Companion

Chapter 5: I'm Okay

I wake to the sounds of loud thumps and crashes coming from the kitchen. I sigh, swing my legs over the side of the couch, and rub the sleep and blur from my I eyes before investigating.

Edge has a pot of something heating over the stove. I find him raiding the fridge.

"What are you doing?" My voice sounds raspy. Edge doesn't take his eyes off the contents of the fridge.

"Do we have pasta sauce?"

"Um, if we did, I guess it would be in the pantry." Edge shuts the fridge and rushes to the pantry.

"You cook?" I call after him. He pokes his head out of the pantry.

"Not a bit!" I sigh at his answer and walk over to the stove and look inside the pot.

"Are you trying to boil this water?" I ask. Edge walks out of the pantry empty-handed.

"Yeah," he answers, walking over to the pot and looking inside with me. "How fucking long does it take?"

"It's a hell of a lot faster if you put the lid on it. Traps the heat it," I tell him. Edge turns around, opens a drawer, and pulls out the lid, setting it on top. "No pasta sauce, I take it?"

"I dunno. Didn't see any." I go into the pantry and bring out two cardboard boxes.

"Prepare yourself. I'm gonna teach you how to make Mac 'n' cheese."

+++++

"Mac 'n' cheese is some seriously good shit."

"The fake cheese really adds a little something," I say. Edge smiles. We continue eating.

"So, are you going to Training tomorrow?" I ask. Edge sighs and rolls his eyes. "Sorry I asked."

"No. No, I guess I should go."

"Seriously?" I exclaim, a smile spreading across my face. He sighs again.

"Well, not if you start making a huge deal about it."

"Okay, I'll stop. But just answer me one question--"

"I'm going to Training tomorrow because it was so fucking boring and quiet without you here," Edge says, cutting me off, yet still answering my unasked question.

"But we don't even really talk that much anyway," I remind him. He just shrugs and goes back to his food.

We eat in silence. As usual.

+++++

"EDGE!" I shout, pounding on the door. "You should get up now if you want enough time to get ready!" I put an ear to the door. Nothing. I pound harder, louder, and more rapidly on the door.

"EDGE! GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED!" This time I hear a groan. I smile. But not an accomplished or genuinely happy smile. Oh, no. I haven't won yet.

"Make me, bitch," I hear Edge yell, probably into his pillow. I bust through the door, and stand in the doorway. Edge is lying on his stomach, and has pulled his comforter all the way over his head.

"Edge. Get up," I say firmly, with as much authority as I can muster.

"No," comes his curt reply. With that, I walk over to the opposite side of the bed, get a bit of a running start, then launch myself onto the side of the bed, causing him to roll off the other side and onto the floor in surprise, spewing profanities in my direction.

I walk around the bed so I stand over him, tangled in his sheets, wearing only his boxers. He's trying to glare at me, but a traitorous smile escapes. I smirk at him.

"Time for school," I say as sweetly as possible, before exiting his room to get myself ready.

After I've gotten dressed, there's a knock at the bathroom door. I let Edge in. I think a little thank you to whoever built this house for putting in two sinks.

We get ready quickly, without talking to each other. I start to cover up the remaining fork marks with makeup. I feel Edge watching me.

"I'm sorry about that," he says. I shrug. I'm not that mad anymore.

"You've already apologized. It doesn't matter."

Edge goes back to styling his hair. I never realized how much effort went into a guy's hair. I stare at my own hair in the mirror, trying to figure out what to do with it. After about a minute, I gather it over my shoulder and braid it simply, then exit the bathroom.

I pack up my books in my backpack and grab a couple of frozen waffles, popping them into the toaster. Edge comes down the stairs right as they pop up. I hand one to him.

"Breakfast," I announce. He starts eating, and we finish on our way to the bus stop.

I thought it might be different today, since I came with my Companion. But stupid me forgot that my Companion is Edge. And everyone flat-out avoids us. And I know they're talking about us. I can tell from the way they'll steal tiny glances, then their eyes will dart back to whoever their talking to.

But when Penny and Nate come, I couldn't be more grateful.

They politely introduce themselves to Edge and make conversation like Edge is completely normal. Which, in actuality, may or may not be true. The four of us board the bus last together.

Edge walks down the seats in front of me. People either stare or look the other direction. And he pays no attention to any if them. But I can tell it bothers him from the way his shoulders are tensing.

When I walk down the rows, everyone flat-out stares. My stomach burns with guilt, and I don't know why. I take my seat in the back, next to Edge. He's looking out the window completely ignoring me. I take a deep breath and settle my backpack on my lap as Penny and Nate take the seats behind us. The bus doors close and the engine starts.

"You sure you wanna sit with me?" Edge whispers into my ear. I'm almost shocked at the amount of concern in his voice. I can't leave him alone. He may be scary, but I can't leave him. I shake my head. And then, so softly I'm not sure if it actually happened, he breathes a thank you, then goes back to looking out the window.

At the next stop, Oliver takes the seat in front of me. His partner sits next to him. He smiles at me, and I smile back, sharing in a silent moment of victory. Both of us got our Companions out of bed. And I'm surprised how much stronger hat one moment made me.

When the bus stops for the Intelligents, I strut my way out of the bus. No amount is gossip can hurt me. That is, as long as I don't know what they're saying.

The little confidence I gained is immediately stripped away as soon as I enter the school building.

Everyone is staring again. It isn't hard to ignore them. Until I feel rough hands on my back, and I jolt forward, falling onto my hands and knees. I am engulfed in a sea of people.

"You're gonna get yourself killed!"

"You're next, bitch."

"Go ahead! Join the freakshow."

The words all blend together. The faces all blend together. The floor tiles all blend together.

What did I do?

I try to get up off the cold floor, but I am overwhelmed by the crowd forming around me.

A shoe shoves into my side.

"Give that to Edge for me!"

"And this!"

Another foot slams into my stomach. I cough and gasp for air.

I did nothing! I want to scream. But I can hardly breathe. I cover my head in my hands. My face is wet, but I don't remember crying. I squeeze my eyes shut.

I feel a pair of hands on my shoulders, and I flinch. But these hands help me up. I am led out of the crowd. The bell rings, and I am suddenly, unreasonably, overcome with anxiety because I'm not in class.

My savior leads me into the nurse's office. I look him in the face. It was the teacher who handed me my schedule yesterday. He sits me down in a chair and hands me a tissue. I take it and dry my eyes.

"You gonna be okay?" He asks, but his voice is anything but gentle and sweet. It's almost harsh and gruff. He's telling me to suck it up. And I'm grateful. I don't need any sweet and gentle stuff. I need someone to tell me that I am okay. I have no other choice but to be okay.

I nod.

He opens the door for me, and I exit.

"My name is Mr. Gravis, by the way. Just in case you were curious." I was.

"Thank you," I croak. He nods, and I head to class.