Glitter and Hate

Glitter Gets Everywhere

"Dyson, tell me what happened," Bethany said and kept her hand on his arm.

"Gee look at the time." Dyson looked at his wrist that was covered in bracelets and no watches. The braided leather one with a single green bead in the middle caught his eye.

"What do you think happens to us after we die?" Caleb asked while looking up at the blue sky.

Dyson rolled over to his side and smacked Caleb's stomach playfully. "Where the hell did that question come from?" He chuckled and Caleb joined in before turning over onto his side to face Dyson.

"I'm serious," Caleb told him and his green eyes sparkled like the blades of grass that they were lying on. He had never seen such bright green eyes before meeting Caleb.

"I don't know." Dyson shrugged. He was used to Caleb's random questions but this one felt heavier than the other ones. Something was off; Dyson could feel it.

"I think that we get to be happy." Caleb laid back and tucked his arm under his head. "I think that when we die we get the kind of freedom we'll never have here."

"I think that... you sound drunk." Dyson laughed nervously.

"Why can't you just be serious for even a second?" Caleb groaned and rolled over to stand up. "Sorry, I'm not feeling well. Do you mind if I call you later?"

"That's fine." Dyson frowned. Did he mind? They never spoke that formally to each other. But, since that night everything had been different between them. They hadn't talked about the change but they were both aware of it.

"I got you something." Caleb dropped a small bag in Dyson's lap as he stood above him.

"For me? Why?"

"I don't know. Because it's Thursday?" Caleb shrugged.

"Thank you." Dyson opened it up and didn't even notice as Caleb walked away. He felt the tear slide down his cheek as he looked at the bracelet. That was when he knew that Caleb was never coming back. This was a goodbye present.

Dyson pretended that his nose itched so he could fight back the tears burning in his eyes and he had to force himself to look away from the bracelet. "Better get to class."

"Dyson, you never go to class. You need to talk to someone, him." Bethany looked into his dark eyes and furrowed her brow at him. Him? Dyson knew that who she meant, they both did, but they never said his name. Caleb.

"Bethany, it's not what you think. Now I have to get to class or your lovely father is going to expel me." Dyson pulled away from her, slammed his locker shut with the side of his fist, and turned on his heel all in one motion.

"See you at lunch?" Bethany called after him. She sometimes had a fleeting fear that he would just disappear one day. He'd walk away and never come back. It terrified her.

"Nah, I'm leaving," Dyson smirked and did a twirl before looking back at her again.

"I thought you couldn't miss class." Bethany smiled at him.

Dyson coughed and clutched his chest. "I'm sick."

"You're a terrible liar. Love you!" Bethany laughed and walked to her history class. Dyson watched her disappear as the rest of the students hurried to their next class. Dyson was still looking back when he turned the corner and slammed into someone.

Caleb yelped as he fell to the ground with someone on top of him. Why did these things always have to happen to him? He was already going to be late. "Move." He shoved at the guy then froze when he saw who it was. "Ah, it's you. Figures."