The boy in the back

Chapter 6: Calm

All of us look between eachother, confused, unsure of what just happened.

"Did we make him mad?" Arlo bites his bottom lip.

I shake my head, "No, it's something else."

None of us know what to think or understand. Without any information, we have no idea how to help or what's going on.

"I'm gonna go find him." I speak before my brain thinks.

To my surprise everyone nods in agreement that i should go.

I slowly get up and i go down the halls.

I go to his locker, he isn't here. I wait for a boy to come out the bathroom and i ask if someone else is in there, no one else is.

I open the door to the classroom near Henry's locker and i freeze.

I see Henry curled up into a ball, his knees tight against his chest, his head against his knees as he sobs.

I slowly walk over.

He doesn't notice me, i don't even think he knows i'm here.

He bites his legs, trying not to make a noise and he tugs at his hair.

"Henry," I whisper.

He looks up at me as tears run down his cheeks and his entire body shakes as he sobs.

I sit down infront of him and i gently wipe his cheeks.

He flinches slightly before relaxing into my touch.

"What's wrong?" I whisper.

He just sits and cries.

I don't know how to get him to calm down, i don't know what's made him this upset.

His eyes break from mine and he slowly looks out the window behind me.

I turn my head and i don't see anything but tree leaves.

I look back at him as he just stares out the window.

I wipe his cheeks and he sobs looking back at me.

"Shhhhh, you're okay."

"Please leave." Is all he says.

"I can't leave you alone like this."

"Yes, you can." He shakes his head his lip quivering.

"I'm not going anywhere, i'm right here."

He begins to blink slowly as he rests his head back against the wall, his breathes shallowing back to normal.

I just keep wiping every tear that falls. I let us sit in a calm silence, not like the school cafeteria.

I almost think he's calmed down, and nearly ready to talk.