Cold Lonely Nights

It Wasn't Drew

By the time Kier brings Shane back to the orphanage, he's a complete wreck.

Luke comes rushing out to check up on Shane. "What happened?"

"We were in the park with Wendy and there was a couple who were horrible to Shane, one of them apparently looked like Drew." Kier explains, rubbing Shane's back when just the name of his old friend makes him sob harder.

"Oh Shane, I thought we've already gone through this. Drew's gone very far away. I know that you know that you won't see him for a very long time." Luke tries.

"Eight years." Shane sobs. "Isn't that long enough?" He challenges.

Luke lets out a gentle sigh. "Shane, I know it's been very hard but did you really think that Drew's parents will just send him back now? You know how likeable Drew is, there's no way that he'll be let go like that." Luke tries.

Shane whines, hugging his dog and sniffing quietly.

Luke gradually notices how slim Shane is. He works out exactly what's happening without having to ask about it so he reaches into his pocket to pull out a chocolate bar to hand over to Shane.

Shane just shakes his head, sobbing even harder.

"Come on Shane, eating always takes my mind off what's upsetting me." Kier tries.

Shane still shakes his head.

"Shane we haven't even had breakfast or dinner last night, just eat!" Kier whines.

Shane doesn't make an effort to stop crying into Wendy's fur.

"Shane, what's bothering you? Why aren't you eating?" Luke asks the teen softly.

"I'm disgusting, they wanted him and not me, no one ever wants me!" Shane sobs.

Kier gives Luke a worried look, not knowing nearly enough about what happened between Shane and Drew to say anything he feels could help.

"You're not unwanted, Jack and I are doing all we can to look after you as if you're part of a family and I know that Kier wants to spend time with you. You're a special boy and just because all those rich adopting parents don't see that doesn't mean that the people you have for you here don't either." Luke encourages. "Shane, there are people here who love you just the way you are, you don't have to starve yourself to be loved. I'm sure you don't need me to remember that Drew was a lot more chubby cheeked than you were. This isn't solving any problem, it's just creating more."

"I just never feel like eating." Shane whines.

Luke lets out a quiet sigh before gently guiding Shane to his room. Kier and Wendy follow closely behind.

"Is he going to be okay, Luke?" Kier asks quietly once Shane's been tucked into his bed.

"Stay with him and start watching some films with him. It should take his mind off Drew for a while. Damn those rich cunts, couldn't they at least adopt him as well instead of leaving him like this?" He curses.

Kier smiles at hearing Luke swear. "Those fuckers-" He starts before Luke gives him a stern look. "I mean what selfish idiots." Kier replies.

"Keep an eye on him, will you? You and Wendy are all he has after Drew left." Luke explains.

"Sure. There's been a couple of films I've been meaning to get him to watch." Kier cheerfully agrees, heading back into Shane's room to pick out the DVDs he's left which haven't at all been touched.

"No, I'm not in the mood." Shane murmurs.

"You'll have fun, you need it after what just happened." Kier explains, looking across the room to see Wendy resting her head on her paws, giving her owner an upset look. "See, even Wendy is worried about you!" Kier adds, starting the first film and settling next to his friend in the bed.

Shane murmurs some form of protest but Kier deliberately ignores it, knowing that he is going to have to make his friend have fun, whether he likes it or not.

Shortly after the film has started, Luke comes in with some snacks for the boys, quietly reminding Kier that he needs to make sure that Shane eats some too, just to get his calorie count up.

At first, Kier starts to worry that Shane won't eat anything at all but then he finds that Shane's only eating the chocolate when he thinks Kier isn't looking.

When the first film ends, Shane uses the credits to talk to Kier. "I know what I saw, it was Drew."

Kier gives him a sad look. "Are you saying that he died his hair black and became a complete moron?" He simply points out.

"No, that wasn't him." Shane explains.

"You can't seriously mean-" Kier tries.

"-He recognised me, his new parents could die his hair and give him plastic surgery and I will still be able to tell that it's him!"

"Shane, do you really think that his parents made him into a girl?" Kier tries.

"Who else would have?" Shane snaps. "Drew didn't identify as a girl and the only thing he wanted was to stay here with me. That doesn't make someone change their gender! That would've completely have made him unable to come back so I know that he wouldn't have done that!"

"Shane, don't you think you're taking this a little far?" Kier tries. "That probably wasn't even Drew and you're just making yourself worse over thinking all this. Shane, I'm your friend and you're scaring me with all this. Stop it, please. You know that it wasn't Drew, you must!" Kier tells his friend.

Shane glares at him, almost as if he's been betrayed before sulkily slouching with a nod. "You're right, of course you are. How could I mistake a girl for Drew?" He mutters.

"Good, thank God that's finally sorted out." Kier sighs as he puts on the next film.

Shane folds his arms through the whole film, slowly convincing himself that Kier's right.