Lean On You (DNF) Book 2

Lavender and Forget Me Nots

Before Dawn had even broken the sky, Clay and George were already awake. A dense atmosphere of tiredness and sorrow had settled neatly over the house. It was still dark outside, forever adding to the deep and dampened mood.

Neither one of them spoke as George carried his suitcase down the stairs into the main room. Clay's parents had allowed George to spend the night, knowing it would be the last time the two boys got to be together for a while.

Clay followed George down the stairs but veered off to go make coffee in the kitchen. Clay would be driving George to college.

After his suitcase and bags were all together in a neat little pile on the couch, George wandered into the kitchen in search of his partner.

"Hey..." George spoke softly, tiredness was heavy in his tongue.

Clay had just put the coffee to brew when George walked in. He turned around, the bags underneath his green eyes foretold he didn't sleep much that night. "Hey, baby..." He hummed.

George looked so small right now, like a fragile porcelain doll. He was wearing shorts and Clay's green hoodie, which fit more like a dress on him. The sleeves on the hoodie were a little too long, so when George lifted his hands to rub his eyes, he made sweater-paws.

"Are you nervous...?" Clay whispered, pulling George into a tight and loving hug.

"Mhm..." George mumbled, burying his face into Clay's chest. Clay leaned down, placing a delicate kiss on top of George's dark hair. With his face still hidden, George reached up and wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's shoulder.

"You'll be okay..." Mumbled Clay into George's hair.

"I hope so..."

The two of them spoke ever so gently as if no one else existed. They held each older close because it would be the last time for months. The ding of the coffee pot called their attention away from each other, but only for a moment. They just focused on each other for now.

"Clay..?"

"Yes, darling..?"

"You'll watch over Liz for me right..? I'm not going to be there to protect her anymore..." George's grip just got that much tighter.

"I promise..."

They stood there, locked in each other's grasp. Holding each other like if they were to let go, they'd never see each other again, which might have just been true.

"Go change and say bye to Eliza, I'll load your stuff into the car..." Clay tried to pull away but George didn't loosen his grip. "C'mon... I ain't leaving you yet..." Clay laughed softly as he finally broke away.

George gave a sleepy smile then ascended up the stairs. He changed from his shorts to pants, keeping the hoodie on though, you'd catch him dead without it. Once he was dressed and somewhat presentable, George wandered down the hall to the guest room where Eliza was sleeping.

He slowly pushed open the door, the light from the hall wat pouring into the otherwise dark room.

"Hey, Eliza," George called as he entered the room.

Eliza shifted in her sleep. After a second or two, she grumbled as she awoke. "Hm?" She hummed, her voice raspy from sleep.

"I'm going to be leaving... just wanted to say goodbye..." He walked over to her bed, sitting beside her.

His sister sat up, rubbing the slumber from her brown eyes. "Imma miss you..." She mumbled as she lazily wrapped her arms around her brother in a sloppy hug.

"I'll miss you too..." George hugged back. "I'll come to visit as soon as I can, alright?"

"Mkayyy..." Eliza allowed her body to flop back down. George smiled lightly, he pulled the covers back over her and stood up. Eliza was back asleep before George had even left the room.