My best friend next door

Chapter 7

The last week of summer was not the best for clay and George. Clay sat in his room all day everyday, he ignored everything from the outside world.

George occasionally brought him food. A few nights he even spent the night. Clay didn't wanna talk but he liked George's company.

It was the first day of the new school year. Clay and George were going into senior year. George had told clay he was gonna drive him to school.

Clay slowly rose out of bed and went to his closet to change. He put on a lime hoodie and black sweatpants. He walked downstairs where his dad was asleep on the couch with an empty beer bottle and drista was at the kitchen table eating.

"Hey" clay whispered giving drista a kiss on the forehead.

Drista gave a faint smile. It had been hard on both of them, but clay tried his best to stay positive for her.

"George is giving me a ride to school. Are you gonna make it to the bus on time?" He asked.

Drista nodded and went back to eating. Clay got a text from his phone. He looked down to see that George was waiting outside for him.

He gave his sister a quick hug and left. He walked out to George's car and got in the front. He put his hood up as George started to drive away.

"Clay if you need anything at all today just text me ok?" George said.

Clay nodded and went back to looking out the window. The drive to school felt like five seconds. Clay was always nervous for the first day of school, but today he was extra nervous.

As they got out of the car they saw sapnap coming up to them.

"Hey clay I'm really sorry about your mom" he said giving clay a hug.

"Thanks" clay looked down to the ground.

"But guys I'm fine, don't baby me all day ok?"

They both nodded and gave him a soft smile. They all walked into school, sapnap was talking about how Tommy killed him in Minecraft.

They all walked over to their lockers. Clay and George's were relatively close. Clay put some stuff into his locker but kept a lot of stuff in his backpack.

He walked with George to his first class of the day. They both separated giving each other a quick bye.

Clay went into his science class and sat at a desk in the very back. The bell rang and the teacher started introducing herself.

Clay quickly zoned out and his mind went to other places. He glanced up at the teachers desk. On her desk sat a tall glass vase filled with water. Inside the vase sat pink roses.

His moms favorite. Every little thing reminded him of his mom. Every song that played, every show he watched, everything.

He felt tears prickle on his eyes but before he let them fall he quickly raised his hand.

"Can I go to the bathroom" he asked

The teacher nodded and went back to talking. He rose from his seat and rushed out the door. He sped into the bathroom and leaned over the sink.

He watched as tears fell into the glass sink. He let out a sigh. He wanted to go home but he needed to stay for George. He heard someone open the door to the bathroom and he turned away.

"Clay?" He heard a familiar voice question.

He turned to see George staring back at him. Clay wiped his tears.

"I'm fine" he whispered.

"No your not don't lie" George spoke softly while giving clay a hug.

It was true he wasn't ok. He missed his mom but he couldn't just give up on life. Even tho he wanted to so badly.

Clay turned away and wiped his tears. He felt a hand pull him. He turned around to see George looking up at him.

"Clay you don't have to hide your feelings from me I can help you through it"

Clay smiled softly and stared into George's soft brown eyes. They sat there just the two of them staring deeply at each other.

Clay watched as his brown hair fell into George's eyes. The way his hair fell was perfect. The way George cared for him was perfect. George was all around perfect.

Suddenly these feelings rose in clay. But what was it? All of a sudden George came closer. So close there lips were almost touching.

But they were interrupted when they heard the ding of the school bell, signaling it was time for there next class.

They quickly pulled away and looked to the ground.

"I'll um- I'll see you at lunch" clay quickly said as he rushed out.

What. Just. Happend. He thought. Was George about to kiss him?

He tried to clear those thoughts from his head, but he just couldn't. His mind drifted to George ever second of the day.

———

Finally it was lunch time. Clay walked into the lunch room and looked for sapnap and George. He spotted them from across the room and walked over.

"Hey clay" sapnap said.

"Hey"

He gave George an awkward smile and sat down. The whole lunch was more awkward than ever. Finally someone broke the tension.

Ella walked over and sat down.

"Why haven't you been answering my texts" she said sassily.

"I- um I haven't been on my phone much" he said as he glanced over to George.

"Well after the party a week ago you kinda dipped and haven't said a word since"

Clay glanced over at George again. He turned back to Ella. He didn't know what to say, they hadn't even talked that much.

"whatever we all know the real reason you left me as soon as he walked in" she said rolling her eyes and walking away.

Clay was sat wide eyed. He looked at George who was shocked. He had a puzzled look on his face.

"Um clay what did she mean" sapnap asked.

"Nothing just leave it alone" clay stood up and rushed out of the lunch room.

What were these feelings he was having. Why did he feel something for George.

Stop he's your childhood best friend he thought.

He rushed into the bathroom and went into a stall. He leaned against the door.

"What am I gonna do" he whispered