Weekends

14- Sadness, Sundaes, and Sleepiness- D

The moment I got home, I fell asleep. No checking my phone, no talking to my mom about my day, just passing out on my bed with my jeans and collared shirt still on. This all led to a fairly unpleasant morning. My jeans felt so uncomfortable and my collared shirt was wrinkled to all hell. I trudged in and out of the bathroom and out to my car.

By the time I got to school, I still hadn't bothered to check my phone. I was confused when I didn't see Brendon by his locker but was kind of grateful because this gave me time to fix my hair in the bathroom mirror. I threw my backpack onto the bathroom counter and splashed a bit of water into my face in an effort to wake myself up. As I ran my wet hands through my messy hair, I heard something coming from the last stall. It sounded like crying.

"Hey, um whoever is crying, are you okay? I'm Dallon. Do you need help?" Nobody responded to me. I slowly walked over and softly knocked on the door. "Hey, I don't know who you are, but I'm willing to talk to you if you need someone to be there for you." I heard the person rip a paper towel and blow their nose. They walked towards the stall's door, taking a deep breath before opening it. My heart dropped when I saw who was behind the door.

"B-Brendon?" He nodded, his lip quivering as he tried his damndest to hold back tears. "I-what happened to you, sweet boy," I asked. He shook his head and collapsed against me in tears. I was a bit startled by the sudden embrace from the fragile boy, but I held him as soon as it registered as shit, he needs comfort, and I'm the one here for him.

"Hey, it's okay, Bren. You're alright," I told him, rubbing my hand on his back. "I don't know what to do, D-Dallon. I don't h-have my board with me, a-and I feel so worthless a-and anxious a-and I can't- I can't stop crying. I don't- I don't know what to do," he sobbed into my shoulder. I stepped away from the hug and looked at him.

He was still crying heavily as he looked to the floor. His arms were wrapped around himself like he was holding himself together. "Brendon, listen, you aren't worthless," I told him. He was shaking and hiccuping like crazy as I pulled him back towards me. I held him tight.

"I just- I-I-I can't- I don't want- I don't know- I just- you- you're wasting y-your time on me," he stuttered out. "No, hun, that's not true. I could never waste my time on you," I promised him. He went to speak again, but I stopped him. "Sweet, sweet, Brendon, just stop. It's okay. You don't have to talk anymore. How about after first period, you meet me behind the gym and we can go get ice cream," I suggested. He put his head on my shoulder as a I swayed us back and forth.

"Would you like that?" He nodded but still held onto me. I patted him on the arm to get him to let go of me. He looked up at me with old tears rushing down his face. "I'm so sorry that you've had a rough morning," I told him. He gave me a sad smile and wiped his face. "Can I walk you to music," I asked him. Hesitantly, he went to talk again, but he stopped himself and just nodded. "Alright, small boy, let's get you to class."

We walked side by side to the music classroom. I could tell that he didn't really want to go to class. He was walking slowly, his eyes wandering nervously. By the time we finally made it to the door, he was gripping my hand tightly and shaking his head. "Bren," I started, sighing at his averted glance. "Bren, look at me." He lifted his chin up and looked at me through his thick eyelashes. "I trust Jack to keep an eye on you, and we can't miss first period because we don't want to be counted absent, alright? Just think, in 45 minutes, we'll be heading the ice cream parlor," I told him. He nodded, smiling but still holding onto my hand. "Take a deep breath for me." He took a breath slowly and exhaled with his eyes shut.

"You can do this, Bren. I'll see you at 8:10 and not a minute later, okay," I asked as I walked him to his seat. "Okay." I went to leave but found myself turning around and wrapping him in my arms. I breathed in his scent of floral shampoo and sugar cookies. "8:10," I said before leaving him behind me in the music room.