Page 49 of We Thought We Were Invincible
When Mr.Chase finished, I leaned forward, anxious to hear the other side to the story.
Morgan accepted congratulations from her friends who also told her that at least it was over.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, my fight with Jamie giving me less tolerance for those girls. Morgan's words rang in my head and I couldn't help but wonder which of them he'd hooked up with.
Those thoughts were pushed aside as Mr.Chase began Matthew’s story. His main character was named Andy.
“Andy was never the most popular kid,” Mr.Chase read. “School was a nightmare for him and there were people there who only tried to make it worse. Sally was one of them.”
Morgan shifted in her seat as Mr.Chase continued.
“She didn't bully him like others did. No, she wasn't that type of person. What she did was worse. She didn't know he existed. Every day in the halls at school, he'd hope she just looked at him. Hell, he hoped anyone would look at him. That was the only thing he was good at, going through life unseen.” Mr.Chase hesitated, not sure he should continue. We hadn't been told ahead of time that these would be read out loud.
He made a decision and stuck with it.
“Then Andy was thrust into Sally's view. She didn't want it and he didn't blame her. He wouldn't want to be seen with him either. Her disgust showed on her face even if she didn't voice it. But Andy had been through worse that very week so he did what he always did, he got through it.”
By the end of the story, all energy was drained from the room. No one said a word. Morgan and Matthew had gone to the beach as she'd said, but her friends came along. They barely spoke to him. He'd watched them with longing, just wanting to be noticed. There was none of the anger I'd expect in his story, only desperation.
No one was snickering now or talking about Matthew with disdain. What none of them knew was that at that very moment, Matthew was in the hospital. They'd put him there. We'd all put him there.
Without a word, Morgan stood up and left, her classmate's eyes burning into her back. I should have gone after her, but couldn't. I was glued to my seat.
Mr.Chase put the stack of stories in his desk drawer, deciding that was enough for today.
“Let's start today's writing prompt.” He cleared his throat. “Poetry.”
* * *
I pulledmy brother's car into the parking lot in front of the apartments across from the University of South Florida's campus. He'd let me borrow it only after making me beg. Sadist.
As soon as I woke up on Saturday, the urge to see my best friend was strong. I needed him to talk some sense into me, to tell me what I already knew. I was an idiot. Getting involved with Jamie. Being friends with Morgan's crowd. None of it was me.
Did I want the old me back? Maybe that was why I was here.
But I couldn't stop thinking of Jamie. His blond hair, clear eyes, and solid arms. I liked what he did to me. When it was just us, who we used to be didn't matter so much. Then the rest of the world would close in, suffocating us and cutting us off before we could even get started.
I cut the engine and pulled out my phone to send Jay a text.
Me:You home?
Jay:???
Me:I'm sitting outside your apartment.
At least I hoped it was his place. I thought the address was right.
A few short moments passed before the front door of the building came open, Jay rushing out of it. He stopped when he saw me. Flipping dark hair out of his eyes, he unleashed his most Jay-like grin, making me suddenly feel like everything was going to be okay. He had that effect on people.
He was at my door before I'd even stepped out, practically pulling me from the car.
“What are you doing here, Callie girl?” he asked, pulling me into a strong hug.
I rested my head on his shoulder. “Can't a girl just miss her best friend?”
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest as he released me. “Do you have a bag?”
“I'm not staying the night. Kat wants me back today so I can go to church in the morning.”
