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 Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 8:43 pm
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Chad had promised to meet Elliot early the next morning so they could… just talk, really! Maybe get a head start at looking at Chad’s art that he’d planned on collecting from his room and bringing to school with him. Maybe share another Pop Tart. And he would give Elliot back his clothes, of course.
But Chad didn’t arrive at school early.
He’d also promised Elliot that he would meet him for lunch. They’d planned on soup! Or stew. He would just conveniently forget the corn so that Elliot wouldn’t have to ruin his soup with something that was probably expired.
Probably another cupcake. Elliot had mentioned helping his dad with a new flavor soon, even though he didn’t really like baking, but he would do it for Chad to see how he liked them. Chad knew that he would love them, so of course he was looking forward to finishing off what was left of the cupcakes Elliot’s dad already made.
But Chad didn’t meet Elliot for lunch.
In fact, he didn’t show up to school the next day, either.
It wouldn’t be until that evening that Elliot would even see him again, and possibly only because they apparently lived so close to each other.
The sun had set for the evening, and the path lights in the park were slowly waking up. Almost everyone had gone home. And no one paid any attention to the kid on a swing, slumped against the chains.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 8:52 pm
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He’d gotten sick. Out in the rain for too long, his clothes must have gotten wet. He’d caught a cold.
Elliot waited for him. In the morning. At lunch. After school.
He’d waited. Looked for him around the neighborhood, even. Didn’t find him.
Understandably, he was upset by this. He’d eaten his extra packed lunch sullenly, and even if he’d been surrounded by his friends in the cafeteria, he still felt lonely.
He’d been walking around the park, not really doing anything. There were no games tonight, but he’d been restless in the house and went to go walk for a bit. His parents had texted him that dinner was going to be done soon, so he’d started on the trek back.
When he was walking home from the park, he was still thinking about Chad. Thinking about him so much that he even thought he saw him.
…Wait.
“Chad?” he asked, pausing as he walked by the swings.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 8:59 pm
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Chad didn’t look up at first. He’d thought so many times of Elliot’s voice over the past few days that surely he was imagining it now. How could someone so nice and sweet want to spend time with someone like him?
He had his head lowered in shame, so it wasn’t until he glanced up enough to see the pair of shoes near him that he realized it was Elliot.
His eyes widened for a moment, hopeful perhaps. Scared. Not of Elliot, of course, but he knew what his friend would see.
They were friends, weren’t they? Elliot said so, even though it seemed too good to be true.
It was dark out, so the bruising along his cheek and swollen lip was likely hidden by shadows. He seemed a bit dazed, even when he looked up enough to verify that it really wasn’t his imagination. That Elliot was actually there.
He pressed his lips together, which was already painful, and lowered his head against the chains again.
“I’m sorry I missed lunch,” he said quietly, defeated. Tears filled his eyes but he stubbornly blinked them away as he kept his eyes from meeting Elliot’s.
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 5:44 pm
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Once again, Chad ducked his head down in shame. He knew Elliot would worry. He was kind like that. But that didn’t mean he didn’t feel guilty about it.
He sniffled a little, not sure how he wanted to answer. He wanted to be alone. At least, until Elliot showed up. Actually, Chad hadn’t been completely alone, because he’d been imagining Elliot with him, just talking to him and sharing his cupcakes and making him laugh and forget about things. Oh, but that wasn’t the same as him actually being there.
The thought of Elliot leaving, even if it was to come back with ice cream or a plate of dinner, was distressing. Chad dug his toe into the dirt below the swing, anxious and not knowing what to do.
“I’m okay,” he promised again, finally looking up at Elliot with a small smile. “You should have dinner. I wouldn’t want to intrude. I’m sure your parents weren’t planning for anyone extra to show up. But thank you, Elliot. You’re always so kind to me.”
He didn’t want him to go, but it wasn’t fair to keep him there. Chad could feel his eyes heating up and blurring with tears, so he quickly glanced away again and held his breath so he wouldn’t sniffle.
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 6:26 pm
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Chad smiled a little. The way Elliot’s dad fussed over him was sweet. Probably why Elliot was so kind, and why he worried so much.
He did laugh softly at the suggestion of a get well cake, and he shook his head. It would be a waste on him, anyway. But he was incredibly grateful for the gesture.
“I feel better already,” he said, showing Elliot another small smile. “I was thinking about you. I thought I imagined your voice, but… you’re here,” he explained, his voice breaking a little on the emotion.
He tried smiling a bit brighter, but it wavered and fell. His eyes were wet again, and he couldn’t quite stop at least one quiet sob.
“I’m sorry… I won’t be able to share much of my art with you. It’s… all gone now.”
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