Lonely Heart

V. Strange Development

   I finally managed to calm myself down and go into the living room. He was sleeping in the same spot I left him. I sit down at the table and start drawing again when I hear him say:

  -"Don't...go...Please...don't... leave...me."

   I turn to look at him. 'I wonder what his dreaming about. He looks so sad and in pain.' Just then he started tossing and turning. I approached him, 'He looks like he's suffering a lot.' Then he grabs onto my sleeve. I sighed and grabbed his hand. 'Man, I hate this stupid caring side of me.' He seemed to have calmed down for a bit but then he started talking again:

  -"No...I don't...want to...I...need you."

   Then his movements become more violent so I grabbed onto him. (Like a hug) He then started to loose his energy until all that was left was a fragile child. 'He looks like if I let go now he might break.' As I thought that I set down next to him and put his head on my lap. The last thing I remember from that night was hearing the clock strike 2 o'clock.

   I wake up to the soft light of the sun. I straighten my posture and I notice that Mark is gone and the blanket is now covering me. I get up and start looking around, 'It's 6 o'clock, his jacket is still here, which means he hasn't left yet.' I start looking through the house and I finally find him in the kitchen.

  -"Hey, what are you doing?" I ask softly remembering the events of last night.

  -"Oh, morning." He says as he notices me. "I was just looking for some food, maybe I'm being rude doing so on my own accord." He says with an apologetic look.

  -"I'll forgive you this time. Are you feeling better?" 'Why did I ask that? Am I worried about what happened yesterday?'

  -"What? Oh you mean about the part where I was drunk." He says a little stutter. 'Is there something else his not feeling well about?' "Yes I'm fine...oh right, thanks a lot for bringing me here."

  -"Yeah, you own me one." I say smiling. (I know, to nice but...) 'I'm still a little worried, his eyes are swollen again.'

  -"Yes, I guess I do." He says looking relived, probably thinking I didn't notice his state.

  -"You should probably be getting home, eat quickly."

  -"Can't I go straight to school from here?" He asks pleading.

  -"You do realize your clothes wreck of alcohol? Not to mention you look awful. You should go home, take a shower and change."

  -"Can't I do that here, take a shower I mean? Please." He says looking at me with those deep eyes 'No way, that's embarrassing, having him shower here.' "Please!" 'Ugh...and here I thought that face only works when old friend used it.'

  -"Fine." I say exasperated. "I'll let you borrow some of my brother's clothes too, since yours smell, but if anyone, anyone, ever finds out of this I swear I will kill you."

   He nods with a serious look on his face and goes to the table to eat the salad he found in the refrigerator. I give him some cold milk since I don't know if he drinks coffee or not and I start making myself a sandwich.

   After we're done eating I hand him a pair of blue jeans, a white T-shirt and a black leather jacket from my brother's closet and he goes take his shower. 'I feel so damn awkward.' Ten minutes later he comes out and asks:

  -"Are you going to take one too?" 'How can you ask that so simply?'

  -"No, I'm good, I took one last night." (Harmless lie)

  -"Ok." He says seating on the couch. Just then his phone starts ringing but he doesn't answer it.

  -"Aren't you going to answer that?" I ask confused.

  -"No." He says with a mixture of sadness and hatred in his eyes. The phone keeps ringing and ringing, 'I think it's the 8th time.'

  -"So persistent." Mark says annoyed.

  -"If they are this persistent it must be important, you should answer."

  -"It's fine, don't worry about it." 'I don't! Or do I, ah it's so annoying and this stupid ringing doesn't help.'

  -"Either you do or I will." I say in an angry tone.

  -"Fine, fine, don't get mad....Hello!" He says as he finally picks up the phone.

  -[Mark, finally, I was getting worried.]

  -"I'm fine, I'm at a friend's place, so why did you call?" He says a bit annoyed.

  -[It's about your mother.]

  -"Did something happen?" Mark asks agitated.

  -[We were thinking of visiting her so we can discuss about you. I think it will be best if you were there too.]

  -"Is that all?"

  -[Huh..?]

  -"Then I'm hanging up."

  -[Wai...]

  -"Who was it? Did something happen?" I ask not even knowing why.

  -"No, it's nothing." He says looking to the floor, 'Does he think that because I don't socialize much I can't read human expressions.' I decide to leave it be.

  -"I'll go get myself ready for school too, it's already 7:05 after all."

  -"Ok."

   After that I go into the bathroom and start preparing myself, 'No matter how I look at it, something still smells fishy. I wish I could just ask but that would be too out of caracter. I guess for now I'll leave it at that.'