Detention

The next day...
I meet Xavier at a rustic/grungy cafe a little farther into town, and the moment that I step inside, I fall in love with the place. It's a dimly lit place with slightly chipped paint on three walls and chalkboard paint on one wall, metal and wood tables sit around with mason jar lights hanging over them. There is a little stage tucked into the corner with a few amps, and a counter on the left wall with a little kitchen in the back. And my favorite part is winding stairs leading to a loft area filled with bookshelves and tables full of books. I can't help the smile that makes its way onto my face and I look over at Xavier, seeing him smiling at my reaction. "This place is amazing!" I say happily. He nods, with a smile still on his face, and says, "I work here a lot. The owners are really nice too."  We get a table and order some coffee. "So how often do you work?" I ask as I'm taking a sip out of my cup. "As often as they'll let me, I guess." He says with a shrug, bringing his own cup to his lips. I tilt my head a little, "why do you work so much?" He shifts in his chair and sets down his cup of coffee, "Well, I'll tell you, but only if you answer one of my questions after. Deal?" I nod slowly, setting down my own cup. "When I was little, my dad left me and my mom, I don't remember him so I can't really say that I miss him but, my mom sure did. She used to cry herself to sleep at night, thinking that I couldn't hear her, but I could. Anyway, a couple years ago we found out that she has breast cancer, and she started treatment and she got better, everyone thought that it was all over. About a year ago we found out that she has cancer again and that it had spread, and she's still in the hospital right now getting further treatment. So for about two or three years now, I've been having to work and provide for us so that we can still pay for her treatments but it's getting harder with school and everything." I look at him for a few seconds, comprehending all that he's said. I then reach across the table and take his hand in mine, "I'm sorry about your mom, must be so proud of you." He sighs and puts his other hand on top of mine, "thank you Lyric. Now enough about me and my family. It's time for my question." He says the last part slightly more upbeat. I shift in my seat, sit up straighter, and over exaggerate bracing myself for his question. "Okay, what is your question?" I finally ask. He looks at me intently, "why do you live in the bad part of town?" I instantly go still, not messing around anymore. Who knew that one seemingly simple question would mean so much. What if he doesn't want to be my friend after I tell him? I close my eyes for a brief moment before opening them, here goes nothing, and finally saying, "okay, well, when I was eight I lived in Montana, my parents were out one night in January for a date night,  it was snowing and they couldn't tell but the road had black ice over it and they lost control of their car, crashing the car on the side of the mountain. They were killed instantly. Ever since then I've been tossed in and out of foster homes and orphanages, but because of that, my grades are pretty bad and I'm basically failing all subjects, meaning that I will most likely never go to college." I'm now looking down at the cup of coffee in my hands. I hear him get up and move, he's sitting right beside me now. "I'm sorry Lyric, but if you need help, like tutoring or something, I can try and help you bring your grades up." I look up into his hazel eyes and say, "really? You would do that?" "Of course I would," he says," I would do anything to help you." I think for a second and get an idea. "I have an idea, what if I get a job here and I can pay you for tutoring me during breaks and stuff? That way you get money for your mom and I get my grades up so that I can actually go to college." I say. It takes him a few minutes to think everything over and than a smile lights up his face. "You are amazing." I sit back and bring the coffee to my lips. "I know I am." I say with a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
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