Psyker

6 - I Like You

"So, Ms. Ricci-"

"You can call me Mia, Mr. Burns!" Mia interrupted with a smile and a mouthful of fries.

He smiled back politely, "Mia, how have you been holding up?"

Her smile wavered slightly, but she maintained it with a gentle shrug and a quick wipe to her eyes, "I'm managing. It-It's not fair that two of my-I'm just glad that Link is okay, right now."

He nodded, keeping his hands snugly to his lap, "I've never had to experience what you have, Mia, but if you ever need to talk, you can always come and see me," He looked around at the rest of us, "And it looks like you have a great group of friends to support you, as well."

Alec grinned, "The best of the best! Mia is in good hands, Mr. Burns. A question, though," he munched on some fries as he handed me an open cup of vanilla pudding with a spoon in it.

I took it gratefully and started eating it, trying to go slow despite the near animalistic urges to slam the entire thing in two bites.

"Yes, Mr.-"

"Alec, please! In fact, I think we would all be quite happy if you just used our first names. Not that we don't appreciate the formality-Shouldn't you be at the school right now?" Alec asked.

Oh yeah, it's Friday isn't it? That's a good point!

"Well, that's unfortunately why I can't stick around for much longer. I don't have a class during third period, so I used that free hour to go to the store, and now that the students are eating lunch, I'm taking the opportunity to check in with your little group. But I'll need to leave soon to make it back in time for fifth period-" Mr. Burns explained.

"Mr. Burns!" Mia interjected, appalled at what she was hearing.

"W-Yes?" He asked, surprised and confused.

"You didn't have to do all that-Here, at least eat your lunch while you're here!" She practically shoved one of the over-filled trays Alec had just fetched his way.

He raised his hands up and shook his head, "No-That's quite alright, in fact, I'm sure skipping a meal or two would be good for me! In any case," He averted his focus to me entirely.

"How are you, Link?"

I took a deep breath, swallowing the pudding and trying to deal with the stinging burn in my throat as it went down my esophagus. Mr. Burns's dark brown eyes held such a deep level of concern that it was hard not to cave to my weaker emotions as I looked into them.

"I'm...Alive, Mr. Burns," I lightly traced the scar on my chest through the bandages wrapped around basically my entire torso.

"Is there anything that I can do for you?"

I forced myself to grin, trying to fight the tears that were already streaming down my face at the offer, "N-No sir, I'm-"

My voice cut out, and my face flushed as the tears started pouring down my cheeks relentlessly. I felt my nostrils flair as my emotions got the better of me, and my chest painfully convulse while I began to cry. Alec quickly wrapped his arms around me, hugging me gently as I whimpered.

"I-I'm sorry, Link, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay, Mr. Burns, he's always been like that," Mia explained with a sad smile.

I shut my eyes tight as I buried my face into Alec's shoulder. He lightly traced circles on my back and shushed me while I cried.

"I think I understand," Mr. Burns said after a short pause, "It can be overwhelming to be offered support when you feel like you have so little."