Silent

18| Start Of Shatters

Well, I've told you about enough happiness. And enough memories. And it's almost time for you to know more. Yet I just- it still hurts, you know? The past and the future.

I think you should know more before anything else.

Before you put down this book, put down the beautiful story of angry, mute and special.

Like what happened the next day.

The next day was like all other days, as peaceful and calm as most of my days were. A normal day. Cameron and Derrick had to go somewhere to fill some forms and 'beat' some sense into some juniors who were annoying some of their friends or something- but they didn't do that before leaving me at my class like gentlemen.

Something was also wrong with Derrick- I was pretty sure that he has taken some really strong medicine- or alcohol- before coming to school this morning, for he was actually smiling the whole time. When I raised a confused brow, he just grunted that he needed his so-called 'anger' medicine if he needed to listen to Miss Clara today.

"We'll see you outside Miss Clara's class," Cameron beamed at me before sending another death glare over my head to Jesse in the corner, "just be there before break. Oh and tell me if anyone, anyone at all," another death glare, "troubles you."
I smiled and nodded, yet my heart wished more for him to confess that he liked me more than a friend and wanted to kiss me, instead of being like an overprotective older brother.
"Dar, I need to talk about Cam and you, by the way," Derrick smiled at me lazily and relaxedly.

Oh lord. My heart beat increased instantly, my face turned into one of alarm. But Cameron only laughed and thumped Derrick's back.
"I think you've taken too much of your anger medicine, my old friend," Cameron grinned. Derrick only shrugged his shoulders as they both walked away, arms slung around each other's shoulder, his lazy smile still on his face.

I sighed anxiously, hoping that Derrick wouldn't say anything, and walked over to my seat. I do not know how the day passed- I wasn't even able to concentrate. I just knew that as soon as it was lunch, I was hurrying over to Miss Clara's class. I found Lois already waiting there- Cameron, Tony and Derrick were still to show up.

"Hey," Lois said, her gaze still fixed on her phone, as she scrawled through her messages. I smiled back politely, there was no lost bond between us. It was quiet for a few moments before Lois spoke up again.
"You did anything about your... crush?" She asked me. I shook my head no. She sighed, her gaze still stuck on her phone.
"Your loss," she said, rather uncaringly.
I scowled. However, I wasn't able to say anything back for at that moment Cameron, Tony and Derrick came over together.

"It's gonna be alright," Tony was encouraging.
"I know," Derrick said.
"We're all gonna be there for you," Tony said again.
"Yup," Derrick sighed. "Unfortunately."

A smile tugged at the corner of Cameron's mouth. I knew my face was reflecting the same. Lois hurriedly out her phone back into her pocket.

"Shall we?" She asked, opening the door. None of us replied anything, but it was obvious that we were all in this together.
And then we went in. I sucked in a breath as I quietly squeezed myself between Tony and Derrick, so that I was on one side of Derrick and Cameron the other. We three were meant to be together anyway.

"What are all of you doing here?" Miss Clara asked us distastefully. I knew at once that she didn't like most of us- I didn't think that anyone could dislike Cameron. Or Lois. Except me.
"Miss Clara, I'm his twin, so you see as to why I'm here," Lois gave her a huge smile. "-And Cameron is his best friend-"
"Darlene too," Derrick interrupted her.
"Yes, Darlene too," Lois sighed rather sadly, "and Tony is the captain of the cricket team. So you must see why we all must be present here."

"Very well I suppose," Miss Clara sighed. "Here is your paper."
Derrick took the paper in his hands. And then he gave a smile. A sinking feeling grew in my stomach.
"Thanks a lot," Derrick said quietly before storming out of the class. One look at the paper, and both Cameron and I were running after him.

Lois , along with Tony, were left to deal with Miss Clara. The teacher, who gave Derrick one mark less than what would've been required to get a C. Only one mark more.

"Derrick stop," Cameron shouted after him. "Stop!"
Derrick was marching to a beat of his own tune. He didn't care. He didn't want to, I could relate a bit. He cared so much about cricket- it was one of the only things which still linked him to this mortal superficial world of light worries.

And now he would be benched from it. Just because of stupid, spiteful Miss Clara. He hurried out of the school, with us just on his heels.

He had almost reached the parking lot- he had the keys to Cameron's car today- when I shouted in despair, "Derrick, stop!"

He stopped at once. And turned. His eyes met mine. They travelled to Cameron. Then came back to mine. Those serious eyes, the ones who hid so much pain were today, glossy. And then Derrick laughed. It was horrible. It was a laugh of despair, of doom, of anger.

I whimpered. Cameron's hand curled around mine.
"Derr, Lue is with that teacher- it's one mark, she'll get it increased," Cameron told him.
"Bla bla bla," Derrick said, his eyes miserable. "There was one fucking thing I had to do- pass a goddamn test with a goddamn C, and I couldn't fucking do that."

And suddenly Derrick's despair was turned into rage. His hands flexed, and he took in a few deep breaths. I took a few steps towards him, and Cameron took them with me.

"Derrick, it's okay. Lois will get them increased. It's okay, we're here," Cameron said soothingly.
"That what you don't get- it's not fucking okay!" Derrick shouted. And then his eyes met mine again, and he gave a mocking laugh. "It's not like you're able to sort your own troubles."

A terrifying fear filled me.
"What are you talking about Derrick?" Cameron asked him. I slowly let go of Cameron's hand so as to make sure that he wouldn't notice. I have a pleading glance to Derrick, but Derrick was too consumed in his fury to care.
"You don't even know when someone likes you."

Oh my god, he would do it. I took a few steps back slowly, and kept on giving pleading glances to Derrick. They didn't seem to move him at all.
"Your own best friend likes you and you don't goddamn know," Derrick said with a bitter laugh before he turned and matched away to Cameron's car. Cameron didn't follow him.

"Is it true Dar?" He asked quietly. "Do you like me?"

Oh, how my heart pleaded for me to nod. How it begged me to go and tell him everything. But while Derrick had talked to him, I had gone and hidden behind a car. When Cameron turned to talk to me, he saw that there was no one.

It was a few minutes before I heard the crunch of gravel beneath his feet as he walked away.

It was after quite a few months that I was using the bus, once again to go home. Alone with my own thoughts. Terrified.