Life's Movie

A/N: Updates for Life’s Movie will be slow, since I can only write it when I’m truly very inspired. Thanks for the wonderful feedback on chapter one!

* * *

Chapter Two: We’re Okay

* * *

Patrick turned up the volume on his iPod, feeling his ears ache yet unwilling to listen to the jeers of his classmates. His brown hair washed over his eyes as he looked down at his lunch tray, careful to not meet anyone’s stare.

His peace didn’t last for long. J.D, the one pegged as the psychopath until Patrick took on the role, walked up to his nook and shoved his lunch tray onto the floor. Remarkably, none of the teacher supervisors noticed.

J.D. was usually silent and threatening from afar. Patrick hadn’t seen him actually take aggressive action toward anyone – but he had the look. The closely-cropped hair, maniacal dark eyes and army ensemble, you know.

Holding back a sigh, Patrick took small comfort in the fact his chocolate milk had been salvaged and was still on the table.

“Fucked up world we live in,” J.D mumbled as Patrick grabbed his milk and got up to leave the room. “When rich brats can get away with murder.”

It was unwise, yet Patrick muttered defiantly, “It wasn’t murder.” He chewed his lip, meeting a few of the gazes directed at him.

Snorting, J.D. pushed past him and left to join his crew. Patrick swallowed uneasily. Then his iPod died.

* * *

You’ve made a lasting impression on the school. Finally.

It’s funny, isn’t it? Answer me this: How many of these fuck-ups knew your name before The Tragedy? When you wake up you better not give into their lame, sympathetic attitudes, and remember how they treated you back when you weren’t Edwin, the boy who won’t wake up. Remember back to when you were Edwin, the calculus tutor who made the Math Honour Wall every semester; to when no one knew your name because no one takes a second look at that
bulletin board.

You’re going to thank me one day, Edwin. I’ve made you the most popular boy in school. I’m just sorry I had to ruin your perfect attendance while doing so. But hey, anyone who’s anyone skips every once in a while, isn’t that right?

I told you I’d show you life. I want to show you life. But, Hell, life is escaping me. All I can do is point this stupid camera at my guilty face and expose to you the wonders of my room. It’s like I’m still under house arrest, leaving only to see your unconscious face through a glass window because they won’t let me near your immobile body.

So this is it, Edwin. This is all I have to give you.

* * *

Patrick cursed under his breath, tossing his camera aside, finally overwhelmed with stress. His first day back at school had been anything but a relief. He had come home begging his mother that he wanted to take correspondence courses off the internet, but his father wanted nothing of it.

“Can’t have you chickening out of school, Patrick.” He mimicked, falling onto the cushions of his bed. “It’d be an embarrassment.”

Turning onto his side, he stared at his alarm clock. Usually at around this time, he’d be ignoring his mom’s attempt at dinner and shoving himself through the front door to cause grief in the neighbourhood with Nate, who had an unsettling habit of lighting things on fire. Or perhaps Davis, who would invite him over for a chance to get high, which he always refused to the amusement of his friends.

“Fuck embarrassment.” Patrick shut off the lamp hanging over his bed.

Before turning it back on.

Rummaging for his camera, he hit the power button and sighed.

“I forgot to say goodnight,” he said lamely. What could he say? Living the life of a criminal tended to be a bit lonely.

“So. Goodnight, Edwin.”

* * *

“And sign here.” Patrick scribbled his initials for the fiftieth time, ignoring the cramping of his fingers. He figured paperwork was a step up from having to stare at your
victim’s wary and unmoving face.

“All right, thank you Mr. Darcy.” The nurse closed her folder coolly. “You may go and visit Mr. Carter briefly, your time is almost up.”

Patrick nodded, letting his stiff fingers fall to his side as he turned away from the waiting room. As he walked down the ominous hallway that Edwin’s room laid, he decided to delay the visit by stopping at the vending machines and pretending that choosing between Lays and beef jerky was an extremely difficult choice.

But, eventually, he found his way to the glass window of Edwin’s rooms, eyes focused on the brain monitor. He was almost afraid to look at it, but as it moved, relief flooded through him. With a dry throat, he leaned his forehead against the pane and closed his eyes. “Not murder,” he whispered. “You’re still there.”

It took him a moment to realise, but as Patrick’s eyes slid over to the bed and found Edwin’s sleeping face, he realised Edwin wasn’t the only one there. He almost stopped breathing in alarm as his gaze found J.D. standing against the wall beside the window, lips moving as if talking to the unconscious boy.

“Jamie visits him often.”

Patrick turned to look at Edwin’s doctor, someone who Patrick had known growing up and someone who had suddenly grown cold. “Jamie.” The word sounded odd in his mouth. J.D was Jamie. J.D. was human, not some scary, silent and distant wack-job.

“I didn’t even know they knew each other.” Patrick mumbled.

Dr. Anderson nodded, before frowning. “How about you come inside today, Darcy?”
Seeing J.D. there made Patrick shake his head. “The window is fine, sir.”

He could stand the disappointment on the doctor’s face as long as he didn’t have to meet J.D.’s eyes without the glass barrier. When the door opened and Dr. Anderson let himself inside, “Jamie’s” attention was altered to look at the entrance where he saw Patrick.
They stared at each other for a moment, before Patrick looked away and focused his attention on his beef jerky.

* * *

As he wondered why he never recharged his iPod, Patrick sat among the noisy chatter of the rest of the school. As was becoming routine, J.D. reached his table but instead of knocking over the tray, he sat down.

“He tutored me.”

Blinking, Patrick set down his chewy bar. “Edwin?” The name sounded weird on his tongue.

“In calculus. I still failed hella bad, but he tutored me. Free of charge.” J.D. grimaced.

Patrick looked away. Maybe more people knew Edwin than he thought.

“Listen. Sorry about your lunch yesterday. I was just mad, you know? Edwin was a good kid. Not like half the trash at this school.”

“I know.” Patrick allowed himself a small smile as he shoved his tray toward J.D. Jamie.
“Feel free to do it again. People like me don’t deserve to eat.”

Jamie smiled back. It was somewhat forced and he ended up eating most of Patrick’s lunch, but it was a smile.

* * *

“Your friend is here, honey.”

Patrick licked his lips nervously as he opened the door to his room and ran down the stairs. Jamie was in the entrance hall, looking the same as always if not a bit more apprehensive.

Friend. A month ago, Patrick would never have been caught dead with J.D. Evans. An hour ago, he couldn’t wait for J.D to get there.

“Ready for some movie magic?” Patrick said, taking the stairs two at a time.

J.D shook his head. “This is some insane project, Darcy.”

Patrick took in a deep breath. “It’s all I can give him.”

Shoving the other boy aside, Jamie grinned. “I said it was an insane project, not a bad one. I respect you ten times more now – even though you’re just a rich boy.”

The feeling that he wasn’t allowed to laugh slowly disappeared, so Patrick did. He laughed. “Just tell us his story, Jamie.”

* * *

At the beginning of the semester, I signed up for a tutor. I didn’t really care for calculus but my asshole of a father told me I’d be kicked out of the house if I failed. Now what the hell am I going to use calculus for? I’m going to get an insignificant job in a small ass town with employers that don’t even care for a high school diploma.

So, I got one. He was some nice kid – a bit square, if you know what I mean. But he didn’t judge me. You didn’t judge me, Edwin.

It started off simply enough. You know, me flipping you off every time you tried to teach me derivatives. I still don’t get the damn concept, and I can’t even spell the word, but I managed to pass the exam with a B. The class – not so much – but that test... I showed my dad that B and we went fishing for the first time in three years.

The look on your face was priceless. I shoved my prized, single-handedly caught salmon, eyes and everything, at you and you looked like you were going to be sick. I guess I should’ve asked first if you liked seafood.

But we feasted, and we feasted good. I’m not gonna lie – I love my meat and couldn’t stand that vegetarian crap you forced into me, but my B was enough to keep me going. Who knew you wanted to be a veterinarian? I thought you were Einstein junior, but instead you turned out to be Lassie’s biggest fan.

I never really got a chance to thank you, you know. Not for the B – god knows I thanked you for that, but for everything else. For not immediately pegging me as some freak like everyone else at our shitty school does, I mean. It’s nice to have a friend.

So wake up, Edwin, ‘cause you need to graduate and single-handedly save the world’s dog population. And, I don’t want to wait another three years to go fishing. You can come along next time – I doubt you’ll catch anything anyways.

And... Well, thanks, man.

* * *

Patrick lowered his camera. It was still rolling, but he didn’t much care. Instead, he felt himself swallow hard as he stared at Jamie’s sincere eyes.

“You still have a friend.” He said in an attempt to make up for things – for every jab he might’ve whispered behind Jamie’s back.

Jamie stood up off the bed, brushing off his army pants. Then, he shrugged. “Yeah, you too, man. You, too.”

* * *

“Wait!”

Dr. Anderson paused in the entrance of the doorway, looking surprised.

“I’d like to go in today,” Patrick said, his eyes traveling toward the glass window.

The doctor smiled – warmly – and stepped aside. “It’s about time, Mr. Darcy.”

Jamie wasn’t there yet, and Patrick figured this was something he had to do alone anyway.
So, he stepped inside the room purposefully and felt the doctor’s presence behind him.

“He’s hanging in there, Patrick. You hang in there, too.”

Patrick nodded, eyes intent on Edwin’s pale face. “We’re okay.” He said with conviction.

“We’re okay.”

* * *

TBC.