Post by Ariessya on Jul 17, 2009 20:27:39 GMT -5
Chapter Four
It wasn’t half bad at school. Not as horrendous as the usual school day. It was probably because of Carmen, and our little conversation last night.
I got a few stares as I entered my first period classroom, and I tried to ignore them. Stupid dog.
But the other kids knew better than to talk to me; I was solitary. Usually. It surprised everyone around me when I started muttering to Carmen.
“Morning Daron,” she greeted.
“Hey,” I grumbled. “I lost a half hour’s sleep because of you.”
“It was for your own good. How are you feeling?”
“Alright. My entire body aches, my head is pounding, my arm is screaming, ‘end my misery!’, but other than that, I feel pretty normal.”
She smiled. “Did you take any medication this morning?”
“Like what? The hospital didn’t give me any.”
“Tylenol, stupid. It’s a painkiller.”
I rolled my eyes. “We don’t have anything like that in my house. After a couple of incidents when I was fifteen, my dad decided to get rid of dangerous things I could ingest. And I just haven’t bought any since.”
She gave me a weird look, but turned to the teacher with rapt attention as he called her name.
“Brooks! Thatch! I don’t tolerate talking in class, and you know that. If you would like to have your conversation elsewhere, that’s up to you.” He gestured to the door.
I slouched in my seat and began doodling on my paper. Yes, a very productive start to my day.
As the bell rang for school to end, I headed for the door with the same speed as I did every day: as quick as I could without looking like I was trying to escape. I opened my locker with a swift movement of my thumb, and gathered a textbook to research my summative topic. As I closed the locker door, I scowled as Carmen appeared.
“You would make a good stalker,” I grumbled at her.
“It’s my life’s goal. What are you up to tonight?”
“Well, I have to go home and get my sisters to do their homework and chores, then go to work. And seeing as how I missed my shift last night, I have to cover someone else’s afternoon to gain the money I lost whilst being eaten alive.”
Carmen looked put out. “Okay. Well… I think we should hang out sometime.”
“Why do you like me so much?” I asked, exasperated. “Honestly! Yes, you saved my life, and I think I should be appreciative. But it doesn’t exactly change the way I interact with others. I’m not going to change character because of that dumb mutt.”
She glared at me. “You should change character! You need to do something else with yourself. Are you going to go about your life without friends? Are you going to live in an empty house, with nothing but your career to think about?”
I turned away from her. “And what if that’s what I plan on doing?” I challenged. “You couldn’t do anything about it if I said I was perfectly happy living in isolation.”
“Are you happy with being alone?”
I tossed my bag over my shoulder and didn’t answer.
At home, I tried to study, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Carmen had said. It was thought-invoking. I wished that the girl would just leave me to my own devices. She could mind her own business, getting good marks and achieving her goals. But no, she had to interfere with my life.
I went to bed early, giving up on my summative for the time being. I couldn’t concentrate for my life.
I guess I do have a conscience, I thought darkly.
But, after a long time, I decided to try and follow what Carmen advised me to do. It couldn’t hurt…
End of Chapter Four
It wasn’t half bad at school. Not as horrendous as the usual school day. It was probably because of Carmen, and our little conversation last night.
I got a few stares as I entered my first period classroom, and I tried to ignore them. Stupid dog.
But the other kids knew better than to talk to me; I was solitary. Usually. It surprised everyone around me when I started muttering to Carmen.
“Morning Daron,” she greeted.
“Hey,” I grumbled. “I lost a half hour’s sleep because of you.”
“It was for your own good. How are you feeling?”
“Alright. My entire body aches, my head is pounding, my arm is screaming, ‘end my misery!’, but other than that, I feel pretty normal.”
She smiled. “Did you take any medication this morning?”
“Like what? The hospital didn’t give me any.”
“Tylenol, stupid. It’s a painkiller.”
I rolled my eyes. “We don’t have anything like that in my house. After a couple of incidents when I was fifteen, my dad decided to get rid of dangerous things I could ingest. And I just haven’t bought any since.”
She gave me a weird look, but turned to the teacher with rapt attention as he called her name.
“Brooks! Thatch! I don’t tolerate talking in class, and you know that. If you would like to have your conversation elsewhere, that’s up to you.” He gestured to the door.
I slouched in my seat and began doodling on my paper. Yes, a very productive start to my day.
As the bell rang for school to end, I headed for the door with the same speed as I did every day: as quick as I could without looking like I was trying to escape. I opened my locker with a swift movement of my thumb, and gathered a textbook to research my summative topic. As I closed the locker door, I scowled as Carmen appeared.
“You would make a good stalker,” I grumbled at her.
“It’s my life’s goal. What are you up to tonight?”
“Well, I have to go home and get my sisters to do their homework and chores, then go to work. And seeing as how I missed my shift last night, I have to cover someone else’s afternoon to gain the money I lost whilst being eaten alive.”
Carmen looked put out. “Okay. Well… I think we should hang out sometime.”
“Why do you like me so much?” I asked, exasperated. “Honestly! Yes, you saved my life, and I think I should be appreciative. But it doesn’t exactly change the way I interact with others. I’m not going to change character because of that dumb mutt.”
She glared at me. “You should change character! You need to do something else with yourself. Are you going to go about your life without friends? Are you going to live in an empty house, with nothing but your career to think about?”
I turned away from her. “And what if that’s what I plan on doing?” I challenged. “You couldn’t do anything about it if I said I was perfectly happy living in isolation.”
“Are you happy with being alone?”
I tossed my bag over my shoulder and didn’t answer.
At home, I tried to study, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Carmen had said. It was thought-invoking. I wished that the girl would just leave me to my own devices. She could mind her own business, getting good marks and achieving her goals. But no, she had to interfere with my life.
I went to bed early, giving up on my summative for the time being. I couldn’t concentrate for my life.
I guess I do have a conscience, I thought darkly.
But, after a long time, I decided to try and follow what Carmen advised me to do. It couldn’t hurt…
End of Chapter Four
