Young Banana Bus Squad

Irish and British Ladds

As we walk to the hospital, Lui leans against Daithi. 

"I'm worried about him. Why didn't he tell any of us any of this before?!" Lui yells. Tyler turns around to face him. 

"Lui, Jon needed to tell Craig because for one, he felt that Craig would understand due to the fact that he knows what it's like to have a parent die. Plus, Jon might have just needed a new face." 

Lui sighs, and nods. "Yeah.....I guess." 

I walk ahead, and stuff my hands in my pockets. I hang my head, and I feel a tear run down my cheek. If I had only stayed with Jon and Evan, and kept with him. I feel a hand on my shoulder. I glance up, and see Brian walking with me. 

"Craig, are you okay?" He asks, and I shake my head. 

"Brian, if I had only stayed with him, and kept an eye on him, Jon would be okay." My voice cracks as I tell him, and Brian looks at me with sympathetic eyes. 

"Craig, it was NOT YOUR FAULT." 

I stop walking, and whip around to face Brian. "YES, IT WAS!!!" 

The guys stop walking behind us and stare at me. 

"YES, IT WAS, BRIAN! IT WAS MY FAULT!!!" I scream, and Brian takes a small step back. "If I hadn't been stupid enough to just leave and let Jon be alone, and Evan and I not talk to him, then this wouldn't have happened! I should have realized when he first told me!!!! It's my fault he tried to kill himself! SO HOW THE HELL CAN YOU MAKE THAT OKAY, BRIAN?!" 

Everyone is silent. Brian just sort of stares at me. He opens his mouth to say something, but abruptly closes it. 

I sigh, and turn around. "It's my fucking fault, guys. Jon trusted me enough to talk to me, and I didn't even see what was coming. I don't deserve his friendship." I say, my voice shaking. 

Marcel crosses his arms, then sighs. "Right, that's it." He says, and he stomps up to me. 

I turn to face him just soon enough to see his fist flying towards me. I feel his fist connect with my cheek, and I taste blood in my mouth. Brian and the guys gasp as I fall to the ground. I hold my cheek, and a few small drops of blood escape my lips. I look up at Marcel as he glares at me. 

"What the fuck was that for, Marcel?!" Brock yells, and I look up at him. 

"Yeah! What the fuck?!" I say. 

Marcel meets my eyes. "Craig, it's not your fault. It was never your fault. It never will be your fault. Jon wouldn't want you to beat yourself up over this. He deserves your friendship. Every single bit of it." 

He narrows his eyes. "And if you ever say it was your fault again," He cracks his knuckles. "I will not hesitate to beat the shit out of you." 

I lean back a little, and then nod in fear. 

Brian turns to Marcel with steeled eyes. "Dude, you lay a finger on Craig ever again, and I will make you know the meaning of pain." 

Everyone stops, and stares at Brian. My eyes widen. He's the least violent out of all of us. He is so sweet. Why would he ever hurt Marcel? And if he did, he would do it........for me? 

"Brian....." Daithi says softly, and Brian turns to look at him with fire in his eyes. Daithi takes a step back. 

Tyler crosses his arms. "Brian, what's this about? You've never acted out like this before. Like, ever. What's going on? And why are you freaking out over Marcel trying to get Craig to stop blaming himself. It's just playful beating." 

Marcel crosses his arms. "Yeah. It totally was." He mumbles, and Lui glares at him. 

Tyler looks back to Brian. "Dude, what's up with you?" He asks, and Brock nods. 

"Yeah, Brian, you've been acting different lately. And if anything seems to even remotely concern Craig, you're all over it. Why?" 

I raise my head up to look at Brian. He hangs his head and sighs. 

"Because I really care about him." He says very softly, almost inaudible. 

"What?" Lui says, and Brian looks up at us.

"I said....." He sighs, and takes a deep breath. 

"Brian, what is it?" I ask, and he looks at me with soft eyes. 

"I said I really care about you, Craig. I don't want you to get hurt. I just......" He turns away, and my eyes widen. He really.....cares? 

It's quiet for a moment, then Brian turns back. "Craig, I just don't want anything to ever happen to you." He says, and Daithi's mouth turns up in a smile. 

"Brian, do you like Craig?" He asks, and then the thought registers to everyone else. Lui's eyes widen, and he grins. Marcel turns around and looks intrigued. Brock snickers. Tyler smirks, and crosses his arms. 

"Well, Brian? Do you have a crush on our little British boy here?" He asks, pointing to me. I look from Tyler to Brian, and my eyes search Brian's face. 

".....Brian?....." I slowly say, and he lifts his head to meet my eyes. 

"Craig, I really like you. Like, really like you. I have since we first met." He turns to Tyler. "And yes, I do have a crush on Craig, Tyler. Deal with it." 

Tyler smirks, and my eyes widen. "Brian, y-you have a crush on.....me?" I stutter, and Brian turns to look down at me. 

"Yes, Craig. I do. I knew from the second you walked into that classroom that I liked you. And now, I just don't want anything to ever happen to you. I care about you way too much." He says, and Daithi smiles. 

"Brian, that is sooooo cute!" 

Brock grins, and nods. "Yeah, it really is." 

Marcel, Lui, and Tyler nod in agreement. Brian walks over to me, and offers me his hand. I take it, and he pulls me to my feet. As soon as I'm standing, he wraps his arms around me in a tight hug. 

He closes his eyes. "I'm just so scared, because of what happened to Jon, that I might lose you, too." He sighs, and I hug him back. 

"You won't, Brian. I wouldn't do that to you." I say, and Tyler smiles. 

"Do you know how adorable that was, Craig?" He asks, and I glance over at him with a sarcastic look. 

"Thank you for your input, Tyler." I say, and he shrugs. 

"Yep. No problem." 

I look back at Brian. "So.....So, you really, really......like me? As in, like like me?" I ask, and Brian nods slowly. 

I smile. "Okay. Just checking." 

I then press my lips against his, and all the guys gasp, including him, but then he smiles, and put his hand on the back of my head, holding me close. I pull away, and he looks at me with loving eyes. 

"Craig, I love you." He says, and I roll my eyes. 

"Yeah, dipshit. I kinda got that much." I say, then kiss him again. Brock laughs, and then looks at the two of us. 

"Man, look at them. The Irish Boy and the British Boy, together at last. They are too perfect for each other." He says, and I glance at the guys, then back to Brian. 

"We should probably keep walking to the hospital to meet Jon." Brian says, and I nod in agreement. 

"Okay, let's go." I grab his hand, and we intertwine our fingers. I smile, and we walk together.