Stranger Nights

Chapter 28

The fifth and final day was the saddest.

It was late at night when Freddy heard someone get up. At first he thought It was Aaeesha, but when he turned around he saw Henry walking out the doorway. Freddy licked his lips and turned back around to face the books, but curiosity got the better of him and he tiredly got up.

Goosebumps formed on his skin as soon as the cold air hit him, but he still followed Henry.

Henry went into a room with white walls and a stained carpet.

Aaeesha called it the art room.

The paintings varied. There was paintings of the sun, hands, smiles, and the stars. One painting was of a girl with long red hair in a field of dandelions. She looked like she was singing. Freddy didn't focus too much on those though, he was focusing on the boy who had just opened the window.

Henry was wearing sweatpants and about five different kinds of sweaters, but those were not enough to keep him warm against the onslaught of cold he had just let in.

"Henry?" Freddy asked gently. Henry jumped at the sound of his voice, but quickly smiled at him.

"Oh, hey Freddy." Henry said quietly. The white curtains seemed to be dancing around Henry making him seem like a ghost. Henry nose was red and so were his cheeks.

"Why did you open the window?" Freddy asked trying to put some edge to his voice, but came out too soft.

"I just really needed some fresh air." Henry said running his fingers through his already messy hair. Freddy thought about for a moment.

"Alright." he said walking over to Henry. "Scooch over."

Henry did and they stood there like that for a long time, neither of them willing to move no matter how cold it was.

"Freddy...." Henry started looking outside. Freddy grimaced at how soft his voice was. "You've been avoiding lately...d..do you not like me..."

"No!" Freddy said quickly. Henry looked at him like he was lying. And well before he could hold it in Freddy Elliott slipped out something gentle,"I'm just scared."

Freddy realized what he said when it was too late to take it back and he looked over to Henry who's confusion quickly turned to shock then to something else, but Freddy didn't see it because a white curtain flew between them and covered his face.

When Henry was revealed to him again his hair was dancing wildly and he was licking his lips. Then a curtain flew in between them again like ghost and Freddy's heart was beating so fast it hurt.

Now Henry took a step closer to him and so many words ran through Freddy's head that he couldn't think straight.

Not normal.

Just like your father.

Normal.

Sin.

Wrong.

You fucking love him.

You could be his first love.

I love you.

The last one was the loudest and the brightest. It screamed in his head as Henry ran fingers through his hair and Freddy brushed his hand against the others.

I love you.

And it got louder and drowned all the other voices in his head as he leaned into him.

Sin

And Freddy stopped. He looked at the boy he was about to kiss. The boy he was about to kiss.

He backed away and watched Henry's face twist in worry.

"Freddy? What wrong?" Henry asked reaching out to touch him. Freddy flinched away from his touch and watched Henry's eye's look hurt.

'You're wrong. We're wrong.' Freddy thought, but all Freddy could choke out was a "I don't know." Before quickly going into the living room putting on a pair of shoes and running away.