Weak Hero Short Stories

The Olympiad Pt2

Eugene's POV:

WHAT
IN
THE
WORLD

I thought while looking at Gray. Alex had rushed in during free period with Rowan, trying to see Gray. Then they handed him a folded piece of paper and ran out as the bell rang. We had an extended free period, but they did not. Nobody would be in the classroom for another 30 minutes. Gray hadn't opened it immediately. To be honest, it seemed as if he didn't intend to open it. However, as soon as he placed it on his desk my eyes were drawn to it. "Are you going to open it." I asked curiously"

"I wasn't, but I can if you'd like." He replied.

He carefully unfolded the paper. His eyes scanned it, and everything was fine. Until he stopped, and paused, his breathing was irregular, though he tried his best to hide it. His eyes never left the paper, and his hands trembled a bit. Not nearly as bad as they did after a fight, but they trembled nevertheless. What had Alex given him? Judging from the way he acted it seemed as if it was a death threat, but even Gray responded to death threats with more courage and stability than he did now.

I timidly looked over his shoulder and read flyer. It was just a paper trying to convince "bottom of the barrel" Eunjang students, to participate in an Olympiad. After a moment of sitting there frozen, similar to that of a photo, he folded the paper. Then he handed it to me. 
"You s-should part-ticipate." he said while his voice wavered and cracked. 

"Umm... I don't know, mayb.." my reply trailed off as I focused on Gray, who seemed to be breaking like a tossed porcelain vase. If you didn't know Gray, you'd think he was fine, sitting there stoic and still. However, if you knew Gray, you could tell something was seriously wrong. He seemed to keep his gazed glued to his notebook, it wasn't open and he wasn't writing. He was just sitting there lamentably, and looked as if he would shatter into a million pieces if someone said the wrong thing right now. His hands were kept folded and tucked under his desk, kept tightly together to prevent shaking. 
Something was defiantly wrong with this picture.

This scene reminded me of the roof...top... incident. Gray stood with eyes out of focus, frozen, and vulnerable. Allowing himself to get hit over and over. Retaliating only out of broken heartedness, or at least that's why I think he fought back. I have no evidence to prove this, and no fact to back it up. Though, I believe, judging purely off of his demeanor at the time, and the look of grief and remorse on his face, that something incredibly traumatic happened to Gray on a rooftop, something that knocked something loose in his head, something that broke his heart.

I looked back at Gray who was trying hard to level his breathing. He was trying so hard not to show his fear. This is how Gray is, he is the bravest person I know. He never shows that he's afraid and strikes-back with a seemingly abundant, never ending, supply of courage. He always faces his fears head on, and uses pure self-control to keep a level head. I guess you could say I envy him for that. 

He doesn't deserve whatever is happening now. Based on the random knowledge I've accumulated over the years, I'd say that he is having a panic attack. I want to help him. I just don't know how. He's in pain, he's hurting, and I'm still just sitting here like a coward. I can never help him. Not with grades, or fights, and not even now. 

He's sitting there stiff as a board, and he seems to be barely breathing. He got in control so fast... Is his self-control really that good? Or, has this happened enough for him to know what to do and how to react? Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind. It's crazy, and perhaps a little stupid. But I want to help Gray, I need to. I need to face my fears as well.

I looked at him again, and then around the room. No one is in here, it's just me and Gray. I really don't know if I should do this, I don't know how he'll react. Without given myself another second to doubt my actions, I turn to Gray and pull him into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his thin torso and waited. He stayed stiff and frozen for only a second more before he wrapped his arms around me as well and rested his head on my shoulder. To my surprises me whispered
 "I'm sorry." it was so quiet you wouldn't have been able to hear it over the sound of a pen drop.

"What do you mean?" I asked, was he really apologizing for being sad; for needing a hug?

"I'm sorry you have to deal with me right now." he replied just as quiet, not making any attempt to leave the hug.

"Don't apologize for being sad Gray!" I quickly said, everyone was sad sometimes. I squeezed him tight and held him close. Gray was one of the best friends I had ever had, he's stood up for me, purposely talked and hung out with me, and he's even fought for me. If he needed a moment to break down, I'd be here for him. 

Who knows how long we stayed like that. The only reason I let go was because of the bell. No one came in until after, and barely anyone was here today anyway. Though, he seemed to have stabled and was bit better now, he still looked at today's work with a wave emotions, threatening to crash into the shore, the wall, he put up to hide his emotions from the world, a wall that threatened to come crashing down.

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This was kinda long, that's fine though because I love this story now. Anyway, It took me a bit but I finally got it uploaded, YAY. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day or night or evening, whatever.