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David was used to being alone. He always had been. Ever since middle school, he'd found comfort in the quiet spaces, the places where no one expected him to be anyone other than himself. The bleachers behind the football field were one of his favorite spots. It was secluded enough for him to escape the chatter of the cafeteria, where he always felt out of place.
Every lunch, he'd take his homemade egg sandwich—an unlikely comfort, but it was familiar—and sit on the cool concrete, staring at the field or sometimes, just letting his mind wander.
But today was different.
As he made his way to his usual spot beneath the bleachers, something caught his eye. It was a muffled sound—a soft, hiccuped sob, faint but real. David stopped in his tracks. He wasn't the type to get involved in other people's drama, but his curiosity got the better of him.
He poked his head around the corner, peering into the small, shadowed space under the bleachers. His eyes met the last person he expected to see.
Darrian.
The popular cheerleader. The one everyone adored, the one with the perfect smile and the perfect boyfriend. The one who never seemed to have a care in the world.
Except, now, he was crying.
His head was tucked into his knees, his curly brown hair falling around his face, hiding the tears that were spilling freely. He looked so fragile, so unlike the confident, flawless guy everyone knew. It made David's chest tighten.
"Darrian?" he called softly, stepping closer.
He jumped at the sound of David's voice, quickly wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "What are you doing here, David?" His voice was raw, his usual confident tone replaced with something more broken.
David wasn't sure what to say, but the words came out before he could stop them. "I could ask you the same thing." He gestured toward the empty space beneath the bleachers. "Is this where the cool kids hang out now?"
A small, humorless laugh escaped Darrian's lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah, guess I'm the new outcast." He wiped his face again, his breath hitching. "I just... I just didn't want anyone to see me like this."
David paused, then sat down a few feet away, crossing his legs in his usual way. "You know... this is kind of my spot. But you can stay. I don't mind."
Darrian glanced at him, eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "You're... you're not going to tell anyone, are you?"
He shrugged. "I don't talk to people. Not much, anyway."
He studied David for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh and sinking back into his arms. "I don't know why I'm even like this. It's stupid."
David reached into his backpack and pulled out his egg sandwich, unwrapping it slowly. "Well, I'm here. If you want to talk, I'm listening. Or... if you want something else to focus on, I have a sandwich. It's not much, but I'm willing to share." He held it out, offering it like it was some kind of peace offering.
Darrian blinked, surprised by his unexpected kindness. "You're offering me your... egg sandwich?"
David nodded. "Yeah. It's kind of my thing. And I'm not going to lie—it's a pretty good sandwich."
He looked at David, still unsure, but then his stomach let out a loud growl, and he chuckled despite himself. "I guess I can't say no to food."
David handed it to him, and he took it hesitantly. They sat in silence for a moment as he took a small bite. He chewed slowly, clearly not hungry for the food, but it seemed to comfort him anyway.
Finally, he spoke. "It's... my boyfriend. Jason. He... he cheated on me." His voice cracked on the last part, and he quickly wiped his eyes again, but it didn't stop the tears from falling.
David frowned, his heart aching for him. He hadn't been expecting this—didn't know how to respond—but something inside him told him to just be there. To let him talk, even if it felt awkward.
"I thought..." he continued, his voice thick with emotion, "I thought we were happy. I thought he loved me. But I found out he's been seeing someone else for weeks. It's all over now."
David stayed quiet, just listening. His hand instinctively moved to his pocket, but he stopped himself before pulling out his phone. He didn't need to say anything; he just needed to let him feel heard.
"I just feel... so stupid," Darrian said softly. "How could I not see it? Everyone else knew before I did."
"You're not stupid," David said quietly, his words surprising even himself. "You're just... human. People mess up, even the people we trust the most. It's not your fault."
He turned his head slightly to look at David, his eyes still red but softened by the comfort of his words. "How do you always stay so calm? Like, you never get involved with anyone."
David smiled faintly. "I guess I just don't let things bother me. Or maybe I'm good at pretending."
Darrian stared at him for a moment, as though trying to figure him out. Then, to his surprise, he leaned his head on David's shoulder, as if seeking comfort in his stillness.
"Thanks, David," he murmured, his voice quieter now, the weight of the moment settling between them.
David stiffened slightly at the closeness, but he didn't move. Instead, he let him stay there, letting the silence stretch on for a few more seconds. He didn't know if this was the start of a new friendship or just a moment of shared comfort. But in that quiet space beneath the bleachers, with an egg sandwich between them, it didn't really matter.
Darrian looked up at him with a small smile, still sniffling but managing to hold himself together. "I'm glad you're here."
"Me too," David said softly, before adding, "Just so you know... the sandwich's not terrible, right?"
Darrian laughed, a real, genuine laugh this time. "It's not bad. You're not as bad as everyone thinks, David."
"Yeah," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "I've been told that a few times."
They sat there for a while, neither of them in a rush to leave. David didn't know if this was the start of a new friendship or just a moment of shared comfort. But in that quiet space beneath the bleachers, with an egg sandwich between them, it didn't really matter.
Sometimes, the best kind of comfort came from the most unexpected places.
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hi guys i know its been awhile but im back (kinda)
feel free to request
bye bye!!
