Matt bumped into Slyder. He always tried to talk to him; understanding him better. He stood an inch taller, his gray eyes soft, peaceful and assuring.
"Matt." He bumped his shoulder as they did a small handshake. They strolled in the abandoned hallway, as Matt steadied himself to prepare for what was coming.
"Thing's been rough without you Matt. Do you know how awkward it is being between all of this?" Slyder asked.
Matt didn't comply. He could care less of other's problems; just do what they did best and ignore him.
"We're trying to resemble the Cybersquad. Don't you remember the good old days?" Slyder asked. This infuriated Matt; the aching nostalgia.
"Yeah I did. But Slyder, the past is long gone. We're almost adults; time to face reality. I mean, Inez is a step ahead." He kicked a ball of paper.
"Matt, I'd love to know what's been eating you lately. Maybe we can get you and Inez to talk together. She really has a lot to say." Slyder assured. Matt always believed Slyder was out for the better for Matt. Even in the rocky beginning when they met he was jealous that Inez liked him more than him; he earned his respect.
"It's not as easy as that Slyder. It's gonna take a lot for me to talk to Inez again. You know? She's the main reason my heart is broken. Don't tell her this."
/
The day progressed slowly, as Matt dragged through two more classes. Jackie wasn't in the Physics with him, nor Slyder in European History. But he ran into Inez, who he avoided completely. Retreating to the lunchroom afterwards, he was loss of appetite and just sat at a table alone. Slyder appeared again, but behind him was Jackie. Matt didn't have a specific grudge against her; but the fact she took Inez side when he needed her the most.
Matt said nothing.
"Matt, talk to us, please." Jackie insisted. Matt had no patience or empathy to hear her out. But deep down, he knew he cared.
"I think I should go." Matt grimaced as he started to get up from his seat.
Then Slyder pushed him back down aggressively. Not meaning to stir attention, a section of the lunchroom on their side glanced back. Matt glanced at him, a twinge of anger sparking, wanting to punch him until he saw the menacing look on Slyder face.
"Sit. Down. Matt." He said slowly and demandingly. Matt didn't move, folding his arms.
"Do you realize you're causing more harm to yourself than good? I mean, we made mistakes Matt. But, we didn't mean to betray you. We...we were told to stay away from you. And, when we realize tha-"
"Hold on." Matt raised his voice. "You were told to stay away from me?"
Jackie fixed her bowtie, glancing at Slyder. He wore a blank face, yet his grey eyes seem darker; almost a charcoal color.
"Things change Matt, you're right. A lot of things did. I guess that's why you don't recall what happened after middle-school. About Cyberspace." Slyder said. Matt stood up. He had that awful stomach feeling like he didn't want to hear something. Maybe it was the atmosphere in the lunchroom.
"Not here." He held his ground as he was short of breath as Slyder nodded to the hallway. Jackie followed beside him.
"I don't remember anything after we left middle-school. All I remember was coming to highschool and you all shunning me. I tried talking to you, but you all ignored me or brushed me off. I realized it was futile." Matt narrowed his eyes.
"Matt..." Jackie tried.
"Matt, you don't remember anything ?" Slyder raised a brow. Matt snarled.
"Why, do I seem like a liar?" He retorted.
"No, you're right...I guess you really do have amnesia. But Matt, I'd tell you what happened that last day...and how it connects to not being able to go back to the Cyberworld. Just not here. And,...Inez needs to be here too." Slyder explained. Shortly before Matt could debate, the bell rang ending lunch. The three went seperate ways, not seen until the end of the day. At least,...not Inez.
The bell concluded the neverending day of school. Matt walked up to the AP English Composition teacher Ms. Harton taking the assignment on the way out. But as he turned to go to the locker, he bumped into someone.
"S'rry" He glanced down, steadying the girl before stepping aside. And she turned around.
"Matt?" Inez called. He froze, unable to move. He wanted to run, he wanted to turn the corner and escape the school. He couldn't utter a word. He slowly turned to meet her eyes. Instinctively, they harden.
"Please Matt...just hear me out." Inez insisted, trying to get past Matt's harsh mask.
"Why? Why should I give you a second chance?" Matt snarled.
"Because, I should be the one to tell you why it's been like this. And it shouldn't be. Matt, you were a hardheaded friend, but you were my best friend." She jabbed him in the chest with her finger; emphasizing the importance. With every jab, Matt's emotions became more confused. It only made him angrier. Realizing this, he also realized how much of an angry person he was. The doctors were concerned of his temper, conflicting with the migranes he's been havng and the abnormal blood pressure. But he could never cease the hot, burning rage inside him.
"Sorry,...I...just can't." He hesitated as he took off with a shoulder shrug. He turned his back on her. He could feel the hurt in her eyes as she watched him go. This was painful indeed.
/
Matt had gone to his locker to drop off his books; except for the one for his Statistics class he needed for homework help. He noticed something was off. That Slyder and the others weren't hanging out by the class like usual, and he had that terrible feeling of someone following him. He brushed this off and retrieved his bike from the front of the campus and walking towards the street. He got on the bike, realizing someone in a car was following right behind him. And before he knew it; it was a high speed chase.
Matt pedalled, cutting through alleys and zooming downhills. The car didn't stop pursuing him; he had to get it off his back. Matt cut through an underground tunnel and took the biggest risk of cutting through the moving cars at high speed; anything could send him flying and face first on the asphalt. He could see the car stuck in the traffic; honking and shouting from all around. Matt made it to the end of the tunnel and took a shortcut home.
He didn't know who it was following him. But they were not friendly people. He nearly was hit by cars and it made him think second of riding his bike to school anymore. He made it to his neighborhood, a few block away from home when he noticed it was too late to realize it still wasn't safe.
A hard and heavy piece of metal knocked him off his bike and sent him flying a few feet; thankfully landing on the grass. He shook his head; the migranes were kicking in. He growled as he looked up and saw he was surrounded by three guys. They were from school. He didn't recognize them right away, but he remembered telling them off infront of their varsity football teammates. They weren't happy after that.
"Get up." They sneered as one of them kicked him in the ribs. Matt didn't want to get up. He wanted to play dead and make them go away. But he obeyed. Before he could get a grasp of what was happening, he was hit with another pound to the jaw; a flash of white blinding him. He stumbled back, feeling his face hot and aching. He couldn't grasp a good visual on the bullies; but he recognized their voices.
"We're going to be good friends this year, Matthew." A guy, who Matt assumed was the leader had a menacing and supernatural ring, though familiar. He lifted Matt by the collar and tugged his hair. Matt gritted his teeth and bit his lip until it was bleeding. The leader threw him on the sidewalk roughly; which had dislocated his shoulder. Matt roared in agony as he clutched his injured shoulder. The bullies dispersed as he was left to suffer the pain all alone.
It's worse than I imagined.
Matt, stared at the road; not wanting to move because all it did was cause him pain. His head was pounding with migranes; his heart was racing, and he felt sore and achy all over. He waited until the black spots took over his vision and heard distant voices calling his name, touching him.