To kiss a stranger

Chapter 8: They are close

When I woke up this morning I decided that I will try to be more friendly with Jayce and not push him for answers...for now. I'm just gonna wait until he decides to share or seek out the best moment to get them out of him. With this in mind I get up from my bed and walk to the bathroom to take a quick shower. I reluctlantly look in the mirror knowing very well what I'm going to see. Pushing my tshirt over my head I examine the bruises. This time there are only 2, but one of them is too big. The worst one I've gotten so far. And dang it it hurts. I try lifting both my arms as far as I can but my left hand doesn't reach very far before the pain stops me. I make a mental note not to use that part of my body much today and get in the shower. Hiding my pain is what I'm good at.

My plan "Become friends with Jayce" is put into action. That's why I am currently in the cafeteria walking to my friends' table with my tray in my hands and a cheerful smile plastered on my face. I can be civil.

"Hey, guys. Did I hear right that the school newspaper is shutting down?" I say sitting down next to Chris. Jayce is on his other side and Jessica is across him. The others aren't here yet.

"Yeah, it's true. It's such a shame." Jessica has always been weirdly found of that newspaper no matter how boring it seems to everybody else.

"I wonder why Wendell would give it up? He was the one giving it life."

"Oh, haven't you heard. A buddy of mine said he saw Wendell's big brother the other day and he was in a bad shape. Looks like someone beat him up pretty bad." As Chris says both Jayce and I turn to look at him.

"Do you know who is responsible?"

"Where did it happen?"

Jayce and I say simultaniously. Chris quickly looks at both of us a little surprised.

"Well, no. To both your questions. No one knows what happened. Just that he's gonna need a lot of time to recover."

"Poor Wendell, he gave up all his hardwork because of some punks. But it's sweet he wants to spend more time and take care of his brother." Jessica is always so compassionate.

"The police will find them, I'm sure." Chris says. That's it if the police is even involved. Which I think is not the case. If what I'm suspecting is true and they have anything to do with it, no one is going to be punished. But this is too close, they shouldn't have come this close to here.

"I didn't even know Wendell had a brother. I've never seen him around." I hope Chris would give me some answers.

"Well, he's in college in Stanford. Probably came here after so there's someone to help him." And he does. Well, that explains it. It's definetly them. It's very likely I know him. I suddenly feel very bad for him. And for Wendell. This is what I've been afraid of for so long. Something like this happenning to someone close to me or even me. However, there is a much worse thing that Wendell's brother should be glad he escaped. Death. I shiver and decide to change the topic, asking Jess about a homework we had to hand in and it works, our conversation is back to normal but I notice that Jayce doesn't pay attention to us. He looks like he's lost in his thoughts. My plan was forgotten for a moment after the news but now I'm back on track. I decide to take a small step.

"Jayce, did you manage to finish the essay on time?" Here. Civil.

He suddenly looks up, surprised at the interuption of his thoughts and narrows his eyes at me. He still doesn't say anything, just stays there staring at me as if I will give him the answer to what has been bothering him. Standing up abruptly, he turns around and leaves without saying a single word. And picking up his tray. I'm pretty sure my mouth hangs open. What did I do now?