Death Smiles At The End Of The Line [Keveridge]

Chapter 4

The following day at work went by uneventfully, although my boss didn't seem as cheerful as he did yesterday, but some good things don't last, I suppose. Since it was a Friday (thank god) I finished my shift at the office early, and the hours running up to 3pm- when I was supposed to sign out- went by without any drama of any sort. It was pretty boring.

I arrived home at around quarter past three (after walking the all the way, not sprinting like the previous day) to find Kier curled up on the settee, watching a film of some sort. For once, his cheeks weren't tear stained, so hopefully he was unharmed.

"Hiya." he said as I walked through the door, smiling softly at me. It was nice to see him smile, even if it was a small one. A smile's a smile, I guess.

"Hey." I smiled back, but a wider grin, trying to encourage Kier's to grow, but that didn't work.

The red fringed man grabbed the TV remote from the arm of the sofa and switched the TV off, turning his full attention to me as I pulled off my jacket and hung it, along with my bag, onto one of the coat hooks mounted upon the wall in the entrance hall. The hall lead straight into the lounge, so I followed it through so my attention was all on Kier.

"Good day at work?" Kier asked, pulling his skinny legs towards his chest.

"Average. Nothing really happened. How was your day?"

"Alright- you'll be pleased to know there are no more broken mirrors."

"That's good, then, love."

***

Later that evening, I strolled into the lounge after having a shower, my hair still wet and curling around my glasses. Kier was once again sat on the couch, eyes locked upon the TV screen that was displaying some documentary or something.

"Dinner?" I suggest as I pass the sofa, ruffling my friend's hair as I passed, noticing that it had been straightened. Kier just grunted in response.

I entered the kitchen and began to prepare a meal out of what's left in the cupboards, which were almost empty, since we haven't been grocery shopping for about a week- I guess that's my Saturday planned, then. I found near to nothing in the kitchen, apart from a few slices of bread and a tin of beans. Beans on toast it is.

It only took a few minutes before the meal (if you could call that) was ready. I carried the two plates into the lounge on trays, not bothering to eat at the dinner table because it's a Friday night, so why not?

Kier glanced up at me as I passed him his food, his expression clear that he didn't really want to eat it.

"Sorry, it's all we've got in, Kier." I say, sitting besides him, before begining to eat. The boy sighed, playing with the food on his plate with a fork.

"I can't eat any more." Kier announced roughly 5 minutes later, moving the tray off his lap and onto the coffe table that sat in front of him.

"You've hardly touched it, Kier." I noted, an eyebrow raised as I watched Kier lean back, hugging his knees.

He didn't turn to look at me when he replied- his eyes were glued to the floor, as if he was hiding something or felt guilty. Or possibly a mixture of the two? "I had a large lunch."

I shake it off, believing his words, until he excused himself, claiming he needed to 'use the toilet'. I felt bad for not being completely convinced, but I suppose I can't be blamed. If I've been unaware of his depression until only a couple days ago, god knows what else he's hiding. I cast my thoughts back to the past few weeks, realising how little Kier had been eating. How the hell have I not noticed something like this?

Rather pissed at myself, I pull myself off the sofa and rushed towards the bathroom, stopping outside the white door, listening closley, my breath held. And then I heard something I had really hope I wouldn't- a quiet gagging sound. I gasped.

Oh shit.

"Kier?" I called out, my knuckle rasping upon the wooden door, the sound echoing through the hall.

"What?" he shakily hissed, weakness evident in his voice. "Go away!"

"I'm not leaving until you let me in."

"That's a little perverted, isn't it?"

"Kier." I almost growled, sounding much more harsh than intended. I mentally slapped myself for using that tone of voice- he doesn't need someone talking to him like that. The next sound to come from within the locked door was a small whimper, and I immediately felt something shatter inside of me. "Kier, I'm sorry."

The lock on the on the other side clicked and the door slowly opened, an irritating squeak erupting through the silence that had fallen. Kier stood staring at me, trying to not show any emotion and failing miserably. Who knew that much sadness could be held within a set of eyes?

"I should have known that you would notice this. You notice everything." his voice stayed low and husky. His eyes refused to meet mine as he spoke.

I obviously don't notice things sooner though, do I?

"I'm so pathetic." the boy uttered, turning away and heading over to the toilet (that had recently been flushed, telling from the sound it was making) and perching upon the closed lid and next bowing his head as if ashamed.

"Kier," I sighed, following his previous footsteps and crouching in front of him. "You're not pathetic-"

"Yes, I bloody am!" he barked, pain in his expression. "I was curled over a toilet forcing myself to throw up my dinner!"

Gently, I lifted his chin with my forefinger so I could see his face clearly. Damn. He really is beautiful.

"I'm sorry. I hate shoving two fingers down my throat after every meal, but I can't stop."

"Why did you start in the first place?"

Tears began to form in my friend's eyes, making them glisten in the light. But no matter how much the tears sparkled, it wasn't a pretty sight to see Kier cry, but sadly, it's a sight I've seen way too many times over the last couple days.

"I don't want to look horrible..." He trailed off, biting his lip.

"Horrible? No, no, no, Kier!"

The boy didn't reply to that, he just closed his eyes to prevent the tears from flowing.

If only he could see what I could see...

"Kier, you are the complete opposite of horrible!"

My friend moved himself from his place on top of the toilet and onto my lap, his arms tight around my neck.

"Thanks for trying to help, Laur." he whispered into my ear, before nuzzling into my neck, the soft breeze of his breath tickling my skin.

"I just don't like seeing you upset."

"I understand that- at least you don't have to try for much longer."

"How come?" I queried, pulling back to look him in the eyes, a wave of worry washing over me.

Kier sighed. "It doesn't matter..."

***

This chapter is kinda sucky and short... sorry! Hopefully the next chapter will be more interesting :3 and again (I say this every time) there's probably many mistakes and random words thanks to autocorrect, since I've typed this all on my iPod :3

Thanks for reading <3 ily