Glitter and Hate

Waking Up Together

"Caleb, it's time to wake up," Dyson whispered as he played with Caleb's fluffy hair.

"Sleep," Caleb mumbled.

Dyson chuckled. This was the Caleb that he knew. "It's been twelve hours. You need to get up. I got us some breakfast."

"Where?" Caleb sat up and looked around, confused then his eyes closed as he remembered what had happened. He looked down at his arms and saw that they were thankfully covered by his long-sleeved shirt again.

"What time is it?" Caleb yawned and stretched his arms over his head.

"Early," Dyson said in response and got up to pull the room service rolling cart to the bed. "Do you want French toast or waffles?"

"I'm not hungry." Caleb laid back down.

"Then I get the waffles." Dyson pulled the silver lid off and smothered the waffles in butter and syrup. He watched Caleb out of the corner of his eye as he took his first bite and wasn't at all surprised when Caleb ripped the fork out of his hand and took a huge bite.

"You don't even like waffles," Caleb said and Dyson chuckled.

"I'm glad to see you're hungry." Dyson took the silver lid off the French toast he had actually ordered for himself. They ate in almost comfortable silence. Caleb pushed the tray away once he had eaten everything off his plate. He laid back down and closed his eyes, yawning sleepily. Dyson was worried but from what Caleb had said he knew he hadn't been getting much sleep. He had to be exhausted.

"I'm going to go for a walk," Dyson announced. Not that he planned on going far, but he needed to call his mom and Ruth.

"Don't." Caleb blindly reached out and grabbed his hand. "Please."

"Sure, I can watch some T.V." Dyson smiled and sat on the bed. He grabbed the remote and turned it on making sure to turn the volume down. He was just going to get more comfortable when a sleeping Caleb shifted to partially lay across his lap. Dyson froze and held his arms up. After a couple of minutes he finally, carefully put his arm over Caleb's back and bent the other before tucking it behind his head. It was the most uncomfortable position possible but it sure was worth it.

"Hey," Dyson whispered into his phone. Caleb was snoring softly so he knew that if he was quiet he wouldn't disturb him.

"How is he?" Ruth asked and Dyson ran his fingers through Caleb's hair. He knew that Caleb wasn't going to magically be better and honestly he didn't think Caleb ever would truly be better, but he'd get past this. He would change but he would be able to live again. And Dyson knew that he could do the same, finally; they could start healing.

"Dyson," Ruth's voice pulled Dyson back to the fact that he was on the phone.

"He's sleeping."

"Still?" Ruth sounded worried.

"Again. He at least ate." Dyson continued to brush Caleb's hair and felt a swell in his chest when he paused and Caleb nuzzled against him in his sleep.

"Why didn't you tell me until this morning?" Ruth demanded and it made the anger rise in Dyson again.

"Why didn't you notice?" Dyson shot back.

"Caleb's always been moody and secluded. I just thought he was stressed with senior year and stuff." Ruth said but Dyson could hear the regret in her voice. Ruth, like everyone else, hadn't noticed because they didn't want to. Who actually wanted to think about something causing their friend or family member so much pain that it permanently changed them?

"Dyson, do you want us to come?" Adrian asked him while staying levelheaded which Dyson wasn't accustomed to. Adrian was generally the loud one. Ruth was

"Of course we're going!" Ruth declared. "He's my brother. He needs me!"

"Dyson, let me call you back," Adrian said before Dyson could respond. Did he want them to come? It would be nice, eventually needed, but he also knew that Caleb wasn't ready to share the truth with himself let alone with Adrian and Ruth just yet. Dyson hadn't really told them what had happened. It wasn't his place to. Caleb had apparently told Adrian a small portion of what had happened and that was all. Dyson was not going to be the one to tell Adrian and Ruth about Caleb's scars physical and emotional.

His phone vibrated and he quickly answered. "Hey."

"Ruth just called me freaking out," Bethany said.

"Yeah, I told her what happened." Dyson sighed. "I probably should have waited until we got back."

"Did you tell her everything?" Bethany asked cautiously.

"Of course not." Dyson shook his head. "I just told her that Caleb was dealing with something and needed a break. Something serious."

"Good." Bethany released the breath she had been holding in. "I'll go talk to her and calm her down."

"Thank you," Dyson said and truly meant it. There weren't many people as loyal as Bethany.

"Just know this is the last time. You guys need to talk to people eventually." She warned him. "I'm not going to keep lying to Adrian. Sure, he knows more than Ruth, but he should know everything."

"I know." Dyson understood that it wasn't fair. "Speaking of Adrian; he's with Ruth."

"Dyson this is a mess."

"I know and I need you to cover for us," Dyson said.

"I will, for how long?"

"A couple of days? I didn't actually plan on driving all the way to Seattle, but now that we're here there's something we have to do."

"Seattle?" Bethany groaned. "Fine, but come back quick."

"Tuesday. Give us until Tuesday."

"Okay." Bethany sighed. "And Dyson?"

"Yeah."

"You're a great friend. Not many people would do what you've done after everything." She said as Caleb started to mumble and shift in his sleep.

"I need to go." Dyson hung up the phone and ran his hand over Caleb's hair.

"P-P-please don't," Caleb whined in his sleep.

"Caleb, wake up. It's over." Dyson gently turned Caleb over and pushed his hair out of his face. "Caleb, you're safe. Open your eyes."

"I can't." Caleb whimpered so quietly that Dyson wasn't even sure he had said it. Dyson stayed quiet and continued to brush through Caleb's hair.

"What if I open my eyes and I'm back there?" Caleb asked.

"I promise; you're not. Caleb, when you open your eyes all you'll see is me and ugly hotel decorations." Dyson watched as Caleb blinked quickly then opened one eye cautiously.

"Your hair is green," Caleb said.

"You just noticed?" Dyson asked with a half-smile.

"It's nice."

"I thought it was time to do my favorite color." Dyson touched the green bead in his favorite bracelet and for the first time in months, his heart didn't feel like it was getting stabbed.