11
After I bought my book, I moved back down the hall so I could go find Annie. The hall was empty and I was glad those guys weren't still in the lounge. As I was approaching the front of the building, I saw a familiar figure standing there and I paused and stared at the older man. He stared back with kind eyes and I slowly walked up to him. I hadn't seen him in years.
"Dr. Loomis, what are you doing here?" I asked. I didn't tell him where I went to school, but seeing him here made me immediately worried. Did something happen at the hospital? Was Michael hurt? "How did you know where I was?"
He raised a hand in defense.
"Your mother told me where you were." he said and I stared at him intently.
"She doesn't want you anywhere near me." I replied and he nodded.
"Yes, but when I told her the news. She didn't mind me coming to visit." he said. I was quiet for a moment as I looked him over.
"Is he dead?" I asked. Did he meet someone tougher and stronger than he was? There was no one stronger than Michael. Dr. Loomis shook his head.
"No. I just came to tell you that we have found another hospital to move him to." he said. I inhaled and my body visibly tensed from it.
"To where?" I asked lowly and he shook his head.
"I think it is best for you both that you not know." he said and I looked down some thinking about his words before nodding.
"And you just came here to tell me that," I asked, "Feels like a waste of both our time." I was planning to walk to the hall behind him which would lead me to the student food court area, but he moved a bit to me and raised his hands.
"Kyra please. I won't waste anymore of your time. I just wanted to let you know. Maybe you would want to come say good bye, not for Michael but for yourself. You'll finally be rid of him and you can put the past behind you."
I frowned and shook my head.
"I can never put the past behind me. He haunts my dreams. I used to think I was the only one to give him life even though he took it from me." I said gently raising my hands to lightly rest on my pelvis and I let out a light sigh. Images of the attack began to play again in my head so I shook my head. "I have to go." I walked around him without being stopped and he let me.
"His last day to accept visitors is September 4! After that the beginning of his transfer paper work will begin!" he called out. I didn't even respond. I just kept on walking. Once I was in the large area I looked around at the numerous tables and booths hoping to find Annie. Towards the back of the booth area I saw Annie and Lynda and her girlfriend, Terra. And sitting around them was the four guys from earlier. Lynda and Terra sat in separate chairs on one side of the rectangular table where Annie sat on the end beside Lynda. One guy sat on the other side of the table beside Terra and two guys sat across from Lynda and Terra. This left Jack sitting on the end and one space was open between he and Annie.
Lynda smiled.
"Hey chica, we saved you a seat!" she waved me over catching everyone's attention. I inwardly groaned but smiled and moved over toward them. Jack immediately moved his back pack giving me a big smirk as I sat down yet I leaned my body toward Annie.
"Making new friends." I said lightly and Terra smirked.
"If you can call my dweeb of a brother and his little band of misfits friends." She said. Annie pointed to the blonde across from her and smirked.
"This cute man here is Paul." she replied before continuing to point to the pale, red head, and the olive-skinned biker boy. "That's Peter, Harry and-"
"And you've already met me. Jack." he said raising his hand to me. I bit my bottom lip and took his hand quickly.
"Kyra." I replied and moved my hands between my legs some. I didn't do too well in crowds. Jack turned and faced me with his body.
"So Annie says you're a journalism major." he said. I didn't think Annie remembered my major when I told her, but I nodded glancing up at him some, not wanting to fully face him.
"I am." I replied.
"Cool so you like to write and stuff?" he asked, and I shrugged some smiling politely.
"Yeah. I guess I do." I replied looking him over some. "What are you into?"
"Oh I like agriculture. I want to own my own property one day and just live off the land." he said. How would that make you money, I wonder. I just nodded again.
"Sounds like a good plan." I replied. I noticed two people, a boy and girl, were handing out fliers and they came to our table.
"Hey all. Next week we're hold Briar Ridge's yearly mud dance. Where we flood the soccer field a bit," the brunette girl explained mischievously, "it's to raise awareness for the Earth and polluting of the water."
Lynda and Annie looked at each other with big popping eyes, smiles on their faces.
"What all happens?" I asked.
"We get a bunch of students to just dance and play in the mud. It's fun and informative. We play some 70's and 80's music and take picture for our school newspaper. We'll be playing We're Far Enough From Heaven and a few other hits. You all should join." she said moving on to different tables.
"Oh we have to do it again!" Lynda said.
"We did it last year and it was so fun." Annie said.
"Oh you like to get dirty huh?" Paul teased and Peter nodded.
"It's a pretty cool gig. Gives me a reason to skip class." he said. Jack looked me over some.
"You gonna go?" he asked coolly and I finally looked him in the eyes. My lips parted to say no, but Annie beats me.
"Of course! It's college and I have promised her the full college experience." she said smirking at me.
"Oh the college experience? So getting drunk and fucking like some of these girls here." Terra teased which received some laughter from the group.
"Yeah why not. We should all go." Jack said looking at me again. "I think we'd have a lot of fun." he said, and I could hear the mild intention in his tone.
"Are ya'll coming to Charlie B's tonight?" Harry asked. Annie and Lynda looked at each other with smirks before looking at him.
"Yeah we'll be there." Annie replied. Charlie B's from I have seen on fliers is a college chill spot where people's bands played and there was karaoke night and poem readings. They had pool tables and limited drinking. Lynda looked at me.
"Kyra you gonna come?" she asked and now all eyes were on me and now I had the feeling that I didn't want to be really left out. I shrugged nonchalantly and nodded.
"Sure." I replied. I could see Annie smiling at me with pride. Jack gave a warm smile.
"Cool we'll meet up at 8?" he said.
Normal POV
It was the end of the day and Dr. Loomis was sitting with Michael in an empty room. He just sat in a chair, legs chained and hands cuffed behind his back. his hair was longer and some of his facial hair was seen beneath the strands. He was wearing an orange mask. Dr. Loomis still made attempts to speak to him and try to get a reply, but it was no use. Michael hadn't said a single word since that day.
"You know, a lot of the other staff believe you only spoke to get her here so you could attack her. They say you wanted to sever all ties you had with this world- with feeling human and she was your way to do it." he said. Michael just sat there looking through the doctor almost. The doctor took his glasses off and cleaned them some. "But you know what I think. I think you did all of that, because you missed her. At one point of your life you could hold her hand and smile at her and even though all of that was no longer something you could do, you tricked us all to get her here, so you could see her, even if you did act on your sexual impulses."
Michael continued to sit there, his hands were loose in his cuffs as if he was not fully present in the conversation. Dr. Loomis nodded.
"I saw her today at school. She is doing very well. Even though she will not say it, she seems to miss you even though you hurt her." he said and still he was met with silence. However, Michael did lift his head some to look at the ceiling lights. This gave Dr. Loomis a clear view of his eyes through his mask and it was plane and clear as day. Michael was sad, heartbroken, most likely because Kyra had stopped seeing him. Dr. Loomis quickly wrote his thoughts down in his journal and then closed it.
"How does that make you feel Michael? You can tell me." he said in a comforting tone. But Michael said nothing except look back at him, his eyes dark and steely again. They were now unreadable. Dr. Loomis only sighed.
Kyra' POV
After getting ready we headed over to Charlie B's. It was chill tonight. Some people were playing on their guitars on the stage at the front of the building. Terra got us a table and a pool table. Paul and Annie were eating fries and I just kept my back to the wall while I listened to the band play, my lips sipping on my coke. Some people were dancing on the floor but I stayed far from that.
"So what's your deal?" Jack's smooth voice draws my attention. I looked at him to see he was standing beside me, a cool smirk on his lips. I shook my head.
"No deal. What makes you think I have one? A deal?" I asked sounding completely stupid, and he let out a light smirk.
"I don't know, your friends don't seem like the girls you'd hang with." he said and I tilted my head.
"What girls should I hang with?" I asked and he shrugged.
"Good girls, maybe." he replied and I gave a light sneer at his comment before shrugging.
"I went to school with them. I don't really care to make new friends." I said looking back at the band.
"Ah so I guess I should stop trying then." he said and I looked back at him and then looked him over.
"And why would you ever want that with me?" I asked, my voice laced with skepticism. He shrugged.
"Why not? It's college, you're supposed to make friends with the people around you. I mean… I wouldn't mind if you don't mind." he said taking a step closer to me. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye feeling mildly tensed. I felt cornered some, my heart beginning to beat faster. I needed air.
"Um. Sure fine." I said quickly, putting my drink down before moving around him, my head ducked so no one would notice me. I hurried out the door and just inhaled some. It was dark now and I just panted gently running my fingers through my hair. Oh god, he must think I was a freak or something. But I couldn't do it. I've never had a guy friend before except for…
"Hey." I hear him calling and I turn and look to see Jack standing there with his hands in his pockets. "You alright? I say something wrong?" I stared at him for a moment before sighing and shaking my head.
"No. Just not used to a lot interaction with people." I said and he took a step closer, but kept his distance.
"I understand. College is definitely new for us both. If you couldn't tell I'm a freshman." he said and I was shocked for I wouldn't have guessed.
"You look older to be a freshman." I replied with a soft smile and he chuckled.
"Yeah, wait until you see me with a beard." he said and I gave soft hum.
"I like beards." I replied lowly and he tilted his head some.
"Well look at that, something we got in common." he said. I looked away some hiding my smile as it began to grow some.
"So what now?" I asked and he looked around some.
"Well. I can tell this kind of place isn't your style. You need a lift home. My truck isn't too far from here." he replied. I wasn't so sure about his offer and he raised his hands.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to try anything. We can even tell our friends where we're going so they know." he offered. That did sound like a safe thing to do, and I guess a drive couldn't hurt.
"Can we walk? My place isn't too far from here." I replied and he nodded.
"Sure. I don't mind walking under the moon light with a pretty girl. I'll be right back." he said and turned and headed back inside, I guess to tell our friends where we were going. I tilted my head though after he left.
"Pretty?" I asked as if never have heard that word before.