Disordered Eating (Skephalo)

The Boy In My Apartment

Darryl's POV

Zak and I walked into my apartment building and we rode the elevator up to my flat. I felt semi-embarassed because my place was currently a bit messy, but Zak didn't seem to mind. I unlocked my door and lead Zak in.

He scanned the apartment room and didn't really say much. He sat down on the couch as I put away my muffins and grabbed a dog treat for Rat. Rat jumped all over him in the couch. He seemed calm and played with my dog.

"Can I give Rat the treat?" He said looking up at me.

"Sure!" I said and handed over the small bacon flavored dog treat to Zak.

Zak held out his hand to Rat with the bacon flavored dog treat. Rat ate the dog treat and licked his hands clean of it. Zak giggled a bit. I watched the two play for a bit.

"Would you like a muffin Zak?" I asked.

"No.. I don't really.. I'm good." He said.

"Alright well let me know if you want any food. I think you should drink some water though," I said with my back to him as I grabbed a bottle of water from my mini fridge.

I placed the water in front of him on the coffee table and sat down on the chair to his left. He slowly chugged the water down and I watched him drink.

He looked really skinny up close. Could I see his bones?

"Hey Darryl?"

"Yeah Zak?

"Thank you for... saving me."

"No problem."

More silence.

"I can really move in here?" He asked.

"Yeah you can. My spare room is right there," I said and pointed to the bedroom door.

"Wow."

I sat there quietly for a few more minutes letting him finish the water and pet Rat.

"Zak, you can stay here as long as you need. However, I really think you should go into the psych ward since you just had a suicide attempt. I understand that place can seem uncomfortable, but I am not a professional. Professional help is important," I said, looking at Zak in the eyes.

"I would like to but..."

"I'll pay for it," I said with a feeling I knew what I was going to say.

"R-really? You don't have to Darryl. That's too kind. I.. I'd feel weird accepting that since you're already letting me live with you. And... I'm a complete stranger," He said with a trembling voice.

"I can afford it. Don't worry Zak. It's for a friend."

He smiled at the word friend.

"I like seeing you smile Zak."

There was some more silence as we sat there for a few more minutes. Zak kept petting Rat and I watched Zak closely.

"What do you do for a living, Darryl?" He asked, suddenly breaking the silence.

"Well this is going to sound embarrassing but I stream, make videos, and own a minecraft server."I blush when I say minecraft.

"Really? That's cool." He says. "What's your name online?"

"Badboyhalo or Saint of Games." I blush more at that name.

"That's better than me. I don't have any kind of job... I'm not al- nevermind." He said.

We were silent for many more minutes. I felt embarassed for mentioning my work for some reason. It's not like I had any reason to be embarrassed. Zak is a stranger..

"Darryl?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I have a hug again?"

I immediately get up from my chair and walk over to Zak. He looks up at me and I wrap my arms around him tightly. My heart beats a bit fast as I hold onto Zak. I feel something strange and I don't know what it is, but continue to hold onto him anyway. Zak relaxes in my arms. We stay there for several minutes like on the bridge, except Zak isn't crying this time. He is sad which I can sense, but he is calmer. I put all my heart into hugging this hurting stranger in my living room. I wanted to make him happy.

Zak is the first one to pull away from the hug. I sit down next to him on the couch this time to be a bit closer to him.

"I know I need to go to the ward, but can I spend this one night with you?"

"Sure, Zak. As long as you go soon it doesn't have to be tonight."

"Can we watch a show together?"

I reached for the remote and opened Netflix up on my tv. I handed Zak the remote and let him scroll through the shows. He picks a show and we watch it together. He actually laughs a few times.

He has a beautiful laugh.

Zak makes me feel things I don't understand and I've just barely met him.

I know I must protect him.

Later that night we started to talk more. I decided to try to ask him some questions but I know he isn't ready to answer them yet. I learned he's 20 years old. I tried asking him about family but he just shut down. I learned his favorite pokemon and we talked a bit about minecraft and my small channel. I told him I am also a tutor.

We ended up in a cuddling like postion on the couch. With him leaning onto me. At around 7:30, he recieved some texts on his phone and he seemed really anxious.

"Who's that, Zak?" I asked with concern.

"It's George. He probably found my note and realized I'm gone," he said, his eyes darkening again.

"Who's George?"

He seemed really hesitant to answer this. He thought of it for a few minutes. I wasn't going to push further but he answered.

"George is my uhh boyfriend," he looks down at my legs.

"Oh!" I said.

He's gay?

He seems to start to tear up again and he brings his hands to his face.

Oh no, did I make him think he's not accepted?

I quickly wrap my arms around me again.

"Hey it's okay Zak. I'm actually gay as well," I said.

It was the first time I admitted it out loud to anyone, especially a stranger.

He removed his hands from his face but he was still tearing up a bit. I help onto him tight. I just wanted him to feel happy.

"Well actually..." He started to say.

"Well what?" I asked.

"I'm pansexual." He said.

"Oh! I'm so silly. I'm sorry for assuming you were gay."

Other sexualities exist you idiot.

"It's okay, Darryl." He smiled a bit.

"That was quite a muffiny thing for me to do."

I let go more from the hug, but still stayed cuddling with him.

"So do you think George will help you?"

"No. No. No. I can't ever see him again. I won't go back there. No." He said with fully darkened eyes.

I fully understand now what is going on. George must be abusing Zak. That basturd. I'm going to kill him.

"Well, fuck George. I'll help you."

"Thank you Darryl," He said with a weak smile, his eyes still dark.

We stayed there cuddled up on the couch for the rest of the night, talking and watching shows together. We ended up falling asleep like that on the couch and I had no idea. I didn't mind though.