Crestfallen

8: Dying Goats

Casey's POV

"What a prick!" I exclaimed angrily as Macy and I found a seat in the cafeteria. "He knows other people exist, right? He's not the only one here. Ugh, he's so aggravating! And I don't even talk to him very often!"

"Woah there, tiger." Macy laughed, "Retract the claws."

I glared over at Macy as we sat at an empty table near the corner of the cafeteria. "Macy, you have no idea how rude he is! If he wasn't so good looking, he's the scum of the-"

"I've never heard you so mad before." Liam snickered as he sat beside me. Chris took his seat on the other side, filling the four sides of the table.

"The first time you spoke to me was just the other day, of course you haven't." I snapped, taking an angry bite out of my Nutella sandwich. Liam life's his hands in mock surrender. "Sorry," I grumbled, food still in my mouth.

"It's all good, boo," Chris said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me to him. My eyebrows creased in confusion as I looked at Macy as if to say, excuse me? She just shrugged with a huge smile on her face. Chris' shaggy hair was all over me and I was getting uncomfortable.

"Okay, that's enough love," I announced, awkwardly shaking him off me. Liam looked over at Chris with a cocky smirk and I squinted with suspicion.

"So," Liam began, turning towards me, "What's got your panties all in a twist?"

"I'm pretty sure only Jeremy could get anyone this riled up." Chris laughed, hitting the table as he chuckled.

"I mean, you're not wrong." I sighed, eating more of my sandwich. The Nutella was already making me feel better and I was starting to get giddy again. "But hey, life is good because I've got-"

My eyes widened and my mouth moved, but no noise came out as Liam grabbed the sandwich out of my hand and stuffed it in his mouth with one bite.

"I-you-I-Nutella?" I stuttered out, flexing my fingers and holding the air as if it would reappear there. I looked over at Liam with the saddest eyes I could muster, pouting a little bit.

"Aw, you're so adorable," Chris said, smiling.

"Don't look at me like that, it's so sad." Liam frowned, wiping my Nutella from the corners of his mouth.

"You ate my Nutella!" I exclaimed somewhat angrily. "How will I live?"

Liam suddenly said, "I have an Idea!" And left, leaving Chris, Macy, and I at the table. "He ate my Nutella..."

Macy reached out and held my hand, while Chris just looked around awkwardly before leaving. "Stupid Nutella stealing turd looking piece of crap," I muttered dropping my head to the table.

The bell rang and I sighed, hungry and disappointed. Ew Math.

I grabbed my binders from my locker and headed to my AP math class. I took a seat roughly in the middle of class and waited for the teacher to arrive. Oddly enough, Jeremy came strolling into the class. I frowned and started to draw in my book.

"What the fuck is that? A dying goat?" Jeremy asked, taking a seat beside me. I glared over at him, okay so art isn't my forté.

"You're a dying goat." I retorted, erasing my drawing.

"Wow, good one Einstein." Jeremy chuckled, leaning back in his seat.

"Why are you in here?" I asked him, turning to face him.

"I don't know. I'd like to think we all have a purpose-"

"In math AP." I clarified, cutting him off abruptly.

"Well, I'm enrolled in this class."

"No, you're not."

"Just because I don't show up very often doesn't mean I'm not in this class," Jeremy said, crossing his arms. I squinted at him skeptically. "What? I can't be good looking and smart?"

"You can be, you just can't be good looking, smart, and nice," I smirked just as the teacher walked in.

"Not all of us can be as perfect as you, Casey." I heard Jeremy mutter somewhat angrily. What's the supposed to mean?

"Does that mean you think I'm pretty?" I cooed quietly, a teasing smirk on my face. Jeremy glared at me out of the corner of his eye. Since when do I tease guys? Since when do I tease guys like Jeremy?

The lesson was pretty chill, just textbook work, and Jeremy left me alone for the rest of the class.

-----

"I scream for ice cream!" I exclaimed excitedly as Liam, Chris, Macy, and I walked into the shack.

"It's on me because I ate your sandwich." Liam smiled sheepishly, pulling out his wallet. I didn't oppose because I was broke and I was still slightly agitated about my poor Nutella sandwich. I pouted at the thought of my sandwich, but when I saw the Nutella flavoured ice cream, I all but squealed.

"Keep your dog on a leash." Someone behind us commented. We all turned around, to find Jeremy standing there coolly.

"Aw c'mon man, she's adorable," Liam said, smiling at me.

"Yeah whatever, fuck her then," Jeremy commented crudely.

"Excuse me?" I asked him disbelievingly. Was he for real? Did he seriously just say that. Somewhere off to the side, I heard Macy telling Chris and Liam to back up.

"You heard me." Jeremy declared, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What is your deal?" I demanded, jabbing a finger in his broad chest. He unfolded his arms and took a step towards me, trying to look intimidating. Well too bad, Jeremy, I'm too angry to be intimidated. On top of my dad last night, my Nutella sandwich, and now this? No way.

"You're my deal." Jeremy snapped. "You're always bothering me."

"The first time I'd ever spoken to you, was yesterday, what do you mean!" I exclaimed angrily my hands balling into fists.

"Most bothersome two days of my life." He stated, glaring down at me. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down.

"You know what? You're not even worth it. Screw the Nutella ice cream, I'd give up a lifetime of Nutella to never see you again." I sneered, walking around him and out the door. Okay, maybe I overreacted, but everything piling up is just too much right now. I walked around the building and sat in the alley, putting my head in my hands.

I wasn't sad because if Jeremy, no, he was like a fly that was just annoying. It's just that my father's condition has been getting worse and worse and I don't want to rant to anyone because deep, deep down, I know no one really cares.

So, for the first time in a long time, I cried.

------

Sigh.

It took my three consecutive attempts to write this chapter.