Just a scoop of Huckleberry

Strawberry

And just like that my whole week went into a hell hole. School has started and I'm not so sure it is right for me. I mean come on, a kid who is paralyzed and hasn't gone to school in twelve years.

It is lunch right now. The Cafe smells like lunch waste and sweat. Kassie comes up to me at lunch and grins at me.

"Hey Leo..." she says, smile faltering. I can tell something is terribly wrong but I try to keep my cool.

"Kassie, is everything okay?" She nods slowly then shakes her head. "Oh Leo! I'm doomed! We are all doomed!" Her cries echo the lunch room. The whole room looks up at us and my cheeks burn a familiar red. They all lose interest fairly quick and are soon chattering about like nothing ever happened.

"Shhh, Kassie, it'll be alright." She looks solemnly at me and whispers, "No Leo, it's not."

I gulp in surprise as an old nemesis approaches us. I can feel Kassie sit straight as Elias strolls over. Leather jacket and ripped jeans, he looks like a gang member from an abandoned alley. "Well well well," Elias reels over his tongue. "What a little surprise!" He examines his fingers. "Kass, you still hanging out with wheel boy, eh?" Elias laughs bringing up his pecks. The whole room flushes into a silence. "Don't you remember our deal?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Kassie..." I question.

She sobs. "I'm sorry Leo." She doesn't look at me, she's starring into space. "I can't let him hurt you again."

Elias cackles. "Oh wheel boy didn't know about the deal, so sad." He puts a sarcastic wimpy face on.

"Kassie, what's going on?" I yell. The crowd murmurs before Elias glares to shut them up. Kassie looks away, a pained expression in her eyes. I've seen that look before.

"Oh, Leo," Elias snickers. "She can't be with you anymore."

I freeze and a chill runs up my spine. "What are you talking about..." I stammer. My heart races.

Elias just laughs. "Kassie wassie is afwaid you gonna get hwurt again."

I glance at Kassie. "Kassie, what in the-."

She cries louder. "I'm sorry Leo, I just can't bare to see you hurt. I want the best for you."

My heart cracks. "I can't be without you Kassie, you saved me..." Kassie stands up and hands me a key chain with a strawberry charm with her name engraved on it. It reminds me of her hair. The smell that brand me joy. Now it just brings sadness to my heart.

"I'm sorry Leo."

Elias smirks and grabs her hand before yanking her away from my clutching arms.