Help Me

The Talk: Rye

Rye

Rye watched Mikey walk away with a smile, before he turned to face Jackie. After Mikey's quiet words, his nerves had calmed. But only just.

Yet Jackie gave him a soft smile when she caught his expression, putting Rye at ease. But again, it was only just.

She held her arms out, taking a step forwards, and Rye couldn't hold himself back. He walked straight into them, and he felt his lip wobble when she hugged him tight, rubbing his back. It had been so long since he had last seen his mother physically, and Jackie was a good substitute.

Only Andy had really held him like this since Mikey had been attacked, and it felt different to be held by an adult. It provided a comfort that he hadn't received in months, not even one that Mikey or the boys could provide; they could provide it, but it was in different ways.

Being comforted by Jackie took the responsibility off of him for the moment. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders, but the removal of that weight caused a sudden shock to flood through his body. Without warning he let out a sob, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Let it out Rye... You don't have to hold it in anymore." Jackie whispered softly. Rye clutched her jumper tightly in his hands, glad that someone was holding him in this way.

He was in a good place, despite the fact that he was crying on Jackie. Mikey felt the same way about him, and they were finally doing something about it.
Kissing Mikey was like nothing he'd ever dreamed of, and it only made his heart skip a beat every time he thought of him; the man that had captured his heart.

But before all of that, Rye was the one who had held everyone together, kept everyone sane, took charge when no one else would, or could. And that role came with a heavy burden, although he wouldn't have it any other way.
That role came with a lot of sleepless nights, making sure that everyone was safe. That role came with a lot of emotional turmoil, having to keep yourself together to help someone else.

All those pent-up emotions came out roaring, yet he was silent. He could feel his body shaking, the arms that held him up, the hot tears that flooded his cheeks, seeping into Jackie's jumper... But he didn't hear a sound. Something that surprised him.

"Is it all out?"
Jackie asked quietly five minutes later, once Rye had stopped shaking. He felt better, getting that all out. The last time he had cried it hadn't been this bad, but this time, with Jackie holding him, he got literally everything he could've possibly got out. It was a different feeling, on that made him feel... Lighter... Yet it didn't stop the embarrassment from sinking in.

"Yeah... Yeah I think so. I'm sorry." Rye sniffed as he pulled away, rubbing his face. They sat down on the sofa before Jackie spoke.

"Don't apologise, ever... What you've done for my son... I can't even begin to thank you Rye." She sounded so genuine, and it hit Rye right in the chest.

"It's nothing, really. He would've done the same for me."

He tried to play it off as nothing, because that's what it had been. Nothing. He hadn't gone out of his way to do anything, he just felt like it was the right thing to do. After all, what kind of a friend would he be if he didn't try to help Mikey? Not doing anything didn't sit well with him, especially seeing Mikey in such a state.

"But it's more than that." Jackie said knowingly, and Rye smiled at the floor, thinking of how himself and Mikey were more than just friends.

"Can I ask you about that?"

She brought him out of his thoughts, and he coughed into his hand as he looked up, seeing her excitement hidden in her eyes. He could see it was there, the concern was still there... It probably always would be.