Blue

Chapter 2 - Shots

'Do you believe me now then?' Elise says with a smug expression. She loves it when she finds out she'd been right about something.

'Yes I believe you,' I state, 'but now is not the time to rub it in Elise, I hate the thought of him being a malfunction,'

'I hope you said your goodbyes before hand, angel,' Jeremy says with a smile. He knows exactly what he's playing at and I'm really not up for arguing with him right now.

'Not the right time, Jem,' Elise whispers, repeating my words from earlier. I shoot her a thankful glance and she nods back in acknowledgement.

'He was our friend too, B,' she says soothingly, rubbing circles into my shoulder, 'We know how you feel,'

'But I don't even know what to feel myself!' I cry, throwing my hands up and knocking Elise's away in the process. They exchange glances before focusing back on me.

'What do you mean?' Jeremy presses.

'I-I don't know,' I admit, completely defeated, 'that's the thing, I don't even know myself,'

'Come on, Blank,' Elise stands up and holds out a hand for me to take. I do so and she pulls me up from my seated position.

Once I'd found the two of them in class, we'd opted to sit out in the corridor for a while, just to avoid everyone else as they scuttled to their usual areas. They seemed surprised to know Cayo was still in school, I think they'd expected him to be dragged away already.

'Trust Cayo to make a scene just to stay in school,' Jeremy had joked when I'd told them.

Now I follow the two of them out of the school gates, walking in the direction of home. Elise keeps her arms linked to my own as we stroll, taking advantage of the time we have.

'So what were you doing at the nurse's office anyway?' She asks, tapping her fingers against my arm rhythmically. Stalking in front of us, Jeremy slows down and turns slightly to listen.

'I thought it might be best to take your advice,' I admit, 'I went to go speak to the nurse about the shot and we happened to get onto the discussion of Cayo,'

'How the hell do you get-' Jeremy begins to critique before Elise outright orders him to shut up.

'You know sometimes I think you're just out to get her, Jeremy,' she raises an eyebrow and glares at him before her expression neutralises, 'carry on B, what were you saying?'

I focus my eyes on out shoes, watching as they step lazily. Left and then right over and over again, occasionally landing on cracks in the paving. Isn't it bad luck to do that?

'Well actually,' I begin, not really paying attention to my friends, 'The nurse said he was actually speaking to Cayo this morning,'

'You're joking!' Elise cries, staring at me and pinching me lightly to carry on. Jeremy looks a little surprised himself but it doesn't take either of them very long before they look disinterested again. Not that it's their fault.

'Cayo offered for the nurse to give him a shot, if that would help but he refused,' I explain.

'Why on earth would he refuse?' Elise questions, slight disappointment laced in her words. Every time she'd say something malicious like this, it always catches me off guard. She comes across as such an accepting, kindly soul and partnered with her red curls often left unruly and intelligent grey eyes, she was rather like an innocent child. She looks younger than the rest of our year as well as this, just a little shorter than us and a doll face to match. She's blessed with a clear complexion, the only sign of blemish being the scatter of light freckles dusted across her nose and cheeks. How I wish I looked like her, despite her grumbles and self-shaming comments I'll never understand her dislike for her appearance.