Payback

Chapter 7

Payback

It was 5:30a.m. when I finished my shower. Nathan and I rushed to my room before the others started to wake up. We were both still bleeding from cutting ourselves.  I grabbed the first-aid kit in the close and started to disinfect my cuts. Nathan grabbed a shirt I had on my bed.

"I don't know if it will fit, but you can try," I said. It was a little tight, but it did complement his physique quite well. I was wrapping some of my cuts from last night. I got dressed so I could register for classes. For juniors, it starts in two hours, but I'm going early to beat the lines that form at 10a.m. Nathan started poking around the room.

"Clyde is... very..."

"Sterile? I know, but he's hasn't started classes yet."

"I can't wait."

"Composition major, right? I hear it's hardcore."

"Yeah, but it's what I love. You're are majoring in music?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It's what I love. I want to learn the real thing, not the pop radio garbage."

"What genre?"

"Epic."

"What?"

"They use it a lot in films. It's a grander sound than most classical songs."

"Not a music person myself. It all sounds the same to me."

"Then I need to broaden your horizon. How about over lunch at the local diner."

"I guess." Nathan and I both left my room and went our separate ways. I went to the Dixie library where my registration was taking place. There was a line already starting to wrap around the building. I got in line just before they opened their doors to registering students. Come, 11:39a.m. I finished registering for my classes.

I got all the classes I wanted this year. Funny thing was when I walked outside the line was longer, and Noah and Hank were just getting in line. I called up Nathan and told him to meet me at the bus stop. Apparently he was writing out at the steps to the Core's dorm.

We met at the bus stop, but Nathan looked distraught. He had the most terrifying news.

"I just found out that my ex girlfriend has HIV. We need to go to a doctor now."

"We have one just off the southwest campus. It's covered by tuition."

"This is serious, Satteo!"

"I know! This isn't my first scare, though. Probably be my seventh."

"What?"

"Just get on the bus." The bus took us around downtown and looped us back to the  west campus. Southwest campus was two blocks away.

The southwest campus is also known as the artisans campus as it hosted many ground-level student shops with dorms above. It's not crowded most of the time, but today they were hosting an art festival for a children's hospital in the next town. The clinic was just beyond the bookstore to the right.

It was vacant in the lobby except for the receptionist, an older woman.

"What can I help you with, boys"

I spoke first, "HIV test."

"Right away, Satteo. And you sir."

"Same thing," Nathan said shamefully.

"OK. Name."

"Nathan Gerald."

"Is this your first time?"

"Yes."

"Fill out this release please." I was called to the back at this point.

The nurse sat me down at a chair and pulled up my sleeve, revealing the cut I made on my arm. She continued with a standard blood drawing. Once she was done she ushered me into a room where I waited for a doctor. Only two minutes passed by before doctor Ibiza walked in.

"Hello Satteo. The lab is testing your blood now and we'll se if your positive. One of my nurses noted a cut on your arm. What happened?"

"I cut myself."

"On what?"

"I cut myself with a razor. It's sterile I promise."

"Still, you haven't had a tetanus shot in thirteen years, so I want to give you one."

"Fine."

"Also I'll be calling the psychologist about this."

"How's Nathan?"

"I'm more worried about you right now. Doctor Shane is helping him."

"This is my seventh time. Seven. I made a resolution to hold out and I broke it. I need to stop. I guess give me the tetanus shot then and I'll be on my way."

"Already gave you the shot."

"Wow. Never felt it."

"Also I got the results back. You are HIV negative and so is Nathan. You don't need  to retest as your partner would have shown signs already in his blood."

"Thanks doc."

"Not so fast. Miss Hunts is here to escort you and Nathan to the psychology office."

Oh no. Ms. Hunts is actually not the one I want to meet right now. She scowls every time I get caught cutting myself.  I hate upsetting her because she is such a nice person that lives quite quaint. Upsetting her is a big deal.

She lead me and Nathan back to main campus in her Challenger. We all walked into the main tower and took the elevator to the eleventh floor. It was dead quiet. I didn't like it as I am then set only in my thoughts. It reminded me of my ex.

  Everyone called him Car. His real name was Carson S. Lauder. He was the smart a*s comedian that always had something to say. We had history together in middle school. Honestly, he was smart enough to drop out of school and get his GED before going to high school. He said he stuck around for the fun of it.

Car and I were straight at the time, but we got too close to each other. When we were in trouble he always took the fall in some inconceivable way. For some reason, it always worked. And in "the silence before the storm" long waits, he was always distracting me and making me laugh.

I grew to love him. He and I came out to each other soon after. We secretly dated, took more classes together, and even lost our virginities to each other at the age of fourteen. We never spoke about it to anyone else, but we did promise to each other to be more open. I fulfilled that promise, but he didn't.

Car moved away and cut me from his life, I had to go through hell alone. The only thing he ever sent me was a letter that stated he never came out of the closet and hopes to erase his mistake. He went on to tell how against his religion I was and how I corrupted him. But I still, to this day,  love him.

I had more to worry about when we finally got to the eleventh floor. We could be on academic probation for cutting ourself. It is part of an initiate back in 2007 to stop suicide at the school and doctor Kavorki enforces it heavily.

Luckily I got doctor Saint. He was a younger doctor, but he is also a really good one.

"Satteo, you have been getting high marks in your classes. Also it says here that your aura has improved as well... Why are you relapsing?"

"It was an accident."

"Oh..."

"Nathan was mad over his life and I was consoling him."

"Honestly, you need to get back on track. I am reordering mandatory counseling this year. Until you can show me that you are not going to do this again, I will also have your room searched every week and curfew 12 in effect."

"But that isn't compatible with my schedule."

"I will give you one month."

Curfew 12 is a strict schedule that only allows you to enter you room at 11pm and requires to be out by 7am. You have to take a shower at 9am, be on time to all classes, and you can't go off campus. Breaking curfew can lead to probation or in some cases expulsion. I can't be alone for any period of time. This sucks.

I went back to Hillard East and just stayed in the common room until eleven, then I went off to bed.