Logical《Septiplier》

「Chapter 7」

It was really quiet at lunch. There wasn't much to talk about, everyone felt awkward and it was my fault. I know it's not that they don't care, it's just they don't know how to approach the situation and comfort me. I was in a gloomy mood, and every time I looked up, Mark was looking at me, concerned, scared.

"J-jack?" Midori finally spoke.

"hmm?" I look over to her.

"a-are you okay? w-were really concerned." I look around to everyone, they all had the same look of concern.

"oh, um. yeah. I think i'm fine, a lot has been going on."

"is there anything you need? anything we can help with?"

"no." they continued to stare at me, they all look at each other, still not knowing what to say or do. I didn't want to scare them, I really am fine, too much has been going on at once.

The rest of the day was a blur, I felt really out of it, I felt really paranoid as well. The only thing I could really think of was Mark, what was he gonna think? is he gonna think my parents are abusive? what will he even say?

After school, I slowly made my way to the library. I opened the door and the wave of cold air hit me as I entered. I found a table and sat down and waited for Mark's arrival.

As soon as I sat down though, a crash from the library doors was made, Mark had entered through and looked around the library for me. The second he spotted me, he walked over and sat down.

"explain." I sigh and push up my glasses and look Mark in the eyes.

"okay. I know you're pretty concerned."

"Pretty concerned? i'm really concerned Jack! I want you to be okay." I feel the tears begin to well up in my eyes, bur I blink them back, I can't cry now. not again.

"so I have a designated curfew of 4 p.m on the dot on school nights. If i'm not home by then, my parents get upset. Well I thought it was a little ridiculous that they were getting upset that I agreed to tutor you, so I stood up for you and myself. My parents thought I was giving attitude so my dad... he... um..." this time the tears had poured over, they were flowing free and I could do nothing to stop them, it still shocked me that my father would have ever hit me. Mark stood up and walked over and hugged me as I silently cried.

"Jack it's okay. please don't cry." hearing him say that, it made me feel better. no one has really comforted me before, mainly because my friends aren't the best at comforting people.

Once I get myself together I wipe away my tears and continue with the story, well, with Mark still hugging me. I take a breath.

"So usually whenever I sleep through my alarm, someone wakes me up. But today no one did and I was late. My parents also will get pissed when they get that call." Mark finally breaks away from the hug knowing now that i've calmed down and sits down right next to me.

"shit Jack, i'm sorry. I need to make this up to you."

"no Mark, it's okay. Besides nothing can fix the predicament i'm in now."

"where there's a will, there's a way!"

"what do you mean? I can't sneak anything past my parents."

"Jack your helping me, so i'm helping you. If there's anything I know, it's the art of bullshit, specifically bullshitting your parents." I gasp slightly.

"bullshit my parents? are you crazy?!" Mark rolls his eyes and grabs out a piece of paper and a pencil.

"draw out the first floor to your house, assuming all the house phones are on only the first floor." I hesitate a bit and give him a puzzled look, but I start drawing anyway as he continues talking. "Well i've been late plenty of times, I can come up with an excuse, knowing your parents, they won't take any excuses." I slide the paper over to him. he points to on of the located phones.

"this one is closest to your room. perfect. before your parents get home, you need to get the batteries out of all the other phones to ensure that you answer the phone, not them. At exactly 5:47 that automated call will come in. how are your acting skills?"

"pretty good, but shouldn't I be helping you with homework?"

"forget about it, I can do it at home. anyway, you need to fake that you are talking to the principal, ignore what you're actually hearing and imagine the principal's voice."

"and what if my parents want to talk to said principal?"

"that's why you make the call short and sweet, make it seem like the call has to be a quick update on how i'm doing, that way your parents can't question. and afterwards, you have to find a way to put the batteries back into the other phones without getting caught."

"that part should be easy. and if this doesn't work, I will probably be sentenced to death. so if i'm not in school tomorrow, you know what happened!" I joke, Mark chuckles slightly.

"knowing you, you'll be able to pull this off easy. you just need to work out and practice a script for that phone call you'll be receiving." I nod and I feel confident about this, maybe I can get away with it.