One Detention Saved My Life

Chapter 14

Amy comes back to school the next day, although her face is pale white.
"You sure you're all right?" I ask as we take our seat at our lunch table.
"For the billionth time I'm fine."
"Okay. I just worry about you that's all."
"You don't need to worry about me."
"Well, I was worried yesterday when you didn't show up!"
"Guys, stop your fighting," Jeremy says irritated.
"We weren't fighting," Amy and I reply at the same time.
Amanda, sitting beside Jeremy, starts to crack up laughing.
"You guys are so cute together."
"Are you going to tell them or should I?" Jeremy asks impatiently."
"Tell us what?" I ask taking a bite of my mac and cheese.
"I'm throwing a party Saturday night. I thought about what Tim did yesterday and thought it should be celebrated."
"What did Tim do yesterday?" Amy asks curious.
I just swallowed another bite of mac and cheese when Amanda beats me to it.
"Your boyfriend had the courage to call Brett Miller a coward. He also said that the reason Brett bullies is to stay on the football team."
Amy's face turns whiter. She looks like she just saw a ghost. I sure hope that that's not the case, though.
"Amy, are you okay?"
"Tim, do you have any idea what you've done? You taunted the beast and now he's going to come after us with vengeance."
"I was standing up for myself."
"I was gone for one day and you made a mess of your life!"
Amy has never been upset like this before and quite frankly it scares me.
"I need some air," Amy says getting up out of her seat. I watch her leave, but then go after her when I see her stumble on her own two feet. I catch her just as she's about to hit the floor.
"I didn't need your help."
I ignore her comment. "I'm taking you to the nurse."
I tighten my grip around her arm, mostly so that she doesn't get away from me.
"I hate, hate, hate you right now."
The word hate stabs at my heart, but I have to remember that she doesn't mean it.
We walk in silence the whole way down to the nurse's office. Amy's pale white face is full of hate. I try to ignore it as I open the door to the nurse's office.
"My girlfriend isn't feeling very well," I say to the nurse as we walk inside.
"What's wrong with her?" The nurse asks motioning towards Amy.
"I think her stomach is bothering her."
"Sweetie, come with me to lie down."
My hand is still locked around her arm.
"Tim, let me go."
I ignore her, afraid that if I let go she'll fall down. I drag her to where the nurse motions, lying her down on a dark blue cot, her head automatically sinking down into it.
"I hate you," she whispers.
"Well, good. My father forbade me from seeing you outside of school."
I close the bright white curtain angrily as I leave Amy by herself. I quickly leave the nurse's office, trying desperately not to let my emotions get the best of me. Amy, you don't hate me, right? I think silently to myself.

I walk back to the cafeteria with a frown on my face. I just want school to end so I can go home.
"You look like crap," Amanda says as I return to our table.
"Amy's mad that I dragged her down to the nurse's office. She said she hated me, but I thought I was doing the right thing."
Kim, snorts like this is some kind of joke. "I knew you couldn't keep Amy just like you couldn't keep Chelsea."
I want to punch Kim in the face or better yet wring her up by her neck, but I know I can't do that.
"Just shut up!"
"Friendship truce," Amanda screams in my ear.
"That will never work because Kim and I will never be friends!"
"Will see about that," Amanda says with confidence. "You are coming to my party, right?"
Truth be told I had never been to a party before. Kids never invited me and I was absolutely okay with that. I just kind of figured that parties were really loud and people acting obnoxious.
"When?" I ask. "And my dad probably won't allow me to go."
"This Saturday at seven. Why wouldn't your dad allow you to go?"
"For one thing I have to work, and two, my dad doesn't allow me to be with Amy out of school."
"I can pick you up after work. What time do you get off? And what about your mom?"
"I usually get off around six and my mom is in the hospital."
"Tim, I'm so sorry. Is she okay?"
"Yeah. She should be out soon."
Dad, got a call from the doctor today saying that she would be able to come home the following Tuesday. I was ecstatic about the news, but wasn't thrilled that my life was going to turn into a living hell.
"Can you please just ask him? And if you are allowed to come ask your dad to make some pumpkin muffins?"
"I will try but no guarantees." If I were asking Mom if I could go to a party she'd be absolutely thrilled. She'd just be happy that I would be hanging out with people my age instead of her.