Pages of You

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Dear Atlas,

I'm back at home now after I went to see Chiron. So here's what happened - I knocked on the door, and his mom answered. She looked exhausted, but that didn't stop her from smiling at me and letting me in. I immediately ran to Chiron's room. This basically happened:

"So you're alive," I said immediately after kicking his door open.

Chiron was on his bed, lying on his side. As soon as he saw me, he sat up quickly. "What are you doing here?!"

I closed his door. His parents didn't seem to worry like my parents about having his best friend in his bedroom. "I was wondering why you weren't in class and you weren't answering my texts. I just assumed you were either dead or dying, so I thought I would stop by to help bury your body... And so I can raid your chocolate stash."

He only stared at me after I said that. And then, I don't know what happened, but the next thing I know, his face crumpled, and he started crying. Atlas, I felt like the most horrible friend ever. I dropped my teasing and immediately ran and threw myself at him. He was under his blankets, so I just laid on top of them, positioned myself behind him, and laid my arms around him.

I've never seen him cry like that, Atlas. I was... terrified. I was so scared that I started silently crying along with him while his body shook from his sobs. Chiron is usually chill, quiet, sensitive, and shy, so seeing him like this hurt me. I didn't know what to do other than hug him. With each passing minute and his sobs filling my ears, I felt my heart tearing into pieces. I vowed to myself that I wasn't going to let anyone hurt my best friend like that ever again. Not if there was something I could do.

After his crying subsided, he shifted and laid on his back so he could turn to look at me. Ugh, Atlas's eyes were so red, and snot was coming out of his nose. Usually, I would tease him about it, but I didn't. Instead, I reached beside his bed where the tissues were and wiped his face for him. He was quiet and just stared at me the whole time. Next thing I know... Okay, I can't explain why I did it. Other than that, I had the urge to do so, and I wanted to wipe the agony off his face.

But I leaned down and kissed him.

No, not a romantic kiss. Nothing I did was romantic. I kissed his cheeks, forehead, and a quick one on his lips. I don't know why I did it. I just... I wanted him to know I was there. That I'm his best friend and I'm not going anywhere. Even when he's in pain.

I think it worked. He lifted his blanket and gestured for me to go under it. He was shirtless, but we didn't make it weird. My best friend needed me. Immediately, he tucked us both in, and we both lay on our sides, facing each other and saying nothing. His face was still red and blotchy from crying, but I was there to wipe them away.

I didn't ask him why he was crying. I think I know why he was. And I think he knows that I know. It was kind of hard not to, especially when I saw fresh bruises clearly on his body.

"I love you, Rosalind. I'm so lucky I have you," Chiron whispered before yawning. All those tears probably exhausted him. "You're the best friend I ever had." I know he meant he loves me as a friend, of course. But it made my heart jump for some reason.

"I'm your only friend," I teased him and squeezed his cheek, hoping that lightened the mood.

It did.

I stayed over for hours until the street lights came on. We just talked, and then he went to his computer to play games, and I did my homework. It was peaceful. But then my dad had to ruin it by calling me and demanding I come home now and threatened to lock the front door if I didn't. Part of me wishes he did, to be honest. I could have just slept over at Chiron's place.