ghosting

ACT I: PART III

ACT I: PART III
chapter 3: to have and to hold

Xavier stayed home the next day. For him, Will's death also hit him hard. He also had to keep an eye on Dustin (he knew that Dustin would leave and then come back late and that worried him) and so he got up from his bed and went through his morning routine like always. There was a light knock on the door and his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He put the plates down and walked to the door.

Eddie was on his door step.

"Hey," Eddie said. He spoke softly and his hands in his pockets. "Can I come in?"

Xavier chewed on his lip and nodded, opening the door further for the older boy. The pair walked into the kitchen and sat down. The silence between the two of them was heavy, neither boy really looking at each other. The younger boy, was picking at his nails and gnawing at his lip. The older boy, was staring at his hands, playing with his rings.

"Um..." Xavier said breaking the silence.

"Right sorry," Eddie said. The older boy pressed his lips together before sighing. "I wanted to check on you."

Xavier's mouth formed an oh and he gave him a soft smile. "Im..." he sighed softly looking up. "Dealing." He turned to look at the clock at the wall and frowned. "Im sorry I'll be right back," he said as he got up.

Dustin hadn't left his room or opened the door. He had heard his radio going off earlier that morning but he brushed it off.

"I swear to god," he mumbled as he knocked on Dustins door.

There was no answer and so he knocked again, hoping he was asleep. He heard the chair from the kitchen and heard footsteps behind him. He grumbled as he opened the door. He let an angry sigh (the breath leaving was shaky) and pinched the bridge of his nose. Like he suspected, Dustin wasn't home.

"Uh..." he heard from behind him.

"I'm sorry Eddie," he said. "Dust... he sneaked out. It makes sense for him to want to be with his friends to grieve but he could've told me."

"Xavi," he whispered. "Maybe, he didn't want to inconvinvce you."

Xavier knew that was right. Dustin had this thing where he hated bothering Xavier and would always move side to side when he wanted to ask Xavier for something, never really looking at the older boy. He nodded his head and his shoulder slumped down. Eddie, who was still behind him, grabbed his hand and led the younger boy to his room. The pair laid down next to each other and Eddie ran his hand through Xavier's hair, mumbling softly about songs he was writing and new campigns.

-

There was frantic knocking, loud knocking that can be heard from his room. Xavier blinked slowly and untangled himself from Eddie, kissing his forehead and walked to the door. He blinked in surprise to Jonathan on his doorstep with red and puffy eyes, his nose was also red; as if the older boy had been frantically pushing his sleeve against it.

Jonathan stared at Xavier, opening and closing his mouth. The younger boy didn't ask any questions for now. He just grabbed his friend by his hand and pulled him, closing the door behind them.

"Sit on the couch," he ordered. "I'm getting you a cup of water."

Xavier hadn't talked to Jonathan yet, the news broke out and he had to comfort Dustin. He knew that Jonathan needed to be with his mom, that he needed his mom to grieve with him and help him. Lost in his thoughts, Xavier cursed softly in surprise when the water overpoured and fell onto the counter. He took in a deep breath and shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He walked back to Jonathan and gave him his cup of water and sat down beside him.