Written In Stone (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 10 ~ Just You ~

Chapter ten ~ Just You~

Jay's POV:

I had been checking the time on my phone every minute until Ty finally arrived here at the Lazy Daisy. The look on his face was that of utter sadness and my heart sorta sank. The whites of his eyes were pink now and anyone could have easily realized he had been sobbing.

About what, however?... I had no clue.

As if he was unsure about approaching me, I saw his steps slow some, his head down while making the short trek over to me at the side of the building.

"You....you aren't gonna get in trouble if you're out here?..." He asked, his voice sounding almost like the softness of a hummingbird's wings flapping.

"It's fine. I'll just say I took a smoke break. So... what's wrong?"

Slipping a cigarette from my back pocket, I lit it while he was trying to find the right words to say, it seemed. My eyes were glued to his feet for awhile as he shifted uncomfortably in his spot. Rubbing his eyes, he finally met my gaze.

"...just needed someone to talk to..." A littler explanation than I was hoping for but it would do, I suppose.

"Just let me finish this," I held up the lit cigarette, "and we can go inside."

* ~ *

Behind the counter in the back lounge room, Ty was sat on the staff sofa while I was out front working. I felt sort of bad, however. I told him to come here but my break was an hour away. It is seriously amazing how many old folk wonder in during school hours...

Soon, I would be attending school though and my hours will get cut. Which means less money. Ugh.

At one point, every customer in Lazy Daisy was occupied with their ice cream so I swiftly took the opportunity to check on Ty. I spotted his backpack and shoes on the floor and he was facing away from me, laying down now. Approaching his, what looked like sleeping, figure, I patted his shoulder.

Turning over, he made room for me to sit down beside him.

"I have some time to talk now, if ya want..." I said softly but got a shake of the head in response.

It isn't like I was going to push him to talk but I made it obvious that I would always lend an ear.

I glanced down at my hands folded in my lap and cleared my throat. "I can wait if-"

"No. I mean....y-yes please. Just wait..." He stammered out. His hands seemed shaky and I wasn't sure whether or not he was nervous or just frightened to speak.

Patiently, I sat there looking at the wallpaper adorned with small polka dots everywhere. After what seemed life forever, his voice broke the silence, cracking in the middle of the first word.

"I'm just going through a hard time.... I really hate it. I can't talk to my mom or she'll tell her boyfriend so we can all 'work it out' together...but....that would just make everything ten times worse..."

Did I know what he was talking about? No. But I can always try, right?

"Well, what's making it so hard?" I asked, looking over to him.

"Hah..." He sighed, "Everything? I don't know..."

My eyes flickered to his lips as he spoke and my throat suddenly went dry. I wouldn't know how to help him if he never told me. However, he did say that one day, I might hear his story.

I leaned closer slightly and reached over, grazing my palm against his cheek and turned his face towards me. For about ten seconds, we just stared at each other. His flawless face up close seemed to show small details I hadn't made out before. The tiny freckles that spotted his cheekbones, a tiny scar on his left eyebrow where stitches may have been, an inconspicuous birthmark on the side of his jaw. His eyes, full of distress, made a pang hit my heart.