Under Pressure - Septiplier

Chapter Thirty One

Mark isn't in the cafeteria the next day either. He doesn't show up for a whole week. Ethan and Amy decide it's time to look for him after this becomes a pattern. They skip lunch and go to class by class, using Mark's schedule to track him down. They get to his fourth-period class and step inside, smiling awkwardly at the teacher. After a quick explanation that they're looking for Mark, the teacher lets them in. Amy's shoulders drop, and Ethan frowns as they see Mark. He's sitting in the back corner on the floor, curled up into a ball. He doesn't seem to have any lunch with him.

"I'm pretty sure he's sleeping," the teacher notifies as they sit down again. Ethan and Amy nod morosely, moving to take seats at nearby desks.

"He's never avoided us like this before. Did we do something?" Amy whispers quietly to Ethan, worry evident in her voice. Ethan shakes his head, a deep frown on his face.

"He's nice to me in seventh-period. He doesn't act mad," Ethan demurs, glancing over at Mark.

"So what's going on?" the girl asks, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"He's shutting us out. We have to help him," Ethan decides.

"If he's shutting us out, there isn't much we can do for him. How are we supposed to be good friends if he won't even talk to us?" Amy murmurs in response, running a hand through her hair.

"We have to be there for him, you know? Every day, come in here, eat lunch, try to talk to him, and he'll slowly open back up," Ethan proposes, trying to sound hopeful. He doesn't feel optimistic. Amy stares at Ethan for a long moment, deftly reading through the thin veil of optimism Ethan tries to wrap his words in.

"Ethan, I can't do that. They moved me up to one of the higher theatre classes. It changes next week, you know that. I'm going to have the other lunchtime," Amy states quietly. Ethan sighs softly, rubbing his face tiredly. This friendship is taking a lot of work to try and hold together.

"Okay, umm... I can do it, though. When he starts opening up more, I'll bring him over to Lola's, alright?" Ethan decides, tired, and concerned for his friend. Amy chews on her lip for a moment before nodding.

"Sounds good. I'm gonna be working two to four now. I hired Jack to help out," Amy informs with a worn smile. Ethan sits up and beams.

"Hey! That's really great! I know you've been absolutely exhausted with all that!" Ethan exclaims with genuine joy and excitement. Amy smiles slightly and nods pensively, eyes on the floor.

"Dad just... isn't the same anymore," she murmurs. Ethan sobers up at the statement.

"After...?" he asks, implying when her mom died of cancer. When that had happened, Amy had begun to work a lot more at the coffee shop. Her dad almost followed Lola, solely due to grief. He was sick for weeks with a cold that he refused to fight back against. In fact, he is still much frailer than before- a man in his late thirties with the wrinkle lines of a sixty-year-old. Despair hit him hard. Amy wishes Dad would smile again. She wishes Dad would take a look at the paperwork and bills. She wishes Dad would talk to her.

Amy nods. She sighs, rubs her face, and slumps back in her seat. Ethan leans forward, resting his head on the desk and tiredly gazing at Mark. The trio is silent.

A few weeks pass by, and Mark currently sits in seventh-period. He's disgruntled and snappish. The entire day has been abnormal and off-putting for him. It was all because of the torrential rain pouring forth from the heavens since early this morning. For the first few periods, his socks had been a bit wet. He hadn't been able to focus on anything else. The soggy feeling, the way it softened his skin, the cold cotton. Then, the rain became a thunderstorm around lunchtime. Every single attempt Mark made to focus was ripped apart by a crack of lightning or a clap of thunder. So, here he sits in seventh-period, glaring at the slideshow as his teacher lectures. The lights flicker, then there's a massive boom of thunder. The entire building shakes before all the lights go out.