Old Friends (Wirt x Reader)

Chapter 25

It was the Monday after Thanksgiving. Lots of time had passed since you'd seen Wirt, since everything happened. You were going back to school. Parts of it, you were looking forward to, other parts, not so much. You really didn't want to ride the school bus, so your mom agreed to drive you.

You sat in the car, watching the trees go by. Your brain, filled to the brim with mixed feelings, kept thinking about the benefits and worst case scenarios of school. You would just go about you day, not talk to anyone, and come home with homework. No big deal. Just avoid the bullies, and stick to the background.

After pulling up at the school, you waved to your mom as you exited the car and slung your backpack over your shoulder. You took a deep breath and walked to the entrance. You thought you could feel people looking at you. It's my imagination, my imagination, you assured yourself.

You made it to your first class, handed your teacher the doctor's note of why you missed school, then took your seat. You listened to the teacher and took notes, but you didn't raise your hand or speak aloud. All of your classes played out this way.

Lunchtime came around, and you took your bag lunch and sat at a random table. Kids came and sat at the same table, but none seemed interested in talking to you. You watched them joke and talk while you ate. You weren't jealous of their conversation or anything, you just wanted to listen.

Someone's words caught your ear, but you couldn't tell who's or what words followed. All you caught was, "lightning strike." Somehow word had gotten around. All it takes is one blabber mouth. You didn't know if they had been talking about you or Wirt; either way, it made you uncomfortable.

You tried ignoring the conversations. You thought back to the events of the Unknown. The teacher, the Endicotts, the crazy tavern people, the Woodsman and his daughter. You remembered your uncertainties of returning and scolded your past self. How could you have left behind your family? Greg? No, it was dumb, and you saw that now.

You took a pill for your headache before lunch period ended and you continued on with classes. Each class assigned homework as if they were the only class. Because high schoolers have endless time in the afternoons and evenings for homework apparently.

Your mom couldn't pick you up from school, and you didn't feel like walking, so the bus it was. It boarded and took a window seat near the front; you were one of the first stops, anyway. None of the kids bothered you, which you appreciated.

You hadn't seen Wirt at school. He must still be at his home. You wondered what he was up to; he had the same amount of recovery time as you did. He should have been okay enough to come to school. Maybe his emotional state was worse; maybe his parents decided on homeschool or something; maybe he- you cut off your thoughts.

There was no need for guessing, you could call or go over, or you could even ask Greg. You watched the trees go by, your headache worsening a little. You got off the bus and waved to the bus driver. You watched the bus pull away and headed up the driveway to your front door.

The stimulation of the day had worsened your headache to the point where you were ready to just sleep it off. Hours of homework was not what you wanted at the moment.

You sighed as you unlocked the door and entered the house. Your parents called to ask your school day went. You answered positively and went back to your room with your book-bag.

You lay on your bed, staring at the ceiling. You hoped Wirt would come back to school soon. Things were always so much better with him around.