Chapter 121

Studying to me was like a job I didn't love. I only showed up out of necessity. But same with a job, I got fed up of having to do the same thing everyday and pretend it didn't bother me as much as it did. And so, I decided to just finally put an end to it. In other words, I quit. I still didn't say anything to the principal, I rather stood up and walked out despite him not being done with whatever he was saying. And in my mind I swore that was the last time I'd be seeing both him and the inside of his office. My phone was still ringing, and I answered it the second I got out.

" Hello?" 

" Hey, I'm sorry..I know you're at school -"

" It's cool, what's wrong? "

He went quiet for a while, he'd start saying something but then stop, so I had to urge him to just let it out. 

" I really hate to ask you this, you've already done so much..."

" Chris, just spit it out already. "

"ummm....could you please send me some cash? I sort of used it all on the motel and there are some things I need to buy. "

" Is that all?" 

" Yeah. "

" Since when are you scared to ask for my help? Have you eaten?"

" Not yet, but don't worry about -"

" Give me a few minutes. "

I cut the call and tucked the phone into my pocket. Then I walked over to my locker and opened it up. It was mostly just empty, other than the two books I never used and a few other items. I didn't want to have to go back there so I just started placing them all in my backpack. I recalled that I had promised to search for Miles during lunch so I went ahead and gave him a call, then I told him where to find me and asked if he could come over for a sec. 

And as I was waiting for him, I found myself looking around. Knowing Kyle was around somewhere only increased my desire to leave as fast as I could. It was difficult for me to be there and not seek him out, each second that passed I was tempted to go search for him and straighten things out. I had gone for way too long without his touch, I felt like I needed it to survive.And that was all the proof I needed to know that if I stayed there for a few more hours I'd give in and start begging him to come back. Which I could very well do, it wasn't a big deal. Not when I loved him as much as I did, but I knew he was just going to push me further away so there was really no point. Perhaps we both needed to give each other a couple of days to cool off. And I also had a lot of things to sort out. Not my 'mental issues ' as he claimed but just personal things that couldn't wait any longer. 

Like the fact that I had literally just decided to drop out officially...my dad was surely not going to like that. And there was also Chris. He had the worst timing, but he was also a current priority so I wasn't going to just push him to the side. 

" Hey! What's up? You really believe the school is your yard, don't you?" Miles joked. We fist bumped and he tapped my back, then his eyes fell to my locker and he narrowed them in confusion. But then he laughed. 

" You could at least pretend to be interested in reading, throw a few magazines in there or something. "

I glanced at the empty locker, then I shut it and after darting my gaze around for the hundredth time, I settled it back on Miles. 

" I wanted to ask whether we could meet after school instead? I'll text you the address. "

" Yeah sure, no problem. So long as it's before seven, my mum wanted me to take her to some exhibit tonight. "

" Got it. "

The bell rang, and after looking around, Miles gestured down the hallway and said we ought to get to class, but I shook my head and told him I wouldn't be going. He was the only one I cared enough to tell, and in my head, it wasn't as big a deal as others would assume it was. So I told him why and he looked completely dumbstruck, then he shook his head and struggled to find words. 

" You're crazy,you know that?" 

He then chuckled, but I could see deep down he wanted to say something else, it's just that the construct of our friendship prevented him from doing so. He did however ask me if I had thought anything through, I hadn't. I wasn't the type of person to do so,I'd just worry about the consequences later. 

" This place isn't for me. "

" And how does Kyle feel about that? Have you told him?"

" It's my life, isn't it? I can do as I like. See you later. "

" You're leaving? Now?" 

" Yap. "

Most of the students had already headed to class. Somehow,I felt lighter already, especially when I rode out of the gates, it was as if a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I called Chris and asked him what he needed, insisting he give me the full list , then I stopped at the local supermarket and bought them all. Along with some food because he hadn't eaten yet. I had passed by the motel again the previous night before I went to see Kyle, and he had claimed that he wasn't hungry, which meant that he hadn't eaten since I don't know when. 

When I got to his door, I found it unlocked, so I just walked in. He had been seated crossed legged on the floor, leaning against the bed, doing nothing. And he looked pretty worn out as well,more than he had been the previous day. When he saw me he stood up, then he asked me what I was doing there since I had told him I'd be going to school and wouldn't be able to pass by there till afterwards. 

" I took a sick leave. Here, " I handed him the food,and he took it from me and thanked me. It hadn't even been that long since I last saw him, yet he looked completely different. We had gone to the same school back in Phoenix. I mean, there had been more to it, but I never really thought about that since it was all in the past. It had just been a phase in my life that I had passed. 

" I'll pass by my house later on and bring you some clothes. " 

He nodded without saying a word, then he sat down on the bed and slowly began eating. His dark hair needed some serious brushing, and he looked much paler than I recalled. And I could also tell he had lost weight. 

" You promised to tell me what happened. I think I deserve an explanation at least. "

He had just shown up out of nowhere. I had been on my way to school from the gas station the previous day when he called me. It was shocking to see his name on the screen after so long. But him and I had ended things on a good note, there were no hard feelings and he had also sounded pretty desperate. He drunk the coffee I had given him, avoiding my eyes while he was at it. 

" Chris, come on. " 

Rebellion had been what had made us friends in the first place. I had been angry at everyone around me and always searched for trouble, and we had somehow ended up in a fight. I had hated his guts at first. Like, completely loathed the guy. And that had been the status of our relationship till about two years back

" Do you remember Phil? " He finally asked me, his voice low. 

" Of course I do. What did the scumbag do?"

" Well, I saw him setting fire to Jason's car. He's that guy who used to play football but quit after his arm broke..."

" Yeah, I remember him too. "

" I think Jason got his sister pregnant or something. Well, I recorded him burning the car.Then I tried to use it to blackmail him into giving me some cash-"

" Fucking hell Christopher! Now why would you do that? "

" Because I needed the cash! And it's not like he doesn't have it, the guy is the main dealer at school. "

" But you're hiding here, so I'm guessing things didn't go as planned. "

He shook his head and after taking another sip of the coffee, he ran a hand over his face and sighed defeatedly. He was so far from home, so something must have really gone wrong for him to come all the way to Boulder just to get away.