Gramps was acting a little weird throughout the rest of the day. Like he was worried about something, all day it felt like he was walking on eggshells around me. On top of that he was super jumpy so I asked him what was wrong."
"Gramps, are you okay?"
"yes dear, what makes you ask that." He said. I could tell he was lying but with gramps if he's lying its for a reason. He'll probably come tell me later, so I pushed my doubts and questions away."
"No reason, just checking." I give him a hug then I go back upstairs to play my guitar. And I get a text.
'Hey, wanna meet up at our spot?" -Chris 🎸
So we did exchange numbers that night. And everything in that 'dream' really happened up to the nightmare part. So...if the nightmare part real? Flashes of me running and screaming race through my mind. Along with the man's face and his words, 'say hello to your ancestors for me.' Why are my ancestors so special and why did he want a message sent to them? All this time I realize i'm just sat on my bed staring into space.
Once I zone back in a text Chris, 'Sure! In 10?'-Marlene
'Perfect' -Chris
I put pack the guitar and get my shoes on. I'm not wearing anything special. If Harper were to see me now she would not accept it since she thinks its a fashion show when she walks out the house.
I make it to the Napolean and grab a seat, guess he's not here yet. Right as I think that I hear the bell from the door ring as he enters the shop and he walks my way. He sits in the booth and automatically I can sense that there is something wrong. First off it seemed pretty painful for him to sit down in this booth, Second his mood just doesn't look or feel like all the other times we met up.
"Hey, what's up."
"Nothing much, just wanted some company."
"Right... I don't mean to pry but what happened Chris."
"Got jumped on my way home from band practice last night" he lifts his shirt a little for me to see the bruises scattered across his torso. Lucky they aren't that bad so he don't need stitches anywhere just an ice pack.
"Did you know these guys?"
"Yeah, the school jerks. Guess they're starting with the abuse early this year."
'Are you sure you're okay."
"Yeah" He says as he gets more comfortable in his chair. As he moves him are I see the giant cut straight down his bicep.
"Omg that needs stitches." I say as I try to lean over and check his arm.
"No, I'm fine."
"No, you're not, let's go." I say.
"Where are we going?" He asked as we walked down the street.
"My house, to get you stitched up."
"Oh no, that's fine, I don't want to bother you besides whose gonna stick me up there? I don't want to bother your family."He sounded nervous.
"It's fine, they won't care and I'm gonna stitch you up. Did basic medical classes at my old school. They were very educational, don't worry, you're in good hands." I said as we reached my house and walked up the steps. I took him into the foyer area of the house and told him to wait there while I got the First aid kit.
I gave him a cloth to bite on, "Bite on this, this might hurt a little." I said as I started to clean the wound and stitch it up. He was having a bit of a hard time stating still. "Keep still, I need to make sure the sutures are secure." I said to him.
"Well sorry, if it hurts like god knows what." He groaned
A few minutes later I told him, "Alright, you're all done!" as I tied of the last suture.
"That hurt like I don't know what to compare it to."
"First time getting stitches?" I asked as I cleaned up the kit
"Yeah...why did you say that like it wasn't a big deal. How many times did you get stitches before?" He asked
"I lost count" I said making eye contact. He just looked surprised.
"Alright, how many times have you given someone stitches."
"Still too many to count, but not as much as I've gotten stitches." I could tell he wanted to question more but I was glad he didn't.
See, truth is I was also bullied at school. Got hurt all the time and with dad not really caring enough to do something or to bring me to the hospital, I had to learn how to help myself. I already learned how to stitch well enough for it to do the job but I wanted to learn more. And that's where the classes from back in Missouri come in.
After I have cleaned up, Chris and I waled through the town. We decided that we were both hungry.
" Wanna go to out spot?" He asked as we finished laughing about random things.
"So it's our spot now?" I look dup and asked with a little smirk.
"Yeah! If we're gonna be hanging out we need a spot!"
"And why the Napolean House?" I was just curious and messing around now.
"Well, it's where we always run into each other and it's where we had out first date" He said. But as soon as he said it his whole face could be mistake for a tomato. I don't think he meant to say that out loud.
"So, it was a date?" I said
"Only if that's okay with you." He replied scratching at his neck.
"I think that's perfect." We smiled at each other and went to go eat.
The night was just filled with laughs and bellows. I don't think I've had this much fun in a long time. But thanks to this new town and the people around me, I think I'll do just fine here. I sighed thinking about how great these last couple of weeks have been. If only I knew that my happiness was about to be pulled right from under me.