When the Leaves Fall [bxp] ✔

6

I made mood boards for all of them! If you want to see it then check out the pinterest board for this book!

https://www.pinterest.com/marvelmusicjam/when-the-leaves-fall/

Also, the playlist for this book is https://open.spotify.com/playlist/38XaeY0CmaJ2BhECFGIH0e if you guys are interested!

TW: this chapter deals with grief

Candyland

When Felix walked into the cafeteria the next day, he immediately knew something was wrong. He could feel it in his gut. But when he saw Wren, his eyes downcast, and his smile nowhere to be seen, he knew for sure. Because Wren was almost always smiling. His phone buzzed before he made it to the table, some random notification from a game, but his eyes caught on the date. Suddenly, he knew exactly why Wren wasn't smiling. Why the sun that seemed to radiate from him seemed dim and faded. Felix remembered the first time that he'd seen Wren genuinely distraught.

It was this day, 3 years ago. He'd only been 13 when that call came. When they'd walked into his house to see his mom with a shocked look on her face, her eyes wide and filled with too much pain then would be able to come out through tears. And she'd started talking to Wren, asking him to come towards him, and Felix was pretty sure Wren knew before she said the words. But Wren's entire face had fallen, and it was like he no longer knew what to do. But he hadn't cried, it was like the weight was too heavy for tears that day.

Jupiter had walked up to the table, but their eyebrows were only scrunched in confusion and concern. Aeron had leaned over and whispered something to them, and by the time Felix had walked up and sat down at the table, an understanding look crossed their face. Even Tarla's face was subdued. Felix knew that Wren hated the silence, even if he never said it. Felix nearly winced at Wren's eyes pleading someone to say something.

"Wait Jupiter, what's your favorite genre?" Felix blurted, cringing.

"Huh?" They asked, their eyebrows raised, a tinge of amusement lining their face.

"Like reading."

"Science Fiction I guess, I don't know."

"Disgusting," Tarla said, looking at him.

"How is it-" Jupiter started.

"Disgusting I said," Tarla said, shaking her head at him. Felix glanced at Wren to see him shoot Felix a grateful look, but their eyes were still pained.

"Every story is the same!" Tarla shook her head at him, her loose curls covering her eyes. She just shoved them behind her ear, raising her eyebrows at Jupiter to continue.

"I mean they're not all the same!" They paused for a second. "Look ok-"

"See I'm right. This is why you read realistic fiction, or fantasy, or hell- even historical fiction!" Tarla said, waiting for Jupiter to respond. As Tarla and Jupiter bickered, Felix turned to see Wren talking quietly to Quinn, his eyes still dark, but the wisp of a smile almost lining his face.

He felt his heart ache for him, and he turned to see Aeron's concerned eyes and knew that Aeron always worried about all of them. They always hated seeing anyone they cared about upset. He always seemed to want to make people smile, and always wanted to help them feel better. Every time something went wrong, Aeron was always the easiest to go to for a hug. And Felix knew that they always cared so overwhelmingly deeply for all of their friends and his entire giant family, that seeing someone hurt, it hurt them as well. And Felix knew that everyone on that table could see it clear as day. Nils had sat with them that day. He was whispering something to Aeron, making their worry lessen slightly, but their eyebrows were still scrunched.