Painkiller

Two

"Ah shit!" Xavier exclaimed as the tray dropped out of his hands.

When he looked at the girl in front of him, he wanted to beat the living shit out of himself.  Eden was covered in food thanks to him.  "Oh my god, I am so sorry," he immediately apologized, his hands up, looking for a way to help.

Eden looked at him before a smile formed on her face and a laugh escaped her lips.  "It's completely fine, that was hilarious," she replied, holding her stomach as she cracked up.

Xavier just watched as she doubled over, laughing.  She found this way too funny.  When she finally stopped laughing, she started brushing the food from her clothes.  "How can I possibly help?" Xavier asked her, still feeling guilty.

Pulling a piece of meat from her hair, Eden responded, "Don't worry about it.  I can clean it up by myself."

Xavier suddenly got an idea.  He slipped his grey sweatshirt off and handed it to her.  "Take my sweatshirt at least, to wear for the day," he insisted, a shy smile on his face.

Eden just grinned back and accepted it without arguing.  "Thank you," she said, drawing out the 'you', waiting for his name.

"Xavier," he answered, putting his hands behind his back.

"Well, it was nice to meet you Xavier, even though this might not have been an ideal introduction," she replied, giggling, before slipping his sweatshirt on and walking away, seemingly forgetting what she got up for.

Madeline walked over to Xavier, snickering.  "Smooth moves," she joked, nudging him slightly.

Xavier looked over at her, his face red, as he replied, "Shut up."

"Well, I'm proud of you for talking to her, even if it was in the least graceful way possible," Madeline told him, walking to their table.

When the two of them sat down, they were greeted by Rylan and Tatiana giggling.  Rylan was a tall blonde geek who wore round glasses and looked like a Dwight Schrute impersonator while Tatiana was one of the shortest girls in the school and was as thin as a twig.  Her long brown hair fell in curls.

Rylan and Tatiana had their hands laced together under the table when Madeline and Xavier joined them.  "Nice going Xavier," Tatiana giggled, trying to hold back a full out laugh.

Xavier crossed his arms as he replied, "At least I talked to her.  And she's wearing my sweatshirt."

"You aren't getting that back you know," Rylan told him, raising an eyebrow.

Suddenly, Xavier felt his pockets and realized something.  His phone was in his sweatshirt pocket.  He threw his head back and groaned, "Fuck.  My phone is in there."

"Do you have a password on it?" Madeline asked him, an eyebrow raised.  "Please tell me you do."

"Nope, my parents don't let me," he answered, putting his face in his hands.

Tatiana stopped laughing and seriously said, "Dude, you're screwed."

"I know," he replied, putting his head on the table.  "My parents are going to kill me."

"Maybe they'll understand," Madeline tried to be positive, but she couldn't stop the doubt from flowing through her voice.

Xavier just sighed and ran his hands through his brown curly hair. He then chuckled before saying, "They'll probably beat me with a paddle or something."

Madeline snorted through her nose while Rylan bursted out into laughter. Tatiana just rolled her eyes, trying to hide the obvious smile on her face.

*~*~*

"Thank god," Xavier muttered under his breath the second he heard the dismissal bell.  Everyone in the classroom was up and out of their seats in an instant, Xavier right behind them.

He rushed to his locker, where Madeline was waiting for him.  A smirk laid on her face, which Xavier realized immediately.  "What's up with that?" he asked, putting his combination in.

Madeline, obviously hiding something behind her back, shook her head and replied, "Nothing."

Xavier just shrugged it off as his locker opened.  He quickly got everything ready to leave and slipped his backpack on his back.  He closed the locker and the two of them headed outside to wait for their bus.

Xavier spotted Eden as soon as they walked outside.  Instead of not noticing him this time though, Eden saw him too and waved with a smile on her face.  Xavier's sweatshirt was still over her own clothes.  This made Xavier's face break out into a huge grin.

Madeline nudged Xavier slightly, smiling.  "You're lucky she's not a total bitch," she told him.

Xavier looked at his short brunette friend and replied, "Yeah, I know."

The two of them boarded the bus and sat in the same seat, just like everyday.  Madeline pulled her earbuds out and plugged them into her phone.  She then gave Xavier one of the ear buds and put the other in her own ear.  The two of them listened to Alec Benjamin until it was Madeline's stop.  She stood up and looked at Xavier.  "By the way, Eden gave me this to give to you.  Check the messages," she said, handing Xavier his phone.

Xavier looked at the phone in disbelief.  Maybe he'd be alive when he got home after-all.  He turned it on and, following Madeline's advice, checked the messages.  At the top was a message from a contact with the name 'Eden Rosario'.

Hey, thank you so much for the sweatshirt.  I realized you left this here, so I gave it to your friend.  I hope she gets it back to you.  Here's my contact if you ever want to talk or hang out.  It's a good thing you don't have a password or I wouldn't have been able to get your number.  Don't worry, I have your contact info too, so I'll know who you are.  Once again, thanks for the sweatshirt and don't worry about the food.  It all comes out easily when you know how to get it out.  I'll get you your sweatshirt back tomorrow.  I'll see you tomorrow? -Eden

Xavier smiled at his phone as his fingers typed.

Yea, of course, see you tomorrow. -Xavier