The Answer Lies in the Truth

Chapter 12

My text tone wakes me up at five in the morning. 'Emergency Theater meeting @ shool @ 6!' Christine sent in a group message.

'What the fuck Chris?' Chloe sent back.

'Five a. M.' Rich sent. Then the bird emoji and some zzz.

I muted the group chat and got out of bed. I stretched and groaned. I picked a ironic tee-shirt, and stumbled to the bathroom, shoved a poptart in my school bag then was off to school.

It was Friday eve, why the heck was I so tired? I wanted the week to be over with. I couldn't say no to Christine though. She was one of my best friends. I don't know, I might still have hope that she was Red. Personally I didn't know what I wanted.

I got to school to meet everyone, and I mean everyone. Rich was in the corner sleeping on Jakes shoulder. Chloe was yelling at some freshmen to get her a Starbucks coffee while Brooke sat in her lap sleeping. Madilyn and Dustin were making out in the corner. Jenna was calling her mom and explaining why she was at school, and no she wasn't out drinking, geez.

Christine was the lovely eye of the storm. She stood calmly and soundly, compared to the chaos surrounding her. Whilst the theater kids were making a commotion she stood with her head down.

I was confused because Rich and Jenna were not in theater. I glanced at Christine, but she looked just as tired as the rest of us and I voted against asking her what this was about. When Michael walked in I got really confused, he saw me and gave me a equally confused face and a shrug. He walked over and sat next to me as Christine cleared her throat.

"We will not be having a play this year." She said evenly. I wonder how many times she had to practice saying that. "The school decided to completely cut the budget, and we barely have enough money to buy paint supplies for our sets." She sounded more distressed as she went along. "Before you say, 'well, why don't we ask the art department to make us some?' They cut spending to all extra curricular's to build a new football practice field." She finished her voice quivering.

"YAH!" Jake said fist pumping the air. Everyone stared at him. "What, I play football?" Rich flicked him and realization dawned on Jakes face. He blushed and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"The leaders of these extra curriculars are planning a riot of the student body tomorrow. I need to know who's in." Christine said holding up a paper with a couple names written on it.

Jake stood and was the first one to sign it. The rest of us fell into a line. Only Dustin didn't sign it, he called Jake a traitor and stalked away. I could tell Jake didn't care because Rich pulled him down for a kiss after saying he was proud of him.

Michael signed and smiled at Christine, I felt something flare in my chest. He only smiles like that for me. I smiled at Christine barely as I signed the paper and walked away without saying another word to her. What was wrong with me?

On another note, I hadn't ever really seen Michael ready for school at five. His hair looked like a wreck and his glasses were askew. He looked adorable. He wasn't a morning person and usually slept as late as possible. Jenna started talking to him and she realized pretty quickly that it was impossible. He would change languages mid sentence and change subjects faster than that. She walked off while he was saying something in gibberish. I walked over and took him to a chair off the stage. He fell asleep quickly. I took off his glasses and put them in my pocket.

"GAY!" Rich screamed from the stage.

"NO HOMO!" I yelled back.

Rich chuckled and pulled Jake- who was in a conversation- down to kiss him. "ALL THE HOMO!" I rolled my eyes. The girls were chucking in the background and for some reason that really pissed me off. I walked back up on stage and stood face to face with Rich. (Well, more like chest to face) "What cha' gunna do Tall Ass? Hit me?" He taunted.

I punched him so hard I heard a crack and I couldn't tell it if was from his face or my knuckle. Both were bloody. He tackled me to the ground and started punching me and choking me. He shouted words, but I couldn't tell what they were. I tried to shove him off, but he was unrelenting. Two people had to pull him off me. His nose was bleeding and I probably had more bruises and I felt really sleepy. I heard someone scream my name and felt another person splash water on my face.

"Don't let him go to sleep, he has a concussion." It was Michael.

I could hear Jake calm down Rich. I glanced over at Rich; he had a face of unabashed guilt and sympathy. I couldn't really determine what it meant because my head started pounding and I cried. Michael tried to calm me. He brushed a hand through my hair and mumbled words. I think he was singing, but I couldn't tell. Everything was pain.

Jenna was calling a doctor and everyone was talking so loud. I think I passed out.

I woke up in the nurses office. "Oh thank God!" A nurse I hadn't seen before said rushing to my side. "He woke up!" She shouted. The doctor from last time came in. She checked a couple things and nodded. "It is noon, your father and mother are in the waiting room, your friend is too, we couldn't get him to leave. He insisted he wait. He says you have something of his.

I look around. I'm not in school. "What day is it?"

"Saturday," she said.

The nurse pitched in, "Poor kid who was waiting for you. He slept in the chairs outside until visiting hours and then he stayed by your side. We had to get security to haul him out of your room. Then he went right back to sleeping on that chair. We were about to open doors for visitation." She jabbed.

The doctor nodded and smiled. "I'm glad your awake. However I recommend you stay until the end of today, just to make sure everything's alright. I'll let your family in." She said going to the door, the nurse following her.

She shut it softly behind her. I could hear mumbling outside as I looked around. I had a small tv in the corner and a big window. I could see the hospital parking lot from here.

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Hey guys, Bee heere!
I my not post for a while, but we'll see. I am on vAcTiOn AmEn! :3 hopefully I'll have time to post some during the next two to three weeks. See you
-🐝