"Can I walk you somewhere?" Zac asked instantly once Doreen had set up the class changes for Mechelle.
Jumping at his sudden intrusion, Mechelle gave a weak smile. "I'd appreciate it." She said shyly, twin red patches staining her pale cheeks. "I still don't know my way around this place yet."
Jakob grinned. "Then Zac and I will both help you." He said stepping up as well.
Zac gave him and irritated glance, and even though Jakob couldn't see it, he could feel it burning the skin of his face.
Doreen was smiling knowingly. "Have a good time, girl." She said happily. "No one knows this place better then them."
Mechelle smiled tremulously, and nodded her head slowly. Carefully, she raised her elbow and Zac lead Jakob to it, before taking her other raised one.
After showing Mechelle around a little bit, and dropping her off with her parents, Zac and Jakob went down the small brick path that they traveled every day on.
"You did that on purpose man." Zac accused softly.
Jakob nodded, "Yep." He admitted, shrugging carelessly.
Turning, Zac made Jakob run into him; he pushed him back lightly and helped steady him. Jakob grabbed onto his arm for support, a tight line forming his mouth.
"Why'd you do it?" Zac asked turning away in aggravation.
"Because you would have picked her apart." He answered calmly. "And if you didn't at first, then you would have thought about it constantly. Until it got too much for you, and blurted out a stupid question that she doesn't need to be asked by you! Or anyone here!"
He took a breath. "This place is where people come to heal." He explained slowly. "It's what you've done, it's what everyone else has done, and it's what she'll do too!" Silence again, "No one bothered you while you were here, and no one is going to bother here while she is here as well!"
Anger arose in them both. Each not wanting to step down from their stances.
Finally, after what seemed like an hour, Zac let out a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. "I can't stop thinking about it." He confessed weakly. "It's like… every time I close my eyes, she's there. The car's there, there's beer cans everywhere…" His eyes shut involuntarily.
When the scene passed before him though, Zac's eyes flew open. "I can't shake this off. It's almost as if I'm already part of it!" He exclaimed loudly in frustration.
A warm hand landed on his shoulder. Strangely comforting him. It was their first main real fight. But it only seemed to have strengthened their friendship even more.
A loud honk from a minivan drove them from their thoughts.
Jakob smiled up at him, "Time for you to go, buddy."
Zac smiled wryly, "Yeah." He jerked his bag higher on his back, and raised a hand to him before shaking his hand. "See ya tomorrow, Jakob."
"That you will." He replied as Zac started walking off. "That you will."
