Till we break

Appointment

I woke up because my phone was ringing. My Mom.

"Hello"

"Hello Sweetie, you asked me to remind you about your appointment."

"Appointment? Oh! Yeah, right."

She laughed. "No problem. Oh, and I won't be back until tomorrow, but your dad comes home today."

"Okay." I actually didn't care, but I tried to sound surprised. "See you then."

"See you!"

I had almost forgotten. I had told my mom that my coach wanted to talk to me, but honestly I wanted to meet with Leonard. He was in his last school year and we knew each other because of a school event, or better because we both were standing away from everything and then started talking and we wanted to meet again.

He really was a nice guy.

I walked to the park in the district and looked around. Leonard was sitting on a bench checking his phone.

He looked up and saw me. Okay, no going back.

I waved at him, walked to the bench and sat down. "Hi."

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing much, school was shitty as always and I didn't do anything special."

"I wasn't even at school today." He closed his eyes. "I wasn't able to."

"Bad mood?"

"I had a fight with a friend, affects me pretty much."

"Wanna talk about it?" I laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Dunno, it was just stupid."

"Okay, you don't have to."

He turned his head to me. "You seem upset."

"School... nags. Some kids at school, fortunately I got rid off them easily."

"What did they do?"

"Tried to annoy and bully me." I sighed, "I hate kids. And students."

"I can relate."

"They called me 'it'."

"What?!" he was almost screaming.

"It's no big deal. They can't insult me with such a thing." I turned my head away to not let Leonard see how hard I was trying to hold back my tears.

"Aiden?"

I smiled carefully and looked at him again.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just... I feel like I don't belong here. I barely have any friends and I'm always alone."

"You're not alone." He laid a hand on my shoulder.

I shrugged and wanted to push him away, but then I took a deep breath and told myself to relax.

Leonard stood up. "I have to go now."

"Really?" I was kinda upset.

"Yeah, I'm going out with my boyfriend tonight."

I nodded. "Have a nice evening. See ya tomorrow?"

"I would like to, but tomorrow is bad. Actually the rest of the week is bad."

"Damn, then hopefully Selena has time."

He smiled. "Gimme your phone."

I did as he requested.

"I'll give you my number. Text me, okay?"

"Sure!" he handed me my phone. "Thanks."

I stood up. We said goodbye and then we left the park.

I came home and my dad was already there.

"I'm home." I said loudly.

My dad came along the corridor. "Hi, I made lunch for you. Pasta with chili sauce."

I smiled "For real? God, that's exactly what I need right now!"

"I know my little girl."

He turned around and didn't see my smile fading, then he disappeared in the living room.

"Yeah..." I whispered.

I went in the kitchen and ate. It tasted really good. My dad made the best chili sauce and I just loved it with pasta.

After I was done eating, I opened the fridge and looked inside.

"Nothing for dessert. Damn."

I closed the fridge again and went to my room.

On my desk was a little note.

"Do your homework, Rachel.

- Dad"

I sighed, then I got my bag and sat on my chair.

"Fuck school, fuck homework!"

Reculantly I did my my homework, it took me almost an hour.

A few minutes after I was done, my phone rang. Selena, thank god.

"Hey." I said.

"Hey," she said, "I've been busy and couldn't call back until now, sorry. How are you? What did Mr Finnegan want from you? Has anything bad happened? How's your – "

"Slow down!" I interrupted her. "Finnegan told me I shouldn't be sleeping during his lesson. Some kids crossed my way as I walked out of school, don't wanna talk about it. And I'm doing... I don't know. I don't feel good."

"Is there anything – "

"Sorry." I interrupted her again and ended the call.