Friendship's the Best Medicine
Ailein stood in the cafeteria holding his tray. He searched for ten minutes in the crowd before giving up on finding Gabe. He wouldn't want to be in the bustle of the crowd. A light clicked. The boy walked outside and peered at the normally empty tables. No one ate out there normally, too preoccupied with finding their friends indoors.
Disappointed, Ailein turned on his heels to inside to scavenge for a seat. He was met with the person he was searching for, and bit his tongue to keep himself from calling out. He pushed through the crowd to Gabe's side, then followed his gaze. Ick... Good thing he got there early. Concentrating he focused on not stuttering. "Hey Gabriel." It came out slightly slurred but he did it.
Gabriel turned, startled at the soft call. "Ailein?" He gave a perfunctory nod and a polite "Hello." before turning back to scan the crowds. "Excuse me," he murmured, stepping toward the end of a superbly long queue.
Ailein looked at the line then to Gabe, " Here... " He held out his sandwich.
Gabriel stared at the proffered sandwich. "Ah.. thank you." He accepted it awkwardly. " I... have to go to the library," he added.
"M-m-m-m-mind if I-I-I j-j-join? T-th-the s-s-seats a-a-are all ta-taken."
Gabriel shrugged. "The library doesn't allow food to be taken inside," he reminded Ailein gently, paused, then, "We could sit outside, if you like."
Ailein blinked, surprise clearly on his face. He expected a no, or something along those lines. Instead her actually offered to eat outside... with him. "S-S-sure, ye-yeah..." He smiled brighter then ever and walked outside, setting down his tray and sitting farthest from the entrance.
Gabriel followed silently. He placed his books on the table and dropped the sandwich on it before taking his seat. He unwrapped the bread before it occurred to him that Ailein had just given him his lunch, then glanced back up at Ailein's tray.
Ailein was already eating from his fruit cup, rapidly yet politely. When you live with your twin sister you realize that if you're not there first the food disappears. So he had a tendency to eat quickly. He had two drinks, a milk (which he never touched) and juice. He passed along the milk without thought. The only other thing on the boy's tray was a cookie but he seemed quite content with his meal.
"You should have it back."
Gabriel inclined his head at the lone biscuit on Ailein's tray and held out the half-wrapped sandwich. He also pushed the milk back and made to gather his books up again.
"N-n-no t-t-thanks. I-I-I'll e-e-eat m-m-m-more later." He smiled and pushed the sandwich back toward Gabriel, shaking his head. As if to prove his point, he took his cookie and shoved it into his pocket.
Gabriel eyed Ailein's actions, unconvinced, but he took back the sandwich and accepted the milk without comment.
The boy finished his 'meal' and leaned back in his chair. He pulled out his sketch book and began to sketch again. This time it wasn't an animal. He kept it propped so that Gabe couldn't glance at it unless he was behind him. "A-A-Are you go-go-going to the l-l-library for h-homewo-work or r-r-reading ma-ma-material?"
Gabriel paused to chew and swallow, before he answered. "Assignment." He flipped open one of his books, studying a passage as he continued to eat.
"N-N-need an-any h-h-help?" He asked edging forward to look at the book. What Gabe had said about being a prodigy wasn't completely accurate but not far from the truth. He'd skipped a few grades thus graduated early.
"No, thank you."
Alein blinked suddenly, realizing something.
"Wh-whats your la-la-last n-name?"
"Murray." Gabriel swallowed his last bite and reached for the milk.
"M-m-mine is H-H-Herne." He started to sketch again then looked over to toward the doors. He gave a soft sigh and forced his gaze back to the paper. So many people... he really hated crowds. He never thought to eat out here. After all why make himself more a target then normal? "G-G-G-Gabriel?"
Gabriel carefully unscrewed the cap and tilted his head slightly to take a swallow. He licked his lips. "Yes?"
"I h-ha-have a pro-pro-prop... a d-d-deal..." He answered thoughtfully. He gathered his things into his bag and stood up. "b-b-but w-w-we'd b-b-better g-g-get into the li-library."
Gabriel gave the boy a blank look for a moment before he silently collected his books.
As they walked to the library, Ailein turned to his companion. "I-I-I g-g-get to l-lunch e-e-early. H-H-here's the d-d-deal," He kept his voice low as he walked, his eyes trained on the floor. When other students walked by he seemed to shrink back away from them. Give them no reason to go after you and they wouldn't. "I-I-I'll g-g-get you lu-lunch so y-you c-can get to the l-l-library fa-faster... a-all I a-ask is th-that y-you si-sit with m-m-me o-o-outside... for a li-little bit."
"What?" Gabriel's tone was sharp. "This is.." His lips took on a more bitter twist. Then he delved into his pocket for his wallet and pulled out a few notes. "This should cover what you... gave me," he said shortly, pressing them at Ailein before striding off.
"W-Wait! Ga-Ga-Gabriel!" He called chasing after the other. "I-I-I d-don't w-w-want the mo-money!" He reached out and made a grab for the other's shirt.
You scared him away...
I didn't mean to!
You can never be friends with him.
I will!
He took hold of the shirt in an attempt to stop him. The money meant nothing to him. He just wanted to be friends with Gabriel. He wanted to see him smile. A real smile.
Gabriel stopped at the pull on his shirt, and turned to face Ailein. His voice was low and frostily polite.
"I think we have just exhausted the possibilities of a conversation. Excuse me, I am busy," he added, plucking his shirt from the boy's fingers.
Tears started to flow from Ailein's eyes as he looked up at Gabriel. "What d-did I do?" He had never meant to offend him. Never meant to make him go away. "I-I-I ju-just me-meant on Tuesdays..." His hand slipped off and back to his side. "Y-You could have said no!"
He hates you.
He doesn't... He won't...
Gabriel looked at the crying boy, his expression stony.
"What on Tuesdays?" his voice carried thinly concealed impatience, his whole countenance unreadable.
"E-E-Eat lu-lunch w-with m-me..." Ailein voiced softly reaching up and taking off his over-sized glasses. He ran his free hand across his eyes to rid himself of the tears. He couldn't help it he was so emotional. It was just part of who he was.
"What about your friends? And why, may I ask, do you persist on trailing on me so often?"
"M-Mika do-doesn't go to th-this sch-school..."
His eyes went to the floor. What did he say?
You look lonely?
You sound like you need a friend.
I want to make you smile?
They all sounded so corny. He tightened his grip and breathed in and out a few times to calm himself down. "... I-I-I w-w-want to b-b-be yo-you-your fr-fr-friend."
"Why?" The other asked flatly.
Ailein inwardly winced. Yet again at a loss for what to say or better yet, how to say it. He chanced a glance up at the taller man then fiddled with his shirt. "I... don't... have ex-explain myself... to y-you..." He said slowly and finally. He put his glasses back on and started to walk past Gabe. "... b-b-but... I th-think...y-y-you sh-should ha-have f-f-friends t-too."
"Well, maybe I do, but it damn well won't be you," Gabriel snapped.
Ailein turned to look over his shoulder, pure hurt etched into his face. He turned back and started to run, head down, eyes once again filled with tears.
Fine! I don't need you anyway!
Why? All he'd done was ask to be friends. Why was that so hard?!
At least he admitted to needing them.
He ignored the voice, too caught up in himself.
"Wait, Ailein!" Gabriel raced after the boy. Not an easy feat, since he was still carrying his books with him and it was a chore to keep them from spilling over as well.
"Ailein!" He managed to grab the boy's arm in a not too gentle grip, and dropped his books.
"Look, I'm sorry I said that. That was... You didn't deserve that," he pushed out through gritted teeth, panting slightly from the run.
Ailein grimaced at the pain in his arm as he was wrenched around to face Gabriel. Did he mean it? "I... I-I-I'll l-le-leave y-you al-alone..." He tried to amend in a whisper, his voice cracking slightly from his crying. He tugged his arm slightly this time visibly wincing from the grip.
"G-G-Gabriel... Yo-you're hu-hurting me..."
"Ah, sorry.." Gabriel dropped Ailein's arm quickly. "I.. "
Gabriel looked away. "Look, can we talk?" He paused, then pressed on, as if to make the best of a bad job. "Somewhere else in private. Please?"
Ailein nodded then dove down, collecting the books Gabe had dropped and returning them to a neat and orderly fashion. He stood back up and offered them to him. "W-where...? The l-l-library?"
"No, the library will be crowded by now."
Gabriel motioned to leave the library, and led the way to another building which housed the lecture halls. Ailein nodded and followed silently. They moved to the back of the halls, outside, where no one was likely to walk in on them. He paused once they got outside and took a few seconds to observe their surroundings. Distracted by the birds and the sun on his face. If only this were a more friendly moment. They could enjoy it. Gabriel made for the staircase and deposited his books on a step before turning to look at Ailein.
"I'll be frank," he warned.
He idly gazed back at Gabriel and nodded solemnly. "I-I-I wouldn't e-e-expect an-anything l-l-less..."
"Well, then..." Gabriel looked away again, not entirely comfortable with the situation. "You mentioned before, that you wouldn't want people to pretend to be friends with you." He paused to shove his hands into his pockets and glanced briefly at Ailein. "What makes you think that I would not pretend, if I say that yes, I will be your friend, just because you seem to want it.. so badly? Would you want that?"
Gabriel broke off again and scowled at the ground. "Just so you'd understand. I hardly know you, and what little I've known so far.. well, I'm sure you'll agree with me that our meetings have not been.. conductive to a healthy relationship. I'm not your friend, and I don't know why you would pick me, of all people. And please don't misunderstand. It's not you, it's.. me. I owe you this much, being honest with you now."
Ailein's golden eyes were calm and somber. He tugged his pink hoodie closer to his body and stood there, staring at Gabriel while he spoke. Did he want Gabe to just say 'yes' and get it over with? No. That wasn't a true friendship. Yet in his world, if Gabe said yes the other wouldn't pretend. Once Gabe had finished, Ailein shifted and tried to relax.
"I... d-d-don't th-think yo-you'd pre-pretend... if w-w-we b-b-became f-friends b-b-because I tru-trust y-you. Th-Th-the only w-way to re-really k-know s-so-someone is to f-f-find out m-more ab-about them thr-through ta-talking or m-meeting." He pointed out slowly, shifting his gaze to study the way the breeze made Gabe's hair glint in the light.
"I-if I ha-hadn't me-met you in the pa-park, I wo-wouldn't ha-have kn-known your na-name. Or you m-mine. I al-also wo-wouldn't have k-known yo-you like pe-peccan i-i-icecream." He concentrated on the last part. Why did he pick Gabe? That was the part that was confusing him as well. He was just attracted to his personality. It was magnetic. It could cancel out his odd hyperness and he wanted to know more.
"I-I-I d-didn't p-p-pick you." He finally stated.
Gabriel's lips tightened. "You still don't know me very well then," he replied, facing Ailein fully now. "Fine, you didn't pick me. There's nothing else to it, then."
Ailein realized he was loosing fast. Gabe was clearly unimpressed by him thus far and didn't want anything to do with him. He didn't want that. His mom said once that people were like puzzles. Ailein theorized that Gabe was more like a rubix cube. You could twist him and get the pieces in place but you always had part of that wasn't complete, just when you thought you won.
"Co-could... you let me t-try to b-b-be your f-f-friend?" He asked softly trying not to sound desperate.
Let me help you...
Gabriel looked at him, considering. He glanced away, then back again.
"Alright," he muttered.
Ailein resisted the urge to hug the man and settled for a smile. "Y-You wo-won't be dis-disappointed I pr-promise!" He frowned when the bell rang and sighed. "I-I-I go-gotta get to cl-class. S-see y-ya, Gabe!"
With that he was off, nothing less then pure joy on his once tearful face.
Reply
