And the Stars up Above - Chapter 5

April 8th, 1986
Jason

The phone rang while Jason was eating his breakfast that morning. He slowly got up and walked the three steps that were needed to get to the phone. He chewed like horse on the cereals to be able to talk.
“Hello” he said quietly; he hadn’t really got his voice back since the night.
“Hi, it’s me, Mike. Wanna walk to school with me today?” Mike’s voice said. Jason had known who it was from the very first word.
“Yeah sure, but what about Billie?” Jason said, this time in his usual voice.
“Great, see you in an hour.” Mike said and hung up, not answering Jason’s question. Jason hung up and walked the three steps back to the chair which this time took him four steps. Jason was puzzled; why would Mike all the sudden want to walk to school with Jason instead of Billie? Jason thought about this long and hard but didn’t come to any conclusions other than that he now wouldn’t have time to take a shower. So much for thinking. Jason decided to think less and do more, like Mike.
Oh, and ask Mike when he showed up. Boy, was Jason tired right now.

Mike showed up by Jason’s door ten minutes early, and Jason was still in the middle of brushing his teeth. Mike didn’t say anything when he was invited to wait in Jason’s room while he finished, neither did he say anything when it was time to go. The first half of the way to school all Mike did was looking down in the ground, kicking pebbles, only muttering short answers to whatever Jason said. After a while Jason decided to shut up and leave Mike alone since he obviously didn’t want to talk. When the first half of the way was completed Jason’s curiosity and concern about Mike won over his decision.
“Mike… What’s the matter? You’ve been quiet and grumpy all morning. And why are you walking with me instead of Billie?” At last Mike looked up, not on Jason though, just straight out in the air, but at least he wasn’t looking at the ground anymore.
“Billie and I had a fight.” He said, as if he was talking about the weather. “He told me to leave him alone. Or actually he didn’t tell me, he screamed at me to leave him alone.” He laughed, as if he just said something very funny. He then went back to staring at the ground. Jason was even more puzzled than before; why on earth would Billie and Mike fight?
“Why did he… say that?” several seconds passed before Mike answered and when he did he seemed to be minding his choice of words carefully.
“I… did something that he thought was mean. Which it probably was too… but in the end I think it was good for both of us, or at least that was what I thought it would be when I did it. But maybe not.” He said slowly, not looking up from the ground, apparently he thought the ground was very interesting.
“What did you do?” Jason asked carefully, making sure that he didn’t upset Mike. Mike shrugged, as if to say ‘nothing’.
“Oh come on, what did you do? Maybe I can help?” Jason continued.
“I don’t really think it’s any of your business, and I do not think you can help, thank-you-very-much.” Mike said and for the first time he looked at Jason. Jason wished he hadn’t, because somehow, Mike made him feel guilty. This time it was Jason’s turn to study the ground and kick pebbles. They didn’t say anything more for the rest of the walk.