A Car Crash Can Change Someone's Life

Monday October 30

The weekend with Brandon was normal, but fun. We went to the beach and I pushed him down at the shores, and he picked me up and tossed me in the water. We went to restaurants and went to a carnival. Sadly the weekend is over.

Then the story Brandon told me about hearing the gun shot and seeing his friend injured popped into my head. It gave me the chills. I tried my best to ignore it throughout the day. Megan and Chelsea walked right up to me at my locker.

"So, guess what?" Megs said excitedly.

"What is it?" I said smiling.

"I am now officially on the cheerleading team, thanks to Chelsea!"

"You... on the... cheerleading team? Hah, you guys are funny. A for effort though."

"You think she's joking? Sen, not just talking about today, but lately you've been acting different. Is there something you need to tell us?" Chelsea responded curiously.

"What? No, if I had a secret, I would tell you." LIE. But they both just nodded their heads and told me that they would see me at lunch.

The day went by slowly during classes but fast during breaks. Everything was normal and boring like usually until my very last period. It was Social Studies class and something strange happened. I saw this stranger just standing in the corner right by the teacher's desk. He stared at me the whole time. I wanted to ask so badly if he was a new student, but I knew that if I did ask, everyone would be staring at me. I tried to ignore him, but he kept getting creepier. So I simply asked to go to the bathroom.

As I was washing my hands, I felt really hot, and it was hard to breathe. I splashed cold water onto my face to see if it would help. But instead, it just got worse. My face was burning and it felt like I was on the sun. I take off my coat and try to breathe. Still, nothing got better... my face was burning, I thought I was in a fire for a minute. And that's all that I remember...

2 hours later

I woke up to people surrounding me. They were all blurry except for one person. It was Brandon. As I slowly got up, he bent down next to me and asked me if I was okay. His voice was like a strange echo, almost like I was in another world with his voice echoing in it. All of a sudden, everything is clearer and I'm not sweating anymore. When Brandon helped me up, he led me outside of the high school alone. Oh no... he's going to ask what happened. I can't tell him that I don't remember because then he'll freak out and call the ambulance or something. I have to think of an excuse, one he'll believe. But I was too late.

"SEN, WHAT HAPPENED? I went to check on you because we heard a bang and I came in, seeing you laying on the floor. Are you okay? What happened Sen, you need to tell me what happened!" I could tell he was worried and freaked out. But so was I. What am I supposed to tell him if I can't remember? That was it, I had to tell him what I remembered, even though I have to calm him down.

"Okay so, it's a long story Brandon. Can I just come over after school and tell you, instead of right now. My head is pounding and it'll be an hour probably until it feels better." I thought he was going to freak out because I said that my head hurt, but instead he sighed, and gave me hug. I never wanted him to stop hugging me.

After School

"Hey Sen, you ready to go?" Brandon yelled, interrupting my conversation with Megan. I mouthed to Megan that I was sorry, and she just nodded and mouthed back that it was okay.

I hopped in the car with a fake smile on, hoping he wouldn't notice. And luckily, he didn't. He just drove to his house, parked and we both went inside. I casually said hi to his parents and we both went straight upstairs to his room. He shut the door, told me to sit down, and explain to him what happened in the bathroom. So I did as I was told.

"Okay, Brandon don't be mad or worried or anything, just hear me out, okay?" he just nodded so that I could continue.

"It was during Social Studies and I kept seeing this weird dude in the corner of the room. He just stared at me, and I knew it was just my imagination. So I just ignored it. But I couldn't... so I asked to go to the bathroom," he just kept nodding, so I could keep telling him without him talking.

"So when I was washing my hands, my face was starting to heat up. I thought a splash of cold water would help... but it got worse. It felt like I was literally on the sun. And for a minute I thought I was in a fire, but realized that I wasn't. So I took my sweatshirt off, but it just kept getting worse every minute. Then, I remember black and waking up, seeing people huddled around me. After that, I wasn't hot anymore, but my head was pounding."

Brandon just stared at me, not knowing what to say. Finally, after a minute of awkward silence, he calmly said, "Sen, I'm so sorry. It makes me a little worried, but I know how you don't like me being overprotective. Do you think you should just stay the night and I'll take you to school tomorrow? It might be easier."

"Yeah... I guess so. But only if your parents are okay with it. I'll just text my parents and tell them."

"Alright, sounds good. You stay in here and I'll be back in a few."

It's always nice to have a friend that's there for you, comforting you. I always thought what it would be like without Brandon in my life. It would be more intense, uncomforting, and lonely. I know I have Megan and Chelsea, but Brandon is the key person in life for me. I texted my parents letting them know I was staying the night and that Brandon would take me to school.