Minor Gifts

Chapter 17: Rumor Has It

Step by step, I slowly made my way to the bright white table were my associates gather.

The rec room was filled with whispering teens. Some silently stared at me as I walked by, others were too engrossed in there conversations. The sound of soft mumbling filled the room, as I try to tune it out.

But it wasn't easy... I was curious yes, but I could care less of what the others are thinking and choosing to believe. For what do they know? They never befriended Blue. Infact, I doubt - if I asked any of the others - they would know that Blue was just a nickname of mine for him...

Right before I met my destination-

"I heard he was disobedient to his Doctor..." A random girl with with pigtails muttered to her friend. "That's not what I heard, I was told that he was poised!" A chubby, wide-eyed kid had said with gross excitement in his eyes...
"No, no, no, you got it all wrong guys." A guy with long bangs - that covered his eyes - said with attitude.

My fist tightened as I bit the side of my cheeks to remind myself not to give them any bait. But it wasn't easy.

I purposely dropped my book that Dr. Lit had given me before she left. I wanted to hover a bit longer to hear 'long bangs' really believed happened.

Or did I?

"Okay smartly pants, what really happened to the boy?" She asked him with an irritated tone.

I slowly bent down to pick up my book, then I heard what I thought I wanted to hear...

"He Died.-" The boy with the long bangs didn't have a change of voice nor did he hesitate to answer. Everyone at there table gasped. "- Its simple really, he just wasn't strong enough. The capital felt he was week and no longer of help for there research."

"Research??? What research!" The girl with the pigtails asked raising her voice at him.

"Will you shut up? No one else can know what I told you okay?" The boy with the bangs whispered trying to quickly silence her.

If I had any welcome to this table, I'm sure my welcome has expired.

I now quickly made my way to my table. From the looks of it, Grey seemed to have been watching me.

My friends and I sat in silence among the loud whispering from the others that had filled the room.

'Can we just talk about anything else but Tanner?' I prayed.

***

Before my time was up - here at the rec room - I looked over at the one other person that still remained at my table with me.

He hadn't played a trick on me nor had he tryed to prank me.
He wasn't himself either...

I doubt anything else but Blue was on his mind.

Grey stared off into an oblivion as I couldn't - even if I tried - escape this reality of things.

I wasn't sure how much longer Grey had left - here at the rec room - so I felt the need to talk to him.

Maybe I craved comfort...

Or maybe he needed it more then me. He was Tanners best friend after all...

"Hey..." That's all I could think of, but it made him click back to reality.

His left eye twitched twice before looking over to me.

"Hey." He replied plainly.

"I... I'm really-" I started to admit but he beat me to it, "Confused?" He asked finishing my sentence.

I looked him in the eye and answered, "Yah..."

"One minute he's there, the next he's not. Yah, I'd say it's confusing." He said.

"They think he's dead." I gesture around the room. I closed my eyes trying to shake off my true feeling. I can't let the rumors in to my head, for they will only change what I know is not real.

Grey took in a deep breath. His wrist band's alarm went off as he quickly looked at me.

He didn't seem to want to leave the rec room, but he doesn't really have a choice.

"Jayden." He said grabbing my arm, sort of startling me.

"Yes?" I replied, shocked at his sudden change of spirit.

"I need to tell you something... But I... But you... They won't believe-." Grey tried to tell me, but he was interrupted by Steve and Andrewd.

"Let's go Cole, your time here is up." Steve reminds Grey with his deep voice of doom.

Andrewd puts both hands on Grey's shoulders, signaling him to stand up.

'But what is he doing?' I wonder hoping he decides to listen to the guards.

But Grey only stared into my eyes, as if he was trying to tell me something but all I saw in his eyes was fear and desperation.

As the guards begin to haul off Grey and escort him to his room my wrist band went off too.

'Time to go to sleep'... I mock Dr. Kim's last words to me every time I get back from the rec room.

I made my way back to the metal door were I meet with Dr. Kim. She has a viscous grin on her face.

"Oh, God." I whispered. For I know what comes with the evil smile...

'Get ready for some pain...' I warned myself as I followed her back to my 'room'.