The Outcast

Chapter 28: Wishing for a Time Machine

Chapter 28: Wishing for a Time Machine

“And I just got broken, broken into two. Still I call it magic when I’m next to you” –Magic, Coldplay

Nirvana Evans

Instead of answering my question, Will tried to get up from the floor. However it didn’t go as smoothly as he planned. He lost his balance and staggered around until he almost crashed into me. Luckily I caught him in time before he fell on me. If we were under normal circumstances I would have made a joke about his clumsiness like he always teased me about but something was definitely off with Will.  He wasn’t his usual self and he apparently wasn’t intending on telling me what the hell he was doing at my house yet.

His weight was getting heavy for me so I decided to let him inside. Fishing my keys out of the tight pocket of my jeans while practically supporting Will’s weight was not an easy task. After struggling for a couple of minutes I finally managed to unlock the door and haul him in.

I set him down on the couch and told him to stay there while I went to get my bike. I mean I wasn’t worried about anyone stealing it but it would be inconsiderate to leave it out all night. As soon as I put it away in the garage I went back into the living room where Will was obediently still seated on the couch. He looked so completely devastated that it was almost hard to stare at him for too long. The more I stared at his agony my heart started to break piece by piece.  The worst part was that I didn’t even know the reason behind his sadness. But on the other hand there was a part of me that hadn’t forgotten about how cruel he’d been at school and how he’d been ignoring me all this time. I still hadn’t gotten over how he’d sided with Tara against me. Still, I had to set my anger aside for a moment and find out what the hell was going on with him.

“Will talk to me. What’s wrong? Why are you here?” I asked. He looked up at me and I moved over to sit next to him. It was then I caught a scent that was a bit nauseating. Will smelled strongly of alcohol and something else I couldn’t place.

“I miss you,” was all he said before he broke down into a fresh round of sobs. For a second I wasn’t sure of what to do. It was a rare site to see him cry. He was usually so strong and confident and I really wasn’t used to seeing his vulnerable side. I also knew his tears probably had nothing to do with me. If he had really missed me he would’ve made some type of effort to see me. But I wasn’t about to bring that up now. He was obviously very drunk and emotional right now. So I just sat there and rather awkwardly patted his back until he calmed down a bit.

“Now tell me what’s really going on,” I said once he’d taken a deep breath.

“There’s just so much shit happening right now. It feels like my life is spiraling downwards way too fast and you’re the only real friend I have and I haven’t even treated you like one,” he said with a voice that was filled with regret.

So now that he needs you he cares? A bitter voice pointed out in that far yet nagging place in the back of my head.

I knew there was some truth behind that fact but Will had been my best friend since forever and right now he needed me. Sure I was still kind of hurt by the way he had treated me at school and how distant he’d become lately but I couldn’t hold a never ending grudge. I could have replied back with some sarcastic question like ‘why don’t you ask Tara for help?’ Since he had chosen her over me the last time but I didn’t say that. Instead I asked him another question.

“What exactly is going on with your life right now?” and when I uttered those words it was like I had broken the dam that had been suppressing all of his worries and problems. Everything flooded out of him like a torrent of water. He seemed to start off with the smallest of his problems until he reached the most serious ones that left me speechless. He told me about how his parents were in the middle of a messy divorce and how worried he was about how that would affect Colin’s life now (his baby brother). Then he spoke about a very sensitive topic.