Him

The Breaking Point

I slowly look through the list in my hands. Principal Renner has done some serious stalking. He has crossed Hazel, Johnny, Jimmy, Fiona, Emma, and Maya out. Below that he has written Marisol, Riley and Jake with a side note saying ‘All she has left.’ I look once more and see Eli’s name has a note under it. It says ‘Not talking’ and ‘Angry at her.’

“Why or I guess how, do you have all this information about me?” I ask.

He sighs. “Observations.”

I cross my arms and stand up. With each step I take, I become angry. He has no right to be ‘stalking’ me.

“Listen Principal Renner and listen well. I do not need you ‘helping’ me or whatever you are trying to do. And as for your little ‘observations,’ they had better stop! You hear me? That is stalking and I don’t need you!” I yell.

He stands up and walks in front of me. “No, you listen. Your boyfriend has clearly manipulated you into believing everything is fine. But it’s not. Don’t be stupid!”

I lift my hand and in anger slap him! I feel my hand sting a bit but I don’t care. He deserves it. And if I get in trouble for it, I won’t even care! His eyes widen in shock as he touches his cheek where I hit him.

“I think you need to leave,” Principal Renner says pointing to the door.

“Gladly,” I walk past him and head out. I don’t slow down until I reach my locker. After putting my combination in, I open the door. I see a folded piece of paper fall out. I grab all my stuff and pick the note up. I shut my locker and lean up against it.

The note is folded once and without opening it, I could tell it didn’t say very much. I unfold it and read it slowly.

Katie,

Meet me outside on the bench. We need to talk.

Owen

I stare at the note for a while. Why would he want to meet me? Actually better question is, why would I want to meet him? He caused all the drama between my friends and me! I shouldn’t go meet him. He probably is going to tell me other things I have done wrong!

After about five minutes of arguing with myself I decide I will go see him. I will at least get a chance to yell at him! And he better prepare for it!

I pull my bag up higher on my shoulder and head out. It is really bright out and a few snowflakes fall onto my head. The snow is definitely coming early this year! I just hope it’s not too bad of a winter. I mean I love the winter, I just don’t want to have to make up days at school if we have to miss them.

I can see the bench from where I am standing. Owen is nowhere in sight. He better not have tricked me out here. I have to go see Jake. So he better hurry up.

I sit on the bench. It is freezing since the bench is made of concrete.

I’m giving Owen one minute to get here or I am leaving. I’m getting cold because of this stupid bench. I guess I can yell at him for that too. I’ll just keep adding things to the list.

“You came,” I hear a voice from behind me say. I turn my head and see Owen standing behind me. He comes and takes a seat next to me. I scoot a little away from him. This way he’ll know I’m mad at him still.

“I’m really glad you—“

“What do you want Owen?” I snap.

He looks shocked and a little hurt. “I um. I’m sorry for what I said.”

I roll my eyes at him.

“I know you probably don’t believe me but I am.”

“Owen. You hurt me worse than anyone. I understand the girls being mad at me, but you? I have forgiven you for too many things and you obviously don’t understand that you are the problem. Not me,” I explain.

“You’re right Katie. I just wish things—“

Owen is cut off by loud voices and cheering. I look passed him and see a group of people circled around what seems to be a fight. Being as far as I am, I can barely see the two fighting. Owen jumps up quickly with concern written all over his face. He runs towards the fight and I hurry after him. I need to see why he is so concerned.

The group slowly starts to break away. A few girls are following a guy, who I assume is the winner, away from a body laying still on the ground. As soon as Owen is there everyone runs away. I quickly make my way next to him and look down.

I gasp as tears fell down my eyes. It was Eli. He had been the one fighting. I drop to my knees and shake him lightly. “Eli. Wake up! Eli!”

I see Owen get his phone out and call for an ambulance.

I sit next to Eli and hold his hand. He is breathing but not moving. His eyes are shut and his nose and mouth are bleeding. He looks so helpless.

I soon hear an ambulance coming towards us. I refuse to move from my spot next to Eli. The paramedics come towards us with a gurney. They ask me to move so they can get Eli but I cannot. I am frozen in fear for Eli.

“Miss you need to move.”

I don’t budge. I feel a pair of arms wrap around my stomach. I fight a bit as they pull me away from Eli. I turn and look at Owen as he holds onto me. He pulls me closer into a hug. I bury my face into his chest and cry as the ambulance drives away.

“He’s going to be okay Katie,” Owen says as he strokes my hair.

“This is all m-my fault,” I cry out.

Owen pulls me away from him and looks at me. “This is not your fault! Don’t let yourself believe that.”

“B-but it is! H-he has b-been so mad at me! I p-pushed him over the edge,” I cry as I put my head on Owen. I look around and see a police car pull up. Behind it I see a guy standing there, watching me. It looks like Jake. I blink the tears away and pull away from Owen. I look passed the police car again and see nothing.

“Excuse me Miss. Can we talk to you?” One of the officers asks me.

I nod slowly and follow him as Owen is taken by the other officer. I watch as the officer pulls out a notepad and a pen. “Okay, I need you to tell me exactly what happened. Also I need you to tell me your relationship with the young man.”

“Well, he is my brother. I was talking to my friend on that bench over there,” I stop and point. “And then we heard loud voices and a few cheers. So Owen, my friend, jumped up and we ran towards the fight. But by the time we reached it everyone was already walking away and my brother was left lying on the ground.”

“Okay, did you see who he was fighting?”

“Yes, but I do not know who he was.”

“Okay. Thank you. I will have to check with your friend to see if he knows who the other fighter was. You are free to go,” He says as he walks towards Owen.

I look around. All I can here are sirens. I take a few steps and my vision starts to blur. I look forward and can see the lights flashing. It is a blur of reds and blues. “Owen!”

I feel myself hit the cold ground. Everything goes black.

-----------

“Eli are you okay?” I ask my brother. He is laying in the hospital bed still unconscious. I take a step closer to him and reach for his hand.

Maya grabs my hand. “Don’t you dare touch him. This is all your fault!”

She pushes me back and I fall into a chair. My parents walk in and look at me. “She’s right. This is your fault!”

I look to my right and see Owen. He looks right through me as he says, “You shouldn’t even be here Katie!”

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“Katie? Katie wake up!”

My eyes open and I pull myself up. I am out of breath as I look around. I recognize the room I am in quickly. I have been in it a billion times. Owen pulls me close to him. I rest my head on his shoulder.

“Why am I here?” I ask.

“You fainted after the officer questioned you. I brought you here because it was close and your parents thought it would be best for you to get calmed down before you went to see Eli,” He explains.

“Is this all my fault?” I ask thinking about my dream.

“No. It’s not your fault.”

Owen starts to lay down. I am pulled down with him because I have my head on his shoulder. I pull myself back up and look at the time. I was supposed to go see Jake at two. I’ll just stop by his house on my way to the hospital.

“Thank you Owen,” I say as I kiss his cheek and get up.

“You know I’d do anything for you Katie.”

I smile. “Well can you drive me to get my car?”

“No need. I had my dad follow me back to the school after I put you in here. It’s here.”

“Okay, well thank you again.”

I just cannot believe after all I have done, Owen is still here for me. I’m really glad I met up with him. Not just because I was able to help my brother, but because I was able to become friends with Owen again. I walk out of his room and down the stairs.

As soon as I unlock my car I step in. I pick up my phone and text Jake telling him I’ll be there soon. I quickly put my car in reverse and back out of the driveway. Since it’s only four the roads shouldn’t be that busy.

In no time I am at Jake’s house. I make sure to lock up my car. It’s not that I’m afraid of Jake’s neighborhood, it’s just that… Okay no. I am afraid of his neighborhood. I slowly walk to his door and knock.

The door opens and I see Danni. She actually looks pretty normal. She is wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. There are no visible bruises and she smiles. “Hi honey. Come in.”

“Thanks,” I say a little suspiciously.

“Jake’s in his room. You can go up.”

I nod and smile at her as I climb the stairs. Jakes door is shut and I decide not to just walk in. I knock twice and take a step back.

The door opens and I smile at Jake. “Hey I know I was supposed to be here at two but my brother got into a fight and now he is in the hospital so I’ve been waiting to go see—“

I am stopped by Jake grabbing onto my wrist and pulling me into his room. He slams the door and pushes me into it. “Why are you lying to me?”

“I’m not. Eli is really hurt.”

“I know that is true. But the whole ‘I’ve been waiting’ crap is a lie! You have been with Owen. I saw you two at the school today hugging.”

“You were spying on me?” I ask.

He grip on my wrist tightens even more and slams he it against the door. “I wouldn’t have to if I trusted you.”

"Let go of me!"

"No. Listen to me. You have to tell him you don't like him. Everything you had was a mistake. Do you understand me?"

I nod. There is no way I am getting away from him. His grip is too tight.

"Good." He lets go of my wrist and walks away.  A tear falls from my eye as I look at my wrist. It is red. There's definitely going to be a bruise. I pick up my keys that I had dropped and walk out of his room. I look back and watch as he gets onto his bed. I quickly go down the stairs and leave the house.

As soon as I reach my car I unlock it and get in. I drive to the hospital and sit in my car for a while.

I knew I shouldn’t have let Owen comfort me. What was I thinking? Jake is my boyfriend. I should have called him and told him what was happening. He would’ve came and helped me. He’s right, I guess he can’t trust me.