Kid woke up later than normal that day. And after hearing what happened, he was glad he did. He found his mom on the fire escape outside her window. It was obvious she was crying. Her shoulders were shaking violently and her sobs had immense power in them. Blink didn't know what to do. He couldn't control his own emotions, so how was he to calm his crying mother?

"Louis! Rise and shine, you don't wanna miss the first of school." His mom said. She had been saying that since the first grade. It was sort of an unofficial tradition. Not to upset her, he got out of bed. That was the only reason he got up when asked the first time. Well, there's that, the last day of school, or if there was anything exciting going on that day.

She sniffled and wiped her tears away looking at something in her hand. Blink didn't want to get too close to see what it was. That's when she threw it. Yeah. She just chucked it into the distance. "Lou," She said it so quiet he barely realized she'd spoken, "I know you're there." That was his cue to climb out to the fire escape. Sabrina wiped her eyes again, before hugging her son.

"What's wrong?" The tone in his voice was clearly in worry.

"Jimmy! Get up! You don't want to miss 7TH grade!" He heard mom call into the room across the hall. "Yes he does!" Blink said as he got out of bed. The gross taste of early morning filled his mouth and he closed it tight. Then he regretted sleeping with his eye patch on. His left eye had gotten red and puffy. Stupid fabric. In the mirror he examined his two eyes. The right one a deep blue color and was on the normal side of his face. His left eye however, a much lighter blue that was nearly white. Being blind in only one eye had its disadvantages, totally. Though, he thought his crippled friend Crutchy, had it worse.

"Your dad…You know my friend Jaime?" The two by now had gotten inside and were going to the kitchen table. Blink noticed the last key hook was vacant. And his father's coat was not placed on the coat hanger like always.

"What about Jaime? Ma, what's going on?" Mrs. Porter couldn't bring herself to look right at Kid. This frightened him a bit. Okay, a lot. "Well…I know this is a bad time, you turning 18 and what not next week…" He knew where this was going and, he wished it wasn't happening.

BEEP! He got another text from Race. This one read: Callie painted my nails yellow when I was sleeping! Not cool:( ! Blink laughed at Race's sister's prank. He had to reply: Yellow is your color dude! After getting dressed he got another message: Shut up! Pink is yours!

He didn't get to reply when Mush texted him: Sup?

Blink: Nail polish

Mush: Do I want to know?

Blink: It's better if you don't

Mush: :)

Sabrina took a sip of coffee that had been sitting on the table for who knows how long. "Louis…your dad is leaving…please don't blame it on yourself or Jimmy. Stewart," she used his first name; this was serious, "just doesn't love me anymore. He still cares about you two, don't think he doesn't. There was a big fight between us this morning as well..." Blink was processing this entirely but, it wasn't easy. With each sentence, each word, his heart sank deeper and deeper and his throat became dry and it was hard to breathe.

"Don't forget to eat breakfast this morning. You remember what happened last year?" Sabrina said as she put her earrings in. Of course he did. The first day of Junoir year, he didn't eat before going to school. He was starving by the time lunch came. That wasn't the only first day incident that happened. Freshman year, he rode his bike to school, and when he got to the bike rack at the end of the day, it was missing. Sophmore, well...let's just say that's whenhe got on the jock's bad side.

"So what's Jaime got to do with this?" He asked fighting back tears, to stay strong for his mother. The woman sighed heavily, then spoke, "She's part of the reason he doesn't love me anymore. Why my best friend? Of all people, why her?" her voice began to rise near that last part. You could tell both were ready to break down and cry. "Does Jimmy know?" Blink squeaked out. She shook her head. He got up from his seat to give his mom a hug; they needed one. That's when he noticed her ring was missing.

"Bye Ma!" Kid yelled behind his shoulder as he left the apartment. He put on his baseball cap and it some how readied himself for the day, even though, he'd have to take it off as soon as he got in the building.

Coming down the hallway, full speed on roller skates was the girl who just moved with her family a floor above. "Watch out!" She cried. And he pressed himself against the wall, watching her fly by, "Sorry!" She shouted as she made it to the elevator. The girl turned around to wave good bye as the doors closed. She was definatley the friendly type. Her red eyeshadow was a strange make-up choice but, everyone has their quirks. Blink adjusted his eye patch and made his way toward the stair case.

He stopped by Mush's house and to school the boys went.

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