You're My Reason Why (Boyxboy) #Wattys2016

Chapter Two

I was reading a book on my phone when I heard someone knock on my door. "Eric, we need to talk," Connor said. I nodded and stepped aside and opened the door wider so he could come in. He walked over to the desk and sat down. I sat down at my bed and looked down at my blanket. He looked at my neck and then at my wrists. "You don't cut do you?" My eyes widened and I glared at him.

"What the fuck?! Of course not! I don't do that stupid shit!" I said.

He put his hands up in defense and said, "Calm down, I was reading up on this suicide thing and saw that it said that sometimes suicidal people cut." I rolled my eyes and he chuckled. "You know, for a nerd you sure do have a mouth on you." I laughed a little.

"I'm not a nerd, just because I wear glasses and do well in school doesn't make me a nerd. That's like me calling you a stereotypical jock."

He laughed and said, "I guess you're right." We laughed again and then it hit me. Here I am, laughing with my brother and smiling.

He got up and was about to walk away when I said, "Wait!" He turned around and gave me a curious look. "Do you maybe want to hang out?"

He looked shocked and said, "You, you want to hang out with me? Just yesterday you were mad that I had to even be near you."

"Please?" He smiled and shrugged.

"Get your phone, we're going to the mall," he said and I smiled. I got up and grabbed my phone. We walked down the steps and Mom came running up to us.

"Hi, honey! You're finally out of your room! Do you want some lunch?" Connor answered for me.

"No thanks, we'll eat at the mall."

Mom smiled and said, "I'm happy you're getting out of the house, have fun!" She walked back to the kitchen. Connor and I walked out of the house and to the car. I got in and Connor started the car.

"So, I have a question." I turned to Connor and he glanced at me as he pulled up to a stop sign.

"Yes?"

He bit his lip nervously and said, "Why are you suicidal?" I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

"I just think it would be better for everyone if I wasn't here. My friends don't care, the only people who care are you and Mom." Connor gave me a sad look and I looked down at my lap.

"Eric, instead of thinking about the reasons not to live why don't you write down fifteen reasons to live."

"Fine, I guess I'll do it," I said. He smiled at me and turned on his right turn signal and turned into the mall. He parked the car and we got out. We walked into the mall and Connor smiled at me.

"So, where do you want to go first?" I looked around and spotted the book store.

"Let's go to the book store," I said.

"But that's so boring," Connor whined. I shrugged and he followed me inside. He followed me around while playing on his phone. I was about to pick out a book that caught my eye when something hit me. I fell down to the ground and yelped. I looked up and saw two guys with their hands over their mouths.

"What the fuck?! Why the hell did you hit me with a book?!" I said.

The one with light brown hair and a beanie said, "We're so sorry! You have no idea how bad we feel." I rolled my eyes and Connor helped me up. "You see, our mom dragged us here and told us to study while she went to work. Well we got bored and started playing catch. My brother Ricky threw it too hard and I guess it hit you."

"This is a book store, not a football field," Connor said.

Ricky stepped up beside his brother and said, "Your cheek looks like it's swelling." I touched my cheek and winced at the pain. It felt swollen and I'm sure it was bruising. "Why don't you follow us home and we can give you an ice pack." I glanced at Connor and he nodded.

I sighed and said, "Fine." They led us out to the parking lot and we got in our cars. We followed them to their house and Connor pulled into this really nice house. It was a large Victorian style house with a pretty garden out front. I got out and Connor and I followed them into the house and to the kitchen. Ricky got out a ice pack from the freezer and leaned on the counter.

"So, I never got your name," Ricky's brother said.

"I'm Connor, that's Eric."

"I'm Cam." I nodded and held the ice pack to my face. I looked up from my feet and saw Ricky staring at my neck.

"Got a staring problem?" I asked. He bit his lip and blushed a little.

"Sorry. . ." he mumbled.

Cam got a soda out of the fridge and said, "So, what's up with your neck?"

"None of your fucking business," I said. Cam put his hands up in defence.

"Calm down, it was just a simple question." Cam looked to be the cocky one of the two. He looked about nineteen and had a manly look to him, while Ricky looked around seventeen and had more delicate features.

I handed Cam the ice pack and said, "Whatever, let's go, Connor."

"Wait, do you go to the high school up the road?" Ricky asked.

"Yeah. . .?" I said.

"See you Monday," Ricky said with a smile.

"I hope not," I said and walked out of the house and Connor followed me.

"That was an asshole move, even for you," Connor said.

I shrugged and said, "Whatever." Connor sighed and we drove home. I walked up to my room, careful not to let mom see me and started working on my list. It took me about ten minutes to think of a reason. I wrote down one reason and smiled.

'Reason number one: I'd crush Mom's heart.' Mom would definitely be crushed if I died. I figured that out last week. I put my notebook away and went to my bed to take a nap.