Can't You See Me?

Chapter Four ~ Pretty Odd

(Edit: ok so his mom had died a couple years ago, just so you know. :) I forgot to add it in whoops)

October 1st, 1997

Ryan lays awake in his wrinkly sheets, smiling ever so slightly and petting his dog. His clothes hug his body in all the right places as the sheet is pulled over him.

"Oh, turbo. What are we gonna do?" Ryan asked his dog, knowing it wouldn't respond so just gazes back up at the ceiling. He had painted a sparkling lake holding a dock and a silhouetted man, casting his rod into the sunset on his ceiling and above his bed. There was a baby blue and black ruffled mini-dream catcher which made Ryan feel safe at all times.

He couldn't hear his father's yelling while day-dreaming, that's why he does it so often. Most of the time, Ryan stays home or is at the dock, the same dock that him and his dad used to go to. Although it's not in as good condition as it was back in the day, it's still a perfect place to relax at. That dock was the only thing that was saving Ryan at the moment. Well, other than his dog, as he mentioned the name "Turbo". He had saved him from drowning nearby where he always sits, and then they stuck together. Still even for those rough six years.

"Come on, let's get ourselves some food." Ryan got up and stretched, Turbo's tail wagged faster than ever and arched his back. Ryan giggled and picked him up, put on a hat and grabbed his bait and fishing rod. He had this duffle bag he'd keep stuff in.

George was asleep on his big chair in the living room with a half filled alcohol bottle in his left hand. A tear escaped Ryan's eye, but wiped away fast because he had eyeliner on. He always had a passion for make up, but he doesn't really know himself yet.

Ryan pet his dog walking down the sidewalk, watching his feet and listening to the gravel beneath him let out air to make the sound they were vibing off. Smiling to himself, he made it across the road and to the dock.

Ryan adjusted his jacket and set Turbo down, smiling and sitting down next to him. The rod casted a far ways and laid in the water, listening to the quiet waves. It was so soothing for Ryan, a 'stress reliever' or 'coping skill' is what it felt like to him.

His feet dangle and his lap gets warm from his fluffy dog laying across it. He smiles at Turbo then watched out for the rod. Then. he started to sing 'Here comes the sun' by The Beatles.

"Hi." an unrecognizable voice chimed from into his right ear, abruptly.

Ryan's body flashed hot and red, sweating and breathing more frantically from the startling.

"Who are you? Where did you come from?!"
"Chill." The younger boy reassured. Ryan just stared at him like he was holding a gun.

"Your voice is something different.." He paused. "I meant, like, something beautiful kind of different." He chuckled embarrassedly and Ryan smiled. "Uhhh thanks." His voice was still shaky. He smiled and laughed happily as he rubbed his back softly. "I didn't mean to scare you.." "No, No you're good. I wasn't expecting that, that's all." He guffawed.

"How long have you been coming here anyway?" Ryan asks the chestnut-haired boy. "For about two years.." "And I've never seen you? That's odd." the boy giggled and made a comment. "It sure is pretty odd."

"What's your name, anyway?"

"I'm Brendon, who are you?"
"Ryan." They both smiled and thought to themselves how to make each other smile.