The door opened and in walked the boy, but the walking stick was missing. His hand was empty.
Today his eyes were brighter, his hair tidied up and his shirt finally tucked in. I furrowed my brows in confusion at the boy sat on the front row. But I did not dare make a move towards him. Instead he turned to look at me, smiled as if seeing me for the first time, and he looked unbelievably happy. So I smiled back.
Of course at that moment a group of loud friends walked into the silent classroom, causing me to jump out of my skin and almost fall off my chair. I looked down at the chipped surface of the table, hoping he didn't see me look like a startled deer, and waited for the heat in my face to cool. By the time I looked back up however, he was facing the front and our form tutor soon walked in.
Form soon ended and I stood from my seat, slowly packing up my stuff to avoid the traffic in the hallways. Once I finished the room was mostly cleared so I could see the boy stood at the front of the class talking to the tutor, unusual but okay.
"Harvey," the teacher called my name and I entered startled deer mode again. "Noah has asked if you would be able to help him across campus today. Don't worry about being late, the staff are all well aware about Noah." I could see Noah roll his eyes behind the tutor, making me purse my lips to prevent myself from laughing. He was adorable.
I gathered myself and said, "Of course." Quickly walking to the exit where said boy was waiting.
"God she makes it sound like I'm trying to cause trouble." he spoke with a sense of disgust on his tongue. I tried a half hearted smile, unknowing of what to say, that's when he smirked, "I don't actually need help today, you won't have to do anything, don't worry. I just thought I could get to know you when I have a bit more energy."
I was mildly confused by his statement, but what stood out in my mind was the fact he wanted to get to know me, that had to be a good sign. Besides, I'd seen him in almost all my classes throught the school day so I'll probably just be able to walk with him to class. "Well I feel honoured," I spoke, whilst taking a small bow, "noone else has spoken to me yet, but I'm glad it's been you." I shot a lopsided smile his way and he beamed back at me.
"Aw thanks," he spoke, smile softening, "what's your first class?"
I pulled a slightly crumpled timetable out my pocket, after inspecting it I replied, "Art."
"Oh same! You get to see my awesome skills" he smiled, then laughed. What was wrong with this boy.
We eventually arrived at the art block and entered the classroom, where everyone else was already collecting their supplies. The teacher was smiling, and when she noticed Noah and I stood at the rear of the classroom she nodded and winked. Noah grabbed my wrist out of nowhere and weakly tugged me over to the back corner where a huge art folder and supplies were already set up, giggling the entire way.
He began by holding the paintbrush in the most unusual way, before dipping it into the water, and then to the paints. I watched in awe at how he could just paint straight onto the canvas without any preparing. As I watched him work I realised he didnt really have a particular method or thought in mind. But the way he was holding the paintbrush looked awkward and hard to control. Occasionally it would slip or create an uneven line, so I asked him. "Why do you hold the brush like that?"
He looked down at his hand, as if the reminder hurt him, and I wished I could take it back instantly. "I can't hold it properly, I've not been able to since I got ill," he looked at his artwork and a smile spread onto his face, I could tell he was remembering the times before he got sick.
"If you're sick, shouldn't you be at home or in hospital until you're better?" I asked out of nievity, I had no clue the pain I was bringing as I spoke any of these words.
"Theres no getting rid of it." Noah spoke looking into my eyes with his tired ones.
At this point I panicked, I was so worried for this kids safety and didn't want him to be hurt, I just blurted it.
"Is it terminal?"
The whole class was silent, and I just raised my voice a few decibels more than acceptable. I was in for it now. Noah noticed the rest of the class staring at us just before me, and he watched my expression morph from concerned to full force terrified and how did he react?
He laughed. It started with a snicker and became a roaring laughter with his face turning red from the lack of breath. The class was still staring, I didn't know what to do, so I just sat there and waited for his laughing to cease, becoming small chuckles, "I'm not going to die anytime soon," his words were broke up by the laughing fit still, "It just means I'm sick for the rest of my life."
Everyone had stopped staring by now, just giving each other side glances. I collapsed my torso onto the table and groaned. "I actually hate myself, I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry about it, it's better than my auntie telling me to 'get better soon' every time I see her, although I tell her that I won't." I cringed at the thought alone. You can cotton on pretty quickly that he's not going to get better.
"Enough talking, let me see some more of these expert painting skills Noah." With that he dipped his brush and got to work.
When the bell rang after class the page was filled with bright colour and small black speckles, but somehow it was beautiful regardless, radiating happiness and joy.
The following lesson felt the opposite to the image in my mind, it was geography and we had to learn the capitals of all the countries in Europe. And then Asia. And then the rest of the world. I was about to pound my head into the desk if it wasn't for Noah happily scrawling notes. At least I could just look his way.
When the lesson ended I was thrilled for lunch, apparently it was pizza today too. Noah and I made our way to the dining hall and we queued up together, chatting the whole way. We got pizza and chips each, and me trying to be 'healthy' got some peas chucked on my plate too.
"See you queued up Noah." One of the dinner ladies said a little off handedly, tilting her head as she spoke.
"Yeah," he smiled, "Harvey was stood in line and I'm having a good day." She raised her eyebrows at him, but he barely noticed as we left to find some seats.
Once we sat down Noah pulled his bag off his shoulders and found a little container in the side pocket that rattled when he shook it. He tipped the tiny capsules into his hand and chucked them back into his mouth before chugging the drink he got with his food. There must've been about six or seven pills he took at once, finishing his meal with a side of pizza and chips. I didn't ask what they were for, I figured I'd be able to ask another time. But for now I wanted to eat my food with my friend, forgetting about his illness, and that's what he wanted too.