Never Gonna Be Alone

Chapter 29 The Storm Is Coming...

When Laten came home from school at the same day, he found that Chuck was waiting for him. "Hey son. How was school?"

Laten shrugged. "Fine I guess." What could he say? That he wanted to cut? That he kept having erry feelings around Andrew.

Chuck sighed. 'Well I guess that's what I get for shutting him out too much. He does it to me now' Chuck was actually really trying. What can he do to repair Laten's relationship with him? Where was Faith when he needed her?

Laten walked up to his room to open his door when he saw Andrew sitting on his bed. Laten rolled his eyes. "It's kinda creepy how you will wait for me, and not come back at another time."

Andrew chuckled. "What's wrong with waiting?"

This guy was always trying to piss him off. "It's makes you more creepy!" He threw his bag aside, and leaned against the door. "I'm still not talking to you."

Andrew chuckled. "I'm not one to give up."

Laten narrowed his eyes. "Nor am I, so this should be fun."

Andrew smiled. "How about a hint about yourself? Like, do your teachers know about your cutting?"

Laten narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything. Staying true to his word that he still wasn't talking to him.

Andrew chuckled. "I'll take that as a no. Come on. Sit with me."

Laten leaned on the door.

Andrew shrugged. "You're choose. So, I've created this little game." He got a sheet of paper of from his briefcase with the numbers one through ten. "I'm going to ask you a question about you, and, on a scale of one to ten, you tell me if its right, or if its wrong. Five and below, I get it wrong. Five and above, I get it right."

'I hope this works.' Andrew thought.

Laten stood there for a moment. 'Should I do this? I don't want to give this guy too much information since its none of his business.'

After another moment of thinking, Laten sighed. "Fine." Laten went to Andrew and took the paper, and placed it right in front of himself.

Andrew thought of what to ask. After a long moment, he finally said, "You are starting to trust me?"

Laten grinned, and pointed to the 1 on the paper. 

Andrew nodded. "You will answer all my questions?"

Laten again, pointed to the number 1.

This went one for a long period of time. By that time, Laten has sat down on his bed, but a good distance away from Andrew.

Andrew saw this, and immediately took advantage. He quickly slip to Laten's side, and put an arm around him.

Laten immediately tensed up.

"Aw, come on now. Don't do that. You will one day trust me?" Andrew asked, still playing the game.

Laten, once again, pointed to the number one.

Andrew put his hand on Laten's knee, and rubbed it. "You will one day." He leaned close. "I'm sure of it."

Laten got up, and dashed to the door. "Get out!" 

Andrew sighed. 'Dammit. I did it too soon.' He walked to the door, and swiped his hand along Laten's waist, and walked down stairs.

Laten slammed the door. 

What the hell?

Andrew passed the living room, but Chuck stopped him. "Any luck with getting him to open up?"

Andrew smirked. "I think I got through to him."

Chuck was surprised. Looks like Laten finally let it go. Chuck sighed. "Thank you so much! You don't know how much I was stressing over that." He went over to his friend, having no idea what happened just a few moments ago in Laten's room, and hugged him. "Tomorrow sound good?"

Andrew just smiled, and hugged back, and headed out the door.

Chuck shut the door, and breathed a sigh of relief. At least Laten was now starting to talk.

Back in the room, Laten immediately rushed to his phone and dialed Tankie's number. 

BEEP.......BEEP.....BEEP...  

"Hello?" Tankie answered on the other end.

"I need to see you! Tonight!" Laten said, rather loudly.

Tankie was a little shocked. "Okay, no problem. Wanna meet at the pool?"

Laten was starting to panic. "I don't care where the hell we meet at. I just need to talk to you."

Tankie knew something was up. Laten was never this....panicked? Excited? Emotional. He had never heard Laten this emotional. Not knowing what it was, Tankie tried not to show how nervous he was through the tone that he was speaking in. "Uh...sure. Okay. We'll meet at the pool tonight."

Laten nodded. "Okay. Um...I'll...see you there..." Laten then hung up the phone. 

Was he over-reacting? Was the action just a misunderstanding? Before he could really think about it, his father came knocking on the door.

Laten jumped. "Come in."

Chuck came in through the door. "So, I talked to Andrew."

Laten's eyes widened. "Wh-what'd he say?" He stammered. 

Chuck sighed, and smiled at his son. "He said you were starting to open up some more."

Laten thought about if he should tell his father what went on in the room. 'What if it was an over-reaction? What if I screw up things over again? Maybe I shouldn't tell him until I know for sure.....' 

Laten just smiled. "Yeah. We're starting to understand each other."

Chuck smiled. "I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that." Chuck wished he had the words to describe how he felt right at this moment. He could  burst into tears at the fact that his son was getting help! Really getting help. For his self-harming, but another thought came into his mind. "You know, you can tell him about your mom, and maybe your P.T.S.D . This isn't just about your cutting problem."

Laten winced at the word 'problem'. Laten still didn't think it was a problem for him. If anything, stopping was the problem.

Laten was a bit angry at even the thought if talking to this guy the way he came onto?..him. But Laten put on his best fake smile. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind."