Dreamnotfound Oneshots

[20] The friendly ghost epilogue

TW ABUSE, SELF HARM, SUICIDE

"Can't sleep?" George inquired, watching his friend groan and turn over in bed for the millionth time tonight. "That obvious?" Clay asked, finally giving up and sitting up in bed, hoping a conversation could make him tired. George stood up from Clays desk chair and sat next to him. He hummed and laid down, patting the space next to him. "Lay down.." George instructed softly, "I can't sleep though so what's the-" George put a cold finger against his lips. "Shhh..just lay down." Clay grumbled quietly and listened, folding his arms across his chest. "Mm..don't act like that or I won't tell you a story.." Clays ears perked up at the mention of a story, and he quickly unfolded his arms, wrapping one around the bog next to him and the other at his side. George giggled softly, "Good..thank you." He said and tapped his finger against Clays hand that was resting at his waist. "Can you tell the story now please?" Clay said softly, his voice coming out soft and needy. George smiled to himself and nodded his head, taking a deep breath in and out. "It's not a happy story really, but I figure it's time I tell it." George said softly, looking down and Clay. Confusion spread across Clays face, then his eyes went wide and he let out a small 'oh' as it clicked for him. A solemn feeling settled in the air and both boys felt it. He bit down on his lip and settled against George, nodding his hear against his side. George wrapped his arm around Clay then started, "Once upon a time there was this boy...he was a really happy child with loving parents and lots of friends. His favourite thing in the world was reading, and when he wasn't doing that he was outside, going on long walks and enjoying the world around him. He got older though and started to lose some of his friends, school became less interesting and the world got a little duller, but he didn't care much, still made it work as best he could." George took a deep breath as Clay started tracing circles on his hip. "One day though, he had come home from school to his parents shouting and saw his dad hit his mom for the first time ever. He froze and watched as the room fell silent immediately. He turned back around and left. That was the first time he would see something like that, but far from the last. As things got worse at home, he got worse everywhere else. Grades started dropping and so did the rest of his friends. He didn't care though, he barely even noticed. He started high school and barely even tried. One day shortly after, his mom left. He never did find out where she went, she was just gone, and all he could do was watch as his dad started drinking more. His dad started to get angry alot more than he used to, and had no one to take it out on other than his son. So he did. Repeatedly. And all the boy could do was take it and pretend the bruises weren't there. He lay in bed one night and came up with an idea, and idea that would make it better. He thought and thought about it, letting the idea consume him till he couldn't put it off any longer. With his dad passed out on the couch, he grabbed the medication from the cabinet and the razors from the drawer and got to work. In his last moments he regretted it and wanted nothing more than to take it back. He was scared....he didn't know what was to come after...if there even was anything after. He closed his eyes and then it was dark. He woke up in his house, and was startled, wondering if the night before had been some sort of nightmare. He decided that was so and was almost relieved it hadn't work. This false reality was shattered when he heard something like that of a sob from the hallway. He followed the source of the noise and saw his dad stood in the bathroom...over his own body. He tried to call out to his dad but it didn't work, he yelled and yelled til his throat was raw and his voice had gone. Not long after his dad moved out and he never saw him again." George let his lips fall shut and stopped talking, letting the boy next to him have time to process and giving himself a moment to think, having sworn to himself he'd never tell his story.

"But then...a new family moved in. And the boy was happy to have some company, he found a bit of pleasure in messing with things, enjoying the idea of someone catching on. Soon enough the boy who had moved in started talking about the idea of a ghost and he was beyond excited. He befriended the boy and took an immediate liking to him. It made him feel nice to have a friend for the first time in so long, especially one that didn't mind that he wasn't actually alive. He had been sitting at the boys desk, reading quietly and watching him sleep and it dawned on him that he really loved this boy. More than he had ever loved anything before....the boy had made him feel what it was like to be alive again. When something bad had happened to the boy it felt worse than the day he died, and he felt as though everything had crumbled around him. He felt nothing but fear as he watched the ambulance drive off, and he swore he'd never forgive himself if he didn't make it but.....spoiler alert...he made it. And as he lay in the hospital bed with the boy, another thought dawned on him..he was in love..but yet he didn't mind...and that's the end and now I'm here." George finished his story and held his breath a bit as he looked down at Clay curled up against him. "Thank you...for telling me all that I'm sure it must have been hard...not to assume I'm the boy in your story but...I'm glad I make you feel that way." Clay said softly, pulling away from George to look at him. They held eye contact for a second before Clay spoke, "A ghost falling in love with a human huh? I bet I can do you one better.." Clay said as a small smile spread across his face. George couldn't help but smile sheepishly, "Oh yeah? And what's that?" He asked. "A human falling in love with a ghost." Clay said simply and leaned in slowly, closing his eyes. George held a shocked expression bit leaned in also. He felt a jolt of electricity and warmth shoot through his body as their lips collided, and clay felt that same electricity but paired with the ever familiar goosebumps raising across every inch of his skin. "It's not everyday someone gets to kiss a ghost..." Clay said giggling as he pulled away, George giggled too, beaming at the boy in front of him. "No..I guess not....you know what's sad? My first kiss happened in the afterlife.." He said shyly, looking down then looking back up at Clay who started laughing hard. "Ohmygod! That was your first kiss??? Oh my god!" Clay said, laughing so hard that tears started to run down his face. George laughed along with him and punched him in the arm, "Shut up!! Or I won't do it again." George said and pretended to glare at Clay, who had shut up instantly upon hearing those words come out of Georges mouth. Clay fell back against his bed and pulled George on top of him, kissing him softly on the lips then on the forehead as George laid his head down on his chest. "You're such an idiot.." George mumbled against him, rolling his eyes unbeknownst to Clay. "Bold of you to say considering you just said you're in love with me." Clay said back cockily, ruffling Georges hair. "Actually shut up.." George whined, burying himself deeper into Clays chest.

The pair settled down, as their heartbeats and breaths melted in to one sound, warmth and happiness filling the space around them. "You know....I'm going to keep getting older..and you aren't." Clay said, frowning slightly. "Yeah yeah..we'll deal with that when we get there okay? Right now I just want to lay here and not think about what all this means." George replied, sighing out. "Okay okay..we'll talk about it another time." Clay said as he wrapped his arms tightly around the smaller boy. "I love you..so much." Clay whispered. "I love you too so much.." George whispered back, a sweet smile spreading over both of their faces. They both closed their eyes, Clay falling asleep, with dreams of the ghost boy, and George just resting against him happily, knowing he finally had someone that made nothing else matter. Though the love wasn't traditional or even explainable, it was theirs and it was more than real......and that was enough for both of them.

THE END
Authors note
woooo!! another full story finished + a double upload. I hope you guys enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for your continuous support, it means more than the world to me. I love you all endlessly - Aj <3
(ps TOMMY 1 MILLLL OHMYGOD IM SO PROUD OF HIM GOD I WANNA GIVE HIM THE WORLD)