Asleep or Dead

Chapter 5

- Frank's POV -

I watched helplessly as Mom took Clare by the hand and comforted her as they walked out of the school. I wanted to do something. I wanted to slap Clare's hand out of my Mom's and run away with her.

But I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

The little girl that we took in at age seven, who has become my best friend and sister, has been taken away from me and probably driven to a mental hospital.

Thinking about Clare getting sedated because of her actions hearts my heart.

What's happening to her now? 

Is she sitting alone in a white room with a shitty therapist? 

Is she being forced to take a series of pills and medicines?

Is she being detained?

I felt sick in the stomach. This isn't what I wanted. 

The students had lost interest after Clare left and they all went back to minding their own business.

I, however, had not moved and wasn't planning on doing so for a while. 

I just wanted to crawl into a dark room and avoid all human contact. If that's what Clare's going through, then she's not going through it alone. She's my little sister, related or not. 

Mindlessly, I wandered into the Cafeteria. I hadn't noticed the time. It was lunch.

I scanned the tables for familiar faces; mostly for a group of kids that are trying to blend in with the students of Belleville high school. Ironically, I spotted them almost immediately.

I briskly walked over to the group and took a seat at the end of the bench. 

Lindsey and Jamia were both having a deep conversation about Iron Maiden, which I honestly wished to join. Ryan was lying across one entire side of the bench with his head on Brendon's lap, who was stroking his hair in a loving, but somehow creepy, way. Ray was glued to his phone, as always. And Patrick was having a rant about fashion, to which no one paid attention to.

I pulled my hood up and played with a candy wrapper that lay on the table. I wasn't in the mood to eat or talk for that matter. Every time I opened my mouth, I could feel the contents of today's breakfast make its way rapidly up my throat.

So that was a no.

Shortly after I arrived, Helena and Mikey took a seat opposite me. I took a peek at them and regretted it instantly.

Both of them had concerned looks, much to my dismay, and had an extra tray of food with them.

They pushed the tray in my direction in hopes that I would eat it. I took one look at the mush of colours on the plate and nearly threw up then and there.

I shook my head furiously, wishing that the two of them would get the hint. They didn't take the tray back, but neither did they push me to take a bite. 

How nice of them.

Lunch rolled over pretty quickly. The ten of us all stood up and threw our trash into the bins before heading off to our separate lessons.

We still had five minutes before class officially started, so I decided that would be the perfect timing to get out of school.

It wasn't like I haven't done this before. I would usually go home after lunch anyway.

As Helena and Mikey were in the middle of a hushed conversation, I quickened my pace and strode towards the gates that were, conveniently, still open.