A Silent Cry

Chapter Twelve: Plastic Promises

The police came only minutes too late. Keith was long gone by the time they arrived. Felix's parents, on the other hand, arrived just in time to see the police. Felix's father showed up first, looking like a confused parent that just walked up to his children surrounded by police officers. Felix's mother came running down the sidewalk, immediately grasping at Felix and Fanny and speaking a million words a minute. Cry awkwardly stood off to the side while the Kjellberg siblings were bombarded with affection and concern. Felix caught sight of him and tried to push all the attention toward Fanny. Once he was able to escape, he went straight toward Cry.

"How're you holding up?" Felix asked in a low voice. Instead of his hands moving to form words, they were gripping at his shirt from his arms being folded.

Cry shrugged. He wouldn't be able to convey his thoughts even if he had a voice. He felt a number of conflicting things. He felt guilty about bringing the siblings into this. He felt terrified that Keith could walk around freely like that. He felt as if this was all his fault. How could he let this happen? He should have been more careful. He has to be more careful.

Felix frowned and scanned Cry's face as if searching for answers. "That was him wasn't it?" He said at nearly a whisper.

Cry didn't answer, but instead lowered his head. Cry had told Felix everything that happened to him. It probably isn't the best thing to tell a new friend, but Cry knew he could trust Felix.

"It's alright," Felix took a step closer. "We'll get this all sorted out and soon you won't have to worry about any of it. Everything will only get better from here." He gave a warm smile but it soon faded when Cry didn't look convinced. He didn't know what else to say. He had never felt this overwhelming worry for someone before; he was afraid to say the wrong thing. "Cry..." But the words fell dead on his tongue. Instead, he threw his arms around Cry and brought him into a tight hug. "I promise I'll always look out for you."

Cry was frozen for a moment. He wasn't expecting this from someone who was just threatened because of him. His wide eyes began to water on their own and he buried his face into Felix's shoulder to keep people from seeing. He wrapped his arms around Felix to return the tight hug. They stayed like that for a while and when Cry peeked over Felix's shoulder, he could see Fanny smiling at them.

~~~

Russ knew he had to do something. This was getting out of hand. He didn't know how much longer he could take Scott's glares and Minx's words. They were both berating him for two different things. He just wanted to take everything back -- to start over. He wanted to take back the words he said to Scott at the hospital. He wanted to be strong enough to say no when he was threatened with Minx. He wants to stop staying up at night from the upset stomachs from lying to the people he cares about. On top of that, he was losing his friendship with Cry. It was all too familiar to him. It was as if karma had come to reap what he had sown...

"This isn't going to work anymore, Russ."

"You can't just leave me like that."

"I'm sorry but... I-I just can't take it anymore."

"Red!"

Russ pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes to keep from crying. He always tried his hardest to push away those memories, but they never failed to resurface at the most painful times. He feared the same thing that happened then would happen again with Cry. He didn't know if he could handle being responsible for another death.

Deciding it would be better to not dwell on his thoughts, Russ grabbed his glasses and scooted himself to the edge of his bed. He put on his glasses to look at the little turtle swimming around in the tank. It was always calming to watch his pet swim. "At least when I make terrible decisions I still have you," Russ said softly. "Maybe, in the end, I'll only have you." The little turtle continued to swim without a care in the world, clueless to Russ's distress.

Russ stifled his sobs when he heard someone open the door. It was a public restroom. It could be anybody.

"Russ?" It was Scott. "You in here?"

Russ slammed his fist onto the table. It shook the tank and disturbed his turtle. He didn't stop the tears as they fell out of his eyes. He just wanted to stop living in the past. He wanted to stop regretting his decisions. He let out a shaky breath and flopped back on his bed. It seemed like only yesterday his life was under control.

He nearly fell out of bed when his phone started ringing. Russ made sure to wipe his face before answering the call. As he put the phone up to his ear, he caught sight of himself in the mirror. He looked absolutely miserable. His hair was a mess and his face was pink along with his puffy eyes. "Hello?" His voice sounded croaky and unused.

"Russ, come down to the school right now."

Russ realized he never checked who it was before he answered. "Minx?"

"Yes. Now get down here."

"What? How did you get my number?"

"That's not important. You --"

"And since when did you willingly talk to me?"

"Listen! "

Russ shut his mouth. Whenever Minx yelled it was never to be taken lightly.

"I have some information that can be used to our advantage, but you have to come to school right now. I can already hear you arguing so let me finish. I don't care that we just got on break. I don't care that it's closed. You get your ass down here right now or I swear to God you will not live to see tomorrow."

Russ stayed silent for a moment. It sounded serious. "I'll be there as fast as I can, promise."

A/N: Not the best thing I've ever written but at least it's something. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯