Pictures of You [M. C.]

17

(Song for this chapter: "Stealing Cars" by: James Bay)

"Well," dad begins as I follow him into the dark house, "are we going to talk about what happened?" He's being very calm and patient about the whole ordeal. I'm just waiting for the bomb to drop.

"I'd rather not," I mumble. Dad flips on the light in the hallway then turns to look at me, wanting an explanation. "I had to, dad. Calum was in trouble. I couldn't just leave him." I put as much conviction into each word as I can, willing him to believe that I wouldn't do something so stupid if I didn't have a good reason.

His features soften and his eyes look almost...sad. "Oh, Riley. When are you going to learn that you can't save everyone?" His question isn't mocking or angry; it's full of solace and hurt. "You have such a big heart and I think that's your fatal flaw." I knit my eyebrows in confusion. I've never heard him talk like this before.

"What do you mean?"

"You think you have to help everyone but you simply can't; no one can. You care too much sometimes." With that, he pecks my forehead and goes upstairs leaving me alone to process his words. I stand there for what feels like hours before slowly going upstairs and crawling into bed, not bothering to change clothes.

***

The weekend passes by all too quickly, dissolving into Monday. Dad never again brought up what happened Friday night and I can't thank him enough for that. Monday morning, I eat my breakfast quietly while dad sits across from me reading the paper. An awkward silence fills the room and I try to eat quicker but without being too obvious about it.

"Do you need a ride to school?" dad asks not looking up from the newspaper. I squint hard at the now soggy cereal in my bowl.

"I think I'll just walk but thanks though." Dad nods, not saying another word. After placing my bowl in the sink, I grab my bag and head towards school. My mind is whirling with so many unanswered questions. Pushing those thoughts away, I focus instead on just getting though this week. Next week is spring break, which means no Calum and no Michael. Speaking of, the latter is standing out front of the school, his hands stuck deep into his jacket pockets.

"Good morning," he beams, clearly forgetting our argument Friday night. I ignore him and continue into the building but he doesn't take the hint. "Are you seriously still mad at me?" he asks once catching up to me. I stop dead in my tracks to glare at him.

"Yes, I'm still mad at you, Michael. You knew talking to Calum was important to me and you messed it up. That could've been my only chance to save him." Michael laughs at me. He laughs at me. It's a humorless one but that still doesn't make it any better.

"Save him? Riley, can't you see that you can never save him? For one, he clearly does not want your help. If he did, he would have asked for it a long time ago. You are trying so hard to save someone who is a lost cause. Why can't you realize that and move on?" He looks frustrated with me. Almost like he's trying to explain a simple concept to a child. But I am not a child.

I scoff, "you sound like my father. I can't believe you," I shake my head. "I thought you were my friend."

Michael purses his lips. "I am and as your friend I am telling you, get over Calum and focus on the people who actually want you around." Where is all of this coming from? I understand that he's trying to fix things but he's going about it in all the wrong ways.

"I think we need some time apart from each other because if we continue this conversation one of us is going to say something we don't mean and ruin this whole thing," I meet his eyes with mine, not flinching away.