Part 11 of the truth

Part 11: A Long November

I don't remember when my little crush on Jake turned into obsession, but I believe it was over the course of the time he was gone in November of our freshman year.

I remember he came back from Halloween weekend tired and. . . damaged.

"What happened to you neck?" Among countless other wounds Dreamy was sporting a series of truly awful looking scratches at the base of his neck.

"I don't remember." He laughed a little as he said this, trying to come off as unconcerned.

Dreamy didn't remember a lot of his Halloween night, and if I'm not mistaken he didn't tell me why. I'm not sure if I would have been completely comfortable even if I had known the reason.

"I don't know if I should be concerned, or just freaked out." I gave him my trade marked "you have a hideous disease carrying spider on your face" look. He laughed, "I think I'm gonna' stick with freaked out." I said.

His face fell for a moment. He looked hurt.

He repeated the painful phrase to me later that day, "I don't know if I should be concerned, or just freaked out. I think I'm gonna' stick with freaked out." I still regret saying it.

Dreamy was drowsy all week. I remember later in the week, the teacher had put on a video in the hopes that we might watch it and maybe even get something historical out of it. (fat chance) Dreamy rested his head on the table, barely conscious, and I ran my fingers through his hair, over and over.

Dreamy went missing at the end of that week and didn't return until second trimester. I missed him.

Rumors circulated that he had caught an awful virus which had been in the news earlier that month for closing down a local college. I wouldn't learn the truth about Dreamy's absence until late in second trimester, but that's a story for another time.