In Memory of Reed Fray

Fourteen

“Skylar wake up or you’ll be late for school. And so will your sister.”

Skylar popped one eye open and groaned. He hadn’t been this tired his entire life. After the night at the hospital and the argument with Viola, he had headed out to cool off but then he remembered that they had taken Tori’s car and she was too pissed at him so he had to walk home. Why did the beating up of Toby Dorscher have to happen on a school day?

Hopping into the shower and taking it in record time, he got dress quickly. He was only wearing denim jeans and a white plain shirt and topped it off with his leather jacket and then finished it off with his motorcycle boots. Grabbing his backpack and keys, he rushed downstairs. His entire family was eating breakfast, well, Austin wasn’t here but you get the picture.

“Morning,” he muttered before sitting down beside Willow. He grabbed two pancakes, downed it with syrup and then added bacon. Oliver handed him his glass of orange juice and he ate his breakfast like a wolf. He didn’t have dinner last night.

“You’re awfully hungry,” Barry noted.

He looked at his Mom and shrugged, “Didn’t have the chance to grab dinner last night.”

“Where were you last night?” Oliver asked.

Skylar turned to his father, “A classmate was beaten down. We had to take him to the hospital. It was pretty bad.”

“Explains why you were MIA yesterday even when you’re bike was parked at the lot,” Willow stated, “But since you did a good deed, I’m not mad at you.”

“You can never be mad at me,” he replied with a grin, “But since my bike’s not here. Dad can I take the other car?”

The other car meant the car Reed and him shared. He hasn’t used it since Tori and him picked up Viola and that felt like eons ago. Oliver looked at him, “I don’t see why you have to ask permission for me. It’s your car.”

Honestly, it never felt like his car. When their parents bought them a car to share, Skylar wasn’t into the whole driving thing. He preferred a bike but his parents refused to get him one. So he worked hours at a diner sophomore year to buy himself a bike. And when he finally got one, Reed was the one who normally used the car so it was like his property.

Skylar just shrugged, finished his breakfast, kissed his Mom and Sophia goodbye and sauntered out, Willow hot on his heels. Revving the engine once his sister shut the door, he sighed and turned to her, “You’re gonna have to drive yourself home because I have to take the bike.”

Willow’s eyes widened, “No!”

It wasn’t that Willow was incapable of driving. It’s just that she gets confused with all the signals and directions that she’ll probably end up lost. Willow was beautiful and smart but they did say that God didn’t make anyone that perfect, “You can follow me so you wouldn’t get lost.”

“But what if I get too distracted and I don’t see you turn and I’ll get lost?”

“Willow,” Skylar said patiently, “You are going to drive yourself home. No buts or anything.”

The moment they arrived at school, Skylar saw Tori. He quickly tried to find a parking spot but it was already jam-packed and the one they got was the one near the gate and they had to walk to the building so he never got to Tori, “What’s with you and Tori?”

Skylar turned his attention to Willow who looked preppy and sweet in her floral dress and cream colored sandals with her hair plaited down, “Nothing. I just wanted to ask if she has the homework I can copy.”

“Oh c’mon, Sky! It’s as if we don’t go to the same school. I’ve been hearing that you two had been spending some time together and I even see you two together!” she said, shaking her head and stopping. Skylar stopped in front of her and he felt weird about the bright grin on his sister’s face, “Tori is amazing. If you guys are going out, you totally don’t have to hide it!”

“We’re not going out,” Skylar said quickly but the thought of going out with her made him rethink. It wouldn’t be that bad to take her out on a date. Wait, what was he thinking?

“Quick to defend,” Willow mused, a smirk on her face, “So maybe you’re not going out. Yet. Bye big brother!”

She then sauntered off and joined her friends and left Skylar looking dumbfounded. Why did Willow assume that there was a possibility when it came to him and Tori. Obviously, it was a recipe for disaster. They fought like an old married couple.

He groaned.

He really had to stop thinking of him and Tori being in a relationship of some sorts. Maybe they were friends and shared secrets but him and Tori? Nope. Certainly not gonna happen. Although he has to admit she’s really cute. Especially when she curses in her language and the way her nose scrunches up when she laughs.

His thoughts were broken when he heard the roar of the ambulance. He watched as it rushed to the spot where parents would pick up their kids, usually freshmen and sophomores who didn’t have a car but had an overly protective parent. He watched as a bunch of student helped the medics carry the stretcher. He couldn’t see who it was but he felt his stomach drop. Could it be another victim?

“Mr. Fray!”

Skylar turned to the voice, “Mr. Carson.”

“Hello, good morning,” the counsellor greeted enthusiastically and then his eyes drifted to the scene, “Oh dear.”

“Oh dear is certainly right,” Skylar mumbled and he thought that Mr. Carson would excuse himself to see the scene but the ambulance had already went away and the students had disperse to do some last minute gossips or stops at their lockers or make outs.

“I’ll find out once I get inside,” Mr. Carson said, “I’ve been informed with what happened to Mr. Dorscher. Did you know about that? Said the kid was beaten up. I don’t know what’s going on with this school. First you brother and now a beat up. It’s a mess.”

Skylar didn’t respond. He didn’t even know what to say. Mr. Carson sensed his discomfort and so he cleared his throat, “I better go. See what’s up. You should come in too, Mr. Fray. Or else you’ll be late.”

After his conversation with Mr. Carson, the day went by pretty fast. Willow had told him that she had to practice with her club so she’ll have to come home late and Skylar didn’t mind. He had to check with Mrs. Dornan. She was so close to telling him but David had come and reminded her that it was supposed to be closing time.

“Mrs. Dornan,” Skylar began once he was in front of the desk of the librarian. He didn’t even bother to look at Mrs. Dornan. He had a stack of yearbooks in his hands and he could barely see where he was going.

“Ah, Mr. Fray.”

Skylar dropped the books on the table and stared at Mr. Carson, “Where’s Mrs. Dornan?”

The counsellor flashed him a sad smile, “She was the one brought in the ambulance. They said she had an accident over at the stairs. Poor lady, already old and now has to suffer broken bones.”

Skylar could barely hear the next words he said. He couldn’t believe it. He was so close to finding out the truth and this happens. He stared at Mr. Carson. He looked so clean up, like one of those corporate men rather than a shabby guidance counsellor. When Mr. Carson began rummaging through his book bag, Skylar furrowed his eyebrows. He couldn’t remember the counsellor carrying his book bag earlier when they talked.

“Could I help you with anything?” Mr. Carson asked.

Skylar shook his head. What could Mr. Carson have helped her when he was new here in school too, “Nothing really. I was just, interested in Mrs. Dornan’s stories about the past students here.”

“I could help you.”

Skylar narrowed his eyes, “You’re new here, Mr. Carson. I doubt you’d know the things that went on in the past.”

Mr. Carson didn’t say anything. Skylar watched as his jaw clenched. He seemed to have offended him. But then he smiled and chuckled, “You’re probably right. I was just being helpful, really.”

“I better just go then,” Skylar muttered and then went back to placing the yearbooks to where he got them. He had to go see Mrs. Dornan. He was so close.

He opened the yearbook where Mrs. Dornan had shown him Elena Morgan. He read everything and didn’t learn anything. Mrs. Dornan had told him everything already. He sighed and then when he flipped to the next page, he was surprise. The guy looked the same as Elena except he was a guy but their features were almost the same.

Elliot Morgan.

Where had he read the name before? He read the information about Elliot and realized that he was Elena’s twin brother. He was protective and easy to get along with but he wasn’t as popular as his sister but it looked like he didn’t seem to mind. Well, that was what was stated. Was this what Mrs. Dornan was going to tell him? That Elena had a brother? But what was his connection with everything?

“Mr. Fray? You’re still here.”

He looked up and met Mr. Carson’s green eyes, “I was just scanning these.”

His gaze flickered to the open page, “Elliot Morgan.”

His tone almost seemed to imply that he knew him. Skylar stared at him. Were there possibilities that it was Mr. Carson? He was new here, arrived together with Toby and Viola. But the counsellor was so compassionate, so concerned with every student in Benjamin High that it couldn’t be possible.

“Look, I’m about to close down, Mr. Fray.”

Skylar nodded and placed the yearbook with the others. He bid goodbye and exited the library. Willow hasn’t texted him yet so he was pretty sure she was still busy practicing. Now he didn’t know how to kill the time. He walked the deserted halls of Benjamin High, his frustrating getting the best of him.

How was it when he was so close to finding out something, this happens? Mrs. Dornan gets an accident. Although there was something nagging inside his head. What if the accident was on purpose? What if someone knew what he was doing so they were trying to delay him? But who would do it? The three of them were the only ones who knew.

He turned to the right and saw Tori. He didn’t want to approach her; she was probably still pissed at him. But he couldn’t help himself. He had grown so attached to Tori the past months. She was standing in front of her locker and as he neared her, he realized that she was frozen in shock, mouth agape.

“Hey Tori, look, about yesterday-,” he stopped talking when he realized she was shaking, “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t say anything. She didn’t even seem to hear him. Skylar wanted to shake her to bring some senses into her but he didn’t want to risk surprising her and getting hit on the head. Tori had the uncanny ability to be violent. But right now, she seemed frozen in fear. He noticed that a piece of paper was in her trembling hands. Whatever it was, the note was the reason of her paralyzing fear.

Stay away from her.

“Please don’t tell me it’s what I think it is,” she said pleadingly, her eyes reflecting what she felt, “I am not that kind of girl.”

“I’m not gonna let anything happen to you,” Skylar whispered, holding both of her hands in his to stop the trembling, “I can promise you that.”

He then pulled her in his arms. He didn’t even know why he did that but his gut was telling him that it was the right thing. Even if her tears were soaking through his shirt, even if he had just heard her blow her nose on it, even when three months ago, he wouldn’t be caught dead in a mile radius with Tori Garcia, none of that mattered anymore. All that mattered right now was her and with her in his arms, for the first time in forever, he felt like everything was gonna be okay.