The Next Now

Chapter 24: Rude Mechanism

Henrietta's P.O.V

After my near detention for calling a teacher the name of a really super cool dude, we had English before I went over to the bleachers with Jay to eat lunch.

I usually eat lunch alone except on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Every day, I bring my own lunch, but on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Cafeteria food is always the best.

The Cook for Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, isn't the same cook for Wednesdays and Thursdays.

So, on a Thursday like this, Jay goes to the Cafeteria to get lunch for both us since I don't go in when everyone's there.
When he gets it, he eats with me on the bleachers and we talk, mostly to cover up for the time we don't spend together on Thursdays.

On my way back home today, I'm not using the visor on my helmet.
There's a chill in the breeze and I want to get enough air before reaching home and staying there till the next day. Alone

I know... Pure bliss

And, I'm not lonely

My Parents are obviously not around by this time. They're both at the hospital working their shifts.

Dad is a Doctor and Mum is a Nurse.
You'd think they'd consider choosing different shifts so they can have Hen-time, but no.
They work the same shifts and hours.

Talk about couple goals. Tch

I rush to my room and take off my shoes before jumping on my bed.
I pick up my phone and call my best friend.
He picks on the second ring.

"Hey, Hen" He breathes out

"Hiii"

"What's up? I just got home. Is there any problem?"

"Uhh.. No. Everything's fine. Umm- You're having the team over today, right?"

"Yes, I am. You know that already"

"Yeah- so-" Here goes nothing "Can I come over?" I rush and he sighs
"Please please please Jay, I won't get in the way. I'll just be-"

"Hen, you know that's impossible"

"Mhmm" I nod, though he can't see me

Jay is Captain of the School's Basketball team.
So, every Thursday, the team gathers at his place to have some kind of getting together sort of thing.
Team bonding, they call it.

Non-team members are not allowed, and since Jay is Captain, it'd be so wrong if he allows me; a non-team member in.

"Sorry, Hen. Maybe you cou-"

"Don't worry, Jay. It's cool" I hang up before he can say anything else.

Pfft..

I look around my spacious bedroom. The walls are a light shade of pink and peach. My bed is at one side and my closet is at the same side which leads to my bathroom.

My room is the widest in the house. It was, no doubt, supposed to be the Master's bedroom, but their bad.
They adopted a claustrophobic child.

Yes. I'm adopted

Well, that's putting it pleasantly

They said I was involved in an accident when I was 8 and it had happened in front of their house in New York.
No one had tried to save me..

And I'm supposed to be good to people.. tch

I was just unconscious and alone on the road with a semi-bashed head when they saw me. I was so close to dying if not that they had seen me when they did.