Given Up

Chapter 24

"Hey!" I called across the throngs of people trying to move through the hallways to get to the next lesson. "Diego!"

I saw his head lift as he heard his name but he kept going.

I squeezed past some people and finally fell into step with him.

"Oh hey Kyle." He looked up and away.

"We missed you at lunch today..."

"Oh yeah, I had some stuff to do." His voice was clipped.

"And, well, you didn't respond last night either..." I was aware I sounded like a jealous lover.

He didn't say anything but was forced to stop by a huge gaggle of chatty Year 8 girls passing across us. I took my opportunity to talk to him whilst he was stuck.

"I'm really sorry about Scott. He is such a dick." I pulled my backpack higher on my shoulder. "I told him where to shove it. You can come round anytime, I don't care what he says."

"It's ok. Maybe he has a point. I should leave you alone." Diego rubbed the back of his head. "My life is a mess."

I frowned at him. I hadn't really seen him down on himself before.

"Come on..." I started but he cut me off.

"No Ky. You got nice friends and a new family. You are better off without someone like me." His voice was low and throaty.

"Don't say that Diego. That is total bull."

His phone rang then and he looked down at it.

"I gotta go. I'll catch you later." He started to back away.

"But D..."

He cut me off. "It's work. I gotta go."

He turned his back on me and disappeared into the crowd.

"For fucks sake!" I spoke loudly to myself, earning a few sideways glances. My breath quickened: I desperately wanted to punch something. All I could envisage was Scott's face. This was his fault.

I ignored the bell and slipped past a few other students who were now jogging to their classes, making my way quickly towards the outside door. I needed fresh air: anything to calm me down.

"Mr Clark?"

I turned to see Mr Carter approaching me rapidly.

Great. Him again.

"The last bell has gone. You are now late for your next class." He readjusted his trousers and put his hands on his hips.

"Whatever," I wasn't in the mood for school: for him. I needed to get out of here.

I took a step towards the door and he manoeuvred himself in front of it and me, with his hand out in front of him

"Um, where do you think you are going?"

I gritted my teeth and tried to step to the side of him but he stepped the same way.

"What is your problem with me, huh?" My voice raised instantly to a shout. "You have been on my case since day one. Why don't you, and everyone else, just leave me the fuck alone?"

I slammed my fist into the locker that was next to him which sent a loud clang echoing down the hallway and sent sharp, shooting pain through my knuckles.

Mr Carter flinched at the impact, a look of shock flashing across his face.  I cradled my hand and hissed: all my anger extinguished by the pain.  A door opened further down the hallway and a teachers head popped out.