I Need U 💎

Chapter 19

Jonah's P.o.V 

It was shocking to hear that Corbyn had been unlucky enough to fall down once and instantly fracture his tail bone when usually it took more than that to break it. The worst part is that I blamed myself for his injury. He was weak and even skinnier than he used to be because of ME. Because he started eating less since I had decided to stay away from him. If I had just talked to him sooner, instead of avoiding him, maybe all of that wouldn't have happened. He would still be healthy, both in body and mind. 

After we left the doctor's office, Corbyn walked ahead of me, making his way back to the waiting room to get his mother, who had stayed there. Right before he could pass the corner, I grabbed his arm and stopped him. 

"What?", he asked exasperated. 

I couldn't hold his reaction against him. His anger was legitimate. "Hey, this is not the end of the world, okay. It's gonna be alright", I tried to sound as convincing as possible.

"Yeah, right", he retorted, freeing himself from my grasp and turning the corner, leaving me behind. 

Oh, he's still mad at me. I guess I need to talk to him sooner than I wanted to.

I sighed, following him to the waiting room. Saskia was still sitting in the same spot, thumbing through a fashion magazine when Corbyn reached her. I waited in front of the room, watching them through the glass door. She put the magazine away, shouldered her bag and then, they began walking towards me.

After we left the orthopedist's building Saskia asked what the doctor had said. I looked at Corbyn, waiting for him to tell her about his injury but he stayed silent. Confused, I nudged him and gave him a questioning look.

He threw an annoyed look back at me before answering. "My tail bone is partially fractured", he replied with a straight face. 

Waiting for him to explain to her what the doctor had explained to us I stared at him, hoping he would take the hint and elaborate. Needless to say, he didn't. I sighed before taking matters into my own hands and telling her everything. And when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING. From Corbyn getting X-rayed, to the doctor saying it was because of him being too skinny, and to prescribing him a cushion to relieve the tail bone. 

At the end of my elaboration, Saskia turned around with a shocked expression. She had stopped walking and was now standing in the middle of the sidewalk which led to the parking lot where the car was parked. "Oh God!", she finally said, a sorrowful expression forming on her face.

I looked at Corbyn. He was staring at the ground, his mouth a thin line. Seeing him like that made me feel sorry for him and I had to fight the urge of pulling him into my arms to hug him. I hadn't hugged him in months and the sudden urge crashed over me like a wave.

~

The next day was just as weird as the day before. For Corbyn more than for me, though. Since he sat more at school than he did at home, he had to bring the cushion to school with him every day from now on. There was no way around it. His mother had informed one of our teachers - who was also a good friend of hers - about the incident and had told her to make sure he actually sat on it. 

I felt really bad for him. He looked really upset and uncomfortable, even though we weren't at school yet. Yes, I said WE. I made it my duty to take him and Ashley - who by the way still hated my guts - to the shit hole, we have to go to five times a week, with me.

For the whole ride, Corbyn couldn't sit still for even a moment. That boy was about to die from anxiety...

Once I pulled up on the parking lot, Ashley quickly removed her seat belt, immediately escaping to look for her friend group. Wow. She really did hate me. I was about to get out of the car as well when my eyes fell on Corbyn. He was now sitting still, not moving an inch. I wasn't even sure if he was breathing. 

"Corbyn?", I gently asked.

He turned his head to look at me and I waited for him to say something. But he didn't.

"What's wrong?", I tried again.

"I- I don't wanna go in there", he finally answered a few seconds of silence later.

"Why?"

"Have you ever seen someone carry a freaking pillow to school?", he sounded bitter.

"No?", I answered, not knowing where this conversation was going.

"Exactly!", he exclaimed frustrated, "I will be the first one!"

I was confused. "What's so bad about that?"

"Everything! People are going to shoot me weird looks. They- they're going to make fun of me-...", his voice broke.

What the fuck? How could he think that?

"First of all", I began, "who cares about other people? Who cares about them shooting you weird looks? They don't know the reason. They don't know what happened. They don't know you. They don't know ANYTHING about you! So why do you care? What THEY think of you, is none of YOUR business. It doesn't concern you, Corbyn.
Second of all, let them stare, let them talk, let them judge you! Because at the end of the day they don't matter. Their opinions don't matter. The only thing they're proving is their bad personality and if anyone has the nerve to make fun of you, karma will hit them right where it hurts. Bad people never get away with anything. They'll get what they deserve. So the only thing you should focus on is YOURSELF. That's all that matters", I paused to look at him.

Tears had formed in his eyes, his expression was sad.

"Tha- that's easy for you to say, isn't it?", he answered with a scratchy voice, "you're not the one who's going to look like a retard."

He did not just say that... How could he talk about himself like that?

"Corbyn."

He didn't look at me.

"Corbyn."

He turned his head to stare out of the window.

"For God's sake, Corbyn!", I repeated.

He didn't move. It was silent for a moment. Then, I heard sniffling. Did I mention that Corbyn was an emotional wreck? No? Because now you definitely know. He takes things wayyy too personal. It's okay, though, because I'm always there to pull him back into reality.

A/N: this lowkey sounds like a good ending 🤔 should I stop here? Nahhh, this can't be the end, right?