The Grey in Between

Andrew

Fuck.

That's all I thought at this point, nearly three days had gone by and Nick had barely looked at me, besides a few run ins in our dorm room, he was gone by 7 in the morning and didn't come back until 8 at night. I knew he was doing everything he could to avoid me.

Finally on the Thursday before school started I was able to talk to him, in more accurate terms, cornered him in the bathroom while he was shaving his nonexistent beard.

"Hey!" I beamed, fuck, too cheerful Andrew what the actual fuck. Nick looked at me in pure terror and shock, and I could tell he wanted to run, but my wiry frame blocked the only exit. Usually people looking at me like that would please me but the look on this damn kids face, I wanted to hold him and never let him go.

"Hi," Nick murmured, trying to ignore me.

"Look I just want to say I'm sorry, I guess we all have our own reasons for being here, a lot of people's better than mine and I'm guessing yours too. I just, fuck. Damn. I shouldn't curse like- shit," I said, spazzing out.

And the damn kid, his face instantly relaxed, and he started giggling at me. Fucking great.

"It's fine," he giggled, "sorry I got so upset."

I sheepishly ran my hand through my mohawk, unable to speak. Fuckity fuck fuck.

"So like, can we be friends, or something?" I finally say awkwardly. Lame. I suck, but I can't help it, I want to know this shy kid.

"Uhm, you want to be friends... with me?," Nick questions. I can't tell if he's stunned or about to laugh in my face. My stomach sinks.

"Yep."

"Okay."