I sat in the back of David's car silently, he kept asking me questions. Questions I didn't know how to answer or questions I didn't want to answer. Things like
What happened?
Who did this?
When did this happen?
Are you okay?
Why did someone do this?
How long ago was it?
Where did this happen?
Do your parents know?
The list goes on.
All of these questions I knew the answers to, none of them I wanted to answer so I just sat silently, ignoring every question, arms crossed. What would he say when he found everything that had happened. Would he freak out on me? What would happen to me? If there was one thing that my shitty parent did teach me is that you can never trust anyone, especially adults. If you have to depend on others then you're weak. The moment you trust someone is the moment they turn around and stab you in the back. And once you think they've changed. Boom.
Every time I'd ignore him it would be awkward. I hated silence, especially the sigh he would give after not getting an answer. I mean, I called him to help, I guess. Well here he is and I'm just here sitting silently. Why did I even call him? I mean at camp if something was wrong I'd go to him, a force of habit maybe? Or was it more? Nope, no way! I was not getting attached. The first rule of survival. Never trust anyone.
"Max, please. Tell me who did this!" He was basically begging for answers at this point, but I'm not stupid. I know that if I tell him he'll probably go to the police, I'll be put into the system, probably be forced to be put through therapy. I only have two words to tell you how I feel.
Fuck that.
"Where are we going?" I ask instead of answering another one of his stupid ass questions. I stare out the window watching the raindrops racing off the window.
"The hospital, you need medical attention Max, and I'll be damned if I don't get you the necessary care you need." Hospital! I feel myself starting to panic. I hate hospitals, so many questions, so many people, people touching you, what if they ask what happened? What if they get mad at you for not telling them? What if they take me somewhere?
"Don't you need a parent or legal guardian or some shit to take you to the hospital?" I ask trying to not let my panic show.
"Yes, so when we get there I'm going to be your uncle who is taking care of you. Okay." He wasn't going to take no as an answer was he? I started thinking of all possible excuses so we didn't have to go. We don't look related. My parents want me home. I'm too tired. Who's gonna pay for it?
"David, we don't even look related. There's no way they'll believe that." I say trying to sound as normal as I could. "Besides, my parents will want me home." Nailed it! He's gotta listen to me! I thought to myself.
"I'm sure they'll want you healthy before anything else Max." I paused. Looking down at my hands.
"My mum maybe," I mutter to myself. There was a pause telling me that David hadn't heard me.
Shit. Okay. "I'm too tired, I'll go tomorrow, just take me home." Excuse number two. C'mon David! Just take me home. Wait no. Take me back to the park.
"Tomorrow might be too late Max, besides I'm sure you can take a little nap while we're waiting." Excuse number three. AAAAAAAA. Why won't he let me free?
"Well, who's gonna pay for the hospital visit? Cause I don't have any money on me." Boom. He can't argue with that.
"I will. I will pay for anything you need. If it helps, I will do whatever it takes!" As David said that I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. It wasn't bad or anything, just. Unusual, the only other person I got that feeling with was my Mum. I kinda liked it. It made me feel warm inside. The only other time I felt like this with David was at camp. I then realised what David had just offered. He had just offered to cover all of my medical expenses.
"David, no. Just take me home." Sounding too beggingly for his liking.
"Then why did you call me if you just wanted to go home Max?" David asked in a soft but still irritated voice. My mind started to spin. Why did I call him? Was it because I trust him? No. Trust no one. Was it because I was scared? Partially. But there was no way in hell I would ever admit that. My mind was screaming. I didn't know what to say. All I knew the moment I called him was I needed someone.
But why David?
I have no clue. "I… I don't know." I felt warm streams of tears fall off of my cheeks and onto my cheeks. I wanted so badly to curl up into a ball and cry. My head was screaming at me. Scolding me for letting even a slight of my emotion slip.
"Max, I know you don't want to tell me. But for me to help you you need to tell me what happened." He said in a sympathetic voice.
"No." I said sternly. I am so confused.
What do I do?