Pages of You

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Dear Atlas,

It's me again. I know I just wrote to you hours ago. After I wrote that last entry, I sat on the swing and stared at you. I stared at what I wrote. Minutes later, I felt familiar hands on my back gently pushing me, making me swing. I tossed you on my backpack and turned around to see Chiron giving me a small smile as he continued to push me on the swing.

I nearly cried Atlas.

He went after me...

He doesn't hate me...

My best friend didn't leave me...

But I hate crying in front of people, so I made sure not to do that, haha!

He waited for me to swing toward him so he could wrap his arms around me from behind, stopping me and the swing. He tucked his face against the side of my neck, inhaling deeply. I felt my lips trembling and my eyes threatening to water again, so I inhaled deeply with him and tried calming my emotions. I felt Chiron's arms tighten around me, pressing my back close to him as he breathed, not saying a word.

He stayed with me like that. He was just holding me from behind while I sat on the swing, my legs dangling and barely touching the ground. When he did let go of me, it was so he could walk around me and stand in front of me. He had a small bag with him and gave it to me with a shy smile.

I got off the swing (clumsily because I was too short to touch the ground) and opened it. I may have made a choking sound seeing what was inside. It was so simple, yet I felt a small tug on my heart. He made me a chocolate croissant. He must have made it last night because I didn't remember seeing him make any today.

"I'm sorry," I told him, my voice betraying me.

"What for?" He asked.

I wanted to say, 'for having me as your friend'. Instead, I said, "For what you witnessed earlier today."

He merely shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets, "I witnessed a father spewing nonsense filth to his daughter. Such horrible, nonsense filth."

I swallowed hard, my emotions about to betray me again. But he stepped closer and said, "Everything he said is wrong. You're the best person I've ever met. Keep that mind of yours strong, Rose. Don't listen to him."

I willed myself not to cry.

"You're amazing, you're beautiful, and you're everything to me."

I could have sworn I heard his voice crack at the end. I then felt the tip of his fingers under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"Je suis toujours en admiration devant toi." He told me.

I didn't know what he said, but my face crumpled, and the tears finally came. He immediately drew me to him tightly. I knew that if I were going to talk, sobs would come out. Instead, he brushed my tears away like I did for him before.

After I regained control, I stepped away from his embrace and looked at the delicious pastry he made for me. He must have known all the dark thoughts I've been thinking. I realized right then that nobody knows me better than Chiron.

Chiron was silent for a few minutes before saying, "Best friends forever?"

I let out a shaky laugh, looking up at him. "Best friends forever."