Page 51 of Unmasking You

Ten Years Ago

What the fuck is happening?

I was called by the teacher to discuss a project I’m working on. I spent my time watching the clock, hoping the woman would speed up and let me go.

I want to rush back, because if I’m there Dan and the others won’t go overboard, even if lately he’s become obsessed with Jamie.

I’ve watched him lose weight and the dark circles under his eyes grow bigger, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it unless I want to face my father’s wrath.

So many times I thought of sending him a message and telling him to hang on, that school would be only a memory soon. But my fear of Jamie reaching out to me like he already does, and having Dan thinking I’m plotting against him, stops me every time I take my phone out.

What I do, though, is be there, always, so that if the group does try to go too far I can stop them.

I glance at my watch again, and I want to scream at Mrs Watson to be quicker, faster, so that I can protect the boy I like.

He would never believe me. And probably in his eyes I’m as bad as them. Maybe even worse because I turned my back on him without a word. I built a wall between us that Jamie has tried to knock down, more times than I would have if I was in his place.

I wish neither of us was in the situation we’re in. I wish it could still be me and him, close together and finally having that kiss I’ve longed for since the beginning.

“Mr Campbell, thank you for your time.”

“Thank you Mrs Watson. I’ll be going, then.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

I walk out, wishing I could run, and that’s what I do when I close the door behind my back.

I’m breathless when I reach the gym, and uneasiness fills me when I don’t find anyone there. I thought I was still on time. I rush to the changing room, and when I open the door…

“We were just joking, but he went mad. We were just trying to stop him after he elbowed Dan in the face.”

“What were you doing to him?” I shout, and I hate myself when my voice fails me.

“Nothing,” Dan says from the floor where he’s still sitting pretending to be injured.

“Jamie,” I say. And then close to his ear, I whisper, “Please come back to me.” Please wake up.

Jamie’s eyes, though, remain stubbornly closed.

“I’m going to kill you if you’ve done something to him,” I say turning to Dan and the others.

“Mr Campbell, calm down,” Mr Thompson says, trying to calm everyone down.

But how can I be calm when Jamie’s not responding?

“Go and call the nurse,” he tells me.

I watch Mr Thompson bend down and call Jamie as well, and I cry harder when he opens his eyes.

I rush out of the room, and run with everything I have in me because I want to be with him.

“Miss Brown, there’s been an incident at the gym, in the changing room. Please come.”

I wait there, watching as she collects what she needs. I wish she was faster.

“What happened?” she asks while we walk, too slow for my liking towards the changing room.

“I’m not sure.” I don’t want to cause Jamie any problems if he really was the one punching Dan in the face. I should have been the one doing it. Over and over again.

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