should've said something | shyland

Chapter Nine

Do you want to come over later?

12:43 pm.

Shane, you there?

1:29 pm.

Are you even getting these?

1:58 pm.

With every unread message and unanswered phone call, Ryland grew a bit more concerned. He and Shane hadn't made plans to hang out, but he figured he would have received a response. He tried not to panic, as it wasn't uncommon for Shane to step away from his phone for a few minutes (even though it had been well over an hour), and he figured the auburn-headed boy was asleep, or maybe his mom had picked him up to spend the day with him; she had been talking about it for quite a while. Either way, there was no reason for him to believe any otherwise.

He went about his day, helping his sister with her summer reading assignment and versing his brother in a video game, but when he checked his phone at 3:04 pm, he realized Shane still hadn't texted him back. He was starting to wonder if Shane was mad at him for any particular reason when his phone rang and Garrett's face popped up. It wasn't Shane, but he figured it was a start. Maybe he could see if Garrett wanted to hang out.

"Garrett," He answered the call, balancing the phone between his shoulder blade and cheek. "I was actually thinking about calling you. Shane isn't answering his phone, and I—" He paused. "Woah, I don't understand what's go—Okay, okay, Garrett, calm down! I don't—wait, what—" His eyes widened, and his mom glanced over at him through the opening of the kitchen, where she was grabbing a drink and listening to her daughter ramble about the book she was reading. "N—No, that's—he promised he would tell me—"

"Ryland," Garrett screeched. "He didn't tell me either, okay? He—His mom's not answering me, and I—he's with the doctors now, but I don't know what I'm supposed to do, and—oh my God, it looked like I was in the middle of a crime scene, and I'm covered in his blood, and—you have to come here, Ryland."

"T—Tell him I'm on my way."

As soon as he lowered the phone from his face, he ran to grab his shoes from the foyer, forgetting to explain to his parents what had happened until his mom grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around, noticing the tears building up in her son's eyes. "Ryan, honey, what's going on?"

"Shane—he—his Dad," He couldn't get the words out, but he didn't have to. His mom's eyes grew wide and she grabbed the keys from the top of the fireplace, calling to her husband to keep an eye on their other two kids as Ryland raced to the car and she followed behind. He climbed through the passenger side and pulled his knees to his chest, rocking back and forth as his mother started the car, feeling as if he wouldn't be able to function until he knew Shane was okay. "This is all my fault."

His mom shook her head. "Ryan, don't say that."

"I knew," He cried. "I knew what his Dad was doing, and I didn't tell anybody because he told me it was only one time, and now he's in the hospital and I—I lo—" He paused. "He's my best friend, Mom. I don't think I'd survive without him."

"He's going to be fine, honey."

Through his blurry vision, he could see the liquid pooling underneath his mom's eyes. His mom loved Shane as though he was her own son, she always had, especially since finding out his home life was anything but perfect. Ryland knew Shane's mom loved him with everything she had, but she worked a lot more than any typical parent did to provide for her family, and Ryland never blamed her for that (he knew having a husband who was drunk all the time couldn't be easy – and she always welcomed him into her home with open arms and a smile), but he couldn't help but wonder how she could leave her son in the care of someone who was unable to care for himself.