next day i get back to the
dorm after school and i walk
by richies room and hes
standing by the side of his
bed
and hes looking at the wall
and i dont say anything but
just walk closer to the door
and all the pictures
of salinas on 12/01 have been
ripped down the wall is
empty except for little pieces
of tape and tack holes
and little fragments of paper
still fluttering here and there
and richie reaches out to
touch one with his finger
then sadly just lets his arm
drop to his side and continues
to stare at the now empty
wall and i
want to go in and say
something or do something
but i have no idea what and
the ripped pictures arent even
there
crumpled on the floor or in
the garbage can theyre just
gone basically and im angry
and confused but mostly
im just sad cuz ive never seen
richie like this its strange he
just looks defeated and
weirdly old like not 16 but
like a grown man and not in a
good way like idk middle-
aged and sad like my dad or
something and i just
keep standing there looking
at him and i want to leave
before he turns and sees me
but its like i cant
i just keep watching him idk
why its like i have nothing to
gain but i just keep watching
him anyway
and then i hear this like
happy shout come from the
common room and i look
over and justin comes out
smiling
he sweeps the hair out of his
eyes and sees me -hey
somebody put the g5 back-
he waits for a reaction
but i dont really know what
to say so he goes -so thats
cool- and then he walks up
to richies door
moves in next to me in the
doorway and goes -hey
richie cuddys office called
the dorm he wants to see
you- then turns
back to me -were playing
gridiron extreme- then
smiles again and goes right
back into the common room
i turn back to richie
in time to see his chin drop to
his chest he doesnt say
anything doesnt move again
and suddenly i dont want to
stay any longer so i just turn
around and leave
