McGee: Drawn to Life! (Special)

Chapter Seventeen -FINALE-

NICHOLAS (Narrating):
[While McGee's night had come to a happy end, mine dragged on well past the storm that day. My heart was torn, and my nerves were shot. I knew where McGee had gone, but did he arrive safely? Not that he could die--but then again, that one day, back when I was twelve--

A-anyways... needless to say, I got no sleep that night, laying in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, and going through every negative and scary thought possible until logic started to take over. My heart was broken, but in the deepest part of it, I knew I had made a terrible mistake and allowed my fears and jealousy to get the better of me--lessons I thought I had learned with McGee all those years ago, but it seemed even in my forties, I still had lots left to learn. The truth was, this was all new for me, but I had failed to take my own advice often shoved on McGee for all these years; I leaped before I could think...

I would spend the next morning getting to school extremely early. It wasn't like I was sleeping anyways, and I wasn't sure what to expect from the newfound friends; would they show up at all or skip out again? I had to remain patient and see... and trust that I had let my little friend know enough times in our time together that I wanted him near, and that now was no exception.]

~ ~ ~ 

NICHOLAS:
*He sat behind his desk, a thick sketchbook on the oak before him. His eyes were heavily bagged and his hair was sticking out in places, but his face was flat, as though too tired to project any emotions anymore. The sun had barely begun to shimmer down on the school, indicating the first bell was no more than thirty minutes away, and still no sign of the pair. The teacher was beginning to lose hope when suddenly, he heard a soft knock on the art door, and then the sound of timid feet stepping inside. He let out a sigh of both frustration and relief as he went to speak but he felt his lips clamp like a vice.* 

ELLIE:
*Her hands gripped the straps of her backpack so tightly her knuckles were white, feeling her newfound friend perched on her shoulder, a reassuring hand on her cheek. She could feel McGee tense and tuck himself in slightly. Mr. Martin looked terrible; were his eyes puffy? Was he crying at one point? His hair was all over the place despite the evidence of best efforts to control it with the shiny streaks of gel in some places, even his clothes looked a little more wrinkled than not.*

G-good morning Mr. Martin--

NICHOLAS:
*He went to stand but refrained, hovering a moment before sitting back in his chair, his one foot bouncing under the desk in a wreck of nerves. The mop of blond hair hid between Ellie's locks and cheek. He wasn't sure what to say, the two teens seeming much on the spot themselves.*

ELLIE:
*Her cheek turned towards McGee, giving him a soft quick nuzzle before she offered her palm to him.*

It's going to be okay...

*She whispered.*

Just like I promised--

MCGEE:
*He looked up at her a moment before letting out a large sigh and walking onto her palm where she placed McGee on the desk. He felt suddenly very exposed as he stood now between the only two humans in the world that knew of his existence. When he saw the state Nicholas was in, the guilt, however, only settled in more.*

N-nicholas...I'm...I didn't...I just--! 

*However, without warning, he felt the air shift around him as two hands clasped under him and he felt the rougher skin of the adult against his, the ground under him shaking as Nicholas shook in short sharp breaths. Was he...hugging him?*

N-nick?

*He slowly outstretched his palms to his friend's face.*

NICHOLAS:
*So much for the tough front he had wanted to showcase. Seeing his friend unscathed, though, brought so much relief to him, it was impossible to hide. A few tears fell from his eyes, grateful he didn't have to hide them as he had had to do from Tamara all evening.*

I'm so..so...sorry... I know you left because I made you feel unheard. I just... and this...!

*He exhaled, feeling McGee's hands on his cheek as he hugged him back now.*

I'm just so glad you're okay!