Remember Me

4. Can We Be Friends?

The next morning I woke up in bed, not sure how I even got home. My mom was up before me which was odd and she'd made me breakfast. I scoffed down the food, it was delicious, but I had to get to school early. My mother watched me scramble around getting my things and bolt out of the door like a torpedo.

At school Nea was waiting for me in the nursing office. She gave me a cold hug, it concerned me why Nea was always cold. I wanted to ask her why but if she's suffering from anxiety, questioning her wouldn't make her feel better so I ignored it. Nea took my hand and we walked to class together. Everyone stared, they'd never seen Nea with someone before.

The whole day we were the talk of the school. Almost everyone wated to know how I spoke to her and how we hung out. After school my mom went directly to the hospital, she told me my uncle would pick me up but I asked if I could visit a friend. Nea wasn't sold on the idea of me coming to her house but I was more concerned about finding out how she came to be the way she is.

When we arrived, I looked up at the huge house. It was massive! Nea walked up the stairs, opened the door, gestured for me to come in and locked the door behind her. The interior was creepy, very medieval. Nea took me to her room, it was dark and cold like Nea. Her bed was a blue resembling some kind of compound I've seen before, she had white tiled floors, dark grey walls, curtains to match her bed and silver furniture. Nea's room was beautiful in it's dark and twisted way just like she was beautiful but another kind of beautiful. I leaned against the wall but stepped forward after fee ling how cold it was. The walls, floors, the furniture and even her bed felt ice cold. I thought I'd get frostbite from just being in here, so how could Nea survive. I couldn't hold in the question anymore!

"Nea, why are you and everything in your room so cold? I touch your skin and I'm scared it might shatter because of it's ice-like fragileness." Nea handed me a file from her desk, it was her hospital requirements. I scanned through it and saw in bold letters Keep her cold!

I didn't understand, I was itching with curiosity yet I kept still. We heard a bang from downstairs, then an elderly man shouted, "Nea, get down here this instant!" Nea ran downstairs and I followed quietly, keeping my distance so the old man wouldn't see me. Nea stood in front of the old man with her head low. The old man lifted her chin ever so slightly.

"Have you taken your medication?"

Nea nodded.

"Is your homework done?"

Nea's eyes she'd tears as she shook her head no. The old man raised his hand and slapped her across the face, her little body falling to the floor. I didn't even think about what I was doing when I rushed to Nea's side. The old man looked down on me with a scrawny look on his face and I stood up.

"You idiot! How could you hurt her like that! Have you no shame! Have you no heart! She suffers enough without you beating her," I ranted like some anger issue patient till I ran out of breath and words! The old man wasn't even shook, he just looked at me and laughed. I was boiling, I clenched my fists, trying not to hit him so instead I turned to Nea examining her bruised face. The old man said, "If you care so much for her, why don't you take care of her? I have given her a home, food, education and more. All she does is cause me problems for being a freak! Her mother leaves me for another man and dumps this problem child at my door! So, if you have anything else to say, say it because if you're going to give me nonsense I'll take it since I've been dealing with it all my life!"

I turn to him, eyeing him as if I'm out to kill him and say very softly and sweetly, "I'll take care of her." He looks puzzled so I repeat, "I'll take care of her. You give a house, clothing and food but I'll be the middle man doing the work." The old guy scratches his head saying, "Fine. I don't know what you're trying to prove young lady but you're getting yourself into Hell for this girl!" "And if I could do it all over again, I would," I say, taking Nea's arms up and walking her to her room.

I lay her down on her bed and she stares at me, her tears dried on her cheeks. I bring her a glass of water but she pushes it aside.

"Why would you do that for me?"

"I'm drawn to help you, Nea. I want to be there for you because you're important to me."

"Kris?"

"Yes, Nea, what is it?"

"Can we be friends?"

I give Nea a warm hug and whisper in a her ear, "Yes."