Atuality *editing*

Chapter 12

I walked downstairs and sat down on the couch. David is on the phone with the school telling them about Leo's death and that we wouldnt be attending school for the next couple of days.

After he hung up, he sat on the other side of the couch.

"Dad, I was actually wondering if i can go to school," I said.

"Really," he asked. "Why?"

"We havent, I mean, I haven't been to school since Max died. I really dont want to fall behind," I said."

"Chris, you haven't cared about your grades since you started," he said. "I honestly doubt you care now. Normally you'd be excited to stay home from school."

"I know. I just really don't want to stay here all day," I said. "I also need a distraction."

"You don't have to stay here, you can go for a walk or go to the movies or something," he said. "And you can invite friends over if you'd like."

"I don't have any," I mumbled.

"What do you mean you don't have any?" David asked. "You've been in school for months. How do you not have friends?"

"It's not easy making friends when everyone is afraid of you," I said.

"Max made friends."

"That doesn't count," I said. "They already knew eachother. And they were basically the only people they had there."

"Well, if you want to go to school, go ahead," he said. "We have to leave in ten minutes."

I ran upstairs and got ready then went out to the van. I didn't have time to eat breakfast, so I'd have to eat there.

It's going to be weird without the boys being here with me. I actually feel kind of nervous. I mean I can protect myself just fine, but I also felt kind of vulnerable and alone. I wonder if this is how Max felt going into the building by herself on our first day. At least I've been on my own without the boys before, she hasn't. She has always been with us.

I walked into the cafeteria, grabbed my food, and sat down. About five minutes later, someone walked up to me and threw my food onto the ground.

"Where's your friends at Reed?" he said.

"None of your business Colby," I said.

Colby is the school bully. He doesnt really like the idea that me and the boys "rule the school" now instead of him. It's not like we planned that, it just sort of happened that way.

He's always picked on me since I'm not as big as the other boys. They always stood up for me though. As much as I appreciate it, I sometimes wish they wouldn't because now he sees me as the weakest one. That I won't do anything to protect myself and it just makes it harder on me. I've talked to them about it, but they wouldn't listen.

I got up and started to walk away. I didn't need this right now. Maybe David was right. I shouldn't have came.

He grabbed me and shoved me against the wall. I punched him in the face and he backed up. He started walking towards me again. I punched him again but this time I couldn't stop myself. I kept punching and kicking him, letting everything out. The sadness, the anger, the fear, everything.

Someone grabbed my shoulder and I turned around to see who it was. It was Charlie.

"I think he gets it, Chris," he said. "Let's go before the teachers come."

We walked out of the cafeteria into the hallway.

"Why did you come?" I asked.

"I had a feeling Colby would try something," he said.

"I don't need you here to protect me," I said.

"We weren't protecting you," he said laughing. "We know what you're capable of. We were just trying to prevent somehting like what happened in there from happening."

"Let's get out of here," I said. "Let's go watch a movie or something."