Mysterious Piano Keys 5

"Chad? Hi."

"Maria? Why are you calling?"

Why was I calling? What kind of question is that to ask to a long time friend? "I wanted to see...how you were doing."

"That's it?" Chad asked, his voice actually sounding surprised. "Something else?"

"Yes, actually. I want you to come back HOME." I ordered. "Seriously, I've gotten better, but I still can't shake my mind of what happened! You're the one who saved me, so I want you to keep looking out for me."

"Maria, I need my time sometimes, and you'll do fine. You were all 'Boohoo, Chad, stay with me, Chad, I'm too scared to go out on my own. Stay with me, Chad!'" He made really fake bawling noises and then changed his poor imitation of my voice back to his regular one.

Grrrrr. "Chad! That's not funny!" I yelled. "I hate that you tease me! That's all you do!" I was NOT my normal self quite yet. I was pissed. And let me tell you, one of the things that's been happening to me is that I get more stressed out, or irritable.

I hated being like this. Being so pathetic. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. My voice came out broken. "Do we have to do this? Can't we just forget about it?"

"I will if you will."

A risky deal to me, since he knew me so well, and he would be able to tell my actions even if I wasn't with him.

He sighed. "Aunt Brooke's gonna allow me to get on the computer for a couple of hours, so get on." His voice got gentle, but it was tough. Like he was holding up a front for something.

"Oh, ok." I replied. "Anyway, I need to get off, so I'll seeya then. Ok?"

"Ok. Bye." And just like that, he shut it off.

Nothing. He was being so...distant. I missed the closeness we once had.

Of course, I could use the trauma as an excuse to get all worked up into tears again. But it wasn't that. It was the feelings of longing. I missed Chad. Why did everything have to happen, right here, right now?

I felt alone. I wanted to get to hug my friend again.

Why do I keep crying?
****~~~~****~~~~****
After convincing my Mother to let me on her Toshiba for a bit, I logged onto the computer and started up an IM chat. I waited for Chad to check in with me. It didn't take long.

Chad (AKA BlackChandlerCurse42): Hey.
Me (AKA LovingRainbowBunnyS2): Oh, hi.
Chad: Are you ok?

When he says this I'm thinking, "That's my question, you idiot. You hung up on me and made me cry. Why are you doing this?"

Me: I was about to ask the same thing. So let me: why hang up on me?
Chad: I had things to do!
Me: Oh did you now?
Chad: Yes!
Me: ....
Me: You didn't let me finish what I wanted to say.
Chad: And what was that?

I had to tell him. He wouldn't like it, but I had to try.

Me: Why are you so distant?
Chad: AH. HUH.

Alright, now he was pissed off. I could see him now, headdesking over the stupidity of my question.

Chad: It's nothing! I just need some time off. Ok?
Chad: And I'm a little...shaken up. So...I just need some time for myself.

Ah. So that's what it was. He was finally admitting his true feelings inside, about how terrified he actually was that night, but he only put up his front in order to save me, who was openly hysteric, crying and screaming the whole time. Yet he saved ME.

I felt tears in my eyes. Ah, crap.

Chad: You there?
Me: Yes....Thanks.
Chad: What?

I laughed, though I was crying. Chad was just so funny sometimes. Actually, I didn't even know why I was crying or laughing. But something in me triggered something else.

Me: I need to get off now. But thanks. And if you don't know what that means, forget about it.
Chad: Oh...ok.
Me: I'll seeya later, boy.

And I logged off.
****~~~~****~~~~****
"Hey there." Zoe and Jayson came up to me. I was on the porch, just watching the rest of the day. I hadn't even noticed these two were coming up to me.

"Hey. What are you doing here?"I didn't really have anything to say, so if this was going to be a pep talk, that'd probably be the worst thing that could happen to me right now.

"Well," Zoe started again. "You wanna go out somewhere tonight? Just us three?"

"Yeah." Jayson made a motion with his hands, to emphasize the point. "I think you need some time with us, just us. We'll do something cool, and I'll ask your Mom and Dad if you can tag along."

I sort of nodded. I didn't really want to, but maybe it would be good for me. I was going emo before everybody's eyes. "Alright."

"Sweet!" Jayson pumped his fist in the air, energetic as he always was. "So it's on! Can we come in and ask your Mom?"

"Sure."

I opened the door for them and Jayson ran in while Zoe followed behind more cautiously. I heard some voices, and some words being spoken.

I went back to watching the day. I could only think. I knew that everybody was worried, since I'm always the one to talk. I appreciated everybody's attempts to make me happy. I actually didn't know what to think anymore.

Jayson came back out, along with Zoe. "Your Mom said it was ok. You should probably come over now, since it's not long."

"Ok." I replied. Seriously, what was wrong with me? Only a few words would come out at a time.

"C'mon." Jayson tugged at my arm. We ran down the block, rushing for whatever reason, but being the disturbed being I was now, I couldn't say I cared.
****~~~~****~~~~****
"Hello, Maria." Jayson's Mom smiled at me serenely. I've always loved his Mom. She's very beautiful, having dark almond shaped eyes and pale skin. She looks more like Emmie than Jayson, though, since Jayson actually looks WHITE sometimes. And she's very peaceful. And, I'll say this now, you can tell where Jayson inherited his unfortunate height from, since she's only the tiniest bit taller than he is.

"Hi, Mrs. Ilton." I replied back.

"Please just call me Spring, Maria, dear."

You can see why I love his Mom.

"So where are we going?" I asked.

"We'll be going to go out for pizza, sweetheart. Then, if you all want to, we can go someplace else."

"Ok." I nodded. And yet I still had nothing else to say. All I could do was look down and mess with the hem on my jean dress.

"Can we go?" Jayson asked his Mom. She nodded. Jayson ran outside, hyper. Zoe wasn't amused. Neither was I. Poor Jayson was trying so hard.

"You need to talk more, Marie. You're scaring us." Zoe looked at me, her eyes holding worry. She looked sort of fierce as well, because if I don't do what she says she's able to hurt me.

"I'm sorry!" I felt myself blush, and failing at a smile. "I just can't shake off this craziness."

Zoe stared at me. I could see her fists hardening. I braced myself.

"I know." Zoe replied, snapping her fingers softly. "Chad's birthday is coming up, and we need to do something about that."

I hadn't even thought of that! God, Zoe knew how to cheer me up. I was so glad Chad was turning fourteen, since now I could do something to show my appreciation.

"Ok!" I grinned. I think I was reverting to my old self again. I wouldn't let one thing throw me off! No, I think I'll throw off this feeling of doubt and get on with my life!