Call Me Simon

Chapter 8

Simon

I walk into school with my head held high. I love Elio so much and I can't hide it. He's the best boyfriend I have ever had. I hope that we can be together forever. That sounds a little creepy but I honestly don't care up to this point. And I don't want to sound cocky, but I think I'm an amazing boyfriend. All I want to do is take care of him. Ever since he told me about his...situation, I stay by his side almost all the time. I mean, he would do the same for me.

I'm about to walk to lunch, when I see Elio walk into the bathroom. I decide to follow him in, just to see if he's okay.

I walk in and I see him. His face is bloody. At first I thought that someone punched him (I would've not been happy) but he just has a nose bleed. I took a small breath of relief but ran to him to help. I can hear his ragged breathing and he's looking to me with such pain, I panic.

"Elio....." I whisper. "W-what happened?" He lowered his face but I stopped him. Putting my hand on his chin, I gently raised it.

"Don't put your head down. It'll stop your breathing. Best keep your head up." I saw him gently smile and I couldn't help but blush. Even injured, he was cute.

"I-it was too hot in the room..." Elio said after I got him a towel to put on his nose.

"That h-happens, triggers it more often. Which is why I never go to the beach for more than 30 minutes."

He and I harmonize a laugh and I take his hand. It feels like a cloud in the sunny sky. And I just loved how it fit perfectly into mine...

"We're gonna be okay...right?" Elio asked, still holding the towel to his nose.

"Of course we are. I'll be right here." I say.

"Good, because this isn't my first nose-bleed." He explained and I realized that Italy is a very hot place. Must have been the heater that triggered it. I release his hand and got up to turn off the heater then came back to his hand intertwined into mine once more.

"The heater's off now, Angel. You'll be safe." I said to him and now it was his turn to blush a velvet red.

"T-thank you, Simon." Elio said gently with a smile.

"You're very welcome" I say, kissing his hand.

Then, I got an idea. "Hey, hold on a sec, I think that towel stopped working. Here." I took a quick deep breath then took off my shirt. I start to wipe it on his face. He is smiling and I feel a little better. I love to see him smiling. To me, I think it's a silent indicator, something that means, I will be fine.

After the blood is completely gone, I go to wash my hands. I start to hear whimpering. Then I hear crying, then screaming. I turn around to see Elio, curled into a ball on the floor, losing his mind. He's having one of his flashbacks, I think to myself. I sit down next to him.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

He doesn't reply. He is breathing rapidly. I move in closer to him.

"Are you having a flashback?" I ask.

He nods but he is still breathing hard.

I wrap my arms around him. "It's gonna to be okay. I promise, It'll be okay. Calm down, please."

His breathing starts to slow and he turns to me. I stare at him for a while. I get scared whenever he goes through this. I'm not used to people that go through things like this. But all I know is that I'll be here for him. Every single moment, I'll be there. I won't be like-like how Bram was. I'll be even better.