The Tree

Rand sighed as he glanced at the glasses next to him as he sat against the tree. Golden beams of light shone down onto them from through the leaves.

"Why me?" He glanced up to a blurry Kian as he felt his eyes start to water."Why the hell would you choose me of all people to befriend? And how the hell did you end up liking me after all the shit I pulled on you?" He changed his gaze over to Rolan."Why?"

Kian shrugged as he shifted to hold his guitar properly."I dunno, dude. You were an interesting guy. No matter how much of an asshole you were. I just felt drawn to you." He strummed a gentle chord as he crossed his legs.

Rolan looked over to make eye contact with Rand."I remember when I first met you, I didn't like your attitude. Like, at all."

"Oh thanks. That makes me feel so much better, asshole." Rand glanced to the side as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve, the denim scratching his cheeks.

"But."

"Oh there's a but." He reached into his pocket to pull out a cigarette before realizing he had none on him.

"But I did, however, like you as a person. I mean, you were a jerk to me, yeah. But you also had your moments of being really nice..." Rolan trailed off as he picked at the blades of grass around him, gently pulling them apart.

"Oh that's definitely a reason to enjoy being around someone. It was pity wasn't it? I'm not one who likes to be pitied, Rolan!" Rands gaze snapped over to his friend who was looking back at him.

"Timothy. If I didn't like you. I would have stopped hanging out with you both a long time ago." He paused for a moment, realizing how harsh his tone had been. Rand glared at him and wiped his eyes again before picking up his glasses to wipe them off.

"Sure." Rolan let out a scoff at the response as he looked over to Kian for some sort of help.

"Look dude, this isn't my argument! You were the one who said you didn't like him at first." He put his fingers up without letting go of his guitar. Rolan scowled before sighing and looking back at the grass.

"I'm just saying, I like you now. I started enjoying your company when you stopped pretending to be an angel child for your mom, and you started being yourself."

"Lame response. I don't believe it." Rand slid his glasses back on as he looked over at Rolan, able to see his face clearly again. That didn't last long though, as his tears made the glasses misty.

"You uh. Rand, you told me something a bit ago..." He sat in silence for a few seconds before Rand spoke up.

"What? I've said a lot of stuff to you." Rolan sighed and sat up straight.

"Stop the nerd shit. Crying. That's the need shit, Timothy Rand doesn't cry over this kind of stuff." Rolan stood up as Kian's music abruptly stopped. Rand looked up at Rolan with a perplexed look.

"What kind of stuff? Wondering why the hell you're sticking around a loser? You've both accomplished so much more than me, even if it's doing lame things!" He stood up to be level with them.

"You know what I'm talking about. Let go." Rand's heart dropped."It's ok. We're your best friends and we're saying let go."

"Yeah dude. Honestly, it's getting kind of tiring. Remember that therapy thing I told you about? It'll help you a lot." Rand bit down on his cheek to keep a loud sob from escaping his throat as he shook his head.

"You can't. You can't leave, you've been around for so long. You can't just go."

"We need to though. You aren't going to get anywhere talking to nothing..." Rolan walked over to Rand and hugged him."It's ok... It's been 2 years, you need to let go." Kian strode over to do the same.

"It's chill dude. You'll find a new Rolan and Kian, just start talking to people again. Who knows, you may get more friends that way... But it is time." Rand nodded and went to hug them back. As his arms settled around them, the cold embrace faded away.

He was truly alone now, for the first time in years.