Building Bridges

Chapter 9

For the next few days, a routine fell into place. Kurtz and Fangs would carry her satchel throughout the school and sit with her in every class. Fangs ditched his Serpent buddies and Kurtz avoided the Ghoulies. And they were all hers. Making her smile and laugh at their bickering behavior. Indulging in being her distraction and crutches. At home, it was quiet. Dawson seemed to be back to work or just giving her space. He even got her a new bed with new bedding. The blue and black sheets silky and smooth, her favorite color. And it didn't hurt to look at it anymore. And she could sleep on it again. Mary wondered if he noticed that her old bed went untouched. If he cared enough to look in her room every day and see it was still the same as before. She didn't want to care if he did, she didn't want to feel relieved at the sight of a new bed in a new position in her room. Still, she muttered a thank you to the man, enduring his hand coming down to pet her head while he gave a soft smile. A vague feeling of comfort eased her nerves as the days went on. Content with the way things were. And she supposed that was her mistake.
Growing content with a façade of normalcy, something was bound to shatter the illusion. And it did. Over the course of the calm days, she noticed three things. One; Kurtz was canceling their tutoring sessions and didn't walk her home from school anymore. Something he would do more often than not. Mary tried not to think about it too much because it could have been gang-related business. As much as she liked to pretend neither of her friends were in gangs, she acknowledges this much. Two; Dawson was suspiciously distant from her. After getting her the new bed, the man stepped back. He was out of the house more. Working, she assumed. And three; a new drug was going around school. Little straw-like drugs flooded the halls. Starting with the Ghoulies and then the non-affiliated students. Candy-stripped pixie sticks of Jingle Jangle.
Arriving in English without seeing either boy all morning, Mary felt her stomach sink. Most of the class was absent. Missing familiar leather jackets and black clothes, her friends and their respective gangs, Mary pulled out her cell phone and called Fangs first. Her leg bounced as it continued to ring before going to voicemail. Sending him a text and switching to call Kurtz, her heart jumped when he answered, "It's not a good time, Blake." His voice on edge. With a breath, she asked, "W-what's g-g-going on? W-where are y-you guys?" Her stuttered questions meeting a rough sigh. "Calm down, Mary. It's just Ghoulie business." The vague answer did nothing to calm her and she felt her chest constrict, "G-ghoulies and S-serpents d-ditching at the s-s-same time? B-b-bullshit." Mary called him out, glancing around to make sure the teacher wasn't there yet. "Where a-are you?" At the silence, she held her breath. Bated and waiting for Kurtz to say something. To tell her the truth or a better lie, anything.
"I gotta go." And the line went dead. Swallowing, she stood up on shaky legs with the intention of leaving class, "Is something the matter, Ms. Blake?" Mr. Phillips acquired as he strolled into class with the lesson plans.
Stilling, biting her bottom lip, and considering what to say, "I-I have t-to go." She mumbled, slinging her satchel over her shoulder. The man blinked in surprise as he set his things on his desk, "Excuse me? Class is just starting." His words failing to make her stop as she moved towards the door. Her mind going a mile a minute on where Kurtz could possibly be with the Ghoulies. Where did gang fights happen? How could she stop this one? "If you leave, I'll be forced to call your stepfather." The threat penetrated her thoughts and she paused at the opened door. Only for a moment, she hesitated. Her friends or her stepdad? Helping Kurtz and Fangs or saving herself from punishment? Already, she knew the answer. And the door shut behind her as she made her way back to her desk with pursed lips. Because she loved her friends and wanted them to be safe, but a voice inside of her head reminded her that they chose this.
Turning her phone off and hiding it in her bag to ignore the temptation, she went through the day with her head down and glassy eyes. Alone and worried. It was the first time she'd felt that way at school. Empty without her friends to fill in the void. The school was quieter too. No Ghoulies bullying kids in the halls. No Serpents chatting against the lockers. No fights. Just an echoing silence that she noted in her Journal during Art class. As school ended, Mary wondered if she should check on her friends. Find out what was happening and if anyone was hurt. So, she turned on her phone while walking home. Nervous as she had three text messages and a missed call from Fangs. The first message was from Fangs as well, telling her that the gang needed him. And that he was sorry. Mary messaged him back, asking if he was okay. The next message was from Dawson, explaining that he was going to at the 'office' all night. No doubt that it was Ghoulie business as well. The third message was from Kurtz. She opened it last. 'Call me.' And she didn't. Mary put her phone away as she came upon her house, seeing a figure on the porch.
Sweet Pea sat on the step, a black eye and bruised cheek, but otherwise okay. And he stood when she moved in front of him, dark brown eyes looking her over. The silence was deafening as she clutched her satchel strap. "We need to talk."