Family, Friend or Enemy?

[4]

The customary labyrinth of people and the legitimate gossip surrounds me as I pass everyone, I see a familiar greenish brown bucket hat in the crowd I run towards the hat of the owner. As I was in reach I grabbed his collar and jump on him, I look down at the little dainty mess of Ned Leeds. I chuckle at the sight I swing my hand towards him ducking his head just in time, I lead out an offering hand Ned looks up at me deciphering whether or not it was another trick. 

Giving up he politely accepted my offer I leaned back to boost Ned to stand vertically, I can see Peter's brown fluffy hair coming towards us. I seized Ned by the wrist and escort him to the nearest vacant room, the adjacent room available was the Storage Room. I pick open the door and pushed both of us into the confined room, I twisted around to see the confusion on Ned's face. 

"You promise that if I tell you what's going on you won't hurt anyone?" I raise my pinky towards Ned I didn't anticipated that he would downturn my promise, I watch as Ned's face switches from confused to pessimistic. "I know about Peter and Winter's kiss, you don't need to say anything or feel sad for me. That's what happens when your the amigo of the smart muscular kid." I can hear the sound of poignancy in his voice I couldn't but feel contrite for him, wait until he unravels that Peter is actually Spider Man that will inadequately become abhorrent. 

However I still don't understand, how did he discover about the kiss? "Ned how do you know that Peter and Winter kissed?"  Ned castes me a look of rage, I then suddenly realised how he figured about it.  "You hacked into one of our phones haven't you?"  Ned silently looks down shamelessly at the floor, in disbelief I open the door and walk out slowly Ned opens his mouth to say something but didn't instead his tightened his jaw and pushed pass me.  

I watch him quickly walk down the hallway as he turned the corner the sudden aura changed, a cold shiver runs down my spine giving me goosebumps.  In my head I debated whether or not to run after him, I decided that I would just go to class since Ned never misses on class.

However that wasn't the case, when I pulled up to class only Peter and Winter sat there awkwardly waiting for me.  "Hey, have you seen Ned?" I ask as I pull out a chair, both Winter and Peter shrug.  Winter looks at me with concern as she notice my smile drop into a frown, "are you okay? Ever since you ran ahead of us you've been really on edge."  

Ignoring her as I stare patiently at the door for Ned to pop up, as time rolls on there's no sign of Ned anywhere.  Panic rises, sweat pouring down my forehead my heart pounding out of my chest.  Peter places his hand on my shoulder, Winter kneeling in front of me both of them ask me why I was acting so weird.  

Perfect timing the chronic bell starts ringing, I snatch my bag and run down the hall.  Hearing Peter's and Winter's voices echoing through the hall behind me, turning a blind eye I drift on a sharp left turn and bolted towards the entrance.  I jump down the stairs three at a time nearly stumbling at the bottom, I look up and down the street and start sprinting I have a feeling something abominable has happened.  

People and cars soars by horror bubbling internally and an arctic ache externally.  As I continue to charge through the army of people nudging me side to side.  I grab a hold onto a glistening bronze railing, I heave myself towards away from the chaotic group of people.  I catch my breath for a minute and enter the premises, instead of walking up the stairs I reached for the railings and start climbing.  

As I grasp onto the last railing I jump over and approach Ned's apartment, I knock on the door. Nothing.  I knock again once more, absolute silence.  My head told me that he was probably somewhere else, but Ned never goes anywhere without us.  On the other hand my heart wants to pick the lock and enter after all what happens if he isn't there and I get in extreme trouble?  I was betwixt and between, what do I do?  Without caution I pull out a bobby-pin and start picking the door, sweat starts to exude down my face, in dismay I swiftly unlock the door and barge into the small apartment. 

I crumble to the floor unable the stop shuddering, tears flooding my face the salty taste on my lips, the excruciating pain in my chest as my heart weakens, my deaden screams of the blue devil.  Lying in a crimson puddle lays Ned, suicidal cuts going up and down his forearm dried blood on the seams of his clothes.  The joyful, comforting, clown and best friend lays in front of me.  Unable to move I sit there watching Ned's body becomes lifeless, the door slams open a scream of horror overthrown my muffled sobbing.  Peter runs up to Ned's body his voice quavered with grief as he spoke, "hold on buddy we'll save you.  Please stay with us."