Why We Laugh (#Wattys2018)

9. I Laughed As He Joked And She Broke

Hi! In an earlier authors not I said how I got mad at the real Hunter. This chapter depicts the argument, however this is a key plot point. Just to let you know, in the argument I was Eliza. 

This chapter heavely MENTIONS suicide, there is no actions or ravenous putting down of other characters.

10. 

Class hadn't started yet and the kids were in absolute chaos. My friend, Cooper, was bouncing a ball with another boy, Eric. The ball was flying all directions, bouncing off the walls and windows.

We were all stressed for our upcoming math exam. Therefore no one was really talking. It was a scared, tense, playful kind of quiet.

A few people were playing on their phones-one playing doodle jump-two playing Clash of Clans-2 scrolling through Instagram-2 taking selfies- and one boy marching around making dumb announcements.

"Hello," Hunter bellowed as he paced through the class, getting into everyone's business. His trademark Air Coby sneakers made a loud noise as he marched.

"Hi," I said, absentmindely. I was too occupied with my own thoughts.

"It is a beautiful day!" he exclaimed, approaching the window. He stood there, peacefully, examining the trees. For a moment, it was quiet.

"Mhhm," my friend agreed, too occupied trying to finish her homework.

"Perfect day to kill myself. Am I right...or am I right?" he echoed like some pop star before a concert.

He had a goofy grin on his face, foolish and joking.

We laughed, Cooper took this as a time to speak up.

"Yeah, quite a beautiful day to die," Cooper said, "escape the math exam."

"No kiddin'" Hunter blurted, throwing his head back with a groan, "screw math."

We all laughed, relieved even to be laughing. Hunter always had a way of making us laugh.

There was a call of distress from the other side of the room.

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking at the blond girl.

A girl I didn't know well called out, "my goddamn shoes: the laces are ruined."

I glanced at her pearly pair of white sketchers and laughed. The laces were shredded and muddy at the ends.

"They're just shoes," my friend said, dumbly, taking a break from her homework.

"Don't worry girl, I got ya. Shoes are precious. I can help," Hunter jumped onto the table, pushing back his funny hair. He had that stupid smirk on his face.

"I can tie a killer noose," he said, braggingly, reaching toward the girl.

We all cracked into foolish laughter. He snickered, laughing along.

"No use," she said, fiddling with her laces. "My parents will kill me!"

"I wouldn't kill my parents," he said, "I'll kill myself, I won't hear my two assh- of parents argue over the garage. And then, I wouldn't have to worry about shoes" he said, matter of factly.

We laughed. It was so funny.

He was joking about this crap.

"My parents are divorced too," another student said.

Hunter shook his head, "mine are still together, because they don't want to 'ruin 'me until I leave the house.'"

We laughed at the way he said 'ruin' as if he cared about the family.

"If I shoot myself..." he began.

"Be q-quiet," a voice came buried in the corner of the room. Everyone looked that way. It was Eliza. I had no clue she was even in this class.

Her face was contorted in annoyance, there was no smile on her face.

She looked pale and insulted, "S-s-uicide is n-not a joke."

She sounded blunt as much as panic.

Hunter seemed at a loss for words, but only for a brief moment, "I was going to say 'shoot myself in the foot' then I won't have to do P.E"

She scowled, I had never seen her this upset. Why was she getting so upset?

"You always j-oke about it. I'm tel-ling you ith's not a joke!"

I couldn't believe my eyes.

"It was all a joke, god," he rolled his eyes, proceeding on playing on his phone.

We laughed. Eliza's face went slack for a moment, then very aggravated.

I slowly stepped up to her to soothe her, "It was a joke."

"I k-know," she groaned, but her knuckles tightened.

"People joke about suicide all the time. Even my mom does. She'll tell me about people at her work who screw up so bad that they should kill themselves," I said, knowingly.

She shook her head, "F-forget what I said."

"You okay?" I asked, again.

She nodded, replacing the frown with a smile, "Yes." She said it with a certain bitterness.

I was going to tell her about the book but didn't think it was necessary, she was too mad.

So I left.

But I couldn't forget what she said.

Not when I found out the truth.