Saving Death

Chapter 7

I didn't see Sam for another week after I left Seline's that weekend, and all I could do was think about the deep, guttural cries of pain I'd heard. He was definitely ill, and Seline had seemed disturbingly calm about her nephew's health. It made me wonder exactly how long he'd suffered from this illness, whatever it was. There was something they weren't telling me, but that didn't make me any less desperate to know if he'd improved. I'd debated so many times over the week whether to phone Seline or even drop by, but I got the distinct impression that I would just be told he'd be fine.

I stared out of the classroom window during English, lost in thought. I'd gone over the details of that day so many times in an attempt to find something I'd missed. I knew I shouldn't care. I'd only known Sam for a short amount of time, but I felt drawn to him. I remembered Seline saying something about Sam just needing time, but how much time? How long did it take him to recover from something like this? Or maybe she hadn't meant that at all. Maybe she'd meant time away from me. Maybe she knew just how close to the edge he walked, like me. Whatever it was, it seemed like something ongoing that he'd had to fight for a long time. I wondered if he'd continue fighting or if there would come a time...

"...and that's due on Monday," came Mr Jenson's voice. "With no extensions," he clarified, looking directly at Zac, who simply raised his eyebrows.

Shaken from my reverie, I grabbed my bag and made for the door, but Zac soon caught up.

"Hey. Ava, wait up." Although I liked Zac, I cringed internally. I just felt like being alone today to get lost in my thoughts.

"Hi." I hugged my coat to me, having not bothered to put it on in my hurry to leave.

"Whoa, what's got your goat?" he said, standing back and looking at me in mock horror.

"Sorry. Nothing," I mumbled. "I'm just annoyed about all the work I guess." Zac eyed me suspiciously, but he didn't say any more, which I was thankful for. He'd recently found out about my mum and he was being exactly the same as usual, and that's what I liked most about Zac. Over the past few months, I'd really hated people tiptoeing around me as if I might break down any second. With Zac, I could just forget about it all and be normal.

"Well, what's the deal this weekend?" he said, hitching his bag further onto his shoulder and staring me down.

"Not much," I said, knowing full well I'd spend my entire weekend attempting to coax my attention onto homework, but failing miserably and focusing solely on Sam instead.

"Well, have you ever been to a rave?"

I stopped in mid stride and turned to face him. "No..." I said hesitantly.

"Well there's one on Blizzard Street in town. You want in?" He waited expectantly as I thought it through. I'd never been to a rave, and I was aware that most of them were illegal. It didn't exactly sound like my scene, but not wanting to let Zac down, I gave him a lifeline.

"Maybe..." I said, hearing my own voice hitch, knowing full well I didn't plan on going, but not able to tell Zac to his face.

"Cool," he grinned, surprising me by grabbing my forearm, pulling up my sleeve and scrawling on me with biro. "Here's my number."

"Zac! What—" I huffed.

"Sorry, gotta go. That's my bus!" He laughed and grabbed me into a bear hug before shoving the pen in my direction. I took it automatically and watched him jog down the path. "See you Saturday!" he called, rounding the corner and leaving me feeling out of sorts.