"Armando. Armando wake up. Wake up!" Georgina's voice rose, waking the sleeping boy. Armando quickly sat up and looked around. "What are you looking for darling?"
"Um..nothing ma'am..nothing..I'm sorry for the mess.." he gestured to his muddy footprints across the floor.
"As long as you clean it, it's no bother. However..I am rather upset that you brought another person into my house without my permission." Georgina pointed to the second set of footprints leading from the door to the couch that Armando lay on. "Who did you bring?"
"I..just a friend ma'am..he must have gone home...he wasn't feeling to well when he came over. We didn't do anything miss, just took a nap..we were really tired..." Armando gently rubbing the back of his neck, beginning to lose his train of thought.
"Alright..just please, tell me beforehand my dear.." Georgina took Armando's free hand in hers. The cold feeling of her fingers was almost familiar to him, he just couldn't quite place it. "You need food Armando..come with me and we'll cook something."
Armando stood and went to the kitchen with Georgina, noticing her slight pained expression as she walked. He said nothing, not wanting to upset her. The two ate in silence, Armando zoning out and staring at his plate. He went through his day in a haze, waiting until nightfall to see Everett again. Midnight came and Armando sat in his bed, waiting to hear the creaks of the floorboards from the boy's light footsteps and for the door to push open slowly. Soon, he was on the verge of sleep, slowly tipping over. In his tired daze, he watched the door push open and Everett walk into the room on his toes, crouched over like he's hunting something.
"Hey there babe..you look tired..sorry I couldn't be here earlier..I was resting..everything hurt..." Everett spoke softly, going over to Armando and curling up beside him in bed. "I'll stay with you...as long as you stay with me.." Everett's voice cracked, his body beginning to shake as tears spilled onto the sheets. "Don't leave me..."
