Tranquility

Chapter 5: "You got a girlfriend?"

"I know I shouldn't feel like this, because John isn't mine," Daron pulled back. "But it still really hurts. And I-"

"Shh," Serj hugged Daron once more. "Just calm down." Serj whispered in Daron's ear. Serj felt the younger nod against his shoulder.

Daron pulled back and nervously laughed, "Serj, it's okay. You really don't have to stay. You don't gotta baby me." Daron said as he nervously picked at his sleeve, avoiding eye contact. Although he enjoyed Serj's company to an extent, he also just kinda wanted to be left alone for a while.

Serj went to say something but the other cut him off, "I think I just need to be alone for a bit anyways." Daron turned the other direction, "Thank you though." Serj nodded to himself.

"Yeah, alright. I'll be off." He smiled at Daron, even though he was still turned away. Daron nodded and layed down in his bed. Serj frowned, he wished he could've done more to help the shorter, but he presumed all Daron needed for now was some alone time. "See you tomorrow, D." He waved off as he left the way he came in.

---

Serj made his way swiftly through the streets the chilly tuesday night, fall fastly approaching, leaves falling to the ground in front of his very eyes. Serj was walking, not quite knowing the destination, all he knew that he needed to call the number Nick gave him, but he was procastinating it. While Serj procrastinated, he calmly made his way through the dying streets.

Serj passed through an alleyway, ending up in front of a Walmart. He shrugged, deciding to go in for no apparent reason other then to maybe buy a candy bar for himself. He made his way through the doors looking down the whole time. The second he looked up he noticed how dead it was for a tuesday afternoon, he then saw the first isle, which was makeup.

Usually he'd never pay the isle much mind, Serj didn't even think he'd ever stepped into the isle before. It instantly reminded him of the Friday he met Daron. Serj hesitantly walked into the isle and browsed looking for a certain makeup item.

He picked up the first pencil looking makeup he saw, he read the pencil to make sure it was what he thought it was -- eyeliner, and he was correct. Serj smiled to himself as he took the item to the cashier with him, making sure to pick up a candy bar on the way.

The cashier chuckled while bagging the items, "Did the special lady send you to pick up makeup for her?" Serj shook his head.

"Not exactly," he answered, his smile never once faltering. The cashier furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Serj handed her the money.

"Oh, I get it." The cashier nodded collecting the money. "You're going to suprise her with it by saying you thought of her, aren't you?" She handed him the receipt, Serj put the receipt in his bag, then paused. He breathed out of his nose as a half chuckle and shook his head slightly, looking down to the floor, just now his brain catching up to what he was really doing.

"Something like that," He made eye contact with the lady then waved goodbye leaving the quiet store.

Once he left the Walmart he took out his flip phone and texted 'D'. Afterwards he dialed the number Nick gave him.

--

"I have a suprise for you tomorrow."

Read Daron's phone screen.

Daron's heart fluttered at the sight of it, the event's of the school day momentarily fading in his head. What was this suprise Serj had, and why? Daron couldn't fathom why Serj was being so nice to him.

He shut his phone screen and clutched it close to him as he fell asleep.

--

"Hey, who's this?" The voice on the other line asked, it sounded awfully familiar to Serj, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly who it was.