drifted | M.R.

017 | comfort

trigger warning: underage drinking
word count: 818

Within a month, everything had been taken from her. She didn't know when the hours turned into days but she let it happen. Mattheo still hasn't come home, but it didn't affect her. She began to become used to being alone.

She knew she was gonna have to do this without the comfort of her boyfriend, but she also started thinking it may be better that way. When she felt the smallest amount of recovery coming, there was always something that pushed her further back.

Belle put a mattress on the ground and stayed there every night. The Malfoy girl had blankets and pillows on it, her things in the bathroom. She hated the idea of Brooke being alone so she started staying. The girl didn't mind. It was comforting, in a way, to have her there.

Mattheo was staying with Narcissa. The older women would comfort him while he cried, trying to get him to go to the person he needed and who also needed him. Mattheo knew he should be with his girl, but he just couldn't be. When he was with her, it felt like he couldn't express the pain he was feeling and he needed to cry.

But he also felt an intense amount of guilt.

He felt guilty for knowing the girl needed him, and just not doing anything. He was surprised no one had called his phone. If he was being honest, that hurt him a little. A knock echoed through the manor, causing Narcissa to perk up.

She went to the door and opened it, revealing Theodore Nott. He was smiling sadly, making eye contact with Mattheo. Tears coated the chocolate haired boys eyes. He got up, walking over to Theodore.

"I knew you were going-" He couldn't finish before Mattheo was engulfing him in a large hug. Narcissa smiled softly.

"I'll be in the kitchen making lunch." She nodded slightly before leaving the boys. Theodore hugged the boy tighter. Mattheo pulled away, tears streaming down his cheeks. It broke Theodore's heart because he never saw him cry like this.

"Sit down," he said with a gentle tone. The non-crying boy shut the door and sat down next to Mattheo, who was wiping his cheeks and nose, sniffling. Mattheo pulled a pillow onto his lap and hugged it tightly. "Talk to me."

He shook his head, tears filling his eyes once again as they began falling. He clutched the pillow tighter to his chest, squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm failing her," a sob escaped his throat.

"Theo..." Theodore whispered with sympathy in his eyes. He knew he was talking about Brooke and it honestly hurt his heart to know both sides. To know they both needed each other. But something was always in the way. "You're not failing her. You are grieving and-" He shook his head.

"I'm failing her. She needs me and I'm not there for her." His whole body shook as he let his mind race. Theodore sighed gently, pulling Mattheo to him. He knew that the boy didn't like to be touched but he needed it at the moment.

Mattheo curled into Theodore, sobbing softly. The boy didn't know what to do. He felt weak for crying but his body didn't know how or what else to do. He couldn't tell someone what he was feeling because there weren't words to describe it.

So instead, he simply just cried.

Theodore stayed there for a good hour, just holding the crying boy. He was still hugging the pillow, curled against the only person who checked in on the boy. "I tried to be there for her but she...she wouldn't open up to me." He let out a gentle cry.

"I think there was a part of her that knew you would do this to her again. She knows you push people away when you are dealing with something. So she didn't open up because she didn't wanna be hurt worse." His cries settled, dewy eyes looking up at Theodore.

"That hurts more," another sob escaped. Theodore sighed softly, pulling him slightly closer. Narcissa was walking out but when she saw the boys, a soft smile went to her lips before backing out of the room slowly. She smiled because he was finally opening up to a friend. Not someone he looked at like a mum.

Brooke was laying in bed, facing the wall. Her body was pushed against it with the covers covering her. The world was spinning from the bottle of Vodka she drank. She wasn't eating. She didn't know what to do. She felt lost, completely and utterly lost. Her eyes started gently shutting, with a few tears falling from her eyes. All she was thinking about recently was the good times she had with Mattheo.

Eventually, sleep took over the girl, pulling her into another nightmare.