Sweets

9.

*The halls of the high school were filled with tired students. The break was over and so was having free time to spend at home or with your friends. The snow had let up and was almost all melted, but it was still freezing cold outside.*

"Dang! I'm freezing my butt off out here can he just hurry up!!" Lizzy yelled to Ben.
"Ayy... No need to scream, I'm right here..." Ben whispered plugging his ears.
"Well, I'm cold!!" Lizzy said a little but not much quieter.
"Me too... but I wonder where he is though..." Ben said quietly.

-

*Michael's Mom had come back home two days after New Years Eve... The night before school had started back up again. She went straight to sleep and didn't say a word to him. But the next morning she had sobered up and was now interrogating him...*

"So, what'd you do on New Years Eve?" Michael's Mom asked.
"Nothing big really..." Michael tried to avoid the question.
His mother got up from her seat on the couch and walked sternly toward him. "I asked you a question! When I ask you a question, give me a straight and truthful answer!"
"Fine... I hung out with a few friends.." He reluctantly answered.
"Oh really?" She said doubtfully. "How many?"

(Michael's Head) If I lie she'll know... I may as well just tell her... Only if she asks me the specifics though... What am I thinking? She will definitely ask me...

He struggled to answer. "One..."
"One? Is one friend equal to a few? Huh? I don't think so!!" She spat out. "Which gender?"

(Michael's Head) Oh no... I knew she was gonna ask...

"Answer me!! Now!!" She was yelling fiercely now.
"Male..." He said preparing for the inevitable.
At first she backed away disgusted, but that soon turned to anger. "How dare you... Under this roof... In my house..."
"We didn't do anything!" Michael interrupted trying to calm her down.
"Don't lie to me!! Of course you did!! You've been waiting for me to get out of the house for this reason haven't you!!"

*She was now hitting him. Relentlessly. He fell to the ground. With no way of escaping he sat there and took it. She was yelling so loud the neighbors must've heard... But no one was coming to save him... He curled up into a ball and shielded his head, so he would be able to hide it. She continued beating on him until she got tired. It felt like a lifetime. Even after she had left the house he stayed there... curled up on the floor. For the whole day he was there... curled up on the floor.*

-

*The next day, Michael came to school. His body was all bruised and battered... But no one could see through his sweater and track pants.... No one could see through his happy disguise...*

"Hey! Where were you yesterday?" Ben said running up behind Michael and slinging an arm around his shoulder.
Michael winced.
Ben took his arm off of Michael's shoulder and looked at him concerned. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

(Michael's Head) Oh No!! I can't let him find out! I have to make up a lie or something... I'm pretty good at that...

"No I'm fine..." Michael continued to walk very briskly through the hall and towards his class.
Ben walked with him into the classroom and sat down next to him. "Are you sure? It seemed like that hurt really bad..."
"It kinda did... But that's because I stayed home working out all day yesterday." Michael said trying to lead Ben off his scent.
"Why would you do that? You missed the first day back..." Ben didn't believe him.
"I didn't want to go to practice today and be weak and unprepared so...." Michael trailed off.
"Football season is over Mikey..." Ben said confused.

(Michael's Head) Oh wow... I can't believe I just said that... I guess I'm not good at lying to him...

Michael laughed out. "I must've forgotten!"