Break Me If You Can (Anthony Padilla)

Chapter 4 || The Visit

The next day, I lay in my bed, playing Pokemon on my old Gameboy Color.

I hear a knock on the door.

"Come in! I yell.

The door slowly opens, and Anthony walks in.

He's wearing a plaid shirt with jeans, and a red jacket.

"Hey," he says. "What's up?"

"Not much," I answer. "Just trying to catch this Jigglypuff."

He smiles and nods, and sits down in the chair next to my bed.

"Why weren't you at school?" he asks.

"Oh, you know," I say. "I just, uh, didn't feel so good this morning."

Anthony nods again and leans over to see the screen of my Gameboy.

"You should make your Pikachu use thunderbolt," he says, pointing to the screen.

I use the attack and the Jigglypuff collapses.

"Yes!" I say. I turn to Anthony. "Thanks!"

"No problem," he says back.

He turns around to look at the paintings on my wall, and I see three bruises on the back of his neck.

I gasp.

"Oh my god!" I say. "Who did this to you?"

He looks at me, somewhat scared, or embarrassed.

"That?" he says, covering the bruises. "Oh, that's nothing..."

I give Anthony an annoyed look.

"Come on, Anthony," I say. "The truth, please."

He sighs.

"These two guys at school," he begins to say. "They just decided to beat me up, and I don't even know why, I just-"

"Those assholes!" I cut in. "Um, uh, let me see what I can do."

I close my eyes and try to focus only on healing the bruises on his neck.

Come on, please.

I don't want him to suffer.

My eyes open to Anthony staring at me.

"Whoa," he says. "That was amazing."

I blush.

"Er, thanks," I say, smiling. "Feel better?"

"Yeah," he says. "Better."

"Well," I say. "Healing injuries is another part of my powers. I've only used it one other time, though."

"When was that?" Anthony asks.

The memories come flooding back into my head.

"I'd rather not talk about it," I say. "It doesnt even really matter anymore."

"Whenver you feel like talking," he says. "I'm here."

"Thanks," I whisper.

"Well I have to go," he says, walking over to me.

We hug for a few seconds, but to me it feels like a split second.

"It's a long drive to my house."

"Wait," I say, stopping him at the door. "I'll come with you."