A Million Reasons (Clony)

Chapter 7:Cassette 5

My phone buzzed. I had just finished Tony's tape. I decided to answer it anyway.

Skye: hey. Mind if I come over?
Me: nope, just in time for dinner.
Skye: great! I'm starving. I just got off my shift at Monet's. Heading over now.
Me: ok, I'll tell my parents to wait till you get here to start eating.

I walked down the stairs loudly. She has never come over to my house. OH. My parents have never seen her before. God. I hope they don't embarrass me. Not that she'll leave or anything.

"Hey mom." I smiled. "A friends coming over and asked if we could maybe wait till they get here" I said, gesturing to the food with my hands.

"Sure honey, its really good to start knowing your friends more."

I sat down to watch tv with my dad for the first time in a long time. Then the doorbell rang. I got up and raced to the door before either of my parents could get it.

"Hey Skye." I hugged her. "Come in." I moved out of the way so she could step in the house. I walked with her into the kitchen.

"Oh...... hello. It's nice to meet you." My mom said to Skye. I was nervous. My parents weren't big on piercings. And tattoos. Or goths.

"Skye." She said her name. My mom said hers.

~*~*~

"So how long have you two been...friends?" My mom asked.

"For a while." Was all I said.

"So are you two, more. Than friends?"

"NO!" We replied at the same time, and laughed.

"Oh." She said. My dad stayed quiet. We took another bite of lasagna.

~*~*~*~

I took Skye up to my room.

"Clay. I came over here for a reason." She finally said. "It's about Tony. And Brad."

"I don't want to hear anything about Brad! Even if it involves. ESPECIALLY if it involves Tony." Why can't I have him?

"Clay you don't unders-"

"No I do, I don't want to hear it."

"Fine. But there's a few other things. This will probably shock you. Jessica. She's pregnant." I had a feeling this might happen. But does Skye no how? "And this. She showed me a picture on her phone. Someone was in the hospital. It was hard to tell who it was. He had bandages covering his face and a feeding tube.

A caption said:

My poor Alex. I wish he would have talked to us.

"What happened?" My voice strained.

"He shot himself yesterday. While you and Tony were together. Yea I know about that too. Now if you would just let me explain about Tony and Brad-" She started but I was having none of it.

"No. Don't even say HIS NAME!" I screamed. "Don't even say it." I whispered.

"Clay. I know you are hurting but there is so much going on you need to know. And I know you are in love with Tony so you need to know this!" She pleaded.

"No I don't. I don't want anything to do with his boyfriend." I pleaded next.

"Okay Clay. I won't tell you. But if you ever want to know, I'm here." She said."I should really be going, my parents will kill me if I don't get home before nine. God I hate curfews." A part of me wanted to know. But a bigger part knew it would probably hurt me. "I'll see you at school tomorrow." She left and I took a long boiling hot shower then went to my room.

Click.

Skye Miller. My best friend. My messenger. The messenger I was too afraid to listen too. I guess I'll never know what you wanted to tell me about Tony and Brad. I don't even think I care. I just want all this pain to end. But I don't think I have enough for this. To do this. Who knows how long these tapes will sit here. How long I'm going to think about it. But who cares. Like three people other than my parents. You. Tony. And Jeff. Skye. You were the best friend I could ever have. Even if you are a asshole sometimes. But that's why we fit I think because I'm pretty sure I'm a asshole too. I wish I could have told you everything that was on my mind. But, frankly, I can't even say it to myself. Yes. I love him, and I've always wondered how you read me. I guess you still couldn't read me that well. I hope you forgive me.