Help Me

Mikey's House

Rye

Rye woke up when the car turned down a familiar street Even though it was dark he could still remember the streets. He felt his stomach turn in anticipation, because, really, he had no idea what was going to happen. Mikey was still flat out beside him, so he started to try to wake him up. He squeezed his shoulder weakly, letting go of Mikey's hand to run it through his hair. As he'd predicted, his friend didn't even react.

"Mikey, mate... We're here." He spoke softly, hating how uneasy he felt when the car pulled up onto Mikey's driveway. The unease was really getting to him now, and he had no idea why. He'd never felt this way before.

Mikey mumbled something under his breath, but didn't stir. Rye shook him gently, smiling when Mikey's eyes opened blearily. He watched as Mikey blinked a few times, frowning as he tried to make sense of where he was, and he lifted his head from Rye's shoulder.

"Were here." Rye repeated, stroking Mikey's hair one last time before he pulled away completely.

"Already?" He yawned, still blinking tiredly, however his head snapped towards the window Mikey's front door swung open with a crash.

Rye watched his eyes visibly lit up as his mother appeared in the doorway, frantically opening the car door and reaching for his crutches. The light from the hallway flooded into the garden, Jackie's silhouette seeming to billow in the slight breeze. Both Mikey and his mother seemed to freeze for a total of about five seconds. Neither moving, just staring at each other in the darkness.

And then a noise wormed its way from his friend's throat. A whimper? A sob? And Mikey scrambled from the car, already hobbling quickly to meet his mother, who had started to run the second she saw her son moving. Rye shuffled over to where Mikey had been sat, sitting on the seat with his legs hung out he open door, and watched with a fond smile as Mikey threw his crutches to the floor, crashing into his mother.

What Rye wouldn't give to be able to hug his mother right now...

The pair embracing was lit up by the light in the hallway. Their arms clung to each other tightly, not wanting to let the other go. Rye guessed for Mikey that he was finally getting the comfort from his mother, and he guessed for Jackie that it was that she was finally able to check that her son was alright for herself. He couldn't tell if they were crying, or talking, or just saying nothing.

Rye felt his eyes well up, but the second he realised what was happening he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jumper.
No... He was not going to cry now. This was Mikey's moment, this was Mikey's week end. And he wasn't going to do anything to ruin that. Not because he was suddenly feeling all emotional anyway.

"Rye? Can I have some help with the bags?" Blair's voice dragged him from his thoughts.

"Yeah sure."

To distract himself he decided to help Blair, and also because he didn't want to watch the scene in front of him any longer. He knew that made him feel like an arsehole, but he just couldn't watch anymore. Maybe because he felt rude, watching such an intimate reunion. He didn't know. He stood up quickly, dusting his hands on his jeans, and shutting the door quietly.

He didn't want to interrupt them.

By the time he'd walked to the boot of the car Blair had already carried all but one bag inside the house, deciding to just head on in instead of waiting for Mikey and Jackie to go in first. Rye didn't blame him.
It was freezing. But instead of heading in after Blair, Rye pulled the bag from the boot, shut the boot, and just watched the scene unfold.
In the dark.
And the cold.
By himself.
He hovered next to the car, bag in hand, eyes taking in the constantly morphing shadow of Mikey and his mother, and for the first time feeling awkward and out of place. He'd never felt this awkward at Mikey's house before, at his best friend's house before. He was always welcome, Jackie had told him years ago. But tonight was the first time he felt... uncomfortable? Was that the right word?