Skin and Bones

By lunch I’m ready to fall asleep. The run this morning have me completely beat, and all I want is to go take a nap before gym. Urgh. I hate gym.
I meet Mikey by the entrance to the cafeteria. We walk to the line.
Mikey grabs a tray. I don’t.
Mikey picks up two sandwiches. I don’t.
Mikey takes a box of chocolate milk. I don’t.
Mikey takes an apple. I don’t.
I grab a bottle of water.

“Do you wanna go sit in the hallway?” Mikey asks. I shake my head.

“Actually, you can just go sit with Gerard if you want. I’m really tired. I was thinking of taking a nap on a bench in the locker rooms before gym.”

“Well, we’ve got gym together. I’ll just go with you.” I shake my head.

“You don’t have to.”

“I wanna.” I try to smile up at him, but I know it looks pathetic. Luckily I don’t have to pull it off for long, seeing as if Mikey’s the next to pay.
After I’ve paid, we walk through the cafeteria to the other end. From there it’s a shorter walk to the gym. On our way, we pass Gerard. I stare at the floor as we pass.

“Hey Mikes! Hey Frank!” His voice is just as cheery as ever – as if nothing’s ever happened. He’s mocking me. I know.

“We’re gonna go eat in the locker rooms,” Mikey says with a low voice. Obviously we’re not allowed to eat in the locker rooms. We’re not even allowed to eat in the hall ways. We do it anyway, though.

“Why not just sit here?” Gerard’s tone of voice is harsh and wondering. He’s mocking me. Ridiculing me.

“Frank’s tired,” Mikey says as he places his empty tray on the table. He’s taken his lunch off of it – carrying it in his hands instead.
I look up again when we’ve passed the table and follow Mikey out of the cafeteria. We walk through the empty halls for a little while.
“Are you still mad at my brother?” Mikey’s question seems out of the blue, and I have to think about it for a little while before I answer. In the meantime, there’s silence between us.

“No,” I say lowly, before I push the door to the locker rooms open and walk in. Mikey quickly follows.

“What happened anyways?” We walk pass a few rows of lockers, before we turn and sit down on a bench. I’ve been here once today already – deodorant.
I don’t answer. I put the bottle down on the floor, before I stick my hands in the pocket of my hoodie and lie back on the wood of the bench. I close my eyes. Fuck, I’m tired.
“I don’t mean to push you or anything, but I just wanna know if I should be mad at Gee or not.” My breathing has already slowed down significantly, and I’m losing my concentration.

“You shouldn’t.”