The hours dragged on, but Arnold couldn't focus on anything except the way Rachel had left. Her eyes—wide, filled with fear and something else he couldn't name—kept flashing through his mind. He tried to shake it off, telling himself it was just a family issue. Nothing to do with him. Nothing to worry about. But something gnawed at him. Something felt wrong.
He could feel the weight of the silence around him, a stark contrast to the swirling chaos in his chest. The cafeteria was alive with chatter, but it all seemed distant, muffled, as though Arnold was underwater. His mind kept replaying the events of the past few days: the kiss, Rachel's sudden shift in behavior, the confusing mixture of emotions he'd felt. How could something so simple—a kiss between friends—suddenly feel so complicated?
As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Arnold grabbed his books and left the cafeteria in a daze. He could hear the soft shuffle of feet around him, the low hum of conversations, but none of it mattered. His thoughts kept returning to Rachel—where had she gone? What was so urgent?
He walked through the crowded hallway, his mind racing. Was he making too much of this? Was he overreacting? Rachel was his best friend, his closest ally through everything. Surely, they could get past a kiss. They had been through so much together already—why would this change things?
But it wasn't just the kiss. It was the way things felt now, between them. That unspoken tension. The weight of emotions that neither of them had addressed. He had never felt this vulnerable with anyone before.
Arnold turned the corner, heading toward his locker, but he stopped short when he saw Rachel standing by it, her back to him. She was on the phone, her voice shaky as she spoke in low, hurried tones. Arnold froze, unsure whether to approach her or stay hidden in the shadows. He didn't want to intrude, but he couldn't just leave things hanging between them.
Before he could decide, Rachel turned and caught sight of him. Her expression softened, but there was something in her eyes—something he couldn't place. Guilt? Regret? Or was it fear?
"Arnold," she said, her voice quieter than usual. "I... I didn't want you to hear that."
Arnold raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"
Rachel bit her lip, hesitating. She glanced around, as though making sure no one was listening. "It's my mom. She... she's sick, Arnold. She's been in and out of the hospital for the past few weeks, but today it got worse. I had to go home right away."
Arnold felt his stomach tighten. He had no idea Rachel's mother was ill. He felt guilty for being so caught up in his own feelings that he hadn't noticed the weight she had been carrying.
"I didn't know," he murmured, his voice softer now. "You should have told me."
Rachel shrugged, her eyes downcast. "I didn't want to burden you with it. You've got your own stuff going on."
Arnold felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He had been so consumed with his own confusion and emotions that he hadn't stopped to consider what Rachel was going through. How selfish of me, he thought.
"You're not a burden, Rachel," Arnold said, stepping closer. "You're my best friend. You don't have to go through this alone."
Her eyes met his, and for the first time, he saw a crack in her defenses. She let out a shaky breath and nodded. "Thanks, Arnold. I'm just... I don't know what to do anymore. I feel so helpless."
He placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort, though he wasn't sure he had the words for it. "You don't have to do anything. Just... just be there for her. And I'll be here for you."
Rachel smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something more, but the bell rang, signaling the end of the class period. She quickly turned away, her face once again masked with the usual calm. "I'll talk to you later, okay?" she said, not giving him a chance to respond.
Arnold watched her walk away, the weight of their conversation sinking in. It wasn't just the kiss anymore. There were deeper issues here—things he hadn't considered. And no matter how much he wanted to push it all away, he couldn't ignore the fact that Rachel needed him now, more than ever.
---
The day passed in a blur, but Arnold's thoughts remained focused on Rachel. He spent the rest of his classes distracted, unable to fully concentrate. As soon as the final bell rang, he gathered his things quickly, eager to find Rachel, to help her however he could.
He walked through the crowded hallways, his feet moving without much thought, until he reached the exit of the school. But Rachel wasn't there. He checked his phone—no new texts. He wondered where she had gone. It didn't sit right with him that she had disappeared without a word.
Arnold walked toward the bus stop, hoping he might find her there. As he neared the corner, he spotted her across the street, standing by a small coffee shop, her back to him. Her shoulders were slumped, and she looked utterly exhausted. His heart sank as he realized just how much weight she was carrying.
Without thinking, he crossed the street, walking toward her. But before he could call her name, something in the distance caught his eye. Two figures were standing in the shadows by the alleyway, talking in low voices. One of them was a man, tall and broad-shouldered. The other was familiar. It was Rachel's mom.
He froze in place, watching as the two exchanged words. He could barely make out their conversation, but the tone was tense, urgent. Arnold's heart raced as he watched the man hand Rachel's mom something, and she slipped it into her purse.
What was going on?
---
Cliffhanger:
As the figures turned to leave, Arnold's breath caught in his throat. The man was none other than Jake, a troubled acquaintance from Rachel's past. Arnold had seen him around, but what was he doing here, talking to Rachel's mom? And what had he given her?
Something wasn't right.