-Chapter 29: Outrunning Karma-

-Cassie-

Just like every other day, I find myself sitting under the tree in the back of the school. It was a pretty quiet place to spend time. A nice getaway from the assholes in the building.

"Mind if I join you?" A voice asked.

I look up to see Zeke standing there.

"Um, sure," I say, patting the ground next to me. "Where've you been? I haven't seen you lately."

"I've been helping Kris with a project she's been working on." He said. "Why? You miss me?"

The question catches me off guard.

"Wha-what?!" I sputter.

He laughs a little before sitting down next to me.

His behavior seems off. He's too cheerful. Especially after what had happened.

We sit in silence for a while. The only sound being the wind and the rustle of the trees. I sneak a look at Zeke to see him reading something in a notebook covered in stickers. I want to ask him about it but I don't want to bother him.

Suddenly he slammed the book shut and shouted words that showed his true mood.

"Bad d-day?" I ask trying not to upset him more.

"Yeah. Yes, that's it." He says in a debatable attempt to lie. "Just another bad day. How are you?"

I decide not to push it.

"I'm fine," I say, responding to his question.

He nods before taking out his phone and doing whatever he does on it.

I take out the only full flask left in my bag and gave it to Zeke before taking out the one I had already drunk from.

He picks it up and examines it before taking the cap off to smell the contents of it. After doing so, he quickly dumps it out.

"What the fuck dude?!" I say loudly.

"Liquor is bad," Zeke said simply.

"No shit Sherlock." I snap. "But it helps me forget."

"Forget what?" Zeke asked, putting his phone down.

I sigh. "I think it's pretty obvious. The pain of being beaten to a pulp every day, the pain of not wanting to exist. The fact that I have no home."

"I'm sorry," Zeke said.

"What for?" I question.

"That you had to go through that," Zeke said.

"Have." I correct.

"Right," Zeke said. "But where are you gonna go? You said you don't have anywhere to go to."

"I'll just figure it out Zeke, I'll be ok," I say with an obviously fake smile.

"You're sure?" Zeke said. His tone said he didn't believe me.

"Yes. Zeke, I'm sure." Cassie snapped.

"Ok." Zeke shrugged.

"Why do you care anyway? I'm nothing special." Cassie said.

"Everyone's a bit special in their own way," Zeke said as the bell rang.

"Zeke, don't worry about me," Cassie said. "I'll be ok."

He laughed at that statement.

"Last time someone said that they ended up.. let's just say not ok," Zeke said.

"Aren't you gonna go to class?" I ask when he doesn't get up when the second bell blares.

"No," Zeke said. "I'm gonna stay here if that's ok with you.

"That's fine with me," I say as I down the contents of my flask.

——————-

It was at least a few hours before we finally decided to go to our last periods. Zeke stood up and waited for me to grab my things.

I try to walk past him when he steps in front of me.

I look at him, confused.

"Meet me at the park tonight." He said. "At eleven."

"Why?" I ask.

"I wanna ask you about some things." He replied.

My stomach dropped though I knew this was coming.

"S-sure." I attempt to say calmly. "Eleven sounds great."

"Great." He said before turning around and walking away.