Adrien Walker
After our talk on Saturday, Trevor and I spent the whole weekend at Luke's. For the first time in absolutely forever things actually felt okay. I didn't have this constant nagging guilt and shame. We're all far from okay, but I think we will be... eventually.
Luke and I were able to spend time together without it feeling weird or forced. Trevor actually opened up to me about his grief. Anyone could see the relief on Ma's face having her three boys under one roof again.
Up until this point, I actually felt lighter.
"So, you gonna talk to Ethan about the whole Nicki and Matt situation?" Luke asks as the three of us walk across the car park.
Will Ethan even be in today? He's prone to missing Mondays.
"Nope," I answer and he hears the edge in my voice telling him to drop the subject.
Ethan told me to stay out of his business and stop making things worse for him. So he's definitely going to have a lot to say once he finds out that Matt and Nicki had to spend some time in the hospital because of me.
I don't think he heard anything on Friday about it, I tried my best to keep people from mentioning it and he did spend most of the day sleeping. So I doubt he heard anything. He would have mentioned it if he had.
"Well aren't you a bundle of happiness this fine Monday morning," Luke remarks sarcastically as we walk towards our lockers.
"Always."
After saying our byes, I make my way to history keeping an eye out for Ethan.
After about 10 minutes I start feeling anxious. Ethan hasn't shown up for class yet. Ms Richards is going to walk through that door any minute to ramble on about some more white people's history, and he's not here yet.
What if someone's jumped him? But Tom doesn't act on his own...
Maybe I should go looking for him?
I get up and grab my bag, bumping into Ms Richards on the way out, "Adrien!" I rush down the corridor, not bothering to look back.
Where should I look first?
What if he's ended up in the hospital again?
As I round a corner the bell rings meaning Principle Parker will be making his rounds to hand out detention to anyone not in class, his morning dose of dopamine.
I quickly walk into the nearest boys' toilets when I hear the familiar footsteps.
"Adrien?"
"Ethan!" I shout in surprise and relief.
I walk towards him ready to pull him into a hug but stop short.
"Why aren't you in history?"
"What happened to your face?" I ask at the same time, frowning at the dark bruises around his right eye, his left one looks swollen shut. There's a deep cut on his right cheek too. The right side definitely looks better than the puffy-looking left side though.
What the fuck?
I take a small step forward, "Who did this?"
Could it have been that dipshit Tom? Nah, he ran away on Thursday and he didn't even show up for school on Friday, he turned up a little late for tryouts but sonic zoomed himself out of there as soon as it was over. Plus, he's too much of a pussy to do something like this.
Was it the Sheriff?
He goes back to looking at the mirror, I watch him as he moves his hair to the side and wipes his forehead with a wet paper towel.
That cut looks fresh, very recent.
I slowly step towards him and lower his arm, throwing the paper towel in the sink, "Don't. You'll infect it. Let Macie clean it."
He nods before reaching up and touching my forehead, "Stop frowning you're going to get permanent frown lines at 17."
"Who did this?" I ask again staring at what looks like cigarette burn marks on his arms from where his hoodie slid down.
I count to ten in my head in an attempt to calm down.
Must have been that dipshit Sheriff.
How am I supposed to protect him from his own father?
He lowers his arm, "You know Nicki's uncle is a cop right?"
Shit.
I nod slowly, "He did this?"
He shakes his head, "No but he happened to tell the Sheriff that you put Nicki in the hospital because of me. Now given who your mother is, I didn't know she used to be the Police Commissioner, by the way, they couldn't do anything to you. But me on the other hand? Well, who cares who my mother is?" He says shrugging. He seems so casual, so nonchalant.
"Ethan-"
This is worse than anger.
I don't even know what this is. But whatever this is, it's bad.
Very bad.
"So Sheriff thought it would be best if he taught me a lesson. Make sure I remember where my place is."
He goes to walk past me, but I catch his arm making sure to hold it as lightly as possible, "Ethan, I'm sorry. So fucking sorry. If I'd had known this would happen, I would never have beat them up."
He turns to look me in the eye, "No good comes from helping me Adrien, remember that."
My mind goes to all the people that have tried to help him over the years and have shit happen to them.
But despite knowing what happens to those caught helping Ethan, I still want to help him.
"I should have told you the complete truth on Thursday when I came to see you at the hospital but you just sounded so disappointed in me that I just... I felt bad, and I didn't want to worry you more."
He gives me a seriously? look and asks in disbelief, "You came to see me after beating them up? That's why your hands were bandaged up?"
I drop his arm to rub the back of my neck feeling a bit reluctant to answer, "Yeah..."
"That's why you were glaring at everyone so much on Friday? To keep them quiet, so I wouldn't find out?"
He picked up on that, huh? "Yeah..." I answer sheepishly.
He looks at me in disdain, but his face softens after a few seconds.
"Well, a heads up would have been nice."
"I'm sorry, honestly and truly am. I forgot Nicki's uncle was a pig and that word would somehow get back to Sheriff."
He shakes his head, "You need to start using your brain, Adrien."
That I definitely do.
How am I going to get the both of us out of this mess?
"So am I forgiven?"
He gives me a small smile, "Yes, but this can't keep happening. I'm thankful to you for always trying to have my back, even if you go about it in the most questionable of ways. But I think it's time you stopped for good. I think we should stop being so civil with one another."
I'm confused.
Does this mean what I think it means?
"You wanna stop being friends?"
Ethan raises an eyebrow at me, looking confused he says, "We aren't friends Adrien."
Ouch.
Why did that feel like a dagger directly to the heart?
"We're not?"
"On what planet are we friends?"
"Earth?"
He gives me one of those looks.
"I know we're not what some would consider a typical friend. But I still think of you as a friend Ethan. You look out for me," He gives me another of his looks so I explain, "You know help me stay focused in class and not get all overwhelmed with small things. Or when I'm struggling in class and slip you my worksheet you do that whole step-by-step thing or highlight the key parts of the question to help me understand it better. Still don't get how you understand everything better than me when you spend most of the time sleeping."
Maybe I am just really stupid. Dumber than I think. All brawn no brains.
"Doesn't make us friends Adrien."
"In my book it does, so what are you gonna do about it?"
He's quiet for a bit and I can see the gears turning in his head. He smiles, "You're really annoying."
I think he's realised that even if he tells me to stop, I most likely won't.
"I think you mean persistent."
"That's not such a good thing either, you know."
I smile, "Why isn't it?"
"Because one should know when to give up."
Well damn.
"Well what if it's because I'm not ready to?"
He doesn't reply so I take a step forward opening up my arms.
He doesn't do anything for a few seconds and I'm about to step back but he leans forward before I can. I gently wrap my arms around him.
"So," I say and then add, "friend."
Ethan huffs out a laugh before resting his head against my chest.
"I expected you to be angrier."
He laughs again, a breathy laugh, "Think I've had the anger beaten out of me. I know you beat up Nicki and Matt because of what they did to me, and as fucked up as it sounds I appreciate you looking out for me. But you seriously gotta stop, for my sake because you really are causing me more harm than good. And because you're going to get yourself hurt, badly. Nicki's uncle isn't going to just sit around and who knows what Matt's family will do."
I sigh, "I know, I know."
"Promise me."
"I promise to stop beating up Nicki and Matt as long as they're not being dicks."
"And everyone else."
Groaning, "And everyone else, as long as they don't hurt me first. Now can we still be friends?"
"Yes Adrien, we can continue to be atypical friends."
My heart feels at peace again.
Ethan and I really are atypical friends, I wish we could be proper friends without any repercussions.
"Promise to stop hiding stuff, and withholding the truth," He says quietly.
Fairs.
"I promise to stop hiding stuff that concerns you from you."
He looks up at me giving me another one of his looks.
"Come on, let's get you to Macie's office," I say pulling away from him.
Like usual, I don't bother knocking before barging straight into the Nurse's office.
"How can I help-" Macie asks looking up, instantly shooting me a glare.
Ha, probably because of what happened on Thursday.
"Adrien, I swear if you're here to tell me you've beaten up-"
I look at Ethan begging him to enter the room, "No, Ethan needs cleaning up."
She raises an eyebrow trying to peer around the door frame from where she's sitting.
As soon as Ethan walks into the day, she shoots up, "Goodness me. Go sit down on the bed, dear, let me grab my supplies," she turns to me her voice turning icy, "Adrien wait outside."
"Can't I-"
"Outside."
"Yes, Ma'am," I say shooting Ethan an apologetic look.
I stand outside the office feeling like a kid in trouble. She probably thinks I did it.
I pull out my phone in an attempt to distract myself. I open up Tetris not even two minutes in and messages from Luke start popping up.
I've missed his spam texts.
L: Rumour is Nicki and Matt are back in school
L: Might wanna explain to Ethan why Matt's using crutches and Nicki's arm's in a cast
L: Yeah they ain't gonna be playing basketball this year
L: No basketball no scholarships
L: Adrien
L: I hope you know what you did and what you got yourself into cause they ain't gonna just let this slide
L: Gonna have to start sleeping with one eye open
L: And I'm not kidding
L: Wanna move in with me? You know Ma won't mind
L: Think she's been secretly hoping you would
L: Well I guess it's not really a secret if I know
L: Why aren't you replying?
Because the only thing I can think is shit, shit, shit...
Being the reason someone misses out on a scholarship is basically asking to be murdered. In this town, we take scholarships very seriously. It quite literally is the only way out of here. No one's family can afford to send their kids to university. The only way you're going is with financial aid, bursaries, scholarships etc. The only way for people to move away from here is through university or a good job offer. But without a degree, you can kiss that good job offer goodbye.
L: Stop leaving me on read
L: Wait
L: Are you panicking?
L: Shit
L: Sorry
L: I'm sure it'll be fine
L: Yeah it'll be fine
I can hear his disbelief. I can imagine being like, "Pffft," Cue eye roll, "It'll be fine. Just fine. Absolutely fine," His voice becoming more and more high-pitched. Maybe even add in a hand wave.
L: Adrien
L: You okay?
I should reply to him.
A: I'm fine. Thanks for the heads up. I'm at the nurse's office with Ethan.
Yeah, I'm not fine. What the fuck am I going to do?
Nicki and Matt aren't really in a state to do something now. But once they're able to in roughly 3-12 weeks, depending on the extent of their injuries, what the fuck am I going to do? I can handle 2 against 1, hell even 3 against 1 if Tom decides to stop being a pussy. But Nicki's uncle's a pig. I've dragged Ethan into this mess, I can't protect him outside of school.
L: You two okay?
I don't even know if I'm safe outside of school. There's nothing really stopping people from jumping me. The thought of Elaine may deter people, but they know if they wear masks and disguise themselves I won't be able to identify them with 100% certainty to the cops or in court so they'll get away with it.
Shit.
I really fucked up this time.
"So," Macie's voice makes me jump, "Are you the reason Ethan looks like that right now?"
I raise an eyebrow, "Do I really beat people up and then bring them to your office?"
She crosses her arms, "I know it's not really your M.O. but thought I'd ask."
"I'm not a criminal."
"Have the both of you been registered for first period?" She asks completely ignoring my comment.
I shake my head, "No."
"Alright, I'll mark you both present."
This is why I like her. Even if she is being a little icy today. Is she PMSing?
I smile, "Thanks. How is he?"
Macie goes quiet, contemplating, "I'm suspecting a concussion so I'll monitor him for the rest of the day."
I nod, "So Ethan's spending the day in your office?"
She nods.
That's good.
"So can I see him?"
"You can hang out here until the end of first period," I check my phone to see that's in 20 minutes.
"It's double history, can I stay until the end of that?"
She gives me a glare.
"Please, Macie. Pleaseeeeee. You know how much I hate history."
Still nothing.
Usually cracks a smile by now.
Defo PMSing.
"I'll help you restock supplies."
"Seen as though you're the reason they need restocking so soon, you can stay until the end of history but that's it. You can come back at lunch."
I nod, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I say smiling at her widely.
We walk into her office and don't see Ethan, "He's in the side room on the right," Macie says.
I walk into the room to see that he's already curled up under the cover asleep. I can't help but smile despite the fact that his face still looks as bad as it did earlier.
But if he's got a concussion should he be sleeping?
I quietly close the door before going to find Macie.
"He's asleep, should I wake him up?"
"No, let him sleep. Help me take stock of these bandages and restock the wipes."
"But he has a concussion."
"Symptoms of a concussion can last up to two weeks, now start helping."
I don't understand why Macie's being so cryptic.
So he had a concussion but is still dealing with the symptoms?
Wait, is it from last week when Nicki and Matt beat him up? I swear the hospital mentioned him having a concussion.
"Did you check his ribs? He fractured two last week, but discharged himself AMA."
He got beat up with two fractured ribs and a concussion, shit did Sheriff make it worse?
Fuck.
Ethan really can't catch a break.
"Yeah I checked them over, I recommended going back to the hospital for another scan but I doubt he will be," She says sighing.
"I'll make sure he does."
I'll kidnap him if need be. Tell him we're going to mine and magically turn up at the hospital.
She smiles over at me, a sad tired smile, "Is he why you beat up Nicki and Matt?"
"That obvious, huh?"
"Just a gut feeling."
"Yeah they put him in the hospital, so I put them in the hospital. Simple karma."
She shakes her head, "You need to be careful Adrien, you're not indestructible."
I nod, "I know."
We work through inventory silently. Surprisingly this isn't the first time I've helped Macie with restocking the cabinets.
Once we're done I expect her to tell me to wipe down all the counters and equipment but she just turns towards me and stares for a few seconds before walking over to her desk.
Weird.
Macie is definitely acting a lot stranger than usual. What's going on with her?
She grabs a carrier bag and brings it over to me.
"I saw on the school board you became captain of the basketball team. Congratulations."
"Thanks," I say confused. Where is she going with this? And what's in the bag?
"You know your Dad and I used to date."
"Yeah, high school sweethearts at this very school..."
"Well before the championship game your Dad gave me his hoodie," She passes me the bag, "I'm happy I kept it all these years. But I think your Dad would prefer for you to have it, rather than an old flame."
"But he gave you it," I say not taking the bag.
"Adrien, think of it as me holding onto it for safekeeping. I know it'll hold more value to you."
I nod quietly taking the bag.
--
I promised Ethan would make an appearance! It honestly warms my heart at how many of you have been missing him <3
Yes, Luke is a spam texter.
After being forced to read Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, I have honestly grown to despise description. Hardy can go on for CHAPTERS. Even now if there are a few paragraphs of description, I just skim over them. My brain refuses to actually read. So forcing myself to write description just isn't the one for me. Sorry to those of you who asked for more description.