White Lines

Indulge

Noctis walked up the stairs and into his room in just enough time to answer his buzzing phone, "hello?"

"Oi, Noctis! I heard you are staying with someone from the US team!" The young man's accent was a thick British but was easy to make out.

"Gabriel, do you know how to talk normally?"

"Sorry, I guess you've had a bad day?" Gabriel said a bit quieter.

"Yes. Now, why did you call me?"

"Would you mind if I came over to America and stayed with you for a few months?"

"I'll have to ask Leah. It is her house."

"Yes,your right. I just need to get away from here. Your mum and dad are always arguing."

"He is not my father."

"Yes, sorry. So will you ask?" Gabriel was tense, even through the phone Noctis could hear a door slam.

"Of course."

"Thank you." Gabriel breathed.

"What kind of older brother would I be if I didn't get you out of Hell?"

"Goodnight Noctis."

They both hung up and Noctis went to the bathroom that was connected to his bedroom, his wrists were slightly bleeding. A soft knock rang through the room and before he had a chance to cover his arms, Leah was standing in the doorway,

"Noctis, you have to quit hiding your arms around here. Both me and Vanz have seen first hand what cutting like this does to people."

He buried his face in his hands which he had dried off when she knocked, "I know! I know! I can not stop! It is my way of relieving stress and I'm sorry."

Leah stepped closer to him and took his arm in her hand, gently pressing her lips to his wrist over the cuts. He blushed a bright shade of red, "Noctis," she said, softly brushing his bangs from his eyes, "you can always talk to me. No matter what, got it?"

He looked down at her Jade colored eyes and blushed even darker, he wanted to kiss her, to close the two inches between them and indulge in her smell and taste, but he couldn't. She didn't like him like that. He wasn't sure if he liked her in that way.

All he could do is nod, taking one last breath in before she backed away at the sound of Vanz calling her name.