After their stakeout yesterday Makayla saw no one approach the letter, in fact, she saw no one take anything out of the bin many put things in.

Several times she was asked to "pay attention." and "whether whatever she was staring at had more importance than today's lesson?"

After class Jessie was the first out peering into the bin that was no overflowing with rubbish but still he could see the small pink slip that he had put in an hour before.

"No luck, I see."

Makayla shook her head to her as she approached him.

"The mystery continues, but isn't that half the fun." She smiled, trying to lighten his mood, and for once it worked if only a small amount.

Makayla followed Jessie out of the school, thankfully their journey was very similar for the most part.

"How is your mum?" Makayla broke the silence as they walked. Jessie sighed clearly his mum was doing as well as he was.

"It's difficult to explain, but at times she's good, but then suddenly she's weighted down with pain. I mean she's still sleeping in my room."

Jessie looked up at the sky it was blue; however there was a small tinge of grey in the corners, and with gathering clouds, it looked like it was about to rain any second. Makayla nodded her head slowly, taking his arms in hers, they both stood on the junction where they'd part ways.

"Would you like to come over to ours for dinner?" They both stood Jessie's eyes looking to just the right of Makayla as he thought on her proposal.

"Mum will come back from work, so I don't like the thought of her walking into an empty house."

Makayla sighed letting go of his arm and stepping back.

"You're right, see you tomorrow." Makayla didn't even give Jessie time to reply as she walked off towards home.

*

"Who caused that pain? What kind of question is that?" Jessie wasn't explicitly talking to Makayla but just voicing his thoughts.

"I mean they must already know, right?" Makayla mentioned.

"The whole school knows Mak. These last two days I've been receiving nothing but 'sorry'." He huffed slightly deciding whether to answer this question.

"I mean you might as well write it then."

Jessie nodded to Makayla's reasoning and wrote his answer.

The next day Makayla had walked with Jessie to his locker wanting to see the letter for the first at the same time as him like always the message fell from the bottom of the locker and floated to the ground.

Do you want the pain to go away?

Yes or no?

Without any hesitation, Jessie circled 'yes' and left the note in the bin before they even headed for lunch.

"What do you think will come from those letters Mak?"

"Goodness knows. Why do you regret it?"

"I don't know." Jessie shifted from leaning back to leaning forward his arm on his legs. He turned his head to Makayla. "What if some stupid thing by the school and I end up in counselling."

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"I just don't want mum to worry, you know."

"What's wrong with her worrying?"

"She's got enough on her plate being a single parent now, a widow. I'm just trying to keep the peace."

Makayla nodded her head slowly. Though what Jessie was doing was selfless for others; it was the most selfish thing to do to himself, she wouldn't put that weighted opinion on his shoulders.

"I understand." It had been the first time in months the pair sat in a comfortable silence just enjoying each other's company.