Someone? Anyone?

Making A Friend

Meril pulled his police cruiser up to the last parking space in front of the gas station besides the ones marked handicap.
It was a little mom and pop station and they had great coffee.
Walking inside he was greeted with a friendly "hello officer."
From the man behind the counter.
"Hey Jeff."

He walked to the back were the coffee was and grabbed a size medium. He filled it most of the way with dark roast and then put a little cream in it. He snapped the lid on it, grabbed a cup sleeve and turned around to head towards the register to pay.

In the aisle directly in front of him stood a dark, shaggy haired and blue eyed boy looking over the contents of the shelf.
"Dakota?"

The face turned to look at him. The young eyes shown with fear for a brief moment, then confusion, then recognition.
"Uhm. H-hi."

Meril couldn't help the smile that lit his face.
"Hey champ. How's it going?"
For a moment he seemed uncertain of how to answer.
"Uh. Good I guess."
"Yeah? That's awesome. No more trouble with bullies I hope."
"Uh. Well... Not t- uhm- too much."
"That's good. What are looking at?"
"Just the uhm... Candy and- and stuff."
"What's your favorite kind?"
"Uhm... Reese' s."
"Have you ever had a Whatchamacallit?"
The boy shook his head.
"Awh man you got to try it. Here. I'll buy you one so that way if you don't like it you still have your money to buy Reese's."
"Oh uh. That-thats ok. I- I... You don't have to."
"I know I don't have to. I want to. If you'll let me."
"I-uhm... I don't mind. I g- guess."
"Awesome. Grab two. One for me one for you."
When he reached to grab them Meril's eyes flew wide for just a moment before he neutralized his features. Dakota had a bruise encircling his wrist. A quick glance told him that his other wrist had an identical bruise.
He said nothing right away not wanting to scare the boy but worry started to pool in his stomach as he put two and two together.
The stutter, the bruises, the shyness.
Oh gosh! He hoped this wasn't what it looked like.

They walked up to the register and Meril payed. The cashier smiled and made small talk. Dakota didn't engage but instead kept his head lowered and avoided eye contact.
They walked outside.
Meril knew he should get back on patrol but he wanted to make sure this kid was ok. They sat on the bench outside the station to enjoy their candy bars.

"You like it?"
Dakota smiled.
"Yeah."
They talked some but not a lot. Dakota wasn't much of a talker.
Probably the stutter made it difficult. He imagined the boy got picked in for it.
"Dakota. Can I ask a question?"
"Yeah."
Meril hesitated for a moment trying to decide if he should really ask it.
"Son. Who did that to your wrists?"
The boy instinctively pulled his hand in close to his stomach to hide them.
"Uh I uhm I- I.... I fell."

The worry started to grow inside the Deputy.
"Really? They look like hand prints."
"Oh y-yeah Uhm It- it was the- the uhm- the k-kids at- at school. "
The stutter was getting worse now, his voice hit a higher register, and his hands wrapped around his stomach.

"Ok. Hey Dakota it's ok if you don't want to tell me. But if someone is hurting you we can help you."
"I- I have t-t-to go. Thank-thanks for the- the- the..."
He stopped suddenly as the struggle of talking became too much.
He held the candy wrapper up in the air to show that's what he was saying thank you for then turned and sprinted away.