The girl with the blue umbrella||✔

Twelve

Jaime called a taxi and we both stayed in my house. We left the hospital shortly after we met Layla's mom because the press had started to surround the hospital. I didn't even take note of what happened. I couldn't . My head wasn't in the right place. I was numb. I think the tears stopped flowing shortly after that.

Why did she have to die? Why her? Why? Why? Why?

Jaime decided to stay over at my house for the week. The news about Layla's death had spread like wildfire. It was labelled a suicide by then. Aside school and work, I barely left my house because everywhere I turned, people talked about the death of the girl with the blue umbrella. People wondered why she would do that. Of course the adults didn't know about how bad she was bullied.

School was no different in terms of gossip. The students gossiped and said things that were unpleasant to the ear. Nothing new.

I was studying in class, trying to tune out the voices of my classmates. It was really hard to focus on just studying. My thoughts always moved back to Layla. It was just too painful at that moment, so studying was the next best thing.

I finally got my head focused around this topic. I was so deep into it, I didn't notice one of my classmates calling my name until he tapped me.

"Martin. Hey man! What's up?" He pulled a chair from underneath another desk and sat right next to me.

I looked to see if I could recognize him from anywhere but his face didn't ring any bells.

"Umm, I'm okay." I replied but it sounded more like a question.

"Hey man. Listen, I heard something that's rather amusing."

"And what would that be?"

"You know that weirdo, that one that always carries a blue umbrella around. Kayla Porkchop or something, yeah, she is dead now."

I clenched my teeth. Does this guy have a brain?

"It is Layla Cunningham and how is her death amusing to you?" I could feel the blood under my skin begin to boil.

"Because it's obvious that she killed herself for attention. Duh. I mean, I always knew that girl was cookoo. Who carries a damn umbrella all the damn time? Why doesn't she even speak? That's just stupid and-"

"Shut up." I said, standing up. I couldn't bear listening to him anymore.

"Calm down bro. Jeez." He held his hand up in mock surrender. "You know I also heard that you and Jaime were looking into her. Were you guys looking for a good laugh? I mean have you seen those videos of her. Damn. Those things are funny as hell.'

I clenched my fists even tighter. "What the hell is wrong with you!" I gritted out, ready to swing a punch but someone gripped my arm and held it in place.

I looked back and saw Jaime with an equally pissed off look on his face but he kept himself calm.

"Bro those videos were all harmless pranks. Were you going to punch me over a bitch who can't even beep a noise. Bros don't do that." The idiot yelled.

I opened my mouth to speak but Jaime beat me to it. "Did you say harmless pranks? I know that you have an autistic sister. Lawrence, so imagine if she was the one being 'harmlessly pranked' what would your reaction be?"

"Don't bring my sister into this." He clenched his teeth.

"You see, you are overprotective of your sister and I only mentioned harmless pranks. What if she was bullied and all the bad things that happened to Layla happened to her? Look don't do to other what you dont want to be done to you. You know you wouldn't want your sister to be treated like that, so why do it to others?" Jaime asked and Lawrence's head bowed in shame.