“I just don’t want her to think I’m going soft.” Dannie had no clue how rare people like him were in the world today. He had a heart of gold and that was something I hoped would never change.
We fell silent as we entered the comic store, Dannie making a beeline straight to one particular area of the store. I shook my head as I took in the rest of the building. To my surprise, most of the walls were bare. Across the room, someone was standing on a ladder with their back turned to us while painting the walls a much better color than the dirty, faded yellow they’d once been.
Comics had never really been my thing, and I doubted they ever would be. I always found the words too hard to read, preferring to read real books instead.
“Shouldn’t you be in school, D?” an older gentleman asked as he came from around back, a stack of what appeared to be papers in his arms, hiding his slightly bulging stomach.
I knew I shouldn’t be surprised that my brother was so well-known, but I still found myself raising an eyebrow in question.
“Oh, you know, saving the world one bully at a time. Soooo worth it.”
The man laughed, setting the stack of papers down on a desk before coming to stand next to my brother. “I see. Sammy again?” he questioned knowingly, his black hair partially covering one eye.
Dannie nodded. “Yeah. I don’t think it’ll be an issue anymore.”
How long had this been going on?I began to wonder. At the same time, I wasn’t entirely sure I actually wanted to know for fear that it would only infuriate me.
“Some people’s children,” the man shook his head, his eyes landing on me. “Name’s Nick,” he greeted, holding out his hand for me to shake. “Welcome.”
“That’s my brother,” Dannie said dismissively. “You can just ignore him.”
“Zeek,” I muttered, shaking his outstretched hand.
Upon hearing my name, Nick cocked his head to the side and studied me a moment. “Nice to meet you, Zeek. Have we met before?”
Dannie chuckled, blindly waving his hand in the air. “Definitely not! He’s a hermit.”
This time, it was my turn to roll my eyes which made Nick laugh before he quickly excused himself. From the corner of my eye, I watched as he walked over to the guy on the ladder who still had his back to me, headphones over his ears. You ask me, he seemed completely oblivious to the world around him.
“You can go down to the coffee shop or something if you want. It’ll be a bit,” Dannie whispered, drawing my attention back to him.
“I don’t mind.” And really, I didn’t. I had nothing I really needed to do, and for once, my brother had kept things that were best left in the dark, where they belonged. “Actually, I’m kinda enjoying spending some time with my little brother. Even if it is over something I don’t understand.”
Dannie smiled, trying to play it off with a shrug. I turned, surveying the store once again. Although I didn’t particularly like comics, I had to admit the way things were posted on the freshly painted walls made it feel more homey. In a teenage sort of way. For those kids who were a bit on geeky side, it would be the perfect hangout.
I was studying the posters on the walls when a movement over by the ladder drew my attention. When I turned, my breath caught in my throat and my heart came to a screeching halt in my chest before taking off like a boomerang. I blinked in disbelief, yet what I saw in front of me didn’t change.
The one person I never expected to see again was walking toward me, eyes wide. Frozen in place, I couldn’t do anything but watch as he continued to take tentative steps toward me. Before I knew it, he was standing within arm’s reach.
“Judah,” his name fell from my lips as a whisper. I didn’t even have time to prepare before his body crashed into mine, his arms wrapping around me in the tightest hug I’d ever experienced. It took me a moment to get my arms to return the embrace, but once my brain kicked in, everything else faded away.
Pulling him even closer to my chest, I clenched my eyes shut in an attempt to keep the tears at bay while holding onto him for dear life. Time stood still as I felt the first teardrop fall, soaking through my thin t-shirt.
Judah
Isniffled, trying like hell to keep myself sane. The last thing I wanted to do was make a fool out of myself. But the sad truth was that I wasn’t sure what to feel, or even how to act. I wasn’t sure he’d return my hug, but that didn’t stop me from throwing myself at him like he was my only lifeline.
Today had been one of the worst days too, since I’d started going to therapy three times a week. The day had been dragging, and even the music I was listening to didn’t help. So far, the only thing the headphones had done was keep my thoughts on painting as opposed to wandering.
And it took everything in me to manage that.
I pulled back and looked up at Zeek, unsure what he might see reflected in my eyes. Could he see how much I was swimming in depression? Could he hear the thoughts that plagued my mind on a daily basis? Or did he understand my struggle?
His green eyes swam with unshed tears and his jaw clenched, struggling to keep his emotions in check.
With a shaking hand, I reached up and cupped his cheek. His armor cracked at the simple act, a few tears slipping down his cheeks. Before I could say a word, he pulled me into him, tucking his head against my own and holding me just as tightly as I held him.
“You’re real.” His breath tickled my ear. I nodded, unable to speak. From behind me, I could hear Nick mutter something to someone else.
