Short Stories

Help Me Through It (Metallica)

(This is not a self insert short story, it is just a platonic one between the guys.)

•

"No one's ever done that to me before."

Lars looked to James with such bewilderment he though maybe he'd done something wrong.

"What?" Lars asked.

James was curled up in the blankets on the couch, in the darkened family room.

"Nobody ever made me feel better like that, like hugged me and told me it'd be okay."

James huddled himself further into the blankets and wiped his fallen tears away.

Lars sighed in disbelief, was he his friends only support? He started to assume something was going on when James stopped being happy like he usually was.

•

"We're gonna do great!" Lars smiled grabbing his drumsticks from the shelf and following James to the car.

"Yeah, I just hope we make at least a bit of money, so I can move out."

Lars didn't care so much about the money, as long as everyone was happy. But James was 16, he didn't need to move out anytime soon.

"Yeah," Lars played it off as though nothing had been said.

•

James led Lars through his brothers house and to the basement so they could practice without disrupting anyone.

"Keep it down or you're out of here James!" His brother called, from upstairs where he could barely be heard.

James had wanted to play music all his life but now he wondered if a 9 to 5 job would be better for him in the long run. At least people would believe in him if he'd done that.

"Maybe we should leave it until another day Lars," James started, "I don't want to upset my brother."

Lars was angry now, why did James do this every time?!

"James," he fumed throwing his drumsticks across the room, "you've been saying that for the past two weeks, do you just wanna give up on this dream you've had since you were a child!"

James huffed, "maybe I do Lars, because what's it all for anyways? Are we just wasting time, when we could have jobs and be making money?"

Lars thought for a minute, he thought James enjoyed all this time they spent together. He felt a pain stab through his heart, maybe they weren't even as close as Lars had thought.

"Do what you want James, if you don't think we can do it then I'm leaving. Is money all that matters to you?"

James never responded.

•

"I'm leaving the country."

Lars struggled to keep up with his taller friend as he walked quickly down the sidewalk.

"No you're not!"

James wheeled around to face Lars, "and why not," there were tears forming in his blue eyes, the streetlights making them seem glasslike, "there's nothing for me here, nobody wants me here."

James turned back around so Lars wouldn't see the tears fall from his eyes, he didn't want his friend to see him so vulnerable.

"I want you here!"

That was enough to convince James to stay.

•

"James I'm here, I'm here if you need me. I don't care if I'm angry, or tired or sick or sleeping! Anytime you want me to tell you it'll be alright, I'm here."

James began crying again and tossed the blanket to the ground, making his way across the room to Lars who was waiting for his hug.

"I'm sorry for putting you through so much shit man," he hiccuped as he buried his nose in Lars mousy mess of hair and held him close.

"It's alright James," he said gently stroking his friends back, "everything is going to be okay."