Let it Burn

Chapter 13: Monday blues

When Monday swings round I feel all squirmy inside. Today I have to go back, and see the damage at school after the fire, wreckage I'm l to familiar with,  and so I do the only think I can think of, something that I would always do whenever I felt uneasy, something I hadn't done for a long time until recently- go to Drake. I sigh with relief when I see that he is awake as I slide into his hospital room, causing a quizzical look to be shoot my way.

"Don't you have school today kat? What are you doing here? It's not like I'm going anywhere."

"Obviously I have school. That's why I'm in my uniform stupid." I reply, tugging at my school skirt for emphasis. "I don't wear this ugly thing for fun you know"

"Then what are you doing here?"

I breath in a deep sigh "I don't know if I can face it Drake. Seeing where the now burnt building is, it will just remind me of how I almost lost you, and I don't think I can bare that. I know your just going to make me go there.. Because your fine and I'm overreacting like girls do.. But I'm absolutely terrified Drake."

"Why come here then? To me? If you knew what I would say?"

"Because... I ALWAYS come to you, and out of everyone, you would understand the most. And I thought maybe Dan would understand. I guessed Danny would be here..

"Smart girl. But why were you looking for me?" I turn my head to see none other than Daniel leaning against the doorway. "Come on kat, I'll drive you to school? We can come back here this arvo?" I turn my head back to drake and he nods at me

"I don't thi..."

"I don't care. your coming with me even if I have to pick you up and carry you over my shoulder."

I send Dan a fake glare "Yeah alright fine. But only if you take my phone, and I can call you whenever I need. Promise?" I ask turning my attention back to drake.

"Promise" he replies kissing my forehead.

"Afraid of what you might see KitKat? At school I mean?" Dan and I had been in his car for about five minutes with nothing but the radio quietly playing in the background to break the silence, well until then. "I know Kat. I felt the same way when I saw a flame for a while.." I look at him in shock "Don't look so stunned Katty. He may not be my blood relative, but he sure is my brother. And although I wasn't in the fire, I was right there with you when he was being wheeled into that ambulance. Watching your house burn down, along with so many memories. I was worried he wouldn't wake up. I'm defiantly aware of what fire can do."

"Dan I never thought-"

"But you want to know that the hardest part of it all was? I didn't just lose Drake, but I lost you both. And that made it all so much harder, but life still went on, after a little while. I would still visit every week or two, and I began learnt that fire isn't all bad. It brings warmth in the winter, it helps new plants bloom, is a light in the darkness. A lot of Australian plants only germinate after a fire. Although it destroys, it also creates. And that's a beautiful thing." He leaves me speechless, and now I want more than ever to not go to school. There are just to many emotions running through my head- guilt, fear, confusion, hatred, love...

"Danny, I-I can't do it. I can't go in there." I sigh "I'm such a coward.

"Woah, hey shhh. Kat your not a coward. Look, you've had a bad experience with a really powerful force, and it's not something you can get over just like that. Look at me, I was only effected by the aftermath and it look me this long to be alright, it will just take time, and you don't have to fact it alone. We can work on this together. I tell you what, how about I come in with you. An we can see the damage. Together?" I nod in reply. "Good. Now come on" he steps out of the car an it is only then that I realize were parked outside my school. How long we were there for i'll never know.

As soon as I step out of the car I grasp his hand and we make our way into the school together and over to the English block that was alight the last time I was here. As we walk over he squeezes my hand and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding.

"This is it, but.. I mean, you can hardly tell. How can that happen Danny?"

"I guess the school got lucky. Mustn't of been made out of wood I guess"

"But.. Then how was it on fire?"

"The leaves and stuff around it would of caught, there were probably books and pages of paper everywhere, the building would of caught eventually if it was left to burn, but the firies saved it."

I slowly fall to the floor "why couldn't they do that for us? For Drake?" I let out in a whimper

"It's alright" Dan soothed

"It's so unfair!" I scream as tears roll down my eyes "It's not fair!"

"I know"

"What did I do? I don't deserve this! Drake doesn't deserve this. I shouldn't have had this happen to him. Why? Why!"

I feel soothing circles being drawn on my back and I don't have the energy to do anything but sit there, suddenly drained I let out another small whimper "I'm sorry". I feel my feet being lifted from under me but I don't have the energy to do anything but squirm slightly.

"Hey, shhhhh it's alright. It's only me" Dan soothed as he carried me out of the school grounds. Before I had the chance to ask where he was taking me he continued "I don't think schools on the agenda today. Instead... I think we should go on a bush walk. Buckle up." He places me down on the ground and unlocks the car.

"A bush walk?- Dan I can't just- I'm not a wager! I've never skipped a whole day before!"

"I prefer the term 'self development day' over waging. But if it makes you happy i'll get your mum to call the school saying you can't make it." He quickly grabs his phone out of his pocket and I assume sends a text to my mum. I hear a dong, as he gets a reply. He smiles at his phone before putting it down and pulling out of the car spot. "All sorted. Now I hope those shoes are comfy, cause were in for some rough terrain!"

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