Chapter 64 WHEN SADNESS SLEPT BESIDE ME
~Elara~
I sat in the bathroom stall for hours.
I waited until the last bell rang, 10 minutes past the bell so by the time I walked out the school would be nearly empty.
The click of my stall door opening sounds and I walk out, looking at my swollen face in the mirror.
I wiped away any tears left on my face before heading towards the door and pushing it open. I didn't have any energy to care about how I looked anymore.
I feel my stomach drop when realizing Wayne had been standing next to the door the entire time with his hands in his pockets, leaned against a wall.
I walk quicker, trying to pretend I hadn't seen him.
I just wanted to be alone.
" Elara, can we talk?" He suddenly asks, grabbing my arm from behind. I stop in my tracks, looking down at my shoes.
How could I even speak to him anymore? I felt like an idiot.
Instead of saying anything I slowly nod my head, looking up at Wayne who was surprisingly looking at me with a worried look instead of a disgusted one.
It's silent for a moment until he suddenly pulls me into a hug, his chin on top of my head as his arms wrap around me.
" Don't listen to what Calvin says, I don't know why he's acting so pissed with me around you, but whatever he's saying is out of pure anger." Wayne mumbles under his breath.
How could someone be so kind? How could he still hug me after that?
" How about we go on a drive to get your mind off things?" He suddenly says, pulling away from the hug with a smile on his face as he looks down at me.
"II have to get to work." I mutter, hoping Mrs.Carmen wouldn't question my messy looking face.
" We'll take the scenic route." Wayne shrugs, grabbing my hand. I look down at our hands clasped together before looking back up at Wayne who only held a small smile as we walked out of the school.
My red face from crying luckily helped me cover the tint of red plastering my cheeks from the action.
Wayne didn't let go of my hand, even in the car. He had one hand on the steering wheel and the other one clasped in mine as he pointed out every flower he thought I would think looked pretty.
Whatever he did was helping, because the entire car ride my mind was completely off of what happened at school.
The terrifying thing about time is that it always comes back to haunt you. You can't really escape it, as hard as you try.
Tomorrow was the day I'd have to meet with Andrew to give him whatever amount of money my check held.
The days felt like they were passing by quicker when I didn't want them to. I knew any hope I still had in me was fading away at this point.
The funny thing is I knew I also probably had no chance of making it out alive. For some reason I didn't mind, it's like my body just accepted it.
I knew I was screwed either way. If Andrew doesn't kill me, Roger was right behind.
It'd been a couple days since I spoke to Calvin. I made sure I didn't run into him at all.
I didn't want anything to do with him anymore, not even in the slightest bit. I wanted to completely leave him out of my life.
Groaning I move my forehead onto my desk, giving up on the math homework I was attempting to finish.
It was nearly one in the morning and I was still up because I couldn't keep my head in one place.
Eventually I decided on doing some homework, which wasn't exactly going too well right now.
My eyes shut for the slightest bit until a knock on my door makes me jump from my spot. I look towards the door, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
No one usually comes to my room so late at night.
I slowly walk up to the door, hesitantly moving my hand onto the handle as another impatient knock sounds.
I unlock the door, slowly opening it. I squint my eyes to see more clearly before feeling my throat run dry at Calvin’s bloody face looking down at me.
" Lara." His deep voice rumbles, and I feel my breath hitch. My eyes move over to the blood on his face as I think to myself. How often did he get into fights? Hasn't he had enough already?
" W...what do you want?" I whisper out. My brain was yelling at me to shut the door and ignore him.
But I couldn't bring it in me to do that. Especially seeing him like this.
He watches me curiously, searching every inch of my face before his eyes find mine.
"It hurts." He suddenly chokes out, and I look at him confused before his entire body starts falling forward towards me.
My eyes widen as I move to hold Calvin’s tall frame up, only then realizing the strong smell of alcohol coming off of him.
" W..what do you mean it hurts? How bad did you get injured?" I say, trying my best to keep him from falling down as I drag his body down onto my bed.
Finally I get him to lay on the bed, his dark hair messy and the blood still a disaster on his face and shirt.
"Your lucky I'm nice." I breathe out, watching him carefully as I try to figure out what was bringing him so much pain.
Calvin only lays there with his eyes closed and his arm draped over his forehead. I sigh in frustration before heading towards the bathroom.
If any of the maids see Calvin in here I was done for.
I reach for a towel and get it damp with warm water before rushing back to the bed and cleaning up his face.
A low groan leaves his mouth and I swallow the lump in my throat at the sound before finishing up.
" You have to tell me exactly where it hurts so I can help you Calvin." I grumble under my breath.
He didn't deserve any help from me, especially after what he'd done at school.
I freeze when his eyes suddenly open and he's looking at me. The sound of my heart rate could probably be heard from miles away when his hand suddenly grabs my wrist that was holding the towel against his face, stopping any of my movements.
"You won't find it, Lara." He says deeply, and I watch him in confusion as I see the most heartbreaking look flash In his eyes.
It was something I'd never seen in Calvin, his eyes in that moment had more emotion in them than I'd ever seen in him.
It wasn't happy, or confused, or scared, or even angry.
It was just sad
For the first time I saw Calvin looking sad
"What do you mean?" I whisper out. I'd never seen this side of Calvin before.
It all felt like a daydream really.
The towel in my hand is suddenly dropped when Calvin loosens it out of my hand. I look down at the fallen towel before feeling my heart race when he moves my hand to hold the side of his face.
His own hand was clasped on top of my own that was on the side of his face, holding my hand in place so I don't move it.
I look back up at him like he's insane before realizing his eyes were closed and he'd been back asleep.
I nervously chew my lip as I watch him sleeping as if nothing had just happened.
It was odd seeing him sleep, watching his calm breathes. His face was less angry looking, he looked somewhat peaceful.
Calvin usually stayed out all night. This was the first time I'd seen him actually sleeping.
I stay there sitting at the edge of my bed as he laid down and eventually I fell asleep on my own.
I'm not exactly sure if I even had a dream that night. The only thoughts in my head were of what could've made Calvin seem so sad.
Even Andrew hadn't crossed my mind the entire night.
When I woke up for school I was laid out on my bed like I normally would lay down with my blanket entirely covering me.
I look around, confused to say the least.
Calvin was nowhere in sight and I was sleeping in my bed like he hadn't been in there 5 hours ago.
I'm not sure what time Calvin woke up at, but he left the room before I had woken up.
The bloody towel on the ground was more than enough proof that what happened last night wasn't just some weird dream.
I sigh as I get out of my bed with a yawn before opening my phone to one new notification.
It was from Andrew. He'd given me the location and time to give him his money tonight.
1am
How was I going to walk all alone to a sketchy alley way at one in the morning?
My hands were shaking again, and I look down at them as I try stopping it but it won't work. I could already feel my breathing getting ragged as I try my best to take calming breathes.
Trying to distract myself I get into the shower and change into my school uniform while playing music the entire time.
It helped me clear my mind, somewhat.
The weather was nicer today, so I looked forward to the walk, hoping it could make me feel better.
The sound of shoes running against the pavement reaches my ears and I take out my AirPod as I turn my head.
Wayne
He runs up to me, a grin on his face as he catches up and starts walking next to me.
"Do you mind if I walk with you today?" He asks, moving to face in front of me as he starts walking backwards.
I smiled at Wayne , shaking my head
" Well, do you want me to be completely honest?" I ask, faking an annoyed look.
"One hundred percent." He replies, watching me with amusement lacing his gaze.
I stop in my tracks causing him to stop as well so we're stuck facing each other.
"You just don't qualify to be my walking buddy." I shrug, watching as his eyebrows furrow into confusion before I walk past him.
"That's a good thing for me then." He says, walking next to me now.
" And how would that be good?" I giggle, looking up at his taller frame.
Wayne looks down at me, a hesitant glint in his eyes for a moment. " I think we'd work better being more then just buddies." He says, and I feel my lips part at the sudden words leaving his mouth.
Did I hear that correct? Maybe I'm a little deaf...
" W..what do you mean by that?" I mutter, trying to figure out why he was looking at me like that.
"Is it not obvious enough already?" He laughs with his eyes as he looks down at me amused. I furrow my brows together as I shake my head no.
" Well then, I'd figure it out soon before your late to class." He says, and I only then realize we'd already made it to the school.
Wayne leaves as he walks over to a group of his friends and I stand there frozen as I try to think of what'd just happened.
It's not until a group of squealing girls shove past me that I get forced out of my daze.
"I can't believe you got invited Renay!" One girl screeches in excitement. It's only then that I notice a huge sign saying Calvin and Wayne 19th Birthday Party being hung up by two girls who seemed more like fans than classmates.
There had already been a crowd forming around the stupid poster as I try my best to push out of it to get to class.
Thankfully the poster had gotten everyone's mind away from what happened yesterday.
I let out a breath of relief as I make it out of the crowd and walk towards my class.
Calvin didn't end up coming to first hour today.
I wondered if he skipped because he wasn't feeling well or because he didn't want to see me.
Not like it really mattered anyways I didn't care
Right?