Chapter 14

If somebody would read his friend's logs he would not be that surprised by a couple of friends talking about one of their friends. They might think dedicating a whole chat room to it is a bit overboard, but the actual content would seem like some friendly trash talking. There were seven people in the room, a few more vocal, others less caring. There were times when the conversation was not even about Mat, sometimes it was not even against him in any way, shape, or form. However. From a perspective of a stressed teenaged boy with a sudden burst of responsibilities? It was too much.

What could he do? He could yell at them, but then they would know he read their logs. He could ignore them but then they would be more suspicious. He could try to play them, based on their conversation, but he felt sick just thinking about it. He felt sick talking to them, but he didn't hate them. He was scared of them. Was that really the friends he knew for so many years?

He was mindlessly going to the kitchen to get a sports drink when his mother stopped him, by putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Are you okay?" she asked and he did something he really shouldn't. He looked her in the eyes... Suddenly her, while tired, caring face made his already out of whack hormones go overboard. He looked away, but she already noticed his watery eyes.

"Don't say nothing," she said.

"It's...my friends are trying to use me to get girls or money,"

"What?"

"They made a private chat room and talk shit about me, they scheme how to use me!"

"What is going on?" his father came into the kitchen, but Mat managed to clean his eyes and just wave his hands.

"It is okay, I will take care of it!"

"Wait! Don't feel down, they might be just kidding, talk to them!" his mother said while he walked away.

***

Anya was surprised to see Mat awake so soon. It was still dark and he was already dressed and just putting boots on.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh...sorry didn't want to wake you,"

"Please, I woke up like this normally! But you don't...what is up?"

"Its a free day,"

"Right,"

"Parents are at home,"

"Yes,"

"I...do not want to talk to them about...stuff,"

"I heard...but still the school is closed, so where are you going?"

"I want to go to the park, maybe for a run,"

"Hmmm, If you want, you can talk to me instead,"

"Thanks...but I am fine. I will just ignore them and focus on the jobs," he said and smiled at her. He was entirely honest with her. Ignoring was really what he was about to do.