Neighbour

40.

After cleaning up the floor and throwing the duvet in the washing machine, Eddy had been in Brett's apartment to try and find some clothes for him. Something that didn't smell like cigarettes. Unfortunately, everything he pulled out from Brett’s neatly folded closet smelled like they had been dragged through an ashtray. He picked out a few items anyway, but decided he couldn't wear them with how they smelled. The moment he had brought them inside, though, he left them in a pile in the bathroom, washed his hands, and went to his own closet.

Brett looked up at him from where he sat on the couch with only a blanket wrapped around him. He carefully tilted his head, curious as to why he didn’t have any clothes with him. A moment later, Eddy brought back a hoodie and sweatpants from his own closet and placed them next to him on the couch.

"Everything smelled like cigarettes, but I've brought some over to wash once the duvet is done," he explained gently. "You can borrow this in the meantime."

Brett’s cheeks reddened slightly, and he tilted his head down to look at his reflection in the cup of tea Eddy had made for him.
"You really don't need to do that, it's okay," he said quietly. "I already take so much from you. I'm not really being a good neighbor at all, just taking and taking. How will I ever be able to repay this?"

"I don't expect you to repay anything. I just want you to be okay," Eddy assured again, sitting down next to him and picking up his own tea. It had hopefully cooled down enough to drink now.

"You keep saying that, but why? You don't even know me all that well," Brett protested quietly.

"Well… it's a bit difficult to explain, but… I feel attached to you, somehow," Eddy admitted, his own cheeks reddening now. He knew exactly in what way he meant himself, but he was really trying to not let it be that. It was inappropriate, and he was better than taking advantage of Brett in the vulnerable position he was in. Maybe once Mike was locked up and Brett had his life back, but not now.

Brett glanced up at him for a moment, but brought his gaze back down into the cup soon after.
"Oh," he said softly, considering his next words. "I hope I'm not disappointing you too much, then, by not being what you've thought."

"You're not," Eddy assured gently. "It's attached in the same way you get attached to the people who take the same bus as you to work every day, or the employee at the grocery store you shop at."

Brett nodded a bit.
"That makes sense," he stated, carefully sipping his tea.

"But… this experience with you has made me feel… closer to you," Eddy admitted. "Like we’re friends."

"I see you as a friend," Brett agreed gently. "Nobody has ever been this nice to me before, or taken care of me like this. I really appreciate it, and I hope we can continue to be friends even after everything is done. If that's okay with you."

Eddy couldn't help but smile a bit, looking over at his friend, whose cheeks looked as pink as his lips did.
"That's okay with me. More than okay."