The Unseen

Sick

Unsurprisingly, I wake up before Drew. I look to the clock on the wall, 12:52pm. I turn so I can see him in his arms. He's honestly pretty for a boy. His long lashes lay on his cheeks and his lips are slightly parted. I smile and go to the washer to grab his clothes. They smell nice and clean and are mostly dry. Without thinking of Drew sleeping, I slam the washer shut. Shit.

Heading back into the bedroom, I see that I didn't wake him up with my carelessness. I crawl back into his arms, and run my fingers over his forearm. I turn it so his wrist faces up and lay mine next to it the same way. Drew's arm is nearly twice as long as mine. He wears a silver watch on one wrist and an autism awareness one on the other that is the same rubber kind as my peanut allergy one. His arm with the band on it shifts and the band falls and reveals a scar that goes from one side of his arm to the other. Just one, that went very deep when it was created. I look to his other wrist and move the watch a bit so I can see. Sure enough, there's another scar there to match. Drew was a cutter.

He wakes up pretty suddenly, realizes what I'm looking at, and frowns, "You have your secrets, I have mine."

"I don't mean to pry, but are they....recent?" I ask, hesitant.

He sighs, "Last year. Part of the reason why I moved to this school."

"What happened? Did you do it?"

Drew nods, "Both of them."

"But why? You seem fine."

"Now. I wasn't in my right mind when I made these. I... I was sick. But I'm better now. I'm medicated. I'm fine." Drew sighs, "I still feel bad for it. Brette was the one who found me." Tears well up in his eyes, "She just had to go the bathroom and of course, I had to be in there. Ari was the one who Brette told. Ari freaked and Brette just kept telling her how all the medicine I took was going to make me feel better and I would be okay soon." Drew sobs and I rub his hand supportively, "That was the last time I ever babysat them. That's why they aren't here for the weekend. They're at my grandmothers house. It's actually the first time I've been allowed to be alone without the neighbor coming over every hour and checking on me."

"Drew, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you about that." I brush falling tears off his face with the back of my hand, "I don't like seeing you like this."

He sniffs, "It's fine, Rain. I needed to tell you sooner or later, I'm surprised you didn't notice my wrists earlier. So I'll give you an out here: you can leave me now and you won't have to be with the suicidal freak. I won't be mad, I'll understand."

"Drew, you are not a freak. And I'd be the last person to leave someone for being different. I'm staying with you whether you like it or not. I couldn't just leave you now, I love you." I say, without really thinking about the meaning of what I just said.

"I thought that's what you said when I was trying to get him out." Drew smiles, "I just didn't want to tell you in case you didn't feel the same way back. But now that I know you do...I love you, too, Rain Evans."

I can't wipe the smile off of my face so I don't even try to. I just hand him his clothes and he changes into them gratefully.

+++

Once Drew is clothed, we head to the door and I realize that the door was locked from the inside and I could've ran out at any time. I unlock it and hear a loud banging. Realizing that it's coming from the door Lucas threw Megan and Landon in, I rush to it. They at least have a reason to still be in there; the door is locked from the outside. They both nearly fall face first out the door when it swings open.

"What the hell happened to you two?" Landon says.

Drew and I exchange a glance, "Nothing that couldn't be solved."

"Okay, but I still don't understand what happened. The last thing I remember is Megan coming here last night. Then.....blank." Landon rubs his forehead like he's willing the memories to return.

I open my mouth but Megan speaks before I can, "You passed out at the bottom of the stairs last night and I couldn't get you up them, so I called Drew. Drew came over with Rain and carried you up the stairs. Drew was also pretty drunk and must've locked us in without remembering. They probably just crashed in your parents room. See? Crazy things happen when you drink too much, babe."

"Huh, I didn't think I drank that much. Guess I better watch it next time."

"Guess so." I chuckle.