Sunflower Treehouse | DreamnotFound

The Ferryman

-4th Chapter start-

April 28 2009 

It has been a month since Clay and George met. Their friendship has gotten better overtime, from a simple hello turning into a conversation and a conversation turning into a much more personal talks. It makes him sometimes wonder if all they needed was an icebreaker, like the one happened a month prior. George enjoyed his time with Clay, after all no one ever bothered to learn more about him nor he was the type to share and soften up to other people which just further complicated his relationship situation. 

"George!" That voice. George turned around and met Clay's warm smile with his own. 

"Hello!" 

"You are quite early today.." Clay initiated with his drowsy voice as he rubbed his eyes nonstop. George's eyes scanned his friend's current state, it was evident that he just woke up from what seemed like a deep slumber, oh how he envied him. Messy bed hair hiding in his natural curls, unfixed collar and creased polo shirt beneath a black hoodie, he went out in a rush. 

"I'm right on time.." George chuckled at the other boy. George lifted his left hand up slowly in an attempt to fix Clay's bright blonde locks, the other boy watched with a faint smile. Clay let him, he wanted him to fix it, he wondered if that was why he got up late or if that was why he didn't bother looking at the mirror before leaving the house. Clay wanted to get noticed. As George's fingertips touched his soft hair, a sudden voice called behind him, coming from the bus stop behind George. 

"Clay!" A group of boys called out, smiling as they waved their hands over to the boy. Their gaze at each other was broken as Clay's eyes wandered to meet the crowd, he smiled and waved back. Clay has met new friends, it was no surprise to George since it has always happened to him. He gets acquainted, he befriends them and then they leave when they find someone better. 

George started thinking of himself as Charon, a ferryman who receives the lost poor souls and guides them across the river Styx to the underworld where they meet the other poor souls he has 'successfully guided', more than that he couldn't possibly know, after all he has never left his boat. Except in contrast with Charon, George wanted to make them stay? He was the ferryman but the souls rowed themselves to safety so how could he ask for their payment for boarding his boat? 

"Ok!" Clay shouted back at them. "George, I'll just go talk to them all right?" Clay muttered as he squeezed the other boy's shoulder which made George look at the other boy and mumble in response. 

"Mhm! Sure.. I'll talk to you in scho-" Clay passed by him, nonchalantly. George's eyes followed the boy as he walked away from him, no payment. 

Needless to say, he had better days in school, days that even before he met Clay. In his last period, it was English. He hardly could understand his teacher at this point, his mind was scrambled, he had never been this conflicted on losing someone but upon meeting Clay, his world turned upside down. He rested his head on the desk, he seemingly fell asleep cause before he knew it the last bell of the day was ringing, it woke him up instantly, he saw the other students pack up their things and so he did the same. The teacher looked at him in disappointment, shaking her head with her arms crossed, he gave her a faint smile and a shy nod and booked it. 

He exited the building, hugging some of his english notes close to his chest, he saw Clay at the Entrance at their usual meeting place after classes, however he wasn't alone. George stopped a few meters away from them and turned his back planning to go through the back entrance of the school, he was too late, Clay noticed him before he could take another step. 

"Oh George!" He shivered upon hearing his name. He sharply turned around acting like he didn't see them, he waved a hand and made his way towards them, jogging a bit. 

The other boys looked at George with a faint and awkward smile. Clay presented him to the other boys proudly 

"This is George, you guys!" Clay smiled at him. 

'Damn you' George looked down at the ground and avoided any eye contact, he leaned a bit closer to Clay in hopes of shelter and protection, and he got it. Clay wrapped his arm around him, squeezing his arm tightly. 

"Hello! Nice to meet you George!" They said. They recognized him as the boy who sits alone at the corner of the cafeteria. They smiled at him in a friendly manner but George was quick to deny any friendly attempts once again. After a bit of exchange they bid their farewell to others and the two boys started walking home. 

Their walk was too slow for Clay's liking, he glances at George every now and then but get no response. Their walk was silent and it was an uncomfortable one. The atmosphere was tense and Clay felt it, he thought that they've passed this stage of the friendship but evidently he was wrong. He relievingly sighed at the sight of his house just a few meters ahead. He glanced once more over to George, still looking forward with a stoic face. 

They stopped in front of George's house, there was silence. Clay wondered how he would say goodbye to the unresponsive boy. George, without any eye contact nor abrupt goodbyes, started walking to his door, subconsciously Clay quickly grabbed the other boy's hand, struggling to say any words to follow his actions. Suddenly a sniffle, then a whimper, Clay's eyes widen at the sight of the overwhelming sadness painted on George's face. 

"I don't want you to go" the other boy finally broke down, tears streaming on his cheeks followed by loud consecutive sniffles. 

"I-I'm here.." Clay shot him with a confused look and faint smile. 

"You're not-" George interrupted the other boy. "You're wandering away already.." he continued, trying to maintain his stoic face but to no avail. Clay's eyes widened as he pulled him closer, all he could do now was this. He hugged him tightly. 

"As long as I'm welcome, I'll be here as long as you need me" he reassured the other boy. George slowly grasps the other's hoodie as his hand travels up to his hair which he has been meaning to touch since this morning. As soft as silk and smelled like pure honey extract. Clay retracted his arm on his hoodie sleeve, drying George's tears carefully with a few soft dabs. 

"Don't cry.. your smile makes me smile and I like smiling.." Clay shrugged his shoulders and looked away with a faint blush. George's eyes widen, he hugged his now wet and crumpled English notes tightly on his chest 

'My smile..?' The word echoed and bounced inside his head. George looked at him in disbelief, he nodded as he looked at the ground. Clay closed in for another friendly hug that lasted shorter than the other one. 

"So don't cry ok?" George nodded and so did Clay. 

"I'm going now, but if you need anything, I'm just across the street.." Clay smiled at him, he softly slapped George's left arm and gave him his  trademark two finger salute as he crossed the street and into his house. George grasped the notes on his chest, further crumpling the poor papers as he looked at the treehouse, 'Do not enter' was written on the doorway, he smiled. He felt as if his endless boat trips across the river had finally come to an end. Clay, a bright, sunny soul seemingly not lost anymore, found his comfort on George's boat. George needed no other payment

'He'll stay' the young brunet smiled in pure happiness as the little candle of hope kindled inside his core. George knew that he wasn't alone anymore.

-4th Chapter end-

Word Count : 1,355