The Most Formidable Thing

We'll Find a Way

George made the realization a day later, as he was sitting on his bed, recovering from a hangover.

At first, he didn't think much of it — it had to just be a fluke, right?

But the more he thought about it, the more he understood that there was no way it was a coincidence — that in the time Clay had been staying with him, he hadn't thought about her. Not even once.

Months of therapy, counselling, antidepressants and other various prescription drugs had failed him. Instead, the presence of one sole person was healing him; a person who he wasn't even supposed to know beyond a professional relationship.

It was as if the gods were mocking him:

"See? The answer was here all along. Next time figure it out sooner, loser."

Well, if the gods were real, George hated them. If he ever met one of those infuriating deities he swore he would punch that fucker right in its divine face for forcing him through the trauma of the past couple of years.

George wasn't sure what to do. It had been over 2 weeks since Clay had started staying with him by request, and although it was clear that he could see that George was doing much better, George didn't want him to leave.

The past two weeks he had forgotten about every major stress that plagued him; he had never felt so at ease with himself over the span of time. Between the distraction of Sapnap's 5-day visit and his time with Clay, he found himself with very little time to think about the things that drove him crazy with anxiety. And now that he was going back to class in a few days he dreaded the idea of things going back to the way they had been before. He dreaded the nightmares that would inevitably come back, the churning in his stomach as exam season rapidly approached, the numbness of his mind on so much medication. But most of all, he dreaded the end of the semester. Clay was contracted to work with him until the 21st of December, at which point he would return to the security firm in Florida and another person would be sent to replace him for the following semester. Clay had told him that this was company protocol: since Clay had only been working with them for under a year, they had him take on smaller work contracts until they were sure he could handle a long-term one.

When George had received that news a few days ago, he had tried his best to hide the feeling of bitter, crushing disappointment that he felt deep within him.

"George?"

George blinked, looking up. Clay put his phone away in his pocket, approaching him where he lay on his bed. He stopped by the bedside table and looked down at him.

"I was speaking with the guidance counselor and she agreed to let you finish your semester part-time if it's not going well after next week."

George nodded, staring blankly up at the ceiling.

"You alright?"

"Of course." George smiled at him as convincingly as he could. "Thank you. For, uhm...well, everything."

Clay cracked a small smile, still analyzing him with those entrancing green eyes of his. He broke his gaze and looked off to the side, deep in thought, tapping his finger absent-mindedly on the nightstand. George shifted his gaze to the blond's hand, watching the jittery movement of his fingers and listening to the gentle thud they made as they came into contact with the smooth wooden surface. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch his hand, if only to know what it felt like in his.

Uhmmm George??

"Anyways, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

The taller male walked out of sight, and George broke himself out of his thoughts once again. He sat up on his bed, only to be interrupted once again, this time to the sound of his phone ringing.