Cipher

Chapter 19: Good Dinosaur

That weekend the whole gang showed up at the Johnstons' front step.

Cipher stayed sitting on the couch keeping Aaron entertained as Isaac answered the door. He was still feeling heavy and exhausted, not that he would ever admit that to Isaac or their friends. Surprisingly, Meg didn't burst into the living room and overwhelm Cipher with a thousand questions. In fact they were all unusually quiet as they entered the space.

No one spoke, eyes darting around awkwardly.

"Hello," Cipher finally broke the silence. The one simple word seemed to break the tension. Relief spread through the group, steadily pushing out the various darker emotions swirling around each individual.

"Hi, Cipher!" Meg exclaimed, taking a seat beside him as the rest stood around.

Cipher brightened a bit, enjoying her shining aura. It was hard to be down with Meg around. She was always so bright, it felt wrong to dampen it.

"Hello, Meg."

It was like the room let out a collective sigh and everyone finally came back to themselves.

"Jeez, Cipher, you had us scared there," David said, adjusting his glasses.

"Yeah," Shawn added. "You're not allowed to do anything like that ever again."

Cipher's marks flushed slightly, "I will do my best."

"You'd better," Santana plopped herself down beside Meg. "You just about gave us a collective heart attack, hermano."

"I apologize for any distress I caused."

Michael sighed with a slight shake of his head. "You don't have to apologize."

"That's what I've been trying to tell him," Isaac sounded almost exasperated as he and the others found places to sit.

"So what are we going to do?" Meg asked, already moving on the next thing. Everyone seemed to turn to Cipher.

"I suppose we should ask Aaron," Cipher turned to the boy who had managed to squish himself between Cipher and the arm of the couch. Aaron seemed to deliberate for a moment before whispering to Cipher. "Dinosaur movie? Any particular one?" Aaron shook his head.

Shawn was about to speak before Isaac quickly cut him off.

"None of the Jurassic Parks." He said with finality. Shawn looked slightly disappointed before lighting up again.

"Or Jurassic Worlds," Michael said flatly from his place on the ground.

"You guys are no fun," Shawn rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. The girls laughed at his mock pout.

"Oh, Shawnie, you're too cute," Santana's words earned another eye roll from Shawn but he couldn't hide the heat creeping into his cheeks.

"Come on, Batman, we're thinking kid friendly here." David laughed.

They ended up settling on The Good Dinosaur, sprawling out along the couch and comfy chair even using pillows and blankets to spread across the floor.

As everyone found their places and got comfortable, Cipher leaned back into the cushions and released a heavy breath. Aaron was still at his side. Meg with her feet in Cipher's lap, her head in Santana's, laughed as Aaron crossed his little legs on top of hers. The room seemed to swirl with his friends' contentment and happy banter. Something deep within him seemed to finally release, unwinding and allowing him to fully relax back into his seat like a weight had been lifted off his chest. Despite the lingering soreness and tightness he still felt under his skin, he was comfortable.

For the first time in several days he felt like he could breathe.