Chapter Five: The Size of a Cow
He couldn't speak.
Either that or he didn't want to – either or Nicole was frustrated. She sat on the end of his bed reading him something that went over in English that day. She didn't get anything as far as a smile – or a wince. Michael just sat there his eyes hollow, staring into nothingness. As Nicole put the book down she wrapped her arms around Michael and rested her head on his chest. Feeling his lungs expand and retract – at least she knew he was alive. And even if he couldn't speak she'd wait. She'd wait her whole life if she had to.
Dean Rivers watched Nicole from the glass window outside of the hospital room. It wasn't unusual for him to see two young students in love. He'd seen that before – he understood. What he didn't understand however, was how two people of two completely different races could be in love. And to him it was something completely foreign. And beautiful. He turned his head away from the glass to give the two students some privacy. He slipped his glasses onto his face and began to read the short novel he had brought with him.
"Michael", Nicole whispered into Michael's chest, "I'm sorry".
'Uh', Michael murmured.
Nicole looked up at Michael whose eyes were transfixed on hers – his mouth was open as if he wanted to speak. "Michael", Nicole whispered, "What did you say?" She held onto Michael's shoulders and peered into his eyes.
Michael rubbed his head with his right hand, "My head hurts", he looked at Nicole, "Hi".
"Michael!" Nicole gave him a hug, tears dripping from her eyes, "Hey".
"Where am I?" Michael asked, "This isn't the infirmary".
"No", Nicole shook her head, tears were falling from her eyes with more vigor, "It's not".
"Nicole", Michael held her face in his hands, "What's wrong?"
"This isn't the infirmary", Nicole cried harder now, her chest began trembling as she cried, "You're in the hospital Michael!" She poured her face into his shirt and cried into it, "And I'm so sorry".
Michael patted Nicole's head with his soft, warm hands, "It's okay Nicole", Michael looked out the window and saw Dean Rivers, "Did you tell him – about – you know. Me getting beat up?"
"No", Nicole shook her head and looked at him, "But you have to do it Michael! Or else you're gonna keep on getting hurt and…"
"I'm fine now aren't I?" Michael sounded firm, "Don't tell him anything".
"BUT YOU HAVE TO!" Nicole raised her voice, "Or else this stuff his just going to happen and It' can't happen anymore Michael! You can't get hurt anymore!" Nicole pounded her fists on Michael's chest.
"Hey", Michael grabbed Nicole's wrists with his hands, "Nicole. Nothing is going to happen to me. I can take care of myself okay?" He loosened his grip on Nicole and dropped them at her sides, "I promise".
"But what if…" Nicole's voice trailed off, "What if this whole thing is bigger than you really are?"
And for the first time in his life, Michael had nothing to say.
"Reese!' Zeke Richards came and sat down next to Logan as Logan was lying on the bench - sun tanning. Zeke sat next to Logan and grinned at him with a full toothed smile, "How ya doin?"
"Get off my bench Hitler", Logan replied coolly, "Now".
"I just wanted to tell you about this new club me and my friends are starting".
"Any Nazi experiment you've got going I don't want to be a part of", Logan whisked his hand, "Now go".
"There's gonna be drugs", Zeke's tone turned serious, "A lot of drugs".
"Whoopdee fucking doo", Logan rolled his eyes, "I told Dean I was gonna quit".
"Let's see how long that lasts", Zeke laughed and walked away, "Hey Reese! If you change my mind my room is room 407! That's four-zero…"
"SHUT UP ASS EYES!" Logan screamed and watched as Zeke walked away.
"I didn't know you two were friends", Quinn walked up to Logan, "Zeke seems kind of…"
"Backwards? And no. We're not friends", Logan slid over so Quinn sit down next to him, "He hurt Michael".
"Why?"
Logan sighed and closed his eyes, "He's racist".
"No one at PCA is racist".
"Quinn. Do you even hear yourself? A lot of people are still racist – and nothing is gonna change that", Logan took his sunglasses off, "Nothing".
"We could do something", Quinn chose her words carefully, "To make people change their minds".
"Do you think they care? Don't you think they already know what they're doing is wrong?"
"Then why do they do it?" Quinn became frustrated, "It doesn't make sense".
"PEOPLE DON'T MAKE SENSE. Okay Quinn?" Logan banged his head against the bench, "They don't".
"Well they should", Quinn screamed, "Because what happened to Michael wasn't right. And it doesn't make sense that someone as nice as him could get hurt like that. And I don't care what excuse you have BUT IT'S STILL NOT RIGHT".
Logan was silent.
"And if no one has told on Zeke already. I'll do it", she bit her bottom lip, "I'll tell Dean Rivers".
"Don't you think someone's already tried? And besides, what proof do you have?"
"I'll get some", Quinn nodded, "I know I will".
And she walked away.
"GOOD LUCK NANCY DREW!" Logan called after her, shook his head, put his sunglasses on and lay down on the bench.
He couldn't believe what he was doing, he couldn't believe after what he had told Quinn he, himself was going to Dean Rivers office. He was still in shock when he saw his reflection in the Dean's glass door as he sat outside waiting. I have to do this; Logan thought to himself, I know what he told me. Zeke needs to get kicked out of PCA – for good. Logan sat in the chair twiddling his thumbs and looking outside. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Zeke and a bunch of his friends walking around the campus wearing black sweatshirts. Losers was the first word that came to Logan's mind – and for that matter it really suited the situation.
"Mr. Reese?" Dean Rivers cocked to his head to one side as he saw Logan outside his office, waiting, "What are you doing here? It's almost midnight and way past curfew". Dean Rivers himself was dressed in his red flannel pajamas, "I was just picking up some records for Michael Barrett…"
"That's what I came to talk about", Logan stood up and looked up at Dean Rivers, "And it concerns Zeke Richards as well". Logan tried his hardest not to sound excusatory but it didn't work the way he planned, "HE'S THE REASON MICHAEL'S IN THE HOSPITAL!"
"Logan, the allegations against Mr. Richards are being examined but I'm afraid there's not enough evidence…" Dean Rivers looked at Logan, "Unless you have some then…"
"HE TOLD ME!" Logan screamed, "HOW MUCH MORE FUCKING EVIDENCE DO YOU NEED?"
"Language Mr. Reese".
"Bullshit. You and I both know Zeke has something to do with this", Logan sucked in his bottom lip, "You're only in it for the money".
"MR. REESE!"
"Zeke's never met a black person in his life until he moved here! He hates Michael Dean Rivers what other evidence do you need? What about the cocaine, huh? What about that. WHAT ABOUT TRYING TO FIND THE PERSON WHO HURT MICHAEL! Why aren't you doing your job Dean Rivers?"
Dean Rivers voice fell silent and then he spoke very softly, "I built this school with a foundation of trust – and – and not to be guilty unless proven. We have no evidence on Mr. Richards Logan, now I suggest…"
"Fuck you Dean Rivers", Logan spoke softly and calmly, "Fuck you".
"MR. RESSE do you want suspension?"
"No", Logan sighed, "But I want my roommate – I want my friend to be safe here. And he won't be as long as Zeke is".
"I CAN'T KICK A KID OUT OF HERE FOR NO REASON MR. REESE!" Dean Rivers screamed.
"HE'S A RACIST DEAN RIVERS!"
"Get out of here", Dean Rivers pointed at the door, "If you want to continue going to Pacific Coast Academy I suggest you walk out that door right now".
"But Dean…"
"Now", Dean Rivers pointed to the door.
Logan rolled his eyes and slammed the door behind him.