Fix This

Remember

            Wes glanced in his rearview mirror as they drove away from Blaine’s house and smiled when he saw Nick and Jeff leaning against each other fast asleep.

            “He is going to be okay, right?” Trent asked from the passenger seat as he too looked back at the two boys.

            “In time he will be,” Wes said, “He had a setback, but we were able to help him get through it the first and look how far he’s come. I mean, do you remember how he was when he first arrived at Dalton?”

            “How could I forget?” Trend replied, thinking back to the first time he’d met his blonde friend.

*Start Flashback*

 

            Trent was hurrying down the hall, trying to sort out his notes as he rushed to class. He was going to be late if he didn’t make it there in the next thirty seconds. He wasn’t paying attention to where he was going when suddenly… CRASH! Both he and his books were suddenly sprawled across the floor. He looked up and saw a blonde boy attempting to get off the floor, where he too had evidently been knocked when they had collided.

            “I am so sorry,” Trent said, jumping up and hurrying over to the boy. He reached out to help the boy up, but the blonde flinched away.

            “Hey, I’m not going to hurt you,” Trent said, noticing for the first time the boy’s black eye, the big black boot on his left leg which was obviously there because of some sort of fracture, and the cast on his right arm, “You just looked like you were having a hard time getting up.” He reached his hand out again, more slowly this time and the boy hesitantly took it with his good hand. Trent bent down and picked up the boy’s one crutch and books and handed them to him.

            “I’m Trent by the way,” he said, smiling.

            “Jeff,” the blonde mumbled.

            “Is it your first day?” Trent asked and Jeff nodded.

            “Well, do you need help finding your classes? Dalton can be kind of confusing at first,” Trent said smiling.

            “Yes please,” Jeff mumbled, “Um, I have English Lit. with Mr. Carlisle first.”

            “Lucky for you that’s exactly where I was heading,” Trent smiled again, “Come on.” They walked down the hall, going much slower due to Jeff’s leg.

            “You’re late Mr. Nixon,” the teacher said.

            “I know sir, I’m sorry,” Trent said, “But I ran into a new student, quite literally, and he has this class so I was showing him how to get here.”

            “New student?” Mr. Carlisle questioned as he looked up from his books, “Ah yes, you must be Mr. Stirling, correct?”

            “Yes sir,” Jeff said quietly, making his way into the room.

            “Alright, well most of the seats are full, but why don’t you go to the back and sit next to Mr. Duval? Mr. Nixon, if you could take these back there for him,” Mr. Carlisle said, handing him Jeff’s textbook and novel. Trent led the way to the back of the room and put the books on the desk behind his own.

            “Thanks,” Jeff mumbled as he sat down.

            “Hey, I’m Nick,” the black-haired boy next to him said.

            “Hi,” Jeff replied quietly.

 

            *End Flashback*

 

            Trent smiled fondly as he remembered how timid the now hyperactive blonde had been.

            “He was so scared,” he said, “He would flinch every time someone went near him.”

            “I can’t believe he ended up being Nick’s roommate,” Wes laughed, “It’s like they were destined to be together.”

            “Nick was the first person at Dalton that Jeff truly trusted,” Trent said, “From that first moment they were inseparable. I always told you guys it was only a matter of time before they became Niff. Like, do you remember his first Warbler party? Jeff was so scared of something happening so Nick held his hand to make him feel better.”

            “I remember that,” Wes chuckled, “It was before he was even a Warbler, but Nick had begged us to let him come so he could make friends.”

            *Start Flashback*

 

            Trent knocked on the door of Nick and Jeff’s room impatiently. They were meant to be heading out to the Warbler party, but Nick and Jeff weren’t ready yet so Trent was standing there waiting. Finally, the door opened and the two boys appeared.

            “Finally,” Trent said exasperated.

            “Sorry,” Jeff mumbled, but Trent just smiled at him to show that he wasn’t mad. They started walking towards the Warblers room and Nick and Trent noticed that the closer they got to the room, the tenser Jeff got.

            “Hey,” Nick said, reaching out and grabbing his roommate’s hand, something only he could do without Jeff flinching, “It’s gonna be okay.” Jeff nodded and smiled hesitantly at his friend. They arrived at the party and even though Jeff was hesitant at first, he loosened up a bit as the night wore on. He still stuck close to Nick the whole night, the shorter boy held his hand tightly so Jeff would always know he was there, but the blonde did begin to socialize. He relaxed around the others and started chiming in on conversations without always having to be asked. All the Warblers who had already met Jeff were thrilled with the transformations they could see him making. They knew that he was heading in the right direction and, with their help; he would eventually come out of his shell.

 

            *End Flashback*

            “He’ll get better,” Wes said, “We helped him get through it once and we’ll be there for him again.” Trent nodded his head and looked out the window. There was nothing for him to say; he knew Wes was right. With his friends by his side Jeff would get better. They all would.