Apples Don't Just Mean School [in process of rewriting]

Medications And Meditations

'Cause you're a sky, 'cause you're a sky full of stars/I wanna die in your arms/'Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark/I'm gonna give you my heart ~ Coldplay, Sky Full Of Stars

Emily's POV

I was finally, finally, allowed to go home from the hospital. I had missed Jenna's funeral... but I knew that I would have skipped it anyway. Yes, because you're WEAK. You just don't want to cry when all the kids and your friends are around. Crybaby. I scowled angrily. When did YOU show up? I didn't ask for YOUR opinion. But it was true... in a way. I didn't want to show my vulnerable side. My pride didn't allow that.

There. You FINALLY admitted it. Ugh, you're too puffed up with self-importance. I groaned out loud and slammed a pillow onto my face. Shut up. Speak up, I can't hear you over your ego! I grated my teeth together. I'm arguing with myself again, I must be nuts. Oh, so you JUST noticed that? I rolled my eyes. Why did I have such a sarcastic, sadistic, sassy, and all the words starting with 's', side? It was kind of irritating.

I plonked down at my desk and furiously started marking a stack of worksheets long overdue. Correct, wrong, correct, correct, correct, c- WHAT SORT OF ANSWER IS THIS? I dropped my pen and threw my hands up. WOW, 9R, I'm totally not disappointed in you! I let my arms drop. You know you love the kiddos, Emily Fox. Don't try to lie to yourself. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't so smart. I keep outsmarting myself. Shut UP, me. 

Unfortunately, that part of my mind kept chattering on and on and on. Well, you're not smart per say. You're only okay-ish. Actually, you're smart but when you SAY you're smart that's being immodest and bad, so- I'm not saying it, I'm thinking it. So shut up and let me mark this atrociously done worksheet! No, I'm not going to shut up. I can talk whenever I WANT. We're an independent person, Emily. 

Matthew's POV

I kept staring at the charred wings of Silver Creek High. The east wing was completely destroyed, and 9R had to be housed in the empty classrooms that we hardly used. The earlier classroom was bright-coloured and airy, and the tables were smooth and new. The replacement room, however, was dusty and humid, the tables were marked and scratched, and it was tiny. And now, I have to clean it. 

Man up, Harper, and get the mop. You MAY be messy at home but you actually LIKE clean places. Now stop moaning and groaning and complaining. I let my shoulders droop. Do you ALWAYS have to tell me to 'man up'? Yes. I forced THAT part of me into the back of my head, then reluctantly picked up the mop standing in the corner. Stupid Steinfield. Why do I have to do this? Oh yeah, because "it is the teacher's responsibility to let the child have a comfortable learning environment". 

I scrubbed furiously at the grimy floor with the mop, half-trioing at least ten times. Damn Stein field. Can't he get the school cleaners to do this? Technically, it IS your job, Matthew. You love the kids. Now MOVE. I gritted my teeth, but continued the arduous task of cleaning. Back away, you stupid dust bunnies... I thrashed the mop about irritably. Steinfield should be the one doing this. He's getting fat, sitting around all day.

Finally, I managed to make the drab, horrible room moderately presentable. I was lucky that the Staff Room wasn't burnt down, so I didn't actually have to go save the bangles. I had stapled some nice posters and newspaper articles on the cork board at the back of the classroom too. If Steinfield complains, I swear I will MURDER him. But you would be out of a job, Matthew. Does the prison sound nicer? This place IS a prison! You're the one keeping yourself here. You're too attached.

Emily's POV

I realised I was STARVING, and that I had worked without any break for three hours straight. Shocking, really. I half-reluctantly got out of my seat and stretched, wincing at the craghhhck sound my back made. Then, I shuffled out of the air-conditioned room and into the kitchen. I spent a few moments gazing out at the stars. It sparked off a memory...

Emily's Short Memory

"Daddy, daddy, look at the stars!" I squealed, running around on stubby little legs. "Yes, Em! Aren't they pretty?" my father replied. I nodded energetically. "They're saying 'good night' to us, daddy!" I added happily. "Yes, they will watch over us all night, and they're still there in the day, but hidden. They're the best angels that watch over all of us, Emily," my father explained. "Angels? Daddy, what's angel?" I asked, sitting down on his lap.

"An angel is beautiful and has big, feathery wings! They look after us, but we can't see them up close. They're gifts from God, you see. They make sure that we are safe, so they watch over us at night," he said, smiling as he pointed up at the stars. I gazed up with my five-year-old eyes and wowed at the awesome spectacle. "Daddy, I wanna be an angel when I grow up!" I declared. He took my small hands in his and replied, "You'll be an angel to all those who truly love you, Em."

I felt a small tear of fondness trail down my cheek. My father had dementia, now, so he definitely didn't remember such a tiny event to him... but to me, it was an eye-opening experience. Oh, damn, I still haven't cooked anything! I bustled over to the fridge, hoping to find left-overs. To my immense surprise, I found an entire pepperoni pizza. PIZZA YES I LOVE PIZZA PIZZAAAAA! I mentally spazzed and chucked the pizza in the oven.

It gradually heated up, and after three impatient minutes, I pulled down the over door and took out my dinner. I could smell the smoky cheese and almost drooled in anticipation. I was definitely a sucker for pizza. Dude, think about the CALORIES. Terrifying. Oh, shut up. I get my fun too. 

Matthew's POV

I sighed and watched the smoke curl up in tendrils off my plate. Eating alone was always a lonely thing. Well, you're destined for loneliness, Matthew. You've been dumped TWICE. What was the first girl called again? Umm... Her name's Serenity. See? Maybe you're going to be lonely forever, but hey, you're an introvert! Just bear with it. True. But I like friends... I'm an INFJ. We both know about em'. So don't give me stupid excuses.

I knew although I was an introvert, I still liked people. Loneliness is different from self-company, after all. I wonder if I WILL find someone. If I will, I guess I haven't found her yet. Well, for the time being, I'll just focus on my spaghetti... 

A/N: Yay! Mattie is lonely! I made this chappie a little longer to squeeze in Mattie's POV so... Well, you know the drill: Vote and comment! <3