Destiny calls

10

*Some strong languages have been used, so please proceed with caution.*

"Hey Claire, but I needed to thank you for yesterday. If you had not been there I would have totally slept on the pavement."

"Ohh, uh, yeah welcome."

We reached the nurse's office and she was told to rest. I sat with her.

"Don't you have to be in class? I thought you were very serious about studies."

"Oh, studies. Yes I am serious but this is more serious to me. I mean You literally sweeped me off the floor and dropped me in my house yesterday and prevented me from anything nasty happening on the street. I mean do we live near?"

"Yeah I suppose. I mean yeah I just live one street away from that place." She looked like she was having a hard time. "You should go back to class."

"Hell nah. I guess I want some rnr too. Missing one class won't make much difference anyway if somethingimportant is nottaught." I peeked at her to see her in disbelief and in pain. Her eyes were wide but her lips were compressed in a fine line and her hands clutching her stomach too. She looked as if she wanted to say something. She kept looking at me time and again.

"Yes, do you want to ask something?"

"No...I mean yes, I will leave early so please go back. I don't want to hold you back."

"HUUH! Who said anything about you holding me back? If anything I only have something to gain out of it. Anyway it is my decision to stay."

"Is it okay if I tell you something?"

"Of course."

She began with a soft melancholy tune though she was in pain. "You see when I first entered this college I didn't think much about it. I was fine with anything and since my dad told me this would be better and I could do well if I came here. So, I followed him without doubt. Being the older of the two siblings I had some pressure but it was not that bad. But I just don't seem to get why I need to do this. Time and again I tried my hardest yet I couldn't get better neither score better. I felt as if I was disappointing him. And now, if I ever talk to him the only things he is concerned is for my grades and nothing. If I told him that I had done bad he would just get angry at me. I mean he is not bad but his actions don't really help me. Though he says that he loves me and worries about me and believes in me, I highly doubt it because he never really bothered to take the time to actually look after me. When I was young, he might have but not really now." She had started crying midway. It must have really hurt.

"Hmm...you know what, come over to my place today."

"No, I can't possibly do that!"

"Why not?"

"I need to ask my boyfriend."

"Oh! Fuck that guy. You are not going to cheat on him...ahh...whoops...sorry. What I was trying to say is we have a lot to talk about." For the first time that day I saw her smile even though she was still crying. However, she was pretty.

"You know?"

"Hmm.."

"I kind of feel better seeing you like this and I don't know why. I am so sorry."

"Oh its fine. Besides I feel like we could get along really well. Anyway see you later at my place. And you are coming with me. Got it?"

"Uhh...Yeaaahh"

"And don't leave from here. I will come check up on you after every lesson."

"okay."

"And sleep well, its the key to healing."

"Fine, I got it. Are you my mum or somethin."

"Okay bye. See ya."

I went to check on her after every lesson and stayed with her on my break. The Information I gathered at that time was rather crucial. Her father was an alcoholic though not violent but anyway alcoholic. She said that he drank daily but not so much as to get drunk. He smoked, and chewed tobacco. He had been raised in a sustaining family and studied off scholarships. Had been present in her early childhood but later didn't bother much. Gave too much pressure on studying and grades but didn't bother to come to parent's teachers meeting or to take report cards. Didn't come to take her home even when she got sick. In few words, suffocating and annoying. Though she insisted that he wasn't that bad and it could have been worse and that she picks up negative habits much more than the positive I couldn't agree. The only positive thing was he was the breadwinner of the family and didn't raise his hands. And oh there was more to him like how her parents never had a conversation without an argument and his patriarchal beliefs, the way how he thought that he was the only one right. Just thinking about it makes me annoyed. I never would have been able to survive that shit.

Well anyway once all the lessons were over, Lynette and I went to her and headed home together. When we were out of the building, we ran into the lanky guy, lets say L for now. I mean I never knew his name neither did I bother to. Even if someone did say, I didn't care.

"Oh, so the little whore finally decided to come out. Come on now, I am specially tired today and to make things worse I have to see that face of hers. I really need some massage today."

"Who is this guy? Do you know him Shimmer?"

"Not at all, looks like some manners have to be drilled into him. You don't know him either, do you Claire?" And Claire just looked away. "Guess some home tutoring lessons should be given, isn't that right sir Dave?"

"Huh...What are you talking abouutt..." Well lucky for us sir Dave just happened to be passing. And when he saw L, gotta say he fired up cracking his knuckles. Though he didn't release his intimidation power, L sure did look scared. "...Oooohh, its you again. I really wasn't in a good mood today. I really could TEACH You Some LESSONS." And L went scampering off.