Beyond Bloodline - Unbreakable Bonds

twenty nine

Nigel hadn't felt so blissful in his life. Ever. His days were filled with so much ease. Since his bike was back in commission after another expensive configuring by Theo, he rode early to her house and then rode together with her to school. His time at school was spent basically revolving around her and vice versa, so much so that Alfie and Aries just avoided the duo altogether. Glenn and Cassandra were more amused than anything.

Then after school, he took her back home first or if she happened to have a shift first, dropped her off at which particular part-time and waited until she was done. Despite it all, he still felt like they hardly spent enough time together. That particular Wednesday after school, she'd persuaded him to go on ahead after dropping her at Tinley's since his phone had been buzzing every minute for the past ten.

Begrudgingly, he listened, accepting the kiss she pressed to her lips and reciprocated just before she withdrew, giggling, and disappeared through the sliding glass doors. "What's the matter?" He asked on picking, tone quite unpleasant despite it being Aries. He'd been acting off since earlier in school and had refused to open up no matter how any of them pushed. Now, he wanted to talk?

"It's nothing," he said.

Nigel arched a brow but waited.

"I—" There was a sudden, sharp intake of breath. "I dialled wrong."

"Twelve consecutive times?"

"Just," there was a short wheeze and Nigel's brow just furrowed hard. "Forget it." The call disconnected with a click and he just knew there was something, even if he'd ended up changing his mind about confiding in him. Nigel found himself taking one more reluctant glance at Hayley swerving skillfully between tables before getting on his bike and heading for Aries' place.

It remained as gloomy as ever, curtains tightly drawn and not letting in an inch of light, sparking that same desolate feel. The little his eyes could manage, he soon noticed the living room was still quite tidy and took that as a plus. Maybe he was fine this time. He corrected that train of thought the moment he wound up in his friend's room.

He could hardly find an empty spot on the ground bereft of broken furniture or broken glass where he could put one foot in front of the other. After managing to pick his way through the mess, he came to crouch in front of him where he was sitting in what was possibly the only clean space on the floor, at the foot of the bed with his knees raised.

"Did you break anything?" he asked, raking a glance over his body and turning up empty with his evaluation as he was wearing a baggy sweater and wasn't sporting any visible injuries. On his face and neck, at least.

"It's fine."

"Are you trying to convince yourself?" he snorted, pursing his lips unhappily. "Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere," he finally confessed, shrinking back against the frame of his bed and wincing. "I– I can't breathe."

"Hospital?" He was just about to try helping him up on seeing him slowly nodding when there was a loud slam downstairs, rattling the house. Aries instantly withdrew on himself, shaking his head slightly.

"You should go," he urged, tone hoarse and raspy with each strain it took to get the words out with the hollow way his chest felt.

"Aries."

Heavy footsteps. Thudding up the stairs. Approaching the door. "Nigel, please," he pressed, not wanting anything to happen to him at the very least. "I'll be fine. Promise. I can handle it."