Regrets

Chapter 15 - True Friends

Song: True Friends - Bring Me The Horizon

Thomas slowly sat up in the bed for the seemingly umpteenth time that day, awoken yet again by loud noises echoing throughout the apartment, though this time, it was a repeatedly, aggressively pressed doorbell.

With a sigh, Thomas got up, a dull pain creeping through his body as slow as a snail. He dragged his legs towards the door in a sleep drunken state, not really taking in any of his surroundings in as he crept by them, following the sound of the doorbell blindly.

"Yeah, yeah", he yelled slurred towards the door, and the sounds stopped suddenly, shortly before Thomas had reached for the handle.

Thomas pulled the door open with a swift movement revealing himself to the person behind it thoughtlessly. As he looked up, he didn't recognise the man looking down on him at all, and in that moment, he realized that he was in a completely new environment.

"Uhh", the man made a questioning sound, as if he was just confused about the sight before him as Thomas.

"Who're you?", Thomas spoke up bluntly.

"Oh, right. I'm Michael, is Marcus in?", Michael replied, his eyes searching for something behind Thomas.

"No, I don't think so... he left at four or so", Thomas noted, doubting that Marcus was in at the moment despite having no idea about the current time.

"Ah right... can I, can I come in?", Michael seemed nervous for some reason. Maybe Thomas' bandaged up self just made him feel guilty.

"Sure", Thomas mumbled as he stepped back, turning around to walk inside to the kitchen as Michael followed the thirteen-year-old as if it was common.

"I'm here to give Marcus some money for the shift he missed...", Michael trailed off as he looked at Thomas again, who, in turn, stared up at the man expectantly. The man simply pulled out a fifty dollar note and put it on the counter, not looking away from Thomas.

"Anyway... how're you holding up, kid? You look pretty battered still. I can take you to the hospital or call your parents, if you want? I know, kids your age don't usually want their parents to know about things like this but-"

"Don't call them! Please. Don't", Thomas interrupted him immediately, his expression faltering into one of fear and anxiety. He took a small step back, and his hands raised as if he was about to prepare for a block.

"I.. damn kid what're they doing to you back at home?", Michael had a look of disbelief and pity on his face. Of course, not even Marcus' friends could be like Marcus. Unjudging and non-prying. They were adults after all. Knowing all about kids was their job.

"Will you call them if I don't tell you?", Thomas huffed in reply, his attitude turning upside down in a millisecond.

"I.. no?! Why would I? Look kid, I just wanna make sure you're taken care of, and I know Marc won't do it. Besides, Marc isn't a good person to be around, y'know. He's all sorts of illegal. A good guy at heart but zero sympathy, okay? I don't think you should stay here", Michael stressed his intentions exasperatedly as he ran his hand through his hair while using the other to pronounce his words.

"Do you always talk this badly of your friends?", Thomas muttered angrily, a scowl present on his face.

"Friend?", Michael breathed in disbelief. "Marcus is far from a friend. He's an asshole", Michael laughed, as if it was common knowledge.

"If that's the case, why'd you bring me here of all places?", Thomas replied, not believing a single word the man had said. Marcus wasn't an asshole.

"He's reliable and trustworthy. Besides, he always respects other's choices and waits for them to make one. He and James used to fight a lot, so he also knows a lot about medicine and first aid. As I said, a good guy at heart, but all in all, just an asshole. I trust him a lot, and a drunk guy dragging a beat up kid into hospital... apparently my drunk self thought Marc was the better option", Michael shrugged, leaning back against the kitchen counter.

"Who's James?"

"Ah.. I think that's not my place to tell you. I don't think Marc would ever let me stop by drunk again if I went telling that around", Michael backtracked quickly, as if he had said something he shouldn't have, and judging by the way he talked around it, he really shouldn't have.

An awkward silence ensued, laid upon them like a heavy blanket.

"Anywho, I'd really feel more comfortable if I at least could be sure that Marc will take care of you, if you really want to stay here, so please tell him to call me when he gets back", Michael spoke up, sharply cutting through the quiet atmosphere with the hot knife that was his voice.

"His phone broke", Thomas mentioned quietly. The more he was hearing about Marcus, the less sure he felt. He knew from the start that Marcus wouldn't provide for him, but that really wasn't his issue at the moment. What kind of person was Marcus if even people that trusted him wouldn't call him a friend?

"Ahh, it finally gave out, huh?", Michael murmured as he turned around, grabbing a piece of paper that looked like an old shopping list from his pocket along with a pen. Quickly, he scribbled a few numbers on it.

"As I said. Tell him to call me, will you?", Michael smiled tiredly at the kid before he turned to leave. "Bye kid. Don't steal Marcus' money, yeah? He needs every penny"

Thomas could only nod quietly in response. How exactly was Marcus an asshole? Sure, he did beat up a kid gang, but that was about all the shitty things he knew about Marcus. And they did kind of deserve it.

A bit at a loss of words, Thomas stared after Michael, feeling a lot less secure now in this house.