Flawsome ✔

Chapter 15 - Raising awareness

Thursday, December 1st, 2016

After Calo and I hung out on Monday, he has been too busy to hang out again. I've been working on my assignment for the missed field trip, trying not to bother Calo too much. I don't want him to think of me as desperate or whatever. Normally, every so often, Pyper and I play videogames together because she doesn't want me to sit alone at home every day, or wander around the city taking photographs, on my own.

But she's been over at friends for two days straight and I can't help but feel bored.

She's awfully cheerful on Thursday, skipping around the house, singing a song, heading over to school early for one of the last days of her suspension.

Mom stares after her, shaking her head as id to wake herself up from her thoughts as I hop into the kitchen.

"Morning honey. Good or bad day?"

"Average. I'm so bored." I whine out once more. "Can we do something after school? I still need to take my typewriter out to get it repaired."

"We could do it this afternoon." She nods and smiles. "I'll take it with me when I come to pick you up, okay?"

I nod and sigh deeply. What sixteen-year-old has to hang out with his mom to not be bored? "Can we go to the movies or something? I'm sick and tired of being home all the time."

Mom frowns shortly, but then nods. Though she seems worried.

"What's going on?" She asks, sitting down in front of me. "You've changed lately."

"Did I?"

"You never felt much need to go outside, or to socialize. You always had plenty of ideas to keep yourself busy."

"And now I know what it's like to have a friend and I want to go out more. I never really missed it, because I never really had it."

"Are your appointments with Dr. Delgado helping you in someway?"

"I think so. I have less bad thoughts. It's just that it feels weird to not do something I always do. It physically makes me uncomfortable. But on Tuesday he said it's normal to feel restless and uneasy. He said we'll take my compulsions one at a time, starting tomorrow."

"And which is going to be the first?

"I have to decide, and I think I want to tackle my need to always organize my desk first."

"Any good reasons behind that idea?"

"The other day, Cay asked why I did it and I really don't know why I started it. I clearly remember not doing it. I just don't remember starting it."

"Then I think it's the right choice to start there." Mom tells me, taking my empty plate and glass to do the dishes. "And what's going on with the anti-bullying program? Are they finally taking action?"

"Yeah, by giving me detention for protesting the statement they didn't really have a reason before. Just because Calo had a bigger mouth and makes the bullying more visible, doesn't mean I wasn't bullied before. If any, thanks to Cay, I feel less bullied."

"I bet they're just trying to save their own reputation before it's too late." She sighs. "But I guess it's good. Maybe it's a little late for you, but if they start to actively take action against bullies, new students with problems will have less problems." She shortly turns to look at me. "And I still can't believe you got in detention, again. I'm beginning to doubt your friendship with Calo is a good thing..."

"Mom!" I stare at her with wide eyes. "He's the best that ever happened to me!"

"I know, I know." She giggles annoyingly childish. "I was kidding. I like Calo, I really do. He turns your frown into a smile and I don't know a lot of people who can do that."