Friends

Chapter 5

It was a drowsy morning for me even though I had gotten a great amount of sleep. Maybe it was just chemistry I guess. I don't know I was just really tired and not in the mood to learn now. "Maybe this is how Tom feels" I thought. 

It was lunch time and I had 2nd period along with Tom. He always brought his own lunch and so did I. 

Walking towards him, I greet Tom with "Hey, you awake yet?" 

"I mean it's lunch time, it should wake me up. If I'm not awake please take me home?"

"Haha, nice try. Not a chance." I laughed. 

I brought to lunch just a simple BLT sandwich with water. Tom had brought only a peanut butter sandwich, no water, nothing. 

"Here, take some of my stuff" 

He nodded in agreement and took a fourth of my sandwich and drank some of my water. I looked at him and he was looking at the far view of the football view. 

"Sometimes I wish I played football and baseball. Sometimes I wish I was able to achieve more in life than what I already am achieving for." 

I looked back into the field "Maybe something else is greater for you in the future. Maybe there's something out there that can be used for your greater potential."

"And what potential do I have?"

I looked away from the view and looked fierce into his eyes. "Is this.. is this why you were 'fake' crying to me? Are you okay?"

He shook his head. "No, there's more stuff bothering me than my greater potential in life. There's something more deep, a deeper feeling that forbids me to tell you or anyone else."

"Well if you won't tell me that feeling, I can't help you." I shrugged

He looks back into the field and stays silent. I figured to myself I wasn't gonna take this so I asked him "That feeling, can you at least describe it?" I didn't wanna leave him in the dark. I was here for a reason. 

"I don't know man.. I want to tell you but I simply can't. It's like a big secret of mine and I'm scared it might be shared not just between us but with the whole school. You know what happened at Hedge Hills."

Hedge Hills, the southern high school in our region. I didn't really know people from there but the stories on the news were incredibly disturbing and terrifying. From drugs and alcoholism. I mean we're no different but they're much worse than what we are. I remember a suicide there that occurred just after spring break of last year. I guess someone slept with another person and a lot of drama started to spread leading to illegal stuff. And I guess the victim took his life. 

I looked at Tom, "Are you saying, you're in trouble?" 

He just shook his head "STOP assuming things!"

At that point I was fed up with his attitude or whatever he had going on. I didn't say a word and just left the table leaving him alone. I head towards the trash area and decided to just go to homeroom to adjust the situation. I thought to myself "what the fuck is up with his problem. I mean he only woke up late. I don't want anything to interfere with us. I actually like this kid."

-Sigh- "What are you doing this weekend?" 

"Jullianne, you know I can't go clubbing. I have other things to worry about than drinking and trying new things."

She looked into my car, "I mean, it's Friday and at the end of a school day..why not?"

"So much bullshit happened to me during lunch I don't wanna talk about it."

She sighed "Well, it was nice knowing that you couldn't come. Wish you luck with.. whatever you have going on there.."

I drove out of the parking lot into the main street. It was really crowded on a Friday because not many people have after school activities on a Friday. 

-buzz buzz-

My phone had buzzed and it was from Tom. As of course I didn't read the text until I got home. I wasn't gonna risk a head on collision just reading a text message. 

I went into my bedroom and checked my phone. 

"hey..srry i acted like a jerk today.. come to my house later? 

I sighed but of course it was a Friday and I didn't have to do anything later. 

"yea, ill be there in about 10 minutes or so." 

I slapped my phone back into my pocket and grabbed my backpack. Maybe we can do homework later together or something. I walked out of my room onto the landing descending the stairs 

"Mom, I'm going to Tom's" 

I didn't hear anything come from the living room or the kitchen so I went down the hall that separates the kitchen and the living room. Turns out she was just sleeping on the couch. I fixed her blanket and turned off the t.v. I grabbed into my back pack and took out a slip of paper and wrote 

"Went to Tom's. Be back soon. Love you"