Silent Secrets ||A Byler Story||

Chapter five

It was the day before school started.

The last day of summer.

Normal kids would be dreading going back to school.  But William was not a normal kid.  In fact, he was pretty far from it. 

"William!  Make sure you have all you're stuff ready for tomorrow!"  Joyce called to her son as she mopped the kitchen floor.

William was in his bedroom getting his school supplies together.  He only had a worn down grey and green backpack.  There were a few rips in it and a few blood stains but William didn't mind. 

After he got his backpack ready he walked out to the living room and put it next to the front door, next to his old white stained shoes.

He walked back into his room, shutting the door only half way.  He decided to pick out his outfit for the next day. 

He grabbed a pair of jeans with a green shirt and his grey hoodie.  It was basic, but he didn't really have much to choose from.

He set the clothes down next to his bed.  He was bored out of his mind.  He made his bed and decided to take a quick shower, after asking his mother.

"You don't have to ask to take a shower.  Go ahead and take one."  His mother smiled.  He nodded and left to go to the bathroom.

He grabbed himself a towel and removed his clothes from his body after turning on the water.  He refrains from looking at his body.  He hated the way his body looked.  Although it was no surprise, he really hated the scars and cuts and bruises that covered his whole body.  He hated the way his stomach looked from the years of never eating a lot.  He hated the way his body was so small.  He hated the way he looked like a weak kid that couldn't do anything for himself.

Pushing these thoughts out of his mind, William quickly took his shower and put on his pajamas for the night.  A grey t-shirt that Jonathan had let him barrow, and black sweatpants.  He hung his towel up, brushed his hair, brushed his teeth, and washed his face. 

By the time he was done with everything it was only eight o'clock.  He didn't want to go to bed that early.  So he went out into the living room to see what was going on.

His mother was writing something down, using a pen and an old book to write on.  She was sitting in the armchair.  Jonathan was watching a movie on tv from the couch.

"Hey William!"  Jonathan smiles.  "Sit down?"  He asks, moving over a bit.  William sits down next to him with a smile.  Joyce put her papers down on the ground and turned to her two sons.

"Alright.  Jonathan, you're school starts at seven-fifteen.  So I'll wake you up at six, you can get ready.  Than I'll wake William up at seven, then drive Jonathan to school.  I'll come back home, and William you'll have to be ready to leave.  We'll leave to drop you off around seven-thirty five."  Joyce plans out.  Both boys agree to the plan and they all watch the movie. 

An hour later, one the movie was over, the three Byers decided it would be best if they all went to bed for the night.  They said their goodnights and all went into their separate rooms. 

William laid down in his bed, pulling the covers up.  As anxious as he was for school, he was also excited.  It was a weird feeling to him, he had never really been excited for anything before.  But this was different.  He was excited to see someone.  Mike.

He hadn't seen Michael since that one day.  He was sort of glad too.  He didn't want Mike finding out that he lived in the house where all the ambulances and cops were at.  So yes, he was glad that he hadn't seen Michael. 

But a part of him was also sad.  Was it just a one time thing?  Probably.  Did he really mean it when he said he hoped we would have classes together?  Probably not.  The whole situation was just confusing and William didn't know how to feel about it. 

The small and fragile boy fell asleep to the crickets outside and the thoughts of Michael Wheeler playing in his mind.

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Word Count: 743
Date Published: 11/27/22