It's the next day. I really didn't want to leave the motel. I want to stay for one more night but I need to go to school and I need to see mom because I feel like i'm worrying her. After I woke up and took my shower, I put my same clothes back on and was about to leave when Niko knocked on my door and walked in.
"Hey. You going somewhere?" He asked.
I slowly nodded.
"Oh. Okay." He said with a smile.
So far, he hasn't thought anything about me leaving right away until he started to look around the room and his eyes landed on the fast food bag in the trash can. He walked up to the trash can and pulled the fast food bag out of it. He opened the bag then looked at me.
"Why didn't you eat this?"
I stood there, not sure what to say.
"I...i have to go." I quickly said then walked out of the room.
"Hey!" He called out then dropped the bag into the trash can before following after me.
Niko grabbed my arm and pulled me back. I stopped walking and stared at him.
"What's going on? Why are you leaving so soon? Do you have to be somewhere?"
I nodded. "School."
Niko stared at me, searching my face. "Is that all?"
I narrowed my eyes, feeling my defense coming up. "What is this? 20 questions?" I said then continued to walk away.
"Charlie!" He called out and started to follow after me again.
"Charlie! Why are you leaving?" He shouted.
"I told you! I have school! Don't YOU have school too?" I shouted back.
Niko then stopped walking. "I dropped out."
I stopped suddenly then slowly turned and looked at Niko.
"What? What do you mean you 'dropped out'?" I asked.
Niko just stood there, staring at me. It looked like it's hard for him to give me a reason. I started to wonder if he dropped out because of something big and personal and not because he couldn't take the school work.
"I...I dropped out because I had to take care of my sick mother. She had cancer. My dad isn't really in the picture." He explained.
My eyes widen at the news I just heard. I feel for him because I have to take care of my mom too. She just lost her job and she looks more tired than usual and now she's talking about starving herself because she can't afford to buy us food. Thinking about all of this is starting to make me tear up.
"I'm...i'm sorry. That must be terrible. Is she okay?" I finally asked.
Niko shook his head. "She died. Almost a year ago."
My heart dropped. "That musta been horrible for you..." I nearly whispered.
Niko nodded. "It's okay. I've gotten better."
This was too much for me and I still need to go to school and see my mom. I have to go now.
"I...I have to go. I'm sorry." I quickly said then started to walk away.
"Wait! Are you coming back? Will I see you again?"
I stopped walking but didn't turn around. I sighed. "Probably. Probably not. Take care, anyways." I said then started to walk away again and this time, I didn't stop till I got home.
I quietly walked into my apartment. "Mom! You here?" I called out.
My mom then emerged from her bedroom. When she saw me, she ran up to me and hugged me.
"Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you!" She said then looked at my face.
"Sorry I worried you. I just...I'm sorry." I couldn't exactly explain why I left and never came back home last night. Mom doesn't exactly know about dad and me and our 'nights' together. Sometimes I want to tell her, other times I don't. I feel like she worries about too much already and I don't want her to worry more about me.
"It's okay. Just remember next time to tell me where you're going. Didn't you have your cell phone?"
I shook my head. "Not really."
Mom nodded then hugged me again. I sighed. "I guess I better get to school."
She pulled away from me and stared at me then nodded. "You should. Keep your mind on other things."
I nodded then went to my room to grab my book bag.
"Is dad home?" I asked once I came out of my room.
"No. He left earlier. And, Ronnie, where did the five boxes of frozen dinner food come from?"
I gulped and stared at her. "I...bought it from the market. Why?"
Mom nodded and decided to leave the subject alone. "Have a good day at school."
I nodded and kissed her cheek then left the apartment.
***
School wasn't any better. I still felt like people were talking about me behind my back, I didn't eat at lunch and gym was even worse. As I was changing back into my regular clothes after gym ended, I heard guys in the locker room talking about me.
"Hey, have you guys ever seen Ronnie eat?" One guy asked.
"Nope. What is he like on a diet or something?" Another said.
"Don't girls normally go on diets? Why does HE have to go on one? He's not even good looking in the first place. Just going on a diet and starving yourself will only make you look uglier." The third one said.
I started to feel my heart pound in my chest.
"He's such a pansy I tell you." The first one said again.
I felt myself sniffing as I grabbed my shirt and started to put it on. That's when I realized that the guys stopped talking. I wondered if they left already?
"No. Because I didn't hear the door open and close." I whispered under my breath.
That's when I heard the sounds of a camera phone snapping a picture. I looked over my shoulder to see the three guys taking a picture of my bony body. I quickly pulled my shirt down and grabbed my jacket and bag then ran out of the locker room.
"RUN YOU LITTLE B**CH!"
I can't take it anymore. I still have a few more classes to go to but I don't think I can go to them. So instead, I left the school. I wasn't about to go home because mom would want to know why I left school and then she'll realize that I haven't been eating. So the only place I can think of going to is the motel and see Niko. My feet just started to carry me there without warning.
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