17

Chapter Song: Invisible- Anna Clendening

The next few days at school were rough. State was vastly approaching and so was our English essay. Not to mention, not being on speaking terms with Cal. Overall I was stressed and all I wanted to do was sleep. That was also a problem.

I couldn't sleep. When I did the nightmares came. It was incredibly frustrating. I didn't even know why they were coming. Sometimes they would shift focus away from my mom and I would spend the whole time drowning. It made practice so much fun.

Safe to say I was exhausted.

I sat through my history class still thinking of Sunday night. As soon as I got back to the house Riley knew something had happened. I already had tears forming in my eyes. Liam looked at me with sad eyes but didn't cave. He stayed true to his word, of not wanting us to be together. We were miserable for it.

"Oh, Kenny what happened?" Riley cried when we finally went to my room. I replayed the events it hadn't taken a while since it was only about twenty minutes we spent alone.

"Riley I just don't know what to do!" I cried into my hands frustrated. I wanted him with every fiber of my being, but I just couldn't. I wasn't even sad about it,I just hated how guilty I felt.

"Kenny I think you're in the deep end," she whispered.

She was right. I was in the deep end. It was a phrase we came up with at the beginning of high school. It meant we had developed too many feelings for our own good. It could only end in two ways; getting our hearts broken, or completely cutting off all ties. Clearly I had chosen the latter but somehow I was still hurting.

"Excuse me Miss Parker did you hear what I said?" Mr. Glover asked waving his hands in front of him to gain my attention.

"Oh what I'm sorry," I said snapping out of my daze. All around me were snickers making me want to pull my hood over my head and shrink back into my seat.

This was the class all of us were in, and I had been dreading it every day. Liam, Tyler, Mason, and Cal all sat off in the left top corner of the class. Riley and I sat on the right side far away from them as possible. I forced myself to not look that way.

I made the mistake once and I almost lost it. Cal was pretending he was fine, but I could see through his facade any day. I grew up with the guy, I could tell when he was lying. I didn't know how no one else did.

"Maybe if she wasn't busy sleeping with her brother's best friends she would know the answer Mr. Glover," Noelle said in her high pitched voice as she turned to look at me.

"Hey Noelle fuck off," I looked at her.

Her picture-perfect face turned into utter rage instantly. I had to admit it was funny. I couldn't help but smirk as she shot daggers at me. Game on, bitch.

"Miss Parker not another word or you'll get detention." Glover scolded me. I didn't know why he wasn't giving me detention already but I silently thanked him anyways.

"Mr. Glover she attacked me!" Noelle shouted.

"You basically just called me a slut but I attacked you," I scoffed "Okay."

"Miss Parker!"

"Well, you are!" She sneered.

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes grabbing my books. I grabbed my backpack and left with all of my books in hand. I didn't care if I got detention or suspension I just wanted to get the hell out of there.

Thankfully it was my last class of the day. So instead of sticking around, I went straight to my Jeep. I paid the security guard ten bucks and promised to bring him a coffee tomorrow to let me go. He was a part-time college student so he was pretty cool. I sent a quick text to Riley saying that I went home and I'll see her later.

I just needed to run.

____________________

As soon as my feet hit the cement I felt better. I turned up my playlist louder and pushed my legs harder. Screw what Noelle said. She had no idea what went on in my life. Who gave her the right to say that I was fucking my friends? She was just mad that Cal broke up with her.

All of a sudden there was a buzz interrupting my thoughts. I glanced down to check my watch instead of stopping completely for my phone. Suddenly I began to lose my rhythm and my feet shuffled out of sync.

I reached toward the air in front of me as if it was going to magically stabilize me. Instead of holding me, upright gravity pulled me towards the street with my feet behind me. I turned my head to the side to hopefully not hit it but instead I felt the worst pain in my knee.

"No no no." I winced in pain.

I rested my face on the ground too afraid to look at the damage I felt. It felt like I placed my hands on a hot stovetop. I slowly tried to straighten my leg but a sharp pain on my kneecap interrupted the process. I bit back tears gripping my bottom lip between my teeth and slowly rolled over.

Looking around I realized I was alone on the street. Thank god no one saw that fall. I was also glad I didn't bring Winnie along today. She usually went on most of my runs with me, but since I needed to blow off steam I decided against it.

I looked down at my knee and saw the bloody mess it became. It wasn't too bad, but there was definitely a fine layer of my skin now on the asphalt. This was going to be one horrible scab and a painful recovery. It looked as if it was beginning to swell.

Hopefully, I didn't actually hurt something, and I would be able to walk or even hobble home. Before attempting to get up I checked my watch for the message that rudely interrupted my run. It was from Cal.

You okay?

I pulled out my phone and quickly respond with a sigh. It was one of the few times he'd reached out to me.

Yeah I'm fine thanks.

Don't worry about anything she says. Besides Riley yelled at her after you left which shut her up real quick lol.Mr. Glover didn't know what to do.

Oh yeah? What'd she say

Something along the lines of "shut up Noelle that's why your college boyfriend gave you chlamydia"

Thank you

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. So hard that tears pricked my cheeks. I laid back flat against the sidewalk staring up at the sky thankful for the text. Poor Mr. Glover.

I locked my phone and tucked it into my pocket before letting out a frustrated sigh. Placing my scraped hands beneath me I slowly pushed myself off the ground. I focused all my weight onto my right leg until I was standing.

Wincing I slowly added weight onto my left leg. It was painful but bearable, and I wasn't too far from home. I walked as best as I could for the next few blocks wiping away the tears cascading down my cheeks,  and placed my sleeves onto my hands to try to stop the pain.

I tried to imagine Riley yelling at Noelle in front of poor Mr. Glover. I would have to go and apologize to him before class tomorrow but that would have to wait. I also needed to text or call Riley to say thank you. She'll probably spend the night tonight anyways.

Once I reached my front porch I quickly wiped off my face and hands onto my jacket and re-secured my ponytail. I tried to make myself seem like I didn't just get attacked by the street even though that's exactly what happened.

As soon as I opened the door I was greeted with the fresh aroma of maple syrup and butter. We had to be having breakfast for dinner. It was Liam's night which made sense since waffles were his favorite food.

"Oh my god, Ken what happened!" Liam rushed to my side to support me.

He guided me to the kitchen where I took a seat at our deep oak dining table. I loved this table. It was big enough to hold a small army even though there were only five of us, well four and a half. I remembered helping my dad pick it out and forcing him to get benches instead of chairs. He did it so I would stop crying but even now he admits it was a good choice.

"I'm fine," I waved him off

"No, you're not what happened," Liam demanded reaching for my hands.

"What happened honey," my dad walked into the kitchen, probably after hearing Liam's dramatic voice. The thought of Liam being so overly dramatic makes me laugh a little that I had to bite the inside of my cheek.

"I tripped when I was running." My voice sounded flat.

"So that's where you went," my dad whispered.

"Was I supposed to be somewhere?" I thought out loud.

Well technically swim practice but I texted my coach and said I had a migraine. I knew I wasn't helping Tish out at the studio either. I only volunteered to do so on weekends or when swim was slow.

"School for starters," he stated and I winced.

"Oh yeah."

"Mr. Glover called said there was an altercation wanna tell me what was it about?"

"This girl said I was sleeping around with Tyler, Mason, and Cal," I mumbled not meeting his eyes.

"Well, are you?" He leaned against the counter his voice was nonjudgmental.

"I'm just gonna go," I heard Liam say as he shuffled away.

"No! C'mon, dad!" I groaned utterly embarrassed.

"Well do you want to?"

"Dad no!" I yelled now I was mortified.

"Not even one," he suggested.

"I don't know?" I paused. "Maybe, but not like sleep with, more of an I'm just interested or I could be." I rushed out.

"What's stopping you?" He asked totally calm. I pointed my chin towards the basement where I knew Liam was.

"I'm sure he could get over it," he gave me a sad smile.

"Dad, you know how he is. He would never forgive me."

"You're forgetting that you're his first best friend. The best of best friends at that." He uncrossed his arms like he always did when he explained things. "I just don't think he wants to lose two of his best friends especially his most important ones."

"That still doesn't help the situation but makes me feel worse," I nodded glumly. Maybe we were better off as just friends.

"No, I didn't mean it that way. I'm just trying to help you see it from his side. But I think he would get over it eventually."

"You really do?" I looked up at him hopeful.

"Yeah I think so," he smiled simply rocking back and forth. "Besides if he makes you happy I think that's what's important to you and to Liam."

"Thank you, Dad," I got up slowly to give him a hug.

"But don't have sex ever not until you're thirty," he said into my hair.

"Okay, dad." I laughed.

"We'll go ahead and clean your cut then you need to rest it and ice it. Once the swelling goes down we'll see if you need to get X-rays or not. I don't think you'll need them though." He changed the subject which I was thankful for.

I nodded and got up to grab water. More than anything I wanted to run across the street and throw myself on top of Cal. I stopped myself. Mainly because I didn't think it would be the best idea to hobble over there. Also, I still was a little scared to take things further with the two of us. Maybe he didn't even want anything to do with me like that anymore.