Capítulo 4: chapter 4

Darren decided it was a better idea to come over later, that way we wouldn't be blackmailed into one of the cleaning crew.So we where sitting there in his dining room eating lunch with Jack and Ari. It was raining outside so apparently they'd cancelled Saturday footie practice and it was just before the winter game. So Ari was pissed off already before Jack started attempting to flirt with her.After all the moaning about having a headache the size of the moon it was a wonder he was able to recover so fast."So we where all sitting in a circle and they where spinning the bottle but it was square so it wasn't spinning properly and I took it and put it in a hole in a box of- no wait that sounded weird! Let me start over-" Jack rambled.Ari, after being still and unresponsive for almost half an hour now, suddenly spun round and turned to glare at him.Jack looked a little surprised."No, don't. I don't need to hear any more about the party you insist on pretending to remember!"I smiled slightly and chuckled.Darren ignored this and continued pouring half the contents of the gravy over on his mash potatoes.He seemed used to it, Jack obviously came over often enough for him to have found ways to ignore the incessant nattering going on. That made me a bit sad Maybe had I stuck around a bit longer I would have been the only one to be so comfortable around his family.But then again, it hadn't really been possible at the time.Had I stuck around with Darren during the time he was vaguely becoming aware of my sexuality the way he had been treating every one else would have turned on me. And I couldn't handle that, I couldn't handle being bullied.Yeah. Darren was a bit of a bully back then. Well... He was the bully. Our school didn't have many people like that, not back then anyways. It used to be a private school but turned public four years ago.So how did I become friends with him?Well we'd been friends since primary school, I'd spilled fruit juice on his shirt and given him mine. All I really remember though is complementing him on something or other.And suddenly we where hanging out, it eventually became as natural as breathing air.I obviously had no idea that what he was doing was wrong. I was mostly confused because for my age I had been a pretty small kid, and when he beat up the smaller kids but was so nice to me I thought those kids must have deserved it.It was embarrassing to think now, that I had thought something so stupid, that they had deserved it.I even remember glaring at a couple of the kids the day after for offending my friend. I remember Darren laughing and I didn't get why.He was always nice to me, sometimes a bit cold, he ignored me if he got mad at me and hated talking about why, but otherwise he was an amazing friend.When I was little I had like no money, I still don't. But he would still find ways to have fun, even if they where a little daring.I would just follow him everywhere and do whatever he told me to do. Well, we stopped hanging out during high school. We rarely contacted.I mean.There where a few nasty texts sent from him, but since I don't really understand why I've never really been able to get mad at him for them.Besides, I didn't want to loose the only somewhat steady friend I'd ever had, and I felt like if I brought it up he would suddenly return to how he was and leave me.I sound pathetic when I say that but it was simply the truth."Oh Jack!" Darren started."Yeah?" Jack nodded."I almost forgot to ask you. Who was the girl who's party we went to?"Am-"Just as he was about to reply Sandra jumped into the kitchen screeching loudly as she went."You guys are up on Twitter! You look adorbs! Could I ask for a better shot?!"I scowled but made sure not to face it at anyone. I didn't like what she had does but I still don't want to upset her.I stared oddly at the scene before me.I was surprised.Just as she took a seat at the table calm collected yet snarky Ari stood up and threw her chair out, got up and started to leave the room.Sandra got up too."Ari." She said loudly.Ari stopped but didn't turn.Me Jack and Darren all stared at them oddly.Ari had her head bowing slightly leaning on the door. She seemed conflicted."Don't you d-"Before she could finish her sentence Ari was gone, the door slammed shut and her feat pattering away back up the stairs.There was something painfully nostalgic about the scene but I couldn't quite put my finger on it, so I just passed it off as dejavu."What was that about?" Jack asked Darren.Darren hadn't the time to respond before Sandra butted in."None of your business." She snapped.I glanced at Darren. He seemed pretty unconcerned about the whole scene so I just ignored it. If their brother thought it was normal it wasn't my place to stick my nose into it."So what was her name?" I asked Jack.Darren nodded signalling for him to continue."Amy... I think it was that though I might need to check." "Well then check?" Darren asked, he looked impatient.Jack flicked through his phone and I set about collecting in the dirty dishes. Jack looked up at me just once with a confused expression but seemed to pass it off."No her name was Mae sorry. Mae Andorran." "Nice name." I commented as I slipped the dirty dishes into the sink and sat back down in my seat."Yeah what'd you want it for?"Darren shrugged. "Mylo left his id card at the house we need to go get it back before school starts or the girl is grounded for all the broken windows around her house." He said, chuckling lightly.Jack nodded. "Yeah." He turned to me. "Any idea where you could have lost it?"I shook my head. Lie.He sighed. "Well where do you remember having it last."My lips remained shut as he stared at me and then to Darren and back.