You Don't Know Me

Upside Down

CHAPTER 14

I can't wait until the bell rings because then school will finish and that means I can finally find out what Lucy said to Mr. Whiteside. I'm currently in Philosophy (it's not one of my subjects but I wanted to sit in the lesson sometimes as it interests me and I'm allowed) and I’m staring at the clock. 'Kiera, I asked you a question.' 

'What, Mr. Hart?'

'I said I asked you a question.'

'What question did you ask?'

'Is there a God?' How do I answer that?

 'I'm not sure.'

'Right, that's it, I’m splitting you all up in half and you are going to either be for it or against it. Is that understood?' We all nod to confirm that we understand and he puts us into groups. 'Okay, you lot at the back will be for it and you lot at the front will be against it. I'll give you a few minutes to decide when everyone will speak and discuss small points but no writing anything down.'

I look to see who's in my group and notice that Tom, James, Chris and Max are all in my group but notice that Joe is missing and realise that he's in the opposing team. I'm for and he's against. The fact that he's in the opposing team makes me want to actually participate. He's in the same group as some girls Lucy hangs around with. '

Okay, time is up!' What? We didn't even speak. Then I notice that my group did speak, they just did it without me. Now, I don't even have a clue on what they're going to say. 'Okay, I want the for team starting.' No one says anything. I break the silence by saying 'there is a God. I find the mathematical argument to be the strongest. The chance is so small that this universe was an accident, that it is just impossible. There was an intelligent designer....God.'

'No No No, that is not true. Can you prove God exists Kiera? No, you can't. Have you ever seen him? No, you haven't. That just proves that he's not real.'

'That is pathetic Joe, even for you-'

'Kiera, no personal emotions' Mr. Hart cuts me off and I just nod. 'As I was saying, that's pathetic Joe, I mean, have you ever seen air? No, you haven't but it does exist. In the same way, God also exists, whether you've witnessed his existence or not.'

'You can't witness his existence because he's not real.'

'And how would you know that?'

'How do you know that he is real?'

'What do you mean "how do you know that he is real?" Please elaborate.'

'I mean, what evidence is there to show that he's real?' I rise up from my seat because this debate is getting personal. He is just annoying me, just like this morning.

'Why do you need evidence to believe that God is real? There is so much evidence and it is all around us but small minded people like you still won't believe it so why use that as your excuse?'

'Okay, how about someone other than Kiera and Joe debate for the rest of the group' Mr. Hart says. It's pretty obvious that things have become personal. I've never been religious but the fact that Joe thinks he can win everything is really starting to irritate me. I put my head down on my desk and just wait for the bell to ring. It's supposed to ring any minute now.

The bell rings and I rush over to Lucy's house.

~~~~~~~~~~

I finally build up the courage to actually ring the doorbell and Liz opens the door. I gasp and scrunch up my face in confusion, what is she doing here? I expected Lucy to open the door. 'Where’s Lucy?'

'Like I’m going to tell you, what the hell are you even doing here?'

'Like you said, as if I’m going to tell you, now just go and get Lucy!' As if right on cue Lucy approaches with Lily by her side. Gosh, they really are inseparable aren't they? 'What are you doing here Kiera?'

'Well to see you obviously, I’m at your door aren't I?'

'Just go home, I’m busy,' Lucy sighs.

 'Oh, so you’re busy? So tell me, when the hell aren't you busy?' She opens her mouth but then closes it again so I say 'forget it, you obviously are busy,' then walk away. They don't say anything but I know they desperately want to but they're probably waiting until I disappear. They'd love that - me disappearing. I think everyone would love that.

I feel light drops of rain fall onto my face, leaving a wet patch. The drops turn into floods all gushing down. From the same place and at the same pace. I wrap my arms around my chest protectively, trying to stay warm but I still feel shivers running down my spine. I run home, not wanting to stay in this never ending weather a second longer.

I open the door, then close it with force and stand behind it. It's the first time in a long time that I’m relieved to be home. There's nothing but silence throughout the whole house. I know my parents are in because both their cars are parked outside the house. I can sense something is wrong. Very wrong. I want to call out "mum" and "dad" but I haven't called them that in so long that it actually feels foreign on my tongue. So I look around the house instead of calling them. I go into the living room because that's usually where my alcoholic dad is but there is no sign of him. The room is clean which is different to the empty cans of beer I’m used to. I go into the kitchen and see my parents sat at the dining table. 'What's going on?'

'Nothing, you're a little late aren't you?' My mum asks.

'Yes, I am, I got a little held up. What's going on?'

'Nothing, go and get cleaned up and come back here, we need to talk to you.' My heart starts beating ten times its normal rate and it makes me think of all the bad things I've done. 'Does it have to do with the silence?'

'Just go and get cleaned up will you?' My dad screams and I jump in shock and horror before running up the stairs. I'm used to his usual daily outbursts but I didn't see this coming because everything was so silent which caused me to jump. 

I take a shower and get out of the damp clothes that I was in and change into some clean clothes. I check my phone before I go downstairs, to calm my nerves and I see a text from Lucy. 

Don't come over! Lily and Liz are here                                                                                                                      xo-Luce

Oh. She sent me a text. If only I checked it, then there would've been no need for that little embarrassment earlier on. I sigh, throwing my blackberry on my bed and go downstairs. 'Sit down, Kiera.'

'Okay.' I mumble as I take a seat. I look at her to carry on, wondering how long this is going to take.

 'I don't know how to say this.'

'Just say it.'

'Okay.' I look at her and notice the silent tears flowing down her face. She wiped the tears away with the palm of her hand and takes a deep breathe before saying 'I have a brain tumour.'