The Way That Gravity Pulls (Creek FanFic)

Chapter 12: Love's A Bitch

"Uh hey," Kyle said awkwardly as he rubbed his eyes with his sleeve, trying his best to dry his wet face. "What uh...what are you doing here?"

"Uh...I live here," I said as I began to walk down my driveway and over towards him.

He looked up at my house behind me. My front door was still wide open, projecting light out onto the porch and into the yard. My upstairs window flashed different colors from my T.V. Craig was probably up there watching another movie.

"Oh you live here? I didn't know that you lived on this street."

"Um...yeah. I do.."

"Oh...okay."

Kyle's almost blue lips quivered and his teeth chattered. He cringed as the harsh wind pushed up against his back. I don't know what was darker; the tips of his icy fingers or the bags under his eyes. He looked sick. Not just physically, but mentally.

"Um, are you...are you okay?" I asked as I watched his eyes turn glossy with tears.

"Yeah. I'm great," he muttered as he forced a smile and then turned to leave. "I need to be getting home. I'll see you tomorrow if school isn't canceled again."

I don't exactly know why, but I just couldn't bring myself to let him walk away.

"Wait, Kyle...you're...you're damp and c-cold...you can come inside if you'd like. Well, at least to warm yourself up a little."

No! What the hell am I doing? Craig is still in the house!

"That's real nice of you dude, but I just need to go home and go to bed," he sniffled.

He wasn't sniffling because of the cold. He was sniffing because he had been crying. I could tell the difference.

"You're gonna freeze to death before you even make it to your block man." I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder. My hand stung from the frigidness of his orange jacket. "Hey...are y-you sure that you're alright?"

"Yes...I...really need to get...to get home," he stuttered as he began to hyperventilate, every word followed by a slight hiccup .

"Kyle...dude, look at me..."

"I...I'm sorry...I just...I...just need everything...to stop," Kyle cried out as the tears he had been holding back finally began to fall.

Before I could say another word, Kyle slammed the bundle of flowers he had in his hand down to the ground and began to stomp on them, twisting his foot aggressively so that the stems broke and the petals fell off. I jumped back and twitched as I just stood there, watching him as he cursed and wailed. His screaming was only getting louder as he swung his arms and clawed at his neck, pulling on the collar of his jacket.

"Kyle! Calm down! You're gonna wake the neighbors!"

No. Craig's going to hear you and then see that you're outside of my house.

"I hate this! I hate this! I hate this!"

"Dude shh," I said as I reached over and tried to cover his mouth with my hand. I pulled back when I felt his snot and tears touch my fingers. Kyle then slipped on a sheet of ice, tripped backwards, and fell straight onto his back, landing in the snow. He groaned in pain as he panted like a dog.