The broken ones

Everything's going to be okay

❀

Neil has no where else to go since his father would be waiting at the front door of his house with a belt in his hand. Thinking about going to the club room, he stops at the four way street but instead of taking a left turn to the school campus, he walks straight.

Walking down the sidewalk of the pathetic town he lives in, he covers himself with a jacket after receiving judge mental stares from old people passing by. A minute ago he felt confident for being himself, but now that Rj isn't a part of his life anymore, Neil can't help but feel insecure and self-conscious.

He enters the door of winchells, and sees Edna wiping a table at the other side. She looks up to greet him but noticing the black stain from the eyeliner running down his cheeks, and his red puffy eyes; Edna knew that something is up.

"Neil What happened. Are you-" Edna was cut off when Neil throws himself to her, and held her in for a tight hug. He starts to cry, and covers his whole face against her shoulder. Edna was lost for words but instead of asking questions, she comforted him in every possible way she can. She embraces him and tells him that everything's going to be okay, and that she is there for him.

Once Neil finally calms down, Edna helps him sit at one of the empty tables. Since it's finally her break time, she orders a drink and a doughnut for Neil despite being financially unstable.

"You didn't have to buy me anything Edna." Neil sniffs his snot away, and wipes his remaining tears away with a tissue.

"You need some refreshments to feel better." Edna sighs and pushes the drink and the doughnut towards Neil.

He shakes his head and gives her the doughnut.
"I'll take this one then." He says. He grabs the drink and takes a sip from the straw.

Edna settles down in front of him, and waited until Neil was ready to speak up. "I have 30 minutes to hear you out now spill." Edna says, exchanging looks with her coworker at the cashier.

"I broke up with him..." He tells her as she averts her attention back on Neil.

"What ? Why ? How come ? I thought you love him." Edna takes a bite from the doughnut, but scrunches her nose upon realizing that it isn't her favorite one.

"Well it turns out that he isn't IN love with me." Neil drags the words out of his mouth like an anchor tugging his heart into deep waters.

"I doubt that. Rj seems like a nice guy." Edna shrugs her shoulder, confuse as to why Neil chose to end their relationship.

"He's going to leave town soon Edna."

"So ? Have you ever heard of long distance ?"

"Well I don't want that. I want him by my side everyday!" He mumbles in frustration. Edna grabs the drink away from him and takes a sip from the straw. "Besides, he asked me go along with him." He adds.

Edna chokes on the drink and spits the remaining out of her mouth.

"Geez close your mouth" Neil wipes the drink out of his arm in disgust.

"He asked you to go with him ? Not on my watch Neil." Edna says after clearing her throat.

"That's why I ended it. As much as I want to be with him, I can't leave this stupid hell of a town!" Neil shouts, gathering all of the attention of other customers near them. Hearing their complaints and judgmental whispers, Neil can't help but roll his eyes at them.