The Blue Boy

She's Still Gone

I'm so lost in my story that I don't notice when Larry sits up next to me.

"Watcha doin, Sal?" He asks in his raspy, deep, morning voice.

I jump, "Oh my god, you scared me," I set my pencil down, "you ass,"

He just laughs deeply, "Not my fault" He leans his head on my shoulder and reads my story. "I haven't even started on this thing,"

"I need to go get dressed, Larbear," I hand him my notebook and put my pencil back in my bag.

Larry's POV

He's so cute when he calls me Larbear. He's just cute in general.

He looks like he hesitates before leaving but I could be seeing things. It's too early in the morning for this.

Sal's POV

God, I don't want to go back home.

I hesitantly walk out. "Hey, Lisa," She's sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.

"Heya Sal," she looks up, "That's a really pretty dress,"

I blush, "Thank you," I flatten the dress down a bit.

I make my way out, propping the door open again just in case she still has a headache.

Every step there is like agony because I don't know what I'll find. What if he's drunk again? What if he's mad? I need to find more bandages.

When I get up there, Dad's in the kitchen making breakfast. He turns around when I walk in.

"Heya, buddy," He seems sober.

"Hey, Dad, how're you doing?" I instinctively wrap my arms around myself in worry.

He leans against the counter, "I've got a massive headache, but other than that, I'm peachy," He smiles brightly.

I smile back and go to my room to get new clothes.

I pick out some ripped skinny jeans and I'm about to get a graphic t-shirt but then I remember the cuts.

I sigh and pull out a purple jumper that has a cat face on it. I smile at Gizmo who's laying at the end of my bed.

I take those clothes and my brush to the bathroom.

When I get my dress off, I can see all the bandages. It doesn't look like any of them have bled through, though.

The ones on my thighs are a little loose, so I tighten them before getting my pants on.

The outfit I put together doesn't look too bad, to be fair.

After struggling to get my buns out, my hair is all wavy and I almost don't want to brush it. It looks fine.

I do put a flower clip in to pull the look together.

When I go back to my room, I grab some of my money so I can go to the store later.

I decide to go wait at Larry's so we can walk to school together. I pet Gizmo on the way out and he purrs happily.

When I get back downstairs, Larry is already up getting dressed.

I mess with the end of my sweater sleeves as I wait for him. I get stuck in my mind for a minute. Should  I ask Larry to drive me and my dad..? Will Dad even want to go? But I shouldn't tell Larry what Dad did. He doesn't need to know.

"Sal?" Larry's waving his hand in front of my face. I blink a couple times.

"Sorry, I guess I zoned out a bit," I grab my backpack and walk out with him. It's all quiet until I ask him the question that's been on my mins.

"Larbear?" He hums and looks at me, "Do you have a driver's license yet?"

"Yeah, why?" He kicks some rocks that are on the road.

I figure out the best way to word it. "I need to take my dad...somewhere," he looks confused, "like..a rehab center," I rub my neck.

He understands and looks sad. He puts his arm around my shoulder and squeezes lightly.

"Just lemme know when, dude," He smiles at me reassuringly. I smile back.

We pass a nervous looking Travis talking to some short girl with red hair that looks like it's been recently cut. She seems pissed.

Larry notices too and he walks faster with me.

What's with that chick? Is that the girl that Travis told me about? I'll ask him when we meet in the bathroom.

. . . .

The first few classes go by ungodly fast, and before I know it, it's already lunch.

Today's food at least LOOKS edible, but the smell makes me fucking gag. This does not smell like bologna.

When we sit down at out table, Chug is just plowing through the stack of bologna sandwiches on his tray. I see that Maple, Ash, Todd, and Neil don't have bologna sandwiches on their trays.

"Yo, Chug," His head perks up, "Want my sandwich?"

He nods quickly and reaches for it.

"I still dunno how you can eat those things, Chug," Larry comments, handing over his as well.

Chug swallows a bite, "Don't ruin this day for me, Larry," He immediately takes another big bite, "this is the only good lunch day,"

I don't know why, but I keep glancing at Travis through out lunch. It looks like he has a new bruise on his face.

Ellie isn't here today, so I hope she's okay.

I get up to dump my tray and lock eyes with Travis. He stands up, too.

"Bathroom," He nods and scrapes stuff off of his tray.

When I get back to my table, I let them know that I'll be back and they continue their conversation.

Travis is already leaning against the sink checking out his bruise when I get in there. He quickly turns and looks at me.

"Who was that girl that was talking to you?" I quickly ask, "And did she do this to you?" I get some anxiety from being alone in here with Travis, but I brush it off.

He keeps quiet and slides down to sit on the floor. I sit on my knees in front of him, waiting.

He takes in a deep breath, "She's the girl I told you about," He brings his knees up to his chest, "Her name's Renae,"

"Did she..-" "No," He cuts me off harshly.

"She's a bitch, but she wouldn't hurt anyone," He thinks about that for a minute then sighs. "Could we talk about something else?"

I nod and we just talk for a while about random things.

"Oh my god, the teacher completely freaked!" I laugh at the end of my story. Travis smiles and loosens up. "Then my friend, she--"

My breath hitches. Mia. Tears well at my eyes and my heart aches.

"Hey, Sal, you alright?" Travis puts his hand on my shoulder.

I blink them away and nod, "M-my friend, Mia, she played the powerpoint of the teacher and e-everyone laughed," I finish out my story.

Suddenly, I can't hold it in anymore. I start crying no matter how hard I try to keep it in. "Sorry..."

He pulls me into a hug and I'm shocked before I melt into it. "You haven't seen her in awhile, it's okay, Sal," He pats my back.

"It's n-not like that, T-Travis," I sniff, "S-she's dead," He stiffens but tightens our hug.

His hug doesn't feel the same as Larry's, but it's comforting nonetheless. The bell rings and we have to go back to class.

Who did that to his face?