Black and White

8- Will

I carried the unconscious boy onto the couch, laying him down gently and adjusting him so I could figure out what was wrong with his arm.  I ran upstairs and got the medical supplies from my dads old office, then set up next to him.  Cleaning the wounds, I inspected Nico's arm.  Glass stuck out in various places, and I had to pluck some out.  What happened to him?  I rubbed the gashes with an antiseptic and gently stitched them up with a clean needle.  Nico flinched, his eyes still closed.  Then I wrapped them, taking care not to hurt him more in any way. When I had washed my hands and put away the supplies, I propped him up and gently pressed a wet cloth to his head.  His eyes fluttered open. I noticed a large bruise was forming on the side of his face.
"Are you okay?" I asked gently, still tending to his head. My fingers brushed over his bruise and he flinched, then nodded.  "I, um." He sighed, then pulled out his phone, sliding it over to me. A series of texts from his mother flashed on the screen and my breath caught in my throat.  I wanted to say something, but nothing I thought of sounded right.  "I don't blame her. She was already unstable before my dad left. Then she took to drinking." He stopped as if it explained everything, then I realized he was trying not to cry. "It was my fault she- she-"
"It's okay." I took his hand.
"She ran in front of the truck. I couldn't stop her."  He choked. "It was my fault."
"No. No, it wasn't. You did all you could." I said soothingly, still unsure of the situation. Why was he telling me all of this? I instinctively rubbed circles onto his hand with my thumb. I didn't want to say I'm sorry.  It sounded so fake.  He nodded numbly and then leaned forward, his head falling on my shoulder.  "Where did you learn to do this?" I heard his muffled voice say as he lifted his bandaged arm.  "My dad was a doctor. I used to sit in and watch him all the time until he started teaching me." I smiled at the fond memory. "Speaking of which, my mom will be home any minute- it's almost eight.  You can stay here tonight, if you want."  He lifted his head up, eyes hopeful. 
"Really?"
"Yeah. Of course." I stood up just as the door opened.  "That's her. You can stay here- I'll bring her in." He nodded.  Hopefully she would understand. 
"Hey, Will, sweetie."
"Hey, ma." I took her purse and put it on the counter. "I- um- there's something I need to tell you before anything else. You know Nico?"
"Yeah, the boy who you keep complaining about because of his pranks? The one I secretly think you like but you keep denying it?"
"I'm going to pretend you didn't say that out off the direness of this situation." I launched into the story of Nico and his mom, and at the end, her hand was placed over her mouth in astonishment. "Oh my gosh, Will. Of course he can stay here."
"Thanks ma. He's in the living room right now, resting." She nodded and let herself in. I followed.
"Hey. You must be Nico. Nice to meet you." She smiled warmly.
"Hello, ma'am." He moved to stand up but she ushered him back down, sitting next to him.
"Please, don't stand. Rest, you must've had an exhausting day. And please, call me Naomi."
"Thank you, but I can't do that, Mrs. Solace." He returned politely.
"What manners. I just came in to tell you that you are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to." He sighed in quiet relief.
"Thank you, Mrs. Solace. I promise I won't bother you." She smiled, then winked subtly at me. I suppressed a groan.
"I know."