I'm Fine

Chapter 22

Nothing felt real. It snapped back and forth between a dream and the cold morning.

Cole!

Josie!

A bitter taste scratched my throat. I pulled the blanket over my shoulders and panted, feeling the rising and falling of my chest. My alarm sounded and I slowly rose. Shivering, I emerged from the blankets of my bed.

Mum greeted me for breakfast. The atmosphere was killing me, so I finished my breakfast by stuffing it in my mouth and then raced out the front door.

Lee could be dead. She could be dead. Could be dead. Dead.

I tried to shake the thought out of my head but it just returned, like a slap in the face.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out in time to see the name flash across the screen.

Hey. How's Lee doing?
Brody
8:01am

I bite my lip and think of a reply, not realizing that I'd come to a complete standstill. This. It happened again. A text from Brody and I'm all weak in the knees and my brain stops functioning, and somehow I'm soaring above the clouds in candy land with rainbows and unicorns. Or, maybe the twelve year old me would've said that. What I mean is that I'm elated, screaming of happiness and the fact that I might not be alone in this big bad world called home.

There was a problem last night. I don't know much.
8:02am

I've got an idea. Go to Harby's now, I'll meet you there.
Brody
8:04am

Why? What have you got planned?
8:04am

No questions. I'm doing this for you and because I feel terrible about Lee. Today is your day.
Brody
8:06am

I try to respond but I'm sure he's gone already. I contemplate whether or not to go, but who am I kidding? I'm a wreck and going to school is the last thing I want to do. Now, I either have two choices.

I call Mum and tell her that I want to miss school today. Or just wag.

And I think about my life as a teenager and I've never ever played the risk road. I'm the goody two shoes girl...well I turned into one when we moved. Once Cole was gone, I realized I'd taken it too far. I needed to pull back the reins and go into safe mode, where I couldn't hurt anyone anymore. But somehow, even that hasn't worked. I'd managed to get Lee trampled by a car.

I took in a breath of cold air and walked in the opposite direction towards Harby's Diner.

I skimmed behind bushes and pretended I was on the phone anytime an adult or fellow student walked passed. It seemed to work.

Until an adult passed by and I was on the phone, (pretending of course) and then my phone started blaring out it's tune. I looked up at the lady strolling down the pathway, who gave me an odd look and proceeded to sigh and shake her head, but continued walking. I breathed relief and ran, picking up the call on the way.

"Harly?"

"Where are you?!" she hisses, and I can feel my throat tighten.

"I'm skipping school," I reply, checking over my shoulder to make sure no one had heard me.

"What? Why?" She sounds concerned but hinted with something else.

"Lee...there was a problem last night. I don't feel up to school today."

"Did you at least tell your parents?"

I laughed giddily. "Nope. That's the best part." A smile stretches across my face. "They don't have a clue."