Blake and Aimee

Chapter 3: Blake

I have to get out of here. God, I have to get out of here now! Man, my hands are shaking bad, anxiety is flaring up again. I am currently in a bathroom cubicle at the far end of the school near the oval. History was shit. Walk in, thank god the room was pretty much empty, and for the whole goddam lesson they are whispering. Cancer hasn't hit my brain yet, I can her everything you are saying you twats. Anyway, teacher left the room, uptight old grouch she was- possibly old as history itself. And these guys come up to me and start pushing me around, chucking my books everywhere. This place is shit I need to get out of here, I need to go home. Home, in Ireland in my bedroom full of comics and grunge band posters, where my friends and I used to play video games till dawn. Man, we had a laugh me and those guys. I'm afraid it's all gone now though. Sure, I got the negative attention back home too, the lingering stares and the comments but it was different. At least they knew who I was, before I got sick, the person I was becoming the thing I could achieve, even my hair colour for crying out loud. Brown. Sort of chestnut, slightly amber in the light of the sun of an afternoon. The things you can take for granted at times never seems to astound me. It's true you never really know what you have until it's taken from you. I really need to run, the adrenaline is making me shake from head to toe, but the house would be a good half an hour away at running speed. I am not good at maths but I know distances and directions pretty well. God, I feel sick.

...

Alright bad idea, started running right? Got two blocks away from school and nearly collapsed on the side of the road. That the thing about adrenaline, it wears off quickly. Third time trying to get a hold of my Ma, man I hope she's not too mad, oh shit it's ringing.

"Hello? Blake what are you doing with your phone at school?" Well crap, this won't be good.
"Ah yeah Ma, um I'm not at school exactly..."

"What! What do you mean you aren't at school? Where are you? Are you alright? Are you safe? Oh, Blake what happ-" Oh dear god I hate it when she works herself up like this. No Ma I'm about to be murdered by some drug dealers who shoved me into the back of their van which I why I am calling you.

"Ma, Ma stop listen, Ma I'm- I'm fine Ma ok? I just, I just need to you come pick me up please."

"Ok sweetie, where are you, are you ok? You sound out of breath."

"Yeah, I'm on Oakland Street, next to the local park, three doors down from the corner store. Oh, and I ran away from school." She hung up. This can't be good.

...

So, I've been in the car for over five minutes. She hasn't said a word to me as of yet. Ok we are pulling into the driveway, better brace myself. So, I hop out of the car to face the almighty wrath of Ma... in the form of a hug?

"Ma are you alright?" It's always awkward hugging Ma, she's so short and I'm all tall and lanky so my limbs kinda don't know what to do with themselves. She releases me- finally- and I see that she's crying.

"Oh yes dear I'm fine I just, I was just thinking about you today at school and- well never mind that. Why did you run away dear? Did something bad happen?" If only it was that simple. I follow Ma upstairs with the groceries she bought just before she picked me up.

"I think an easier question would be did something good happen. Cause the answer would be no." I didn't realise how annoyed I sounded until Ma turned around with her eyebrow raised. She always does that if I'm rude or "out-of-line" as she says. Sighing, I correct myself "Sorry Ma, its just- it's just been a really crap day. I barely get a foot in the doorway before they're all staring at me. It's like 'Everyone! Look! The cancer freak show has turned up!'" Didn't realise I shouted the last part. But instead of receiving another eyebrow from Ma she looked down and frowned.

"Are you sure everyone was looking at you that way son?" What does she mean am I sure? Yeah because I'd totally make that shit up for fun, you know, to pass time. "Maybe they were just interested to see who the new addition to the school was, don't be so quick to judge people son." Now I'm just irritated, this is the same cliché bullshit I get day-in day-out. School doesn't work like that; no one cares about you, no one is interested in your bullshit, all you are is a face in a crowd and another number on the enrolment sheet. You are nothing.

"Yeah you know what Ma, you are absolutely right. Except they aren't interested in me, oh no no. All they are interested in is this!" I rip the beanie off my head to reveal by stupid, shiny head, "No one gives a fuck who I am, or ever was here! I don't want to go back and you can't make me!" I punch the wall, but I only receive pain coursing through my arm- the cancer has weakened me severely, some days I can't even carry my school bag. I slide down the wall, feeling the anger pass over and out though me. Now I just feel weak. "I just wish I was dead already." Ma rushes over.

"Now you listen to me young man, I don't want you talking like that alright? I know you are upset but that's no way to go about it. Now you can honestly tell me that there was not one person who was nice to you today? Anyone, even passing in the hall." For the love of Jesus Ma, no! Everyone just stares at me, gawks at me with beady eyes as if trying to grasp every detail of the monster that just walked in. Well. There was her I guess. At first, I thought she was just some of those lame-ass sucks ups but she didn't talk like one. In fact, she talked as if she was genuine. Like was of those people who are just "real" you know? She didn't seem stuck up or arrogant. If anything, that was me in the situation. Well doesn't matter does it? If I screwed up so be it, anyways she said she'd never be nice to me again so it really doesn't matter. After all I'm better alone. Aren't I?