New Family

Chapter 11

Bastien closes his eyes and leans back onto the sandbank. Crossing his arms over his chest he takes a deep breath.

"My whole life it's just been me and  my dad, I don't remember him before his eating disorder or how he was with my mother, I don't even remember my mothers face." His throat begins to tighten as hot tears begin to rush down his face. 

Bethany grabs onto his hand and listens closely.

"You know al-all I've ever wanted was to have a normal dad. I had to watch him slowly deteriorate in front of me. and watching my father being admitted and discharged only to relapse again... It's the worst fe-feeling in the world... It-its breaks my heart seeing him struggle"

Bastien sobs heavely his nose is bright red and his cheeks are stained with tears. He sits up and rubs his face into his shirt.

"Bastien" Bethany had no words, she rests her hand on his shoulder but he turns away from her. She could feel his pain and him faintly shaking.

They both just sat there in silence with nothing but the rustle of the leaves on the trees and Bastien quiet sniffles. Bethany looks down at the ground and grabs a fistful of sand letting it slowly seep through her fingers.

I feel terrible that he's had to go through that, I wish I could make him feel better.

After what feels like hours Bastien stands up and stares into the lake. Rubbing his red eyes he pulls off his shirt and his shoes and begins to walk into the cold water. 

The cold bitterness bites at his feet sending jolts of numbness up his leg.

"Bastien what are you doing!" Bethany's heart rate skyrockets afraid of what he's about to do.

"S-stop it Bastien get out of the water!" 

Bastien hears her but chooses to ignore, he just wants to feel nothing and descends further into the frigid water. He's chest-deep when he hears frantic splashes approaching him than a hand clamps down on his arm.

Bethany hysterically tugs on him forcing him back.

"Bastien stop this, I know you've been hurting for so long but with killing yourself isn't going to solve your problems!" 

Bastien turns around and stares at her hard. His sullen gloomy composer turns into a hysteric mood as if it was a joke. Bastien bursts out laughing while tears run down his face. He wraps his arms around the shook Bethany and chuckles into her hair.

"You're so funny, Yo-you thought I was going to kill myself?!" He laughs so hard that he nearly falls over. Bethany stands there in his embrace scared yet relieved.

Time skip

It's been about an hour since the whole ordeal and Bethany and Bastien are both laying on the grass, as they bask in the hot afternoon sun. Once they begin to dry off the heat ensues and soon they're are both sweating.

" guess it's time to go back inside and also change it's too god damn hot" Bastien stands up and helps Bethany up. He intertwines his fingers with hers and looks down at her.

"Thanks for being there" He smiles down at her and kisses her lifting her off of her feet.