The Things We Do (Under Editing)

Web of Lies

In case anyone is wondering what getting shot feels like: It hurts... a lot. I slept for several hours before dragging myself out of bed and into the shower. The bandages around my shoulder were a pain to get off, and I tried not to look at the mess that was my wound. That ugly patch could be ignored for now. Once I was clean, I wandered back into my room and picked up my phone. It was dead. Luckily my charger reached my bed, so I didn't have to sit on my floor to deal with the chaos I knew was waiting. Over the days I'd been gone, Kacie and Mel had left so many messages for me that even looking at the number gave me a headache.

They started out fairly normal with some, "Have u seen this?" and gradually shifted to, "r u even getting my texts?" and, "Amelia? Amelia, where are you?" I'd have felt bad for worrying them, but I didn't really have the strength.

This would be easier if Mel would just come back already, then I wouldn't have to read or type, but she did not appear at my wish. Instead, I opened a group chat and sent, "I'll explain later." That would be enough to summon them. They'd probably barge in yelling and fussing, which I wasn't really looking forward to, but it would be nice to see them.

A moment later, my phone dinged with massages from both of them.

"Oh, gosh... ur ok," came from Kacie.

Mel, on the other hand demanded, "DO NOT MOVE. I'M COMING HOME NOW."

She definitely didn't have to worry about me moving. I wouldn't be moving ever again if I could help it.

I just had to think up an explanation.

A week and a half: that's how long I'd been gone. It wasn't as long as I'd thought, but still long enough to cause problems. Kacie had tried calling the cops, but Wraith informed them that I'd been pulled away for a sudden family emergency. It wasn't his best cover story. My friends saw through it immediately. 

When Mel and Kacie barged into my room, just as I knew they would, I fixed the lie a bit by telling them my half-brother had been in an accident and I'd been in such a hurry to leave I'd left my phone. 

At the mention of Seth, my story instantly gained credibility. Ten years old and he was the only reason I'd ever set foot in my hometown again. The girls knew it.

"Is he ok?" I could hear the worry in Kacie's voice and I deeply regretted having to use this lie. She'd been there for the pain when dad and I had learned who Seth's father was, as well as all the nights taking care of the child suddenly unwanted by either parent. Dad had eventually come around, which is why I was willing to leave Seth behind to come to school, but he meant nearly as much to Mel as he did to me.

"Just a broken arm. He's fine." Luckily for me Seth had actually broken his arm recently, so I wasn't completely lying. Dad never kept Kacie updated on these things, I don't even know if he had her number, and I hadn't had time to tell her. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"You sure you're alright?" Mel had to sit on her hands to keep from checking me over. She didn't have the same connection to Seth that Mel and I did, so I didn't feel nearly as bad for telling her the story I'd settled on, but that also meant she was still a little suspicious.

Kacie was practically vibrating where she stood, all of the anxiety from the last week suddenly having all but no direction. I held out my hands to her and she grabbed them, intertwining our fingers. Her shaking didn't stop and she slowly gripped my hands tighter, closing her eyes and forcing herself to breath. We stood like that for a while, Kacie finally managing to calm herself, but still not letting go.

I eyed out locked fingers. "You ever going to let go?"

"Not if you're going to disappear like that again."

I grinned at her. "Shame. There go my plans."

They both glared at me but dropped my hands. "Just please don't worry us like that again."

"I'll do my best." I wanted to offer her more, but I couldn't make that promise.

In the end, though, the pair of them proclaimed that we needed a movie night and went to get snacks. Rewatching all our favorites was our go-to response to bad things happening. Problems don't seem as overwhelming when you're burrowed into a pile of pillows and blankets while belting out the lyrics to every song and quoting all the best lines. I think they forgave me for disappearing halfway through the second movie, but the guilt was still eating at me.

Getting back into my classes took work. I'd been struggling enough to keep on top of things without missing nearly two weeks of classes. One more disaster like this and even my extra credit couldn't help me. Probably the only time I didn't spend trying to catch up that weekend was during the breaks I took for panic attacks and snacks.

I trudged to campus Monday morning feeling like the dead, and probably looking like it too. Virtualization was already underway by the time I slipped in the door, just waving at the professor I'd interrupted.

"First day back and you're already late," they commented.

"Sorry, Doctor Lane. It won't happen again."

The look they gave me indicated they didn't believe me in the slightest. I didn't blame them. I didn't believe me either.

Everyone watched me walk to my seat, but I was a bit beyond caring by then. I slid into the seat next to Elliot like always, barely glancing at him.

"Miss me, nerd?" I asked, trying to fake my usual snark.

He didn't even look up. "You were gone?"

Gee, thanks.

The rest of the day carried on much the same way. I barely made it to most of my other classes on time seeing as walking still wasn't the easiest activity to accomplish. Most of my professors made a comment of some kind about my absence and I kept giving excuses. Half the time I wasn't even fully aware of what I was saying, much less of whether my answers contradicted each other at all. It took too much energy to think, and even more to care. Eventually I'd be mad at myself for the story I was spinning, but not then, I was too tired.