"I Love You" (A Lander Story)

Overload

So this is a bit darker than normal, I wanted to showcase that Zander isn't the only one with issues or that can be upset. But I hope you can still enjoy the chapter!

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Luke was tired. He was tired of his mother asking when he was going to get a girlfriend, he was tired of Drew picking on them, He was tired of having to deal with other people's issues

He was tired.

So it wasn't a surprise to him as he sat on his bed, his homework laying on his lap almost complete.

That when he dropped his glass of water onto his homework, and watched the water seep into the pages, smudging the ink. he began to try to grab onto his hair, in a desperate attempt to just grab something, anything. Pulling at his hair as he tried to calm down.

He knew it was just water, that it would dry. That he was being ridiculous.

He pulled his legs to his chest, his homework falling to the ground along with his glass. The loud sound of shattering filled the silence of his room as he moved his arms around his legs and dug his fingers into his skin.

He just needed to calm down, he would be fine.

He faintly heard his door opening and felt his bed dip slightly as someone sat next to him. He lifted his head up to see Zander sitting next to him, resignation shown across his face.

Luke looked away, lifting his jacket sleeve to wipe his face. Zander tentatively raised his hand to set it on his shoulder, not sure if Luke was okay with him giving him a hug as he took in his significant other's appearance.

His hair was tangled and falling in front of his face. His arms laying on top of his knees which were drawn to his chest as he sat. As if in an attempt to hide his usually clear sunny yellow eyes, Yet now they were clouded as a few silent tears dripped down his cheeks onto his sleeves, despite him trying to hide it.

In short, Luke was a mess. Zander sighed, he knew the other boy had a tendency to put too much responsibility on himself. He reached out his hand to his shoulder and watched as Luke turned to look at him.

Zander looked at him in a silent question, Luke gave him a small nod before Zander pulled him into a hug, the position was a little awkward seeing as Zander was sitting to the side of him but neither boy seemed to mind.

Zander freed one arm to run through Luke's hair, slowly detangling it. He had been downstairs when he heard a glass shatter from Luke's room. He could tell that over the course of the past week that everything had been building up on him and affecting him.

Unfortunately, Breakdowns weren't anything new for the other boy. Zander could still remember when they were only 11 and he first found Luke sobbing in the Boy's restroom during lunch.

He supposed it was a side effect of who he was, Luke always had to be strong for everyone else, he had to figure out everyone's issues for them, never getting a chance to figure out his own problems.

Zander himself was never too good with emotions, but he tried to be, even if just to take that little bit of responsibility off of Luke.

Zander felt Luke pull away from him and take a deep breath and try to compose himself by brushing hair out of his face and using his jacket to dry his face.

Zander stood up letting his hand linger on Luke's shoulder for a moment before walking out into the hallway, he walked towards the bathroom door and twisted the creaky doorknob.

He walked straight to the small cabinet under the sink, it being almost like second nature to him he rummaged under the sink for a moment grabbing a soft rag and damping an edge under the clinically white sink.

Closing the door on his way out, he re-entered Luke's room, making sure to lock the door for he was sure Luke didn't want anyone to see him like this.

He looked to the auburn bed seeing that the homework had been picked up off the floor and lain across the side table. Luke sat on the edge of the bed, only giving him a small glance as he entered the room.

Zander sat down next to him offering the grey rag, Luke took it from his hand and carefully wiped at his eyes and cheeks before carefully setting it down on the wooden side table.

Zander spoke the first words since their familiar pattern began, "Are you alright now?" His words surprisingly soft, as if careful not to shatter what composure Luke had gathered.

Luke took another deep breath and nodded, looking to Zander, who's gaze was on the glass shards strewn about the floor,

Eventually Zander spoke, his words quiet "I'll get the broom" and stood careful not to step on any of the shards.

Maybe Luke wasn't alright, but he had Zander to help clean up the mess he made, And that was good enough for now.

Word Count: 844
03/06/2021