Hello all. Schools been a hassle, as always, but I figured I should still get a start on the next chapter of this, so that I don't fall back into the non update whole. Hey my author's note wasn't super long this time.
Chapter 25
Cooro really wished he could just skip school, but he'd already missed so much this year, he didn't think he could convince Mother Superior to let him stay home yet another day if he wasn't sick. Neither Husky nor Keane showed up, not that he was surprised.
He went straight to class in the morning, not stopping to look for Nana. It wasn't that he was avoiding her or anything, he just didn't feel like talking to anyone, let alone someone who'd it'd be nearly impossible to skit around the jumbled mess that their lives was turning out to be. While he'd of preferred silence, the meaningless yells of his hyperactive classmates were alright too. If he didn't focus on them, they pretty much turned into background noise after a while.
It was hard not falling asleep during class. He'd hadn't gotten much last night, and he just couldn't focus on whatever they were supposed to be learning. It just didn't seem that important in the long run anymore.
Heading to lunch, he sat down across from Nana who was already at the table. Neither said much as they started eating, but finally the brown haired girl decided to break the silence.
"So, you're heading to Husky's after school, right?" She asked, and Cooro nodded, his mouth still full, before swallowing to answer.
"Yeah, I need to drop off his stuff. I've never been there though, I wonder what it's like," He said, trying his best to sound casual about it. He knew she already knew why he had to go there, but he wasn't sure what else to say. She didn't seem to either, simply nodding before continuing with her lunch, not seeming to focus on anything.
That was about the extent of any conversation attempts made during the twenty five minute period, both too lost in their own thoughts to say much else. As he left the lunchroom, Cooro wondered if he should have invited her to come with him to Husky's house, but decided against it. It wasn't that he'd thought the silver haired boy would get mad. He knew that the two were friends whether they admitted it or not, he just didn't think that it would be the best time to have any more then the bare minimum of people over. There could still be cops or something, for all he knew.
Once his afternoon classes were finally over the black haired boy left school as fast as he could. He had to go back to the church to pick up Husky's things before heading to his house. That didn't take very long though, and soon Cooro was wondering around the streets searching for the address sloppily written on the paper his friend had given him. He knew the general direction he had to go, and stopped to ask directions several times. It really wasn't that far though, and Cooro was impressed by the large house he finally found to match his address.
Walking up to the door, the eleven year old knocked softly, shifting the bag on his shoulder slighting. He'd somehow managed to fit the old blue blanket inside, and Husky's book bag was also on his back. He didn't have to wait long for the door to open, revealing a very worn out Husky in front of him. He looked absolutely exhausted, and Cooro could guess that he hadn't gotten much sleep last night. He quickly ushered the black haired boy inside though, telling him to drop the bags anywhere.
The inside was just as impressive as the outside, although that didn't really surprise him all that much. He was able to tell a while ago that Husky was probably well off finically. It wasn't that he bragged about his money or anything like that like some other people, anything but. He didn't mention money at all actually, and the way some of their classmates acted seemed to rub the silver haired boy worse then some of the poorer students. It wasn't anything like that, he just couldn't help the fact that he dressed very well, was very polite when needed to be and wore expensive looking earrings everywhere he went.
Husky sat down rather ungracefully on one of the couches, and Cooro followed his example. The two were silent until the younger sighed heavily, putting his face in his hands.
"I don't know what to do…" He mumbled, and Cooro wasn't sure what he should say, so just waited for him to continue, which he thankfully did. "It's just… urg. Keane told them what she did. I told the idiot he didn't have to. She's already dead! But the brat did it anyway, said they needed it for motivation or something like that. Then they told my dad and now he wont even look at me, not that he did much before but this is different. I just don't know what to do anymore. I don't even know why I'm telling you all this," the silver haired boy grumbled, explaining some of the events to befall him in the last day.
"Because we're friends?" Cooro suggested for his last remark, to which Husky shrugged and glanced over at the lamp on the table to his side.
"Yeah… I guess," he mumbled, but it didn't bother the black haired boy any. That was just how Husky was. He figured he should probably offer his friend some advice, but he was just about, if not more so, as clueless for what to do as him.
"Um, about what happened though. I guess you shouldn't worry about it, because they already know, so there's nothing you can do to change it, and I guess your dad is just shocked, y'know? I'm sure it will be okay," Cooro offered. He didn'at know much about Husky's dad. He didn't know anything really. Husky never mentioned him. It had to be something like that though, although Cooro couldn't help but be a bit worried when he'd mentioned that he didn't look much at Husky before this. Hopefully he was just reading too much into that part.
"Yeah, you're probably right," the silver haired boy said. It was quiet for a few moments, and Cooro decided to ask something that had been on his mind since he'd come in.
"So, where's Keane?" He didn't expect the red head to have come down and greet him or anything, but he was still worried about him. He'd been such a wreak when he'd last saw him, it was hard not to worry.
"Upstairs in his room. He's probably not going to be coming out anytime soon though," Husky answered, and Cooro nodded. He thought as much. Looking around the room, another thought crept into the black haired boy's mind. Something he'd been wondering for a much longer time then his last question. He wanted to ask, but now probably wasn't the best time. Husky'd just lost his step mother, no matter how nasty she might have been, it was still no time to be prodding the boy about the whereabouts of his real one.
"Well," Husky began, standing up, "thanks for bringing my stuff over. I don't think I'll be at school for the rest of the week though," Cooro nodded. He would have been surprised to see him. Keane will probably stay home even longer.
"No problem. It was nice being able to see your house," the black haired boy said, trying to keep up a cheerful attitude. "Um, I'll see you around then, I guess," he said as he walked towards the door. Husky followed him, picking up the bags he'd left by the entrance.
"Yeah, see you," the silver boy said, heading up the stares as Cooro headed out the door. Placing the bags on his floor, he made a beeline to the bed, collapsing into it. He was glad that Cooro'd come, and not just because he'd brought him his things. It wasn't that he was lonely or anything, with Keane not coming out of his room for very, very understandable reasons or his father, although actually home for a change, not being able to even look at him for equally understandable reasons. It was just nice to be able to talk to someone who wasn't directly involved.
He hadn't been able to sleep last night, having to talk to that Mr. Richardson again, as well as a few other police officers and investigators, and then finding out that they told his father everything. He thought he would be able to, feeling more wiped then he could remember at the time, but he hadn't. Now, lying on his bed again, he almost immediately feel into a very deep, thankfully dreamless sleep.
The next morning Cooro walked to school, looking normal to anyone who wasn't very close to him or paying much attention. The joy that was usually in his step was pretty much extinguished, but anyone that would notice wasn't there. Husky was right in what he'd said yesterday, he wasn't coming to school, and he really didn't know what way Nana walked, if she even did. Her parents might drive her to school, like some other kids did.
Walking to his locker, the black haired boy dully noted that he was actually pretty early today. He guessed he should probably head to class, not really sure where else to go. Before he could though, he spotted Nana walking up to him.
"Hi Cooro," the brunette said as she stopped next to his locker. He smiled at her as he shut it. She looked pretty tired too, although she was trying to give off a cheerful vibe. It was actually really good, if Cooro wasn't trying to do the exact same thing, then he probably would of believed it.
"Hiya, Husky's not coming to school today," the black haired boy informed her, and she nodded. That was pretty much a given by now.
"So, you went to his house yesterday?" She asked, and Cooro nodded. "Pretty big right? I'd forgotten that I had been there once. Well, outside of it, that is," Nana explained, and Cooro had to smile. He'd almost forgotten as well. Husky'd told him about how Nana had followed him all the way home when they first met demanding an apology, and how he refused to give it to her. It really wasn't that long ago, if he thought about it.
"Yeah, it's a really nice house. Husky seemed pretty tired though, so I didn't… um, are you okay? Cooro asked after trailing off. The brunette wasn't really looking at him anymore, but behind him, with a look of confusion and worry on her face. She slowly nodded, although that didn't comfort Cooro any.
"Um, not to sound like a broken record…" Nana started, still staring behind him, "but… is that Husky's brother?" whipping around, Cooro saw the trademark red hair of the slightly older boy disappear around a corner. Quickly sharing a look of concern with Nana, the two ran down the hallway hoping they were wrong.
Turning the corner they saw what was indeed Keane slowly walking down the hallway, and for a moment Cooro had absolutely no clue for what to do or why. What would posses Keane to come to school today? Husky had said they were staying home, so why was he here? Was Husky here too?
"Keane!" the black haired boy called, sprinting up next to the red head. Keane stopped at the sound of his name and turned around to see who was calling him. He didn't say anything though as the two younger children stopped next to him. Collecting himself quickly, Cooro decided to ask the most obvious question at the moment. "What are you doing here?"
Keane looked confused for a moment, appearing to think the question over before finally answering. "Because it's a school day," he said as if there was no reason why he shouldn't be. Cooro and Nana shared another look of concern before turning back towards the older boy.
"But, shouldn't` you be… home? I mean, with everything that's y'know, happened?" Nana asked gently, making sure she didn't say anything too specific. She knew things like that tended to set Husky off, but wasn't sure about his brother. Keane simply shook his head though and continued down the hallway. Nana and Cooro made sure to follow him though, not about to let this slide. There was no way he could handle the stress of school on top of everything else in his life right now.
"Keane, you should really, really go home. If Husky wakes up and you're not there, he's gonna be worried," the black haired boy tried, but Keane just kept walking, seeming to try and block the two out now.
"Yeah Husky," Nana started again, trying to pick up where Cooro left off, "Husky's home alone, and you should head back to watch him. He's probably not up yet, so if you leave now you should be able to get back before he does," it didn't gain any response from the red head though, and soon he turned into a classroom, effectively shutting the door in both their faces.
The two stood outside the class for a while, neither sure what to do next. "Should we… go tell the office?" Nana suggested, and Cooro thought for a moment. Should they? There was no way Keane should be here, it would probably be best if they did.
"Yeah, he shouldn't be here…" the black haired boy said, and the two quickly made there way towards the lobby where the office was located, not saying anything on the way there.
Stepping into the office, they spotted one of the administrators sitting behind the counter. He was a tall, bald man who always seemed bored with his job. Cooro had been hoping for one of the nicer lady administrators, but this would just have to do.
'Um, Mr. Pinklelooder?" the black haired boy started, gaining the admin's attention. He stood up from his seat and walked over to the counter, a pen in hand. He probably thought they were here to turn in an absent note or something.
"What do you need?" He asked in a monotone voice, and Cooro took a small breath. Where to begin?
"Um, we have a friend, and we think he should go home," he started, receiving the same disinterested stare from Mr. Pinklelooder, who started to go back to his seat.
"If he's sick, then he needs to go to the nurse himself, not send a couple of friends to the office," the bald man said, and Cooro quickly shook his head.
"No sir. He's not sick. His mother died Monday, and we really, really don't think he should be here," that caught the man's attention, and he turned around back towards the two children.
"Who's this friend of yours?" He asked, and Nana gave a small sigh of relief that he was listening to them again. She'd never liked those people who worked in the office. They didn't really know the students, but they were the once making up all the rules and punishments.
"Keane Sandori, he's in the sixth grade. Do you think you could call his dad or something and ask if he could take him home?" Cooro asked after giving the name and grade just for good measure. Mr. Pinklelooder wrote it down and nodded at the two.
"Yes I will. Thank you for the information. Now where are you suppose to be, I'll write you two passes, since class has already started," Cooro and Nana quickly gave him their classes and after getting their pass, headed down the hall.
"Do you think they'll be okay? I mean, there's no way Keane was alright," Nana asked, and all Cooro could do was shrug.
"I don't know Nana… I think Husky will be okay. He seemed really worn out yesterday, but he'll be okay. It's just Keane I'm worried about. It's like he's trying to deny everything," the black haired boy said, and Nana nodded in agreement. At least he was going to be sent home. Maybe his dad will do something once he learns how he tried to go to school.
Reaching the split in the hallway where they had to part, Cooro tired to smile at his friend. There wasn't really anything to smile about, but it wouldn't do any good to act as if there was no hope what so ever.
"Well, see you at lunch," the black haired boy said, and Nana smiled and nodded at him, heading down the hall to her classroom. Turning away towards his, the smile fell of his face rather quickly. Why did everything have to be so hard? They were just kids after all. How much could they take before they cracked completely?
"Just deny everything Double D! You'll live longer!" Yay I'm finished. Poor Keane. He sure is getting quite a mental beating despite not even being a plus anima. Also, hurray for bringing back random characters from over 23 chapters ago! Mr. Pinklelooder, or as called in chapter 2, Mr. Picklelover.
Well, please review.