel horrible "
" Why don't you start the conversation? "
" Do you think I haven't tried that before? " I lifted up my head and looked straight into his eyes.
" Clara, honestly, you have to understand them too. Losing a child is hard for a parent "
" But that has nothing to do with me? "
" They don't want to lose you too "
" They are not going to lose me by telling the truth "
" Give them some time " he laid my head on his chest. I sighed.
I can call myself lucky. I'm the one who can listen to his heartbeat whenever I want. I'm so glad I can because how far would I have become without him?
A few days later I decided to meet up with Henry in the city. It was weekend and I wanted to avoid contact with school people or Ray. I tried to not be at home a lot because my parents ignored me. I wanted to forget what happened but they didn't help a lot.
I took the train to the city and when I arrived I saw a familiar face in the distance.
Vincent.
What was he doing here?
He lied to me.
He had told me that he couldn't visit me this weekend because he had to go to a party with his family. I don't think they were family. They were a bunch of smoking people. They were dressed so awfully. Lucky me, Vincent knows how to be dressed.
But he was smoking too.
He had never told me he did. So many questions popped up into my head. I had to ask him but I didn't want to go to him with those guys around him.
Oh my, even those girls who had slapped Ray in the face were standing with him. They looked like sluts, to be honest.
My body was filling itself with anger.
I tried to not lose control this time and just walked straight through to meet up with Henry in time. I had to hurry up because I told him I would be there around 3pm and it was already 2:56pm.
I started walking faster, trying to avoid eye contact with Vincent. But I couldn't stop looking at him and those disgusting people around him. Why didn't he tell me about them before?
I kept walking with all those unanswered questions and finally got to the place where Henry was supposed to be. But he wasn't.
What.
I took my phone and it said 3:03pm. I decided to wait a little longer but a quarter later he was still not there.
Henry, where the hell are you?!
When I realised he wasn't about to text back, I went to look for him in the city. I went back in the direction of the train station, curious if Vincent would still be there. Oh yes, he was and so were his stupid friends.
And there was a guy laying next to them.
He didn't move.
Henry.
" What the hell " I whispered to myself.
I walked quickly in the direction of that group. Vincent noticed me and he came closer. He wanted to put his arms around my waist, but I pushed him away and walked straight to Henry.
I sat on my knees next to Henry as the whole Vincent squad was staring at me. Henry was knocked out completely.
What the fuck did they do to him.
" Vincent, what the hell happened?! " I screamed in his direction.
It wasn't Vincent who responded, it was one of those awful guys: " his face irritated us, so we knocked him out "
" What?! " what a horrible reason.
" Yeah, I don't like your face either "
" Well fuck you " I was mad, I was really mad. How could they do something like that to an innocent guy?!
" Henry, please, say something " I whispered, he didn't move, but he was breathing. You could see his chest moving up and down.
" Vincent, you owe me some explanation " he acted like he had never seen me before.
" I owe you nothing "
" Wh- what? "
" Oh look it's that girl who nearly killed me " one of those girls said.
" Yeah, you're the one who knocks out people " another one screamed.
" I do have reasons " I screamed back.
" Wait, you fought with them? " Vincent asked.
" Yes, that's what I told you about "
" You never told me who you fought with " he snapped.
" You never asked " I snapped back.
I tried to wake Henry up, but nothing worked. He needed to go to the hospital right now.
" Vincent, call the ambulance " I screamed, stilll sitting next to Henry.
" You call the ambulance "
And that's what I did. After a couple of minutes the ambulance arrived and they took Henry with them. I wanted to go with him but the nurses didn't let me because I couldn't prove I was family or a friend.
The squad still stared at me, like they wanted to laser me to death with their eyes.
" Vince, is that your girlfriend? " one of those girls asked, smoking her cigarette.
Vince.
Vince?!
WHY was SHE allowed to say Vince?!
I was really curious about what he was going to say. He was acting so different than when he's with me without anyone else.
" Yes, Sarah, she's completely mine " he slowly came to me and put his arms around me. He hugged me tightly.
But I was still mad and had hundreds of questions.
" I hate you " I whispered.
" I love you too " he whispered back.
He did love me. I knew that for sure. But he wasn't all honest with me. I knew that for sure too.
***
The next day I was sitting in the hospital next to Henry, who was fully awake again.
" Clara, what happened? "
" Hen... You were too late and you didn't respond my text messages so I came looking for you and I saw you laying on the ground, knocked out... And- and there was no one around you so I called the ambulance "
" Oh wow " he looked quite shocked, but also happy to see me.
" I'm so sorry I wasn't there in time to help you "
" It's okay, you couldn't know that was about to happen " he smiled.
I was so glad to see him smile. His smile made my day, really.
Now the only thing I wanted was explanation from Vincent. But I wasn't about to text him. He should text me first. He dissapointed me and it's his turn to make it right. If he doesn't take the first step, it's over.
But he will take the first step.
He loves me.
And I kinda love him too.
