The ride to the high school was quiet halfway there. Wes never made anyone speak up, especially when he knew something was on their mind. Instead, he played music. Music was always a good way to communicate without direct conversation. Outside of the fact he knew Jane’s little brother was probably still in mourning over his own cousin, Wes was lost in his own thoughts of the night before.
There was a physical drain that came with the dream last night. Since he decided to become an English Major and take a break from athletics, Wes hadn’t felt this kind of strain in years. His body ached he felt detached from the world. When Hal had leaned in to give him a kiss this morning he almost didn’t feel their touch. This caused an embrace before their departure. Wes knew that he was still physically in the same world but he wanted to make extra sure that this was true.
Next to him, Jane’s little brother stared off into the distance. The boy didn’t speak much to Wes because he was closer to Wes’s cousin. But the two knew that this would have to be their situation until Jane’s little brother was able to pass his driver’s test. Looking over, the boy glanced at Wes. It seemed that he could tell that Wes was also deep in thought. Laying a hand on the volume on the stereo, the boy grasped Wes’s attention. Meeting eyes, Wes brought himself down to earth.
“Is the music too loud?” Wes asked gently. He didn’t want to upset his new company.
It took a moment but but the boy shook his head after turning the music down a few levels. “No. But I wanted to ask you something.” He said, the look in his eyes reflected deep concern.
“Of course. What is it?” Wes questioned. He could still feel the distortion between where he was physically and mentally where he had been mentally. Noting this in his head for later, he focused on the road. He was on earth. Physically. And mentally. This is how he had to be if he was to get him and Jane’s little brother to school.
“You don’t talk much…” The boy said, fumbling with his fingers. “It makes me feel like you’re observant but don’t say anything…” He paused, during this Wes glanced over at him before looking back at the road.
“I have a friend who is hurting….” He sighed. “I want to help her but I don’t know how. Is there any way I can look and see without her telling me?” He asked, the genuine concern washed over Wes as he spoke.
Taking in the question, Wes nodded. “There are ways. But the most important thing about helping anyone is to know whether or not they want help.” He said, allowing Jane’s cousin to think about the statement before continued. Giving a moment, Wes continued. “Does your friend want help?”
Only the hum of the background music filled the car as Jane’s little brother thought over the question. It wasn’t long before he sighed and replied, “She said that I couldn’t help her. That I wouldn’t understand it.”
This, Wes understood. He couldn’t tell Hal everything although he wish he could. Hoping that the situation was nothing like his own, Wes continued. “Did you ask her to explain it anyway?”
Another pause. The second to last stop light stood in front of them as Jane’s little brother thought long and hard for his friend. Wes could tell that he cared immensely for the girl, and hoped that he could help him even if it was small.
“She said I wouldn’t remember the conversation but I do.” Jane’s little brother thought more to himself rather than to Wes. “She’s super smart but she can’t stay awake in class. I turn in her paper sometimes…” Jane’s little brother smirked. “The other day the teacher was being rude so I took her to the library and she finished the assignment in five minutes tops…”
“She then told me that she’d let me in on her secret…” Jane’s little brother paused for a moment.
“But it wasn’t exactly a secret. I haven’t told anyone. But I feel like I can trust you with the secret since we don’t go to school together and you have no reason to tell anyone.”
“I won’t.” Wes reassured. Now parked where he normally would drop Jane’s little brother off.
“She said that she knew everything in the library. She’s my age and I wouldn’t doubt that she’s read all the book in our library but I find that hard to believe you know?” A panic arose in Jane’s little brother’s voice. “I’m concerned is all. She spoke to a friend she thought was there but it was only the two of us. Then she passed out. I took her to the nurse's office where she ended up sleeping the rest of the day. Then she got picked up sometime before school ended….”
“Hm.” This was an interesting situation Jane’s little brother had brought before him. “So your friend seems sleep deprived is what it sounds like.” The ache in Wes’s body pulsed as he said it. “But she sleeps a lot?”
“Well…” Jane’s little brother sighed. “She sleeps restlessly. She’s fallen asleep in class before and she’ll wake up screaming or gripping her desk. She could be crying… It all makes me feel bad for not knowing how to help her.” He frowned. “Even though we haven’t talked much I see that she’s in pain and I don’t want anyone to be in pain…” He paused then added. “At least, if they are in pain I don’t want them to go through that pain alone.” He smirked, checking the time on the car clock. They had a few more minutes to talk.
“Which brings me back to my first question.” Wes shrugged. “Do you think she wants help?”
Jane’s little brother frowned. “She didn’t say she didn’t. She said I couldn’t.”
“That doesn’t always mean that the help isn’t wanted. She doesn’t believe you could provide her with what she needs in order to help and that’s okay.” Wes smirked.
“But now that we’ve established that I can help her what do I do?” Jane’s little brother asked, messing with one of the extension ont his backpack.
“Your friend thinks that you won’t remember the conversation between you two when you speak of whatever it is…” Wes said, again thinking of Hal. “That’s where you start. You get her to talk to you. It won’t fix the situation but it’ll help you understand what she’s going through.”
Understanding, Jane’s little brother smiled. “You know, your cousin always said you were pretty amazing and I can second that. Thank you for taking me to school since he used to….” A glimpse of remorse flashed through his eyes but was quickly replaced with happiness. “It means a lot that you take the time out of your day to do this.”
“Your class starts right before mine so I don’t mind.” Wes smirked. “See you after you get out.”
Waving, Wes took off. It took a few cars to get out of the drop off zone before he could actually head to his own class. As he sat patiently in the line of cars, Wes felt a wave of anxiety and depression. Sucking in a breath he turned to look for the source.
Heading through the doors of the main entrance trudged a young girl, with a boy beside her. Taking a harder look, Wes could tell that the two were sibling even without looking at the two’s aura. Another wave of depression and pain slammed against Wes’s body. The feeling of distortion resurfaced from earlier. Suddenly, the image that seemed to be murky that night before was clear as crystals. Wes could see everything again. The fragments, her dream from the night before. Had it not been for the car horn that blared for him blocking traffic he might have lost himself in the middle of the parking lot.
That was her. The girl Jane’s little brother had spoken of. He didn’t know how he knew but it was clear to him. He had to save her not only for his own sake but for Jane’s little brother as well.
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