/ Surviving / a.i

Chapter 2

It was nearing the end of the day and I was in my favourite lesson, Art. Part of the reason I liked this lesson so much was because I really enjoyed being creative, but I like this lesson most because of my teacher, Mr. Hood.
He was the youngest teacher in the whole college, at just 19, but in my opinion the best. The fact he was so young gave him a larger understanding off teenagers, him being one himself. He was more of a friend, but that didn't mean anything to him, as he treated his students as friends.
"Alicia, fantastic" He spoke up in his adorable Australian accent.
"Thanks, sir" I laughed.
"Could you stay behind afterwards? I need help packing up considering it's my last week here"
My bottom lip pulled over my top one as I made a sad puppy dog face. It's true, I was sad that he was leaving, I knew whoever his replacement would be would either hate me or I'd hate her/him. Either way, hatred would be shared, and truth is, I just didn't want Calum to leave.
"Sure, because you're leaving me and that"
I knew he wasn't actually leaving me, he just had a bigger passion for music, but I couldn't help feeling slightly lost.
The bell rang to signal the end of the day and as everyone piled out the cold classroom I didn't budge. I stayed in my warm assigned seat smiling as I watched Calum hum some random song as he cleaned up.
"What are you smiling at ey?" He laughed
"You, eyy" I replied, mocking him
"Oh, fine, fine, whatever, I don't care"
"Stop acting like a 13 year old girl that's just hit puberty"
We both burst out in laughter at my comment.
"Still, I can't believe you're actually leaving, I mean I know it's 'cause you want to go further with your band and that but I'm going to be so alone in every Art lesson, you're like my only friend in a way"
"I have to Alicia, I'm sorry, you know if I had it my way you'd be coming with me"
"I know, I'm just going to miss you, you know"
"You sound like you're about to tear up" He giggled
"Oh Ha Ha. Hilarious. No but, I will miss you, especially in Art"
"You have PJ?"
"Don't be stupid, she's getting sick of me now let alone when you're not here, I'll never leave her side. She has her whole popular group of friends that sit and laugh at absolutely nothing all day and talk about the difference between a shirt and a top"
"Oh my gosh Michelle, a shirt is like the one you wear on Tuesdays, a top is what you wear of Fridays" Calum mocked, whilst whipping his imaginary hair and pretending to paint his nails.
"Literally! I couldn't cope! No, I can't cope, I'll be on my own all day everyday!"
"Alicia, you'll be fine"
I ignored him, although this conversation started as just a joke I began to overthink the facts. I would actually always be alone, and I don't think I could cope with that. I couldn't cope with constantly being trapped with my own thoughts, nobody to talk to, nobody to distract me from my thoughts. I'd have nobody, no friends, nothing.
My chest began to tighten and my palms became sweaty, I could hear Calum repeatedly saying my name asking if I was okay but my eyes were forced shut so tightly. I reached in my pocket for my inhaler, hoping it'd just be my asthma acting up again, although deep down I knew full well what it was. I was coming close to having a panic attack.
I took 2 quick puffs of my inhaler and I slowly started calming down.
"Alicia, are you okay?" Calum asked, worriedly
"Yeah, er, I'm fine just er, asthma I guess"
"You're panicking, aren't you? Because I'm leaving, you think you're gonna be on your own all the time"
"I will be.." Slight giggles escaped my lips as I understood how pathetic this all was.
It was silent for a moment. A moment that seemed like hours, like we were both desperate to say something but holding ourselves back, like the words were itching at our skin but couldn't fall out of our mouths. But, I had nothing to say, I felt like words should have been said but I didn't have any words to say. My mind was blank, but the moment was tense.
"Well, come with me" Calum said.
And it all came back to me, that's what I wanted to be said, that's what I wanted to hear, those four short words had the power to change my life if I'd just answer correctly...
"Okay"
...and I did.