You Saved Me Once Book 1
Chapter 26: 14I’m Crying
Before we leave, I run over to Hayes’s house to talk to Rochelle. Cu-riosity was going to eat me alive, if I didn’t know the truth.
I haven’t been inside Hayes’s house, in years. I’m too afraid my se-crets and lies will consume me.
I’m afraid I’ll see Ms. Kristen, I’m afraid of what she’ll say. I almost backed down entirely.
Hayes waits in the car.
I look at the ground mostly, I avoid pictures, things from the past as I walk through the house. I didn’t want to interact with the sad memories of Timmy, Hayes, truthfully all of the Bartley’s.
Right next to Hayes’s room, is Timmy’s room. Timmy’s door is closed.
This hurt more than I’d expected. I want to turn back around and leave, right now. I can’t stop staring at Timmy’s door. My hands are shaking now, I’m trying to comfort myself.
Memories are coming back; a lot was coming back.
I hear Rochelle groaning in Hayes’s room, this is enough to wake me from my memories. I walk into his room and close the door behind me.
The same blue he had since he was a boy, paint his walls. The plain desk that sit in the corner of the room, and the astrology décor that decorates his desk.
They were all in the exact same spot.
Then there’s Rochelle. She’s stretched out on his bed, asleep. Now she’s half asleep.
“Alex is that you?” She mumbles.
I walk over to the bed and stand next to her.
“Hey Rochelle, how are you feeling?” I ask.
“Worse than you, that’s for sure.” She laughs, I smile to hide the fear I felt.
Everything in this house was starting to affect me.
“Rochelle, I need to ask you something.” I say.
I hug myself and squeeze my jacket sleeves. Rochelle’s face is still buried in the blankets.
“Is it about last night?” Rochelle yawns.
I felt very uncomfortable for many reasons. I needed to leave.
“I think I had sex, last night.” I say.
Rochelle laughs. I squeeze my jacket sleeve more.
“Great for you Al, how was it?” She asks.
My stomach drops. I sit down on the floor next to the bed.
“I can’t remember it, Rochelle.” I mumble. I’m embarrassed by my words.
“If you can’t remember it Alex, and you feel okay. Well, you didn’t have sex.” She turns to me.
“You’d know if you’d had sex for the first time.” She says.
Rochelle goes back to hugging Hayes’s covers. I hug my stomach, and bite down on my lip. It felt like, if I looked at anything in the room for too long, it would crumble.
“So, you don’t know what happened either?” I ask.
“Maybe you fooled around with Jeff, or the DJ.” She says. I look away.
“Look, I’m sure we all did stupid stuff last night. It’s totally fine Alex.” Rochelle’s says.
fine”, Rochelle. This stuff matters to
on the wood floor. I felt
talking. I’m sorry
about this another time.” I mumble. I move
from
wipe the tears the farther
nightstand; Rochelle’s phone
in Hayes’s nightstand.
it, Rochelle
get it myself.” She
for the nightstand closest to
follow her. I’m quickly
Rochelle, Hayes and I are picking
know. I told him to go get them.”
to ask her about my secrets I might’ve let loose last night. I feel stupid. I feel like a liar, and I’m burning up with anger. I have
Rochelle’s nails tap on the
Well, there’s usually blood your
pit in my
his room, staring at the ground, until I’m
bother to wipe the tears. The rain drenched
go?” He
and we’re off to Rogers
~~~~
where a lot of
going to lighten the mood
day. The entire car ride was silent, and
not sure if I did anything yesterday. But my lies, and
I decide to wait in
memories of this place, with the sad ones I thought of right
the reason, I could just sit in the car, watch the rain, lis-ten to
I tried to, my past haunts
~~~~
waiting room at Orca Manchester Care, it’s the next town over.
was only 14. I
the room. He’s was young, naïve, but
acquired by many, and you must understand the health risks.
~~~~
Knocking on the window scares me, wakes me from the past. It’s
Hayes shouts through the
He enters the car,
I’m just cold.” I say.
his jacket
“Thanks.” I say.
the window. Silence pours in the car, again. Then Hayes offers to
not hungry.” I
on, it’s breakfast.” He
stuff, or eggs.” I turn
These three are for you. No
it. I could barely chew, I’m trying to prevent tears from
going to be
stay silent, Hayes hasn’t
last night.” I mumble, still turned
lips, made them sweet
what?” He asks. I shake
The rain is heavy.
you the