Ch. 29 An Ice Cream Scoop For the Soul

I go to the ice cream store

because it's within walking distance

and the boy that works there

is named Matt Norther

and he sat next to me

in biology and geometry

and didn't fail

because of me.

So I get free ice cream.

He smiles when he sees me.

He knows what I want,

before I even say anything,

and has it ready

before I can tell him

that everything I eat

comes back up an hour later.

I stare at the ice cream,

strawberry, like always,

with extra whipped cream,

and three cherries,

all packed into a cake cone.

I shake my head.

"I can't eat that."

He looks at me strange

because I never turn down ice cream.

"Are you sure?"

he asks.

"Come on. It's good for the soul.

I take it because he sounds so nice,

and genuine,

and normal.

It's a refreshing reprieve from

all the pity

and fakeness

I've been having to deal with.

He doesn't ask me about Charlotte.

He doesn't say anything

about the accident,

or my stitches,

or my broken arm,

or my bruises.

He doesn't look at me

like I'm a little, broken doll.

He doesn't talk to me

like I can't comprehend.

He acts

like I'm totally normal.

It's the nicest thing

anyone has done for me

in a long while.

Author's Note

There's a new character! Matt Norther, the sweet boy that works at the ice cream store. He'll be making a few more appearances in the book so don't forget about him. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know in the comment box if you did or if you didn't. Either way, thanks for reading.
--theladygraceling