Asleep

61. Asleep

🤍🖤🤍 Natalie 🤍🖤🤍

“Natalie!”

The door pounds, and it wakes me up. I startle at the loud sound and realize I had fallen asleep.

“Natalie, you in there?”

Fuck, it’s Dad.

I glance at my watch while rushing to the door. The school has been over for two hours. Dad hugs me as soon as I open the door and says, “You gave me a panic attack, Natalie.”

Then looks at my face, “Are you ok? What happened?”

“I... I fell asleep.”

“Kids these days... I have to lock the building, Sir. Would you mind taking this reunion somewhere else? “A man in his 60’s grumbles behind my father. I hadn’t realized he was standing there all along.

Fuck, this is so embarrassing.

Slept and left behind in school like a 5-year-old. I grab my stuff and walk out of school. Even the parking lot is empty.

“Would you tell me what happened?”

Jeez Dad, give me some time to think of a better excuse.

“Nothing… I just fell asleep.”

He stays quiet for a moment, then asks while driving, “Why have you been crying?”

I sigh.

My face. My stupid face. Swells like a balloon after shedding barely two tears.

“I was just upset.”

He nods and asks cautiously after a while, “Was it bad?”

I go quiet on his question. Was it?

Nothing Happened.

Why did I become so upset?

“I don’t know,” I mumble. I honestly don’t know.

He nods. “I was thinking… It’s been a while since you went to your therapist. I will book your appointment. Ok?”

“No Dad..” I say warily. I don’t like her very much. She will think I am some big baby pampered by my parents. Nothing has happened. I am not even sure why I became so distressed today.

“You have to take care of yourself, Natalie. We don’t have to wait for things to get worse to seek help. Ok?”

“I… I will see my school counselor.” I like her better. She doesn’t give me those cold, judgemental looks.

He sighs but agrees.

“I really don’t like that Miller boy… Jacob,” Dad says as we are near home.

My eyes widen.

“What did he do?” I ask.

“If he takes responsibility to take and bring you back home, he could have at least made sure that you came back home.”

I roll my eyes.

“Dad! He is not my babysitter! and he did not take my responsibility!! I am just tagging along.” I defend him.

“I had told him I will go home by myself.” I lie further because I know Dad wouldn’t change his opinion otherwise. Ever since this shit at school started, Dad didn’t like any boys around me, anyway.

Dad grumbles.

Then I realise he must have called me. I pull my phone out of my bag to see indeed a few messages and a missed call from him.

Jacob: ‘You alright? Just noticed you aren’t in the class.’

Jacob: ‘Had to head home early. Forgot to tell you sooner.’

He had sent me messages almost three hours ago. I smile and reply.

Me: That’s Ok! Sorry didn’t answer you sooner. I didn’t feel like attending, so I skipped.

As we reach home, I behold myself to receive some lame one-liner about skipping classes. Some of his jokes are funny, but sometimes these are so stupid it makes me chuckle, wondering why does he even bother?

“Did you know that a waffle on a California beach is called a Sandy Eggo?” He had tried this joke last evening.

“That… was the worst joke I have ever heard!”

“and here you are… laughing anyway…”

Once I reach home, I get busy with the usual bath, food, and more rest, than finally study routine. When I am done with my homework, I realize Jacob hasn’t replied, which is odd. We chat a lot these days.

Me: ‘Since you never replied, I thought I should tell you I skipped because I had a severe allergic reaction to that class syllabus.’

He doesn’t answer.

Did he get offended that I didn’t answer him any sooner this afternoon?

I shake my head. He is not West who would get angry at the smallest things.

I wonder what did West wants from me. I read his message again.

West: ‘Good to see you getting along with Jacob real well.’

It was obvious he came to talk to me in the closet. If I hadn’t panicked, what would he have said?

It’s funny, I am not even curious. I don’t want to do anything with him.

So I reply.

Me: Don’t ever try to text or approach me again West. I won’t take shit from you anymore. I am blocking this number.

To my surprise, he replies immediately.

West: Wait Nat! Don’t.

I shake my head and block him, anyway. I make a mental note to avoid unknown numbers, too. Just in case he still tries to text or call me.

Afterward, I call Jacob to ask if I could borrow notes from the last class I skipped. He still doesn’t answer.

What’s up with this guy?

I recall he used to ignore his phone when Coco was around.

Maybe he got a new pet?

The idea is thrilling, but I know that’s not possible. He had told me his parents didn’t like Coco around and didn’t want to do anything with pets.

I don some appropriate clothes and head to Jacob’s place to see him.