Part 7 - What a Birthday
Greya's POV...
If I could erase this past weekend from existence, I would.
First the very eventful and mostly uncomfortable party at Becker's house. Then just when I thought I would have one low-key weekend, Chase comes down with a fever so I had to take extra care of him the last two days. To top it all off, Grams tripped and fell on her knee last night. Thankfully, she only bruised it and I was able to take her home from the ER around 2am this morning.
I decided to let Chase stay home from school today so he can completely recover. That and so he can help out Grams today. Chase is the blind one, but he's home keeping an eye on our grandmother... I start laughing to myself...I'm so tired.
"Happy 18th birthday Grey!" I hear and see Ari and Fynn rushing down the school hall at me.
I don't feel like I'm eighteen, more like thirty most days, raising a kid, being a care taker of my grandmother, balancing work, aka school. That's what most thirty years olds do right? My childhood blew by in a flash, skipping the irresponsible and rambunctious teenage years, and throwing me straight into adulthood.
"Sorry about this past weekend Grey, I'll be sure to make it up to you and celebrate properly this coming weekend!" Ari smiles warily.
"I'm glad Grams is ok," she adds.
"Yeah me too," I tell her.
I turn around to grab books from my locker when I feel Fynn grip my arm and spin me around towards him. I look at him confused but he just smiles and envelopes me into a tight hug. I sigh with relief and burry my head into his chest. "Thanks Fynn, I really did need this hug," I say softly.
"I know, that's what I'm here for," he chuckles.
"Thank you for taking care of Chase while we were at the hospital last night, you must be tired."
"Not as tired as you by the looks of it," he tries joking with me. "You should've stayed home today," he adds.
"We have a Calculus test this morning I can't miss, then maybe I'll head home after."
A calculus test on my birthday is exactly what I need...not.
"Fynn and I will be over with cake and ice cream tonight," Ari beams.
"Sounds great! Thanks you two, I'll see you in class," I smile before heading to my dreaded test.
As if my morning could get any worse, I walk into class and already notice Becker slumped in his seat in the back row. He has a black hoodie on, the hood pulled over his head and covering most of his face. He's twirling a pen around with his fingers like he usually does when he's deeply thinking about something and it worries me. I can make out a black and blue bruise on the side of his chin and small cut on his bottom lip where Mason punched him on Friday night. I take my seat directly in front of his and wait for the excuses or anything that resembles an apology for getting angry at me.
Nothing happens. For the five minutes before the teacher and the rest of the class arrives, there's silence. I'm the one who should be ignoring him after how much of a jerk he was when I tried to help him. This silence from him is unusual and nerve wracking. I wish I knew how to get through to him without him reverting to his typical avoidance techniques.
I don't know why, but I can't shake the feeling that something else may have happened to him I don't know about. By now he would've offered me some kind of bet or competition, but he hasn't. I have the urge to turn around so I can read his eyes. When I do, he lifts his head and his glassy blue eyes meet mine. This time I'm the one who flinches, and the look of shock on my face makes him retract in his seat and cover his face again. What the hell happened to him?
I stare at him for a minute, unable to turn back around. I thought he only got punched in the jaw, did he get into another fight after I left? He looks like he got quite a beating. His eyes are swollen and purple and there's a huge gash formed along the left side of his forehead. "Wha...what happened to your face?" I nervously stutter.
He ignores my question for a few seconds then raises his head up and glowers at me like I am the devil herself. "What do you care?" He growls at me.
Wow, okay! I don't like his response but at the same time I know he's deflecting. " I care when someone I know looks like they got the shit kicked out of them," I retort. He keeps glaring at me but this time his eyes begin to soften.
Whatever it is, there's a very slim chance he'll let me in. All this time and I still haven't figured out how to get him to talk to me, I mean really talk. No bullshit, no aversions... the real deal, so I can help him find his way.
"B, please be truthful with me. Are you okay?"
By the way he reacts, I know he didn't expect me to ask him that. For a brief moment, he looks as though he appreciates me caring, but then he ruins it when he spots Fynn and Ari enter the classroom. "Why don't you care about someone else," he growls at me again.
I turn around towards Ari and Fynn and Ari catches the sour look on my face then glances towards Becker and frowns. I see her eyes go wide when she looks at Becker's face but that doesn't stop her from sticking up for me. "What did you say to her this time Becker? Way to try to ruin her birthday," she scoffs at him. He doesn't react though and I can hear him push back into his chair.
"Don't worry about him Greya and ace this test," Ari says loud enough for Becker to hear.
The math test felt like it took hours to complete. I spent half the time trying to figure out the problems and half the time thinking of what might've happened to Becker. It didn't help that he spent most of the test time sighing in frustration and tapping his pencil on his desk. He was obviously not going to get a good grade on this one.
As soon as the bell rang, I turned my test in and then told Fynn and Ari I was going home for the rest of the day.
As I made my way out to my car, I heard someone calling my name behind me. "Wait up, Love," I hear a familiar voice repeat. I turn around and see Becker jogging to catch up to me. We both get to where my car is parked and Becker rubs his head, he's panting like he just ran a marathon. I want to ask him what he wants, but the nice part of me is concerned about his physical state. It's not like him to be out of breath from just jogging across the parking lot. "Are you okay?" I ask him for the second time.
"I'm sorry Love," he blurts out. His dark hair is a mess and his normally clear blue eyes are all bloodshot.
I cross my arms and give him an annoyed look. "What are you sorry for? The party or today in class?" I ask him.
He shifts his weight between his feet and rubs the back of his neck with his hand. "Both?" He shrugs, sounding more like a question. I'm not sure what to say so I grab the car door handle and open the door to get inside.
" I wanted to say happy birthday , I'm sorry if I ruined your morning," he unexpectedly says.
I pause from getting into the car and turn to look at him. He's shifting his weight uncomfortably between both feet and rubbing his forehead with his fingers. He looks as if he's in pain. I can't forget that I'm currently annoyed with his behavior though, so I push him for answers.
"I don't get you, I mean I'm always nice to you, we love the same sport, we are in each other's classes, and all you want to do is either tease me or compete with me, why? Do you hate me for some reason?"
He looks flustered, not knowing how to answer me and it frustrates me. "I thought after all this time that we could be friends at least," I spit out while he silently stares at me.
"It's not what you think," he begins to say but I cut him off.
"Look Becker..." I look back up at him. I'm stopped mid-sentence when I see him lose his balance and stumble towards my car. He catches himself by placing his hand on the car's hood and clutches his head in his other hand.
I know if I touch him to try and help him he will back away and get upset with me, so I walk over and stand next to him. I extend my elbow out slowly towards him and say, " Hold onto my arm and I'll walk you to the nurse's office."
"No! I'll be fine."
"You don't look fine, maybe you have a concussion or something, at least let me drive you home," I say to him.
He tries to stand up straighter and when he looks at me I can see fear swirling around in his blue orbs. "No, I can't go home," he frantically states.
Just then it hits me...the fear in his eyes, the flinching he always does when someone touches him, the unexplained bruising from multiple different occasions... I think someone is doing this to him. I've been though enough shit in my life to know the signs. I hope I'm wrong, but I need to find out.
"Why can't you go home? Did something happen there? You can tell me," I carefully ask him.
He hesitates before answering, "No, I can't, please just go find Cohen or Declan."
"Fine, at least let me help you sit in my car while I go find them," I hold my arm out to him again.
He slowly wraps his fingers around my bicep and lets me help him into the front seat. "Please stay here and don't move while I find one of them...promise me!" I demand.
"I promise," he grunts.
I run back into the school and quickly spot Cohen by his locker. "Hey Greya, what's up?" He asks when I approach him.
"Cohen, you need to come with me, Becker's in my car and he doesn't look so good."
Worry flashes over his face and he grabs my hand out of instinct and we both run outside to my car. Becker is right where I left him. Cohen looks like he doesn't know what to do so he grabs onto Becker's arm. " Come on bruh, I'll get you back to my house so you can sleep," he says to Becker. Becker of course pulls back from Cohen's sudden touch and insists he can get out of the car himself.
I look at Cohen with sympathy. " I think he has a concussion, keep an eye on him the rest of the day," I pat Cohen on the shoulder before moving in front of Becker and offering him my arm again. Becker looks at me warily and places his hand above my elbow. I lead him to Cohen's car, meanwhile, Cohen is staring at me completely surprised.
Becker tries to ignore me after I help him into the passenger seat. Maybe he's embarrassed or maybe he just doesn't feel well. Either way, I can't help but feel bad for him. After all, it's partly my fault he got into a fight.
"B," I softly say. He looks up at me with his big blue wary eyes. "Thank you," I tell him. I notice some confusion flash across his face so I elaborate. "Thank you for saving me from Mason at the party, I don't know what he would've done if you hadn't pulled him off me," I smile at him and for a split second I see the corners of his lips twitch.
"Thanks Greya," is all Cohen says before driving off with Becker.
What a birthday this is turning out to be, I think to myself while driving home.
My day brightens a bit when Chase greets me at the door. "You're home early!" he squeals. " Look, I made you a birthday card, and don't worry, Gram has been resting in her chair all morning," he rambles on and then sprints into the kitchen.
He runs back over to me with a menu in his hand. "Can we order pizza for lunch? Fynn said he will pick it up and bring it over!"
"You know Fynn has school right?"
"He and Ari said they didn't care, they are coming over to spend your birthday with you," Chase smiles at me.
I mess up his hair with my fingers, thinking that I need to bring him for a haircut soon , "Sure buddy, we can order pizza."
"Yes!!!" He grabs my cell phone and tells Siri to dial his favorite pizza place.
I help Grams to her room and wrap an ice pack around her knee. "Thank you sweetheart, you and Chase take such good care of me, I wish I was able to do more for you."
"You took care of us when we needed it most Grams, I don't mind taking care of you now," I kiss her on her cheek.
"Greya, I left you a card on the kitchen counter, happy birthday!"
"Thanks Grams, get some rest now," I tuck her into bed before heading back downstairs.
Forty minutes later Fynn and Ari show up with pizza, cake, and ice cream in hand.
Ari hands me a gift bag and gives me a hug. "Happy birthday Grey, now let's eat, hang out, watch movies, whatever you want."
"Sounds good to me," I say while they make their way into the kitchen and I close the front door behind them.
I have awesome friends.
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