Chapter four: new traditions

Thursday (8 22)

The next morning I woke up with new found energy. I was excited for the day for once. Not only did I get to go out today but, I also had one less day to stay here. I quickly got ready and made my bed. I was done and ready before Nurse Harrison arrived with breakfast.

"Looks like someone's in a good mood." He chuckled as he sat the try down.

"You lied to me the other day when I asked you if you knew."

"Well duh. I wasn't about to steal Dr. Perez's news. So what option did you choose?"

"Stay here for the week." I said through a mouth full of pancakes.

"I'll make sure you have stuff to do. You're going to be given free roam of the campus.." I nodded my head and finished my breakfast and took my medicine.

"What are you all smiley for?." Ezra handed me the hot chocolate as I hoped out of the truck.

"Because I have reasons to be!" We walked over to the ledge where Aven and Ollie were working again.

"Why's that?"

"Because I get to go ho- have ice cream today!" I quickly corrected myself.

"Nah man there's something else you're not telling us." Ezra said looking at me suspiciously.

"I won't be here next week. That's the only other thing I can think of."

"How come?" Parker sat on the ledge and kicked her legs.

"Reasons."

"That's very specific."

"Maybe I don't want to talk about it." I looked at the ground and scuffed my shoe on the gravel.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Ezra put his hand on my shoulder I looked up and saw him give Parker a look. She threw up her hands and shrugged her shoulders like she didn't know what she did wrong. Ollie and Aven packed up their stuff and we made our way to class. I was excited about being evaluated but at the same time dread loomed over me like a giant shadow. I couldn't help but feel like if they found out they would leave. So I had to keep it a secret at all costs. Especially if they found out about him.

"How far did you guys get with your projects?" I asked breaking the silence.

"I'm done with mine. I stayed up late last night getting it done." Parker leaned against the wall as we waited for Mr.Lancaster.

"I'm done with mine too. I was done with it the same day." Ezra boasted.

"Same. I got mine done yesterday."

"Are guys going to summer salt? My church is advertising it already." Parker held out her phone to us.

"Depends if I have a job or not. I sent  in my application." Ezra said hopefully.

"That's still my plan."

"What's summer salt?"

"It's a Christian youth camp. My youth group and Ollie's youth group get together and we go to the beach for two weeks. We do bible lessons and spread out teachings to those who are still unsure and we do baptisms in the ocean. On the last day we get permission by the park rangers to hold a bonfire on the beach and rosy marshmallows and hang out with friends. During the two weeks do different team building activities." Parker explained as Mr. Lancaster let us in.

"It's a lot of fun. Each year they do different activities and most people return the next year." Ezra sat down and scrolled through his phone. He showed me his screen. It was the three of them playing on the beach. Ezra's legs were buried  in the sand and it looked like he had a fish tail. Parker was looking at the camera smiling while lining the tail with shells and Ollie held the phone at an angle to get his face and part of his body in the picture.

"That was from last year."

"You got the absolute worst sun burn." Parker laughed as she pointed at Ezra.

"Yea and Ollie thought it was a good idea to slap it so I replace his soap with the blue dye." Parker and Ezra began to crack up again like the first day of school.

"Here we go again." He sighed and shock his head.

"Sounds fun. Though I'm not religious."

"It's okay. The four of us can go together on our own trip!"

"Have you ever been to the beach before?" Ezra asked as he put his phone away.

"Yes. With my mom. It was too cold to go swimming and it was only a day trip."

"So you've never been for like a week?"

"No just the once. I barely remember it."

"We should totally take you!" Parker's eyes lit up with excitement.

The day was spent talking about the beach and other fun memories. I felt left out because I couldn't talk about much. Ezra tried to loop me in but I couldn't say much. The only thing I remember is blue bay and weekend visits to my moms house. But hopefully that would change! The day went by slowly and it felt like ages would pass before the bell rang  for school to let out. When it rang I didn't waste anytime getting to the meet up spot. Ollie and Ezra were already there and Parker wasn't far behind me.

"Before we go do I need to take anyone home after ice cream?" Ezra asked.

"Nope!" Parker said as she shook her head.

"No. I have a ride."

"Obliviously I'm riding home with you." Ollie said.

"Next question, everyone cool with Micah riding front and with the hood down?" They both agreed. We threw our bags in the trunk and loaded up in the car. He started the car and pressed a button. The roof started to collapse as he filled out of the parking lot. Parker leaned forward and plugged her phone into the stereo and played music.

Joy bubbled in my chest as the music made my bones vibrate. This was the best thing ever! The loud music and the wind in my hair! A big smile crept across my face as we picked up speed. Parker tapped her fingers against my seat along with the song. Ollie looked out the window and listened to the music.

"Have you ever been in a convertible?" Ezra asked over the loud music.

"No. This is my first time hanging out with friends." I smiled and stuck my hand out the window.

"Is this your first time for a lot of things?"

"Yea!" The question didn't register in my head. I looked at him and he had a soft smile across his lips. It didn't take long until we got to a small shop. The outside was brightly colored and had a giant ice cream cone on the the roof. A bell ringed as we entered the little shop. Inside was cold. A long display case lined on side of the shop and two tables with four chairs each took up the other side of the shop.

"Welcome to Ice Dog  Creamery! What you can enjoy you dogs can to!" A young girl cheered from behind the display case.

"Alright guys, pick what you want. It's on me!" Ezra said letting us pass him. There were so many options! I wasn't sure which one to get. They all had crazy names and were vibrantly colored. I looked over and saw Ollie point to an ice cream and the girl scooped it into a cone for him. I stoped in front of an ice cream that was a nice mix of pink and purple with a white swirl in the middle. It was called raspberry vanilla swirl.

"Can I have this one?" I asked the girl as she walked over to me.

"Waffle cone or sugar cone?" She asked pointing to the two types.

"Waffle."

"Alrighty!" She put several large scoops in the cone. I thought it would fall out! She handed it to me, it had more weight than expected.the others got their ice cream and we sat down at a table.

" I just wanna say a few things before we eat." Ezra announced when we were all seated.

"I just want to thank you guys for being amazing friends! And say that I'm glad to adopt Micah into our group. I'm excited to make new memories with you guys! I hope we have a fantastic school year and have lots of fun together!" He smiled and looked at the three of us.

"You're so damn cheesy." Ollie grumbled as her took a bite of his waffle cone.

"Yea, when did you become such a softie?" Parker teased.

"I thought it was sweet."

"Thank you! At least someone is grateful!"

"So Micah, tell us more about yourself cause you really haven't said much about yourself." Parker leaning in close.

"Well, I enjoy listening to people talk and music. I enjoy and writing and reading."

"What do like to write about?" Ollie asked.

"Um. Stuff."

"I'm sure you write amazing things!" Ezra reassured.

"So do you write stories or poems?" Parker asked.

"Short stories and poems. I get bored a lot. And that's my way to entertain myself."

"Do you not watch youtube? Or any tv shows." Ezra asked.

"What's YouTube?"

"You've never been on YouTube?" Ollie looked up from his phone.

"No. This is my first time having it unblocked."

"Welcome to the internet then!" Ezra bumped my shoulder.

"I'll send you videos you should watch!"

"So do you have strict parents or something?" Ollie asked

"Something like that."

"So many indirect answers." Parker teased.

"I have reasons to be."

"So why are otters you favorite animal?" Ezra finished his Ice cream and threw away his napkin.

"You remembered I said that." I mumbled to myself.

"Because they look so cute and cuddly."

"Have you ever been to the zoo?" Parker perked up with that question.

"No. I'm not allowed. Too many people."

"You don't like crowds?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that."

"It's alright."

The day passed quickly and soon the sun began to set. We talked about whatever was on our minds. Most of it was unintelligible due to laughter. We laughed so much and at one point we didn't even know about what. We just kept adding onto the jokes causing us to laugh harder and harder. My side and head hurt from it all. They talked about memories and told embarrassing stories. Eventually they calmed down and they talked about their favorite things. Parker and I finished my project and by that time we were done my care arrived. I didn't want to leave but I had to. I reluctantly grabbed my bag and looked at the three of them.

"Thank you guys for inviting me out. I had a lot of fun! I hope I can do this again!"

"No problem! I had fun too! You're welcomed anytime!" Ezra smiled. The others said good bye and I left. I could run away right now and be free of my confinement. I don't know why I didn't.

"How was it?" Nurse Harrison asked as I got in the car.

"I want more days like that."

"Hopefully you'll get them."

When I got home I curled up in a ball under my blankets and cried. I didn't want to be here anymore! Why can't I just leave? I wanted to scream and throw things but I couldn't move. Anger engulfed me as I laid there shaking and crying. I didn't want to be evaluated! I just wanted to be normal! I wanted to be home.