Tolerating Jakob

Chapter Four

Jakob's POV
"You seem mad," my little sister, Violet says out of nowhere.

I grunt and pat Samuel's head.

Oh shit right, my guide dog Samuel, not my best friend Samuel.

That would be weird. And sought of psychotic.

"Violet go upstairs," Mum says. I hear her little feet walk away. "Jakob put some clothes on."

"I'm wearing pants," I state.

I could sense my mum rolling her eyes. "Put a shirt on now," she orders.

I hear her walk away also and ignore her order. I know why she wants me to put on a shirt. Chloe is coming over.

Why would she say yes to my mum? She loathes my guts.

There's a knock at the door and I feel Sam's head lift off my lap.

I hear the door open. "Chloe," I hear mum speak. "So glad you came."

"All good," she says.

"He's in the lounge room," Mum states.

"Thanks," Chloe says. I hear her walk closer and closer to me and then she stops. "Hi Jakob."

"Hey," I say. "I'd say it's nice to see you again, but we both know I can't see."

"Right," she says. "What's your dogs name?"

"Samuel," I answer.

"Oh," she mumbles. "I-I'm sorry about what happened."

"I don't want pity," I grumble. "Especially from you."

"Sorry that I'm being nice to you for once," she mutters, angrily. I hear her place things on the coffee table.

"Well don't," I say. "I don't want you being nice to me, just because I'm blind."

"Okay then," she says. "So I have some cards on the table, that will help you with Braille."

"What is Braille?" I ask.

"Well obviously you can't read anymore," she says. "So instead of reading the words you feel the words."

"Okay," I say frowning.

"Give me your hand," she says.

"If you want to hold my hand, all you have to do is ask," I say. She roughly grabs my hand and puts my index finger on something.

For all I know it's Sam's asshole.

"Feel out the dots," Chloe says. "Then I will give you, another one."

"Yes DJ Khalid," I joke.

"DJ khalid?"

"You said another one," I state. "Like he says in every music video."

She laughs a little. "Right."

I feel out the card. "It's just one dot."

"That is A," she says.

"Thanks," I say. "Is this over now?"

She chuckles. "Yes, next lesson is B."

I smile a little. "I hope my mum isn't paying you to do that."

"Five dollars for every letter," she jokes.

Why was I so worried about this?

This is fun.

*
I take a deep breath, as I sit in what I assume is the passenger seat of my mum's car. We were outside the school.

Today is my first day back.

Fucking hip hooray for me.

"You will be okay," she says. "Wesley is waiting for you."

Wesley and I have been talking the last couple of days. He said he would help me around school.

I didn't want Sam with me at school. It'd bring too much attention. I have a walking stick though and a pair of sunglasses. 

Bright lights hurt my head.

My door opens. "Hey man," Wesley says. "Ready?"

"No," I say. "But it doesn't matter anyway."

Wesley chuckles. He helps me out of the car and we say bye to my mum. Wesley instructs me into the school, without me falling.

"Open your bag," he says. I do so and feel him shove some books in.

"Hey Jakob." I jump at the voice. "I'm sorry about your loss."

"Uh thanks," I say hesitantly.

"How are you Bailey?" Wesley asks, for my benefit.

"Who are you?" She asks rudely.

"I'm Wesley," he says. "We were science partners last year."

"Okay," Bailey says.

I hear her walk away. "She's rude," I say.

"She's friends with Chloe," Wesley says.

"Makes sense," I say.

Wesley takes me to my first class which is English. He sits me down, pats my shoulder and leaves.

"Hey Jakob." I jump when someone touches me. "It's, Uh Ashley."

"Ashley is a popular name," I state.

"Uh Chloe's friend," she says. "I sit next to her."

"Right," I murmur.

"I'm sorry about what happened."

"Why are you sorry?" I ask. "Were you there?"

"Well no-"

"Then don't apologise," I say.

"Don't be rude," I hear Chloe say.

I smirk. "I'm not rude, I'm honest."

"Those two things go together," Chloe states.

I shrug. "I'm not sorry."

"I know," she says. "Apologising isn't in your vocabulary."

"Nice one," I say.

"Where's Sam?" Chloe asks me.

"Chloe," Ashley hisses.

"It's his dog," Chloe snaps.

"I didn't bring him," I cut in. "I didn't want any attention on me."

Chloe snorts. "You've been what everyone's been talking for two weeks."

"Great," I mutter. "Anything else i need to know?"

"Your shirt is on backwards," she claims.

I feel in the collar of my shirt and feel the tag.

I'm gonna kill my mother.