Never Gonna Be Alone

Chapter 37----The Rain

The bell rang, signaling lunch. Laten didn't feel like eating anything, he's been avoiding everybody, not that this was something new, but this feeling was very new. Something just wasn't right. He saw Tankie and headed the other direction. He didn't think he could explain to his boyfriend that what he was feeling wasn't normal. Tankie would probably be talking him out of it.

Unfortunately, for Laten, Tankie knew all the shortcuts in the school, and soon enough he was facing laten. "I was hoping for a hug or something. What's wrong? You seem jumpy."

Laten rolled his eyes. "It's nothing, okay? Just...I don't feel like it right now." He pushed his way past Tankie.

"Sorry, but that's not going to work this time. I got under your skin, broke down your walls, and so I'm immune to it." He smirked.

Laten had to smile at that, but it quickly disappeared. "I have a feeling. It's not about Andrew or anything. Um...something is not right."

Tankie pulled him into an empty hallway that hardly anybody uses. "Do you have any idea?"

Laten shook his head. "Ever since I woke up late and got to school, things have been very strange. Like.....something's happening."

Tankie sighed. It was those feelings again. Every time Laten spoke up about them, Tankie had no idea how to comfort Laten. What could he say? That'll it all be okay? This was alarming. If it wasn't Laten's so called counselor, then who could it be?

"Is it anybody that you know?" He settled for asking for hints.

"I don't know but something is seriously wrong." It was clear that Laten was starting to panic.

Which made Tankie a little jumpy. "just calm down. Um......shit I don't know what to tell you. It is to where you need to skip school?"

There was a slight pause. "I don't think so. Just.....I'm scared..." Laten whispered.

Tankie held back tears as he pulled him into a hug. "I wish I knew what to say. Whatever it is, I'm with you. The whole way." He heard Laten sigh, and felt him return the hug.

I don't want to deal with people right now." Laten stated.

Tankie chuckled. "I can tell."

"You look like Waldo today." Laten joked.

Tankie laughed. "That's what I was going for. Your the lucky person that found me."

'More like you found me.'  

"Have you cut recently?" Tankie asked.

Laten winced. "No. But I don't trust myself to not do it, if I see something with a blade."

Tankie hugged tighter. "it'll get easier. That doesn't mean it won't be easy, but with time, it will get easier. Wanna run in the field? Just say screw it with everybody and everything?"

Laten shook his head. "I wish but I can't skip."

"Just for one day? You're entitled."

Laten smiled. "They will call dad, and he'll get pissed."

Tankie sighed. "I'm just worried."

Laten pulled away. "I'm sorry. You don't deserve to get worried."

Tankie rolled his eyes, and pushed Laten to the wall. "Look, I worry about you because I love you. You are the most interesting person I have met, and you're really sweet and kind, and just...easy to like."

Laten looked at him. "I have asthma, insomnia, and I cut myself."

Tankie walked close up to him. "Because you've been through hell. A kid like you should not be going through what you went through. A lot of families got their hearts torn out because of what happened with the twin towers."