I'll Make This Feel Like Home (Kellic)

17

I've figured it out. The fresh and therapeutic aroma of cucumbers comes from his shampoo. The pillow sheets (his pillow sheets) were soaked in the scent. I took in as much as I could, like I would never smell it again before opening my eyes. I wasn't on my side of the bed anymore. I was sprawled out on Vic's side, my face in his pillow. I hope I didn't drool in my sleep.

For the first time in a while, I was able to remember what had happened the day before. I could easily recall asking Vic for help, and falling apart before him just to have him literally hold me in our sleep. Now thinking back to it, it's kind of embarrassing.

I flipped over, lazily, fully taking in my surroundings. Vic's room looked different with sunlight captured in it. It looked more alive. My eyes fall on Vic. He was sat on his desk, doing what he had when I found him after my shower last night--reading over a textbook.

"What are you doing?" My voice was all deep and croaky, coated in a thick layer of sleep.

He jumped slightly, but looked up and smiled instantly after the short-lived scare. "Oh, studying."

I rolled my eyes at his response. Studying meant school, and school only brought back these memories of horrible times. I wanted them out.

"Yeah, I have this test on Friday and I seriously have to do well on it. The end of the semester is coming up and my professor--'

He went on like that for a while, speaking about school like I went and knew what he was actually talking about, but I didn't stop him because I was currently in his house, in his bed.

"Hey, can I use your restroom?" I asked after a while, to which he said yes. While in there; I peed, brushed my teeth, and snooped. I looked through Vic's medicine cabinet and under the sink, finding absolutely nothing. (Like they were literally empty.) I guess he kept his stuff somewhere else. How lame.

When I reentered Vic's room, the bed was made again, which sucked because I kind of wanted to lay in it still. Instead I dropped my stuff to the floor and sat in the chair near Vic's desk where he was currently studying. For a while I sat and played with my finger nails, pretending like they were so interesting and I wasn't bored out of my fucking mind. And then I moved on to watching Vic. I watched the way his eyes flickered back and forth, reading the words printed onto the papers. I watched the way his lips barely twitched, like the words he read were right there, threatening to slip out, but he wouldn't let them escape.

"You bored?" He asked without even looking up, causing me to jump. I felt like I had been caught doing something bad.

"Um, no. I'm okay."

"You sure?" He questioned, finally picking his head up to look at me. "Because boredom could lead to relapse," he stated so bluntly.

Truthfully, I wasn't even thinking about it. I was too enthralled in Vic and his studying. Pathetic.

"Maybe you could study, too." He said and I almost bursted out laughing

"Yeah? Study for what?"

"Your GED," he stated honestly, and once again I found it painfully funny. I wasn't smart enough to get my GED, let alone pay for the damn test, so what would be the point?

"No," I shook my head.

"No really." He insisted. "Come here." he motioned his hand, beckoning me over. I awkwardly carried my chair over to him while he pulled out a large book from the many he had on his desk. I took a look at it, catching 'General Educational Development' printed on the cover.

"You just have these laying around?" I joked.

"I want you to do this, Kellin." He said, watching over me before flipping it open.