My Link - A Story

The Key to Happiness

I woke up to an empty bed. I wrapped the covers tighter around me and tried to catch some more sleep, but I couldn't because I alone. I just laid there. That was the best I had slept in a long time. All the way through the night and no night mares. I felt good about it. I don't know if it was because I knew I had someone I had talk to or if was because a different place and feeling safe. The past few nights at Josh's I didn't feel at home. I rolled over in bed, stretching out and taking up the whole bed. My stomach rumbled, yeah I was a bit hungry. I got out of bed after some internal war and went to the kitchen. I opened the cabinet finding some cereal I looked for bowl and spoon. I stood at the counter and enjoyed a quiet breakfast. "Well good afternoon sleeping beauty." Ian had walked into the kitchen and started making a sandwich. "Afternoon?" "Yeah, I've already went to work, grocery shopping, and ran a few errands." "Oh. I'm sorry. You should've woke me up." "Nope. You were sleeping really well and I didn't wanna wake up you. I think you needed a good night's sleep." I smiled at him. "So I have some stuff for you." "What's that?" He handed me a piece of paper. "I hate to do this to you, but I don't want you to feel like I'm just doing this to feel bad for you." I looked down at the piece of paper. It was an insurance policy. "I don't understand. What is this?" Ian kinda looked puzzled. "I can't really explain without showing you." He gestured for me to follow him out the front door. It was a really pretty day outside with the sunshine and the withering grass. "What am I looking at?" "Come here." He led me over in the drive way facing the garage. He handed me the garage button. "Press it!" He looked like a kid on Christmas. I laughed at his excitement and pressed the button, waiting for the door to crawl open. "So what do you think?" I was super confused, standing in the driveway staring in the garage. "Okay, I'm too blonde to get what is going on?"

"Nope not at all." Ian handed me a set of keys. "Monday you have to go get your Driver's license switched over with your California address so you can drive." Oh I get it now. I tried giving him back the keys and it broke out into an argument "Take the damn keys Lauren." "I can't accept this. It is way too much." "You can't give it back." "And why the hell not?" "I can't tell you." "Tell me or take the damn keys back." Ian started running his fingers through his hair. "Mari is going to kill me." "What?" Ian finally looked at me. "You are my secret Santa. I thought I would be a good idea roll it, Christmas, and your birthday all together and get you a car. I thought I would be better for you so you won't have to rely on anyone to go and do whatever you want." I felt super stupid and I didn't know how I could possibly top this for him. I started laughing awkwardly. Ian stared at me, "What is so funny?" "Ian, I have to be honest" "What?" "I pulled out your name. Now I don't think I can top this." He pulled me into a hug.

"You don't have to get me something expensive. Just something meaningful. Just spending time with my best bud is enough." We went back inside where I spent the rest of the afternoon cuddling with Daisy on the couch. About six Ian got up and put her on a lead. "Dinner?" I got up and put my shoes on. He threw me my keys. "Why don't you drive your new car?" "I have to know where we are going first." Ian gave me a look, shaking his head. "My mom's. DUH!" We got into my car. Ian had put Daisy in the backseat and got in the passenger side. I opened the garage and backed out the driveway. Ian had to give me directions, I was trying to keep up with my way around. We made it to the house and once again I was greeted by his mom with loving hugs and her ushering us to eat. She has made homemade vegetable soup which was amazing. Tonight was different, Ian sat at the table with us and Daisy laid on my feet under the table.

"So Lauren are you starting at the local high school after the first of the year." "No, I only have two credits left, Math and Senior English. So I was going to finish online." Ian's mom gasped. "You are going to miss out on prom!" I didn't think about that one. I wanted to do something formal, but I didn't have a date. "Eh, I don't know. I'll think about it though." "I would be so excited! Someone at this table didn't go to their prom." Ian stared at his food. His mom seemed upset. I guess I would be too if my son missed out on one of the most important moments in high school. Ian got up, "Well, I'm going to bed." He left the room. I helped his mom clean the kitchen and put everything away. "So I take it we are spending the night?" She shrugged. "I guess so I don't think he is going to change his schedule just because you live with him." "What do you mean?" She looked at me. "Dinner is here every night, and sometimes he spends the night. I am glad he won't be alone at home a lot anymore. Can you feed Daisy for me?" I guess Ian was lonely. He did live alone and Anthony had left him to live on his own. I scooped food in Daisy's bowl, and then continued to put away dishes.  When I finished I went to find Ian. I found him in his room at his desk working. I knocked on the door even though it was open. He turned around. His cheeks were red and puffy, like he had been crying. "Hey you." He tried smiling, but I knew that was fake as hell. I guess I hadn't really noticed, but Ian was just as broken as I was. He was bullied in school, he lives in Anthony's shadow, and in general he had no one but his mom. "Hey Ian." I crossed the room and sat on his bed, looking around. Not much to it. "Can I ask you a question?" Ian turned to look at me. "Yeah I guess." "Why is it that you don't have a girlfriend? I mean there has to be hundreds of girls just dying to meet you." Ian looked at his feet and was quiet for a while. "In all honesty, I'm tired of being played. Dating a crazed fan girl is not a good idea. Because they don't know me for me. I am not 'Ian from Smosh' the crazy silly guy that wants to make people laugh. I am just Ian the guy who is the shy loser who hates everything about himself. Yeah I love my job and making people smile and happy is what I love to do. I just feel like I mask my real person. Like no one can see the real me." I looked him in the eyes, keeping silent for the longest. "I see the real you." When I look at Ian, I see me. A broken person who doesn't know where or when their past is going to come back and bite them in the ass.

"I know, and I see you screaming on the inside. I watched Joven be blind to you crying the other day and it hurts me. I guess that's why I brought you to meet my mom. I figured she would be able to help you more than I could." I crawled under the cover and motioned for Ian to join me. We laid in silence for a while. "Thank you Ian." "For what?" "Being there for me." I felt his tears hit my cheek. "I wouldn't want it any other way."