Player 1 Player 2

Chapter 1 pt.2

It's funny, we both may be gamers and great friends but we have extreme differences. He likes to draw and plan ideas for stuff like animation, video game making, and other cool stuff like that. On the other hand, I like music, photography, writing, and puzzles. But of course the thing we both enjoy most is video games, we always hang after school, whether it's just us two or with the others, and play till whenever we feel like stopping. Or sometimes we just stay up all night, only on the weekends and Friday though. Still with our differences I enjoy seeing what crazy drawings he comes up with. He perks up slightly like he remembered something important. He swings open his bag and pulls out my rubix cube, it's only half complete, in a way. He hands it to me.

"You left it at my house, I tried solving it....yeah, didn't go so well." I grab it and examine it's state. "I know how much you like to play with that, it's important to you but you never really told me why and-"

"Done." He stops talking and looks over to see that I've completed the rubix cube, he's speechless as he looks up at me. "And the reason this is so important to me is because it belonged to my dad before he died in that car crash during summer. He liked puzzles like me, guess it's passed down in a way."

"Oh yeah...your dad. I'm really sorry about that. And that was....only a few months ago. And Christmas will be coming our way soon. I really liked your dad, he was so cool. Guess that's passed down too." He nudges me in the side and smiles. "Keep it safe."

I nod to him and pick up the rubix cube to put it away. He grabs it from me and messes it up for me. He hands it back and tilts his head slightly with his smile. I put it away to solve later. Class has started and things are going fine. At least, I hoped it would stay that way. Class ends and we both gather our things heading out into the hall to meet with our other friends. We see Tamara and Roy talking with each other, they aren't smiling like normal. As we approach they turn to us, Roy looks down clutching her book. Her long brown hair with a red streak falls in front of her face. Tamara looks at me dead in the eyes, her light brown hair in a short high ponytail like always. But usually it's spiked up slightly since her hair is short, and the piece of hair that usually covers one of her eyes is pushed behind her ear.

"Hey guys, what's wrong?" I glance around to see Adrian isn't here like normal. "Where's Adrian?"

Roy straightens herself and pushes her hair back into its place. Tamara interrupts her before she can even open her mouth.

"Adrian committed suicide last night. Death by hanging." She has tears in her eyes, I can see Roy is starting to cry too clearly seen past her milk chocolate skin.

Both me and Cloud are in shock. I cover my mouth as I start to cry, Cloud hugs me quickly. Roy looks down, and Tamara hugs me too. They know how close I was to Adrian, one of my best friends since elementary with Cloud. After a few moments they all let go and look at me.

"I'm so sorry Alex." Roy takes her glasses off and swipes them clean.

I manage to calm myself, Cloud hangs me a tissue. Taking it I look to them wanting to cry again.

"I'm fine......I just need some time now. Tam?" Cloud and Roy nod giving me one last hug before walking to their classes.

Tamara and I start walking to class since we have this period together.

"He could've talked to us if something was wrong......I don't understand why he would do this. I'm so sorry." I look to Tamara and then look forward.

"It's not our fault.....we did everything in our power to make sure he was happy. We knew he had problems but I guess.......I guess this time it was too severe to live with." I can hear my voice shaking as my eyes threaten to burst again.

Tamara places her hand on my shoulder to tell me to relax, I try but my eyes threaten even more. We walk to class in time and take our seats, I lay my head down and cover my head with my hands. I also pull my headphones on then my hood, trying to take my mind off this whole thing. One of my best friends is dead, but the vivid image of us all hanging out lingers in my eyes. He was as tall as me, slightly long black hair and always wore a navy blue shirt. He was so happy with us, anytime someone tried to bring him down our entire group would stand up for him. Everything was great.

"Alex?" I open my eyes to see the teacher standing over me looking a bit worried.

Everyone's busy talking with each other over the assignment to notice that I had fallen asleep silently crying. I sit up and wipe my face, the teacher places her hand on my back.

"Do you need to go to the nurse?" I am feeling a bit sick, probably from the fact my friend committed suicide.

I nod and get up grabbing my bag and fixing my jacket, I take my headphones off and see the teacher calling over Eliza to take me to the nurse. I feel my face flush as she walks over.

"Elizabeth, please take Alex to the nurses office. And keep a close eye on him, he looks like he'll pass out anytime soon." She nods and the teacher walks away, she looks at me and gives me a small smile of concern and hopefulness.