TW//mentions of abuse and death. If you're sensitive to these things I deeply advise you to move along to the next chapter or go to a different book :)
"Why do you like dandelions so much? They're literal weeds."
"Rude! I think they're beautiful."
Grian grumbled as he stood in a middle of an open field was his best friend, slumping over slightly with his hands shoved into his jean pockets. He watched as his dark-skinned friend picked at the dandelions in the grass, collecting them and putting them into one hand. "Joey, what purpose do I have in this?" The blonde male soon asked, raising a brow. He hated being there, but he was only there because of his best friend. "Ey-! Don't call me that! You know I hate that name! Anyways sit down, you'll see what your purpose is soon." The dark-haired male barked, with the blonde male just grumbled in reply, sitting down next to his friend. "Fine, TaUrTiS." he mocked, getting an eye roll from his friend.
After a few minutes of watching his friend pick out more dandelions, Taurtis began to carefully tie each flower together, gradually making a flower crown out of them. Grian silently watched the male, but not what he was doing with the flowers, just his cute facial expressions. Grian admits he had a small crush on Taurtis, but there was no doubt the male liked him back since he was dating Sam and everything. Grian didn't mind third-wheeling them, though Grian started to realize odd behavior between the couple. Taurtis was a lot more silent around Sam when they were together, he flinched every time Sam lifted a hand, and he began to wear baggy clothes.
"If only I weren't so blind, he'd be alive still." A voice soon said, interrupting the flashback. The blonde male stared at the tile floor as he sat in a clinic room, explaining what happened to his best friend. His eyes were nothing but dull orbs, reading no emotion in them whatsoever. They have been like this since the incident, and that was 5 years ago. Grian was now 23, and his current job was construction. He was a great builder and his coworkers even said he should consider running his own business, but Grian never had the right time to properly manage a company of his own, he was fine with the job he had now. He snapped out of his own thoughts once the nurse he was venting to spoke up. "Charlie, it seems whatever has been troubling you for the past 5 years has really affected your mental health. You said you have trouble eating right?" She asked. Grian nodded, despite the fact that he hated being called by his actual name. 'Huh... just like Taurtis' he thought to himself.
The nurse eventually stopped writing and set her pen down, crossing her legs as she sweetly smiled at the male, hoping to give him some comfort. "Do you mind telling me what has happened those 5 years ago?" She asked. Grian was hesitant for a bit before sighing out, nodding. He opened his mouth and began to speak.
"Grian!~ there you are!" A familiar voice called out. The blonde male turned to look over his shoulder as he stood in the high school hallway, a brow raised. He soon smiled and walked up to greet his friends, though Taurtis was a lot quieter. Grian didn't take notice of the male's behavior and started a conversation with his bunny friend. Grian was 18 and both Sam and Taurtis were 17. All three of them were graduating that year so they were all pretty excited about it.
Tuesday early in the morning, precisely 3 am, a loud banging alerted Grian awake. The male was in a daze from just now waking up, soon convincing himself that he only hallucinated the knocking on his door and tried his best to go to sleep. Loud banging again. Grian groaned and sat up, climbing out of bed. He very slowly walked downstairs, flinching and shielding his eyes with his hands as familiar red and blue lights shone outside his door. "What the fuck..." he muttered to himself before answering the door, being greeted by the town's sheriff.
"Uh.... what seems to be the problem, officer?" Grian asked. "Are you the friend of Joey Grey?" (Random last name). Grian gulped and slowly nodding, unaware that what the sheriff would say next would make his entire world crumble and fall. The sheriff sighed and gave the blonde a sad frown, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Something happened with Sam Gladiator and he went crazy... he lashed out of Joey and... the doctors announced his death at 1:49 am." The sheriff explained the best he could. Grian fell silent. No... no no no no no.
He has to be joking. Of course, he's joking! Right....? Joey can't be dead...
Grian was silent for the longest time which made the sheriff assume he was having a hard time processing things. He removed his hand from the blonde's shoulder, looking down. "I am sorry for your loss, Grian. I really am." He said softly before walking back to his car.
Right after he left, Grian had a massive breakdown on his doorstep. Joey isn't gone. He can't be gone. Did Sam kill him? Why were all the damn signs of Sam abusing him NOW showing up when he's gone?!
Grian fell to his knees and pulled out his hair, tears now streaming down his face like a waterfall. "why Joey... of all people... why him.." he whimpered out as he shook. That day changed him for the worse, and there was nothing in the world that could change him back to normal.
Nothing.
The funeral day was the worst. Grian was miserable because both his best friends were gone, Sam being in prison and Taurtis being... permanently gone. Grian got his black and white tux on, staring at his broken reflection in the mirror once he was done. Did he really have to go to this funeral? Yes. Yes, he did. Everyone from school was expecting him since he was Taurtis' best friend. He eventually got ready to leave and grabbed his keys, locking the door on his way out.
It was Jay's turn to make a speech. The brunette male stood up and straightened the thick glasses on his face before walking in front of everyone, the light rain barely hiding his tears as he silently wept for his fallen friend. It took him a minute to finally speak, which was highly understandable.
"Well... Joey was my very first friend when I first joined this school. Everyone thought I was weird.. he thought I was weird but.. in a good way" Jay began to say, smiling sadly afterward. He made a few in the crowd laugh, but Grian wasn't one of them. Jay continued to talk, and after 30 minutes, he finished his speech. Grian soon stood up as it was his turn to talk, but he didn't want to, but he kept reminding himself it was for Joey and not for him.
"Uhm... well... I was one of Joey's many best friends..." he began to say as he got in front of everyone, but immediately felt like crying his heart out. Was he really doing this? Why now... it's so early. It happened too soon. Grian took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Joey... Joey was different. Sure, he made fun of my accent when I first arrived here but that was only because Sam was doing it. Joey had such a sweet soul.. he wasn't the brightest bulb of the bunch, god he was stupid-" he said, making people in the crowd laugh. He looked down to hide his small smile. "I wish I wasn't so damn blind. I noticed all the signs of Sam hurting Joey, but I brushed them off. Thinking it was nothing. Now that cost me to lose my best friend. My... my love. I loved Joey.. so much more than a friend. And now I won't be able to tell him at all..." Grian said before eventually breaking down, bursting out into tears. Jay and Dom both stood up and rushed over to his side, both carefully leading Grian away from the crowd as the blonde apologized, covering his mouth with his hands to muffle his sobs.
After an hour or so of everyone saying their speeches, it was time to bury Taurtis. Everyone who was close to him poured some holy water onto the coffin his best friend lie still in, looking as peaceful as ever. Grian sobbed for a good 30 minutes by his car while Jay and Dom comforted him since he felt sick. The rain wasn't helping at all either. Once they were done with the holy water, everyone threw a rose into the grave. But Grian, he threw in the one thing that Taurtis loved the most. The one thing that will forever be a reminder to Grian on who his best friend was as if he was going to forget him.
He threw in a dandelion.
A/N: EYYY I'M NOT DEAD- :D
Also sorry for this really rushed chapter alshskshdj
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