Basil

Chapter 6: It T'was Metaphorical

I never took time to think about death. Surely, I've wanted to die a couple times. But I never sat in my bed contemplating how it would feel once I got past the messy, grueling part. Is that normal? Maybe not.

But, now I'm sitting in this empty, dead diner with a cursed boy who just helped me escape only God knows what. I feel awkward. Basil looks normal though, I guess, just his eyes. They're scary. But he took the script well, trying to act laid back and chill. But I saw the tension in his hands as the tired waitress approached us.

"Hi, welcome to Vinny's, can I get you guys something to drink?" She looked at me, and then Basil. But she rolled her shoulders back and sighed. Basil held his head down, lips sealed shut.

"Can I get some hot cocoa..?" I asked, rubbing my hands together. "Sure thing honey, and you?" She turned to Basil and he melted. "Uh... I'm wearing contacts. For a student film. A project."

Both the waitress and I stared at Basil, except I couldn't help but try and dig myself a new home in the booth to hide. I didn't mean he had to say it, only if she was freaked out— Ugh. "I'm not worried baby, this is the least weird thing I've seen all night." She tried to clear the awkwardness with a soft laugh, but Basil didn't respond. He stayed stiff, begging me with his eyes for help.

"He'll have a hot cocoa too..." I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning hot. She jotted it down and started back to the kitchen, leaving us with two menus. "What precisely is that?" He furrowed his brows. I closed my eyes. My head felt as if needles were piercing new holes in my brain and decorating them with dangling jewelry.

"It's just... Hot chocolate. It's milk and chocolate powder." I leaned back, staring at the counter. Basil tried to hide his eyes, brushing his black hair over them. "I've never been this far out... I'm uncertain why I agreed to enter, I believe I was shocked." He tightened his fist in his lap, his jaw tensing as the warm lighting washed over his pale skin.

I sighed. "Basil, it's fine. Nobody is going to remember this in the morning. We just look like two alt kids sneaking out for a midnight snack..." I picked up the menu, tracing my finger alongside the pancakes.

"Alt?" He rose his brow, tugging at his red sweater. "Yeah, like different. Alternative." Sometimes, Basil felt like a child. Or maybe, an AI you teach. What would Uncle Dylan think if I brought him inside?

I looked at his pale, lifeless eyes. Tired and weak, but so full of anxiety. Music cut back in the speakers and a group of men celebrated, laughing together as they got more bacon platters. He jumped, then looked up and furrowed his brows. It was jazz, relaxing and calm.

"Basil?" I furrowed my brows. "Could you hypothetically wear contacts? Like colored ones to look..." I paused to find a word that sounded delicate and gentle, not demeaning or make him feel more inhuman. "Human?" Shit. Worst thing to say. I winced after. The waitress came to the table and set down the mugs. "Decided on any food yet?" She asked, leaning back with a calmer smile. Must be the music for everyone.

"A few more minutes please." I smiled back at her, trying to ignore Basil in the corner of my eyes contemplating everything I've said. "Sure thing."

I didn't mean to hurt his feelings, if I did. I'm not sure. But his lip tugs down for a moment and he feels again, like another teenager sitting across from me. As if we weren't just chased by something seeking to tear us limb to limb. "Hey— do you like pancakes?" I asked, trying to change the mood. "Pancakes?" He reached for the menu, holding it as if he's never touched anything like it before. His fingers, despite shaking, tapping against the laminated surface 3 times.

I snickered behind my menu, searching for something to eat. "Okay,  what do you like to eat?" I wiped under my eye, removing almost all the eyeliner on my waterline. "I don't know... I've mostly been consuming soup." He fiddled with his hands. "I like nutmeg. Nutmeg is soothing, especially when folded into bread." He smiled, a genuine one. It was cute. His cheeks pushed his eyes to squint, a dimple appearing on his right side.