Medoran Chronicles Bear & Declan

4

Just as he said he would, Declan turned up that night at Bear's dorm. Bear opened the door to find Declan leaning against the doorframe.

"Hey Teddy Bear." Declan said with a grin.

"Hey Buttons..." Bear also said with a grin.

"I still don't understand why you chose that name. Just promise never to use it in front of anyone else. You know how bad I'll get it if Kaiden finds out. He'd tease me for the rest of eternity." Declan said.

"Yeah, yeah, fine. Same goes for you though. Jordan would do the same. Great friends we have..." Bear told Declan while he was walking over to his bed. Declan could still see the hurt in Bear's eyes. The pain of his Dad's death. No matter how hard Declan tried to help, no matter how much help he was doing, he could still always see the just in Bears eyes. Even if he tried to smile and pretend like it didn't bother him, even if he tried to put on a smile. Some pain never goes away, he would know. He just hoped Bear would be back to his smiley self soon.

Bear could feel his eyes droop. He had not been sleeping well and was having a lot of issues. All he knew was he would never see his dad again. He was gone. Bear knew that his dad died how he would have wanted to. In battle, protecting his family. That didn't take away the pain. He had been trying to keep a smile on his face and be strong, but it was really, really hard sometimes.

Then he looked at Declan. Declan had always been there for him, listened to him, been a shoulder to cry on. Declan had understood and helped him get through it, had taken his mind off it and gotten him to do things he didn't want to do, even if it would have helped. Declan was always there. He stared into Declan's loving eyes. Declan stared back. A streak of moonlight highlighted Declan's caring smile. They were just sitting there staring into each others eyes, lost in their thoughts.

Then Jordan walked in. They broke concentration and turned to look and Jordan, who walked in with a grin spreading across his face.

"Sorry I interrupted, but I gotta go meet with D.C.. You two kids have fun..." Jordan said as he winked at them and left. Embarrassed, Bear put his hand to the back of his neck and winced.

"Sorry about him, he doesn't have any filter. The idiotic, big mouthed, son of a-"

"I get it, Kaiden would do the same." Declan said. Bear's embarrassed smile dropped again. "What's wrong? Declan asked him.

"Oh, it's nothing...." Bear mumbled.

"Seriously, what's wrong." Declan demanded.

"It's just that, I can't get over the fact that I'll never see my Dad again. Ever. I'll never be embarrassed by him again. Like what Jordan just did. My Dad will never do that again. You've been helping me a lot though. Thank you. I- I- I" Bear wanted to say 'I love you..' so badly. But he couldn't. Declan wouldn't ever feel the same way, right? It would just mess up their friendship. Declan was the only thing helping him get through his trauma with his Dad. Then it would just be awkward.

"I know." Declan said. Then, something rang from Bear's bedside table. Declan looked at the time and it was 10:00. "I had better go soon...." Declan said before turning and walking to the door. He put his hand on the doorknob but,

"WAIT!" Bear called out. Declan turned around, clearly puzzled. "I- I- I-...." Bear strained. This was his time. He had to tell him he liked him. At some point, he would have to. Why not now? He was done waiting. "I-..." Bear gulped. "I like you..."