Focus - Logicality

Logan - Don't Be Scared

Now, the tears are streaming faster than the wind can blow them away. I compose myself, quickly scanning over what I've written and crossing out anything that could possibly lead any unwanted onlookers to believe that I am cutting myself. When I finish, I shove The Notebook and pencil into my backpack then head to my car and text Patton.

Logan: It's time. Are you ready?

Patton: Nope.

Patton: Well, maybe. Meet me by the porch swing.

I shrug before remembering that he can't see me.

Logan: Okay, I'm coming. Be ready.

Within a minute and a half, I'm pulling into his driveway. When he sees me heading up the walkway, he bursts through the door with only one shoe on. The hand that holds his crutch also holds his other shoe; in the other is his glasses and the cardigan that is usually tied around his shoulders. Thankfully, he seems to have all of the proper belongings necessary for the school day in his backpack, but the largest compartment is wide open and a laptop, two folders and a textbook are all dangerously close to falling out.

We're about three feet away from each other when he trips and falls into me. Everything he was holding is sent flying, but thankfully the precariously perched items in his backpack remain soundly in place. I manage to catch Patton with one arm and the crutch, glasses and cardigan with the other. His shoe now lays abandoned on the sidewalk nearby.

"Everything is all blurry," he states matter-of-factly, "Sorry about that." I laugh lightly as I hand Patton his crutch and glasses. I haven't laughed in a while, and it's a pleasant feeling. He sets the glasses delicately onto the bridge of his nose while I tie the cardigan around his shoulders. I bend down to pick up his shoe then motion for him to get into the car. He holds out his hand and I toss the shoe to him gently. He begins to fumble it almost immediately and it drops to the ground before I can react. I am truly stunned by his acute inability to catch.

"Just hand it to me next time," he laughs. "You know I can't catch."

"Actually, I didn't know that. Sorry."

He retrieves the shoe and heads to my car, struggling to put it on as I pull out of the driveway. Once the shoe is on, he addresses me. "Thanks for doing this. This is the earliest I've left for school in years," he gushes, cheeks flushing. "Usually, I barely make it to first period, and then my teacher yells at me in front of the class. It isn't very pleasant."

"Congratulations," I tell him with a wry smile, pulling into my usual spot in the student parking lot. He laughs with me, and for a few seconds, the bright sound fills the air. I can't say I'm surprised by his sentiment. Patton unbuckles his seat belt, reaching through to the backseat to get his backpack. "You know I'm going around to get that stuff in a second, right?" I ask. He nods, blushing.

I walk around to the backseat and retrieve our belongings, slinging my backpack over one shoulder then heading around to the passenger-side door to give Patton his. Our hands brush and I look away, quickly breaking the contact out of instinct and resisting the urge to apologize. My face is red, and I think the tips of my ears are too.

In that brief moment, I see the looming figures. There only a few yards away, striding towards us. Please don't let this be what I think it is. Not here. Not now. I squint into the distance. It's them, and there couldn't possibly be a worse time for it. They've done this every day since I arrived at this school. Why should I expect anything different today?

"Is everything okay?" Patton is much more emotionally perceptive than I expected. I should be used to this by now. I nod, handing him his backpack and gesturing to the figures approaching us. The color drains from his face, but I just grimace.