Chapter Text
When Cole wakes up, the sun is shining thorough the bedroom’s small, dusty windowsill, lighting up the dresser which is lined with action figures. He rolls to the side, glancing at Jay who’s still asleep and holding onto his arm.
Cole smiles, closing his eyes again.
He stays still for awhile till sitting up slowly, freezing when Jay groans.
“Too early…”
“The sun is up.” Cole deadpans, very carefully lifting his arm, the smaller boy still sleepily clinging to his bicep. “It looks like it’s past twelve even.”
Jay sighs, letting go of his best friend and rubbing his eyes. “What’s your plan for today?”
“Go home and apologize.” Cole murmurs, eyes flicking to the door. “But, I don’t want to do that yet. I still don’t know how I’m supposed to explain my stupid comment about basically implying I wish my dad had died instead of her.”
“You said that?!” Jay gasps and covers his mouth after the shout, blushing in embarrassment.
“Yeah, I did. I still feel awful about it.” Cole sighs, swinging his legs back and forth over the bed. “It just slipped out and it wasn’t even true. I was just so, so angry.”
Jay sighs, putting an arm around him. “It’s alright and if you don’t want to go home just yet, I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind making you breakfast.”
Cole smiles slightly, then nods. “Okay, sounds like a plan.”
The two exit the room, heading towards the kitchen.
Cole can’t help, but look around. The house looks so lived in, knitting supplies all over, cushions placed on the couches, and jars of seashells lined up on cheap craft store shelves.
He wishes his house looked this lived in, this full of love.
“Sorry, about the mess.” Jay apologizes, face turning even more red. “We don’t usually have visitors.”
“It’s alright. I like it.” Cole admits, turning the corner and walking into the kitchen.
Jay’s mom immediately looks up, an excited smile making her features crinkle up. “Oh, Jay, you’ve brought a friend!” she exclaims, pushing up her glasses. “Which one is this? Is it Zane?”
“Mom, it’s Cole. I’ve showed you pictures of him.” Jay sighs, shifting foot to foot anxiously. “Can he stay for breakfast?”
“Of course, sweetie.” she smiles and reaches out her palm, shaking Cole’s hand. “My name is Edna. It’s so lovely to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Edna.” Cole smiles, shaking her hand then watching her start on making an extra pancake while humming happily.
Jay pulls him into the dining room, dropping into a chair. “Sorry, about my mom. She’s just excited I’m finally making friends.”
“She seems nice.” Cole smiles, sitting beside him.
“She is. Sometimes too nice.”
“Jay, you up?”
Both boys look up, being met by Jay’s father who immediately grins.
“Awh, son, you brought a friend. Cole, right?” he reaches out his hand and Cole shakes it, smiling.
“That’s right. You must be Ed. Jay told me all about you.”
“Awh, shucks. I hope it was good things.” Ed chuckles, shaking with a strong but painless grip.
“They were great things.”
“Coleeee!” Jay shoves him and Cole shoves him back playfully, both teens giggling.
“Pancakes!” Edna chimes, setting down all four plates.
Cole takes time to admire those too, looking at the little scratches and smudges of paint from the old seashell art on the dishes. He wonders if Edna painted it herself, the strokes meticulous, but loving.
By the time he actually eats the pancake it’s starting to get cold. He tunes into the conversation a bit, listening to Jay talk about a planned family road trip in the future and asking if he can invite his friends.
Edna and Ed said yes to Cole’s surprise.
They seem so calm to him and so, so proud of Jay.
He sees it in their eyes. It’s how his mom used to look at him before she died.
Cole checks his phone, frowning when he sees it’s out of battery. He didn’t even think to bring his charger last night.
The group finishes breakfast, Jay and Cole heading out onto the streets.
“Wow, twelve fifty-one already.” Jay whistles, checking his phone. “I usually only sleep in till eleven thirty on Saturdays.”
“It is late.”
My dad is gonna be so mad..
Jay’s phone starts to ring, pulling Cole from his gloomy thoughts.
“Hello.” Jay chimes, flinching when Nya yells at full volume “Cole is missing!” to which he just stares at his best friend beside him. “Uh, why do you say that?” he chuckles, nervously, Cole leaning in close to listen.
“I got a phone call from his dad last night, saying he ran off and didn’t come home yet. I just called and he still hasn’t!” Nya continues, sounding out of breath. “I tried to call you last night, but you must’ve had it off because you never answered.”
“Oh, I kinda put it on silent.” Jay mumbles, making eye contact with the taller boy. “I had a lot going on.”
“Well, Cole is missing and I’m freaking out! Everybody’s out searching. Tell me where you are and I’ll pick you up, so we can look together.”
“It’s okay, Nya. I’m right here.” Cole sighs into the phone.
“Cole! You jerk!” Nya exclaims, but let’s out a huge sigh of relief. “You gave me a heart attack! You gave everyone a heart attack. What happened?”
“I got into a scrap with my dad, so I left to clear my head and ended up spending the night at Jay’s place.”
“What I wanna know is, how Cole’s dad got your numbers.” Jay mutters, kicking a stone.
“I asked when he first called me and he said something about them being on the phone bill.” Nya answers, still sounding out of breath, but at least a bit less stressed. “Holy shit, Cole. Never do that again.”
“Sorry.” Cole mumbles, looking to the side, his face turning red in embarrassment.
His dad literally had to go into the phone bill to get ahold of his best friends.
He must’ve been really freaking out. They all must’ve been.
“I’ll call the others to let them know you’re okay.” Nya concludes, saying a quick goodbye before hanging up.
“Want me to walk you home?” Jay asks, looking at his best friend with a slight frown.
“No, I got this, but thank you.” Cole side hugs him, waving a goodbye before heading down the street and through the same shortcut in the park. He trudges down his neighborhood sidewalk, the people around actually looking relieved to see him safe.
His dad must’ve told everyone.
He’s gonna be in so much trouble, he just knows it.
Cole reaches his doorstop, very carefully pushing open the door which suddenly seems so heavy with his anxiety. “Dad, I’m home.” he calls weakly, this time taking off his dirty shoes and setting them aside.
“Cole!” Lou exclaims rushing in and immediately hugging his son tightly. “Oh my god, you’re back.”
Cole closes his eyes, carefully hugging him back. “Yeah, I’m back. I spent the night at Jay’s house.”
Lou doesn’t reply, just holding his son a little closer, before he sighs heavily. “Never do that again.” he says firmly, very gently resting a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Ever. I mean it.”
“I’m sorry, dad. I-“ Cole breaks off, opening his eyes and wiping at the oncoming tears. “I still hate singing and I still hate dancing and I still don’t want to go to that stupid school, but I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. No matter how much I miss her, I would never want you to have been the one to go away.”
Lou meets his eyes and tears start going down his wrinkled cheeks. “Oh, Cole.” he pulls him into a gentle hug. “I’m so sorry I didn’t listen, I never wanted to chase you away. You’re my kid and I don’t want to lose you.”
“I-I don’t want to lose you either, dad.” Cole chokes out, tears dripping down his cheeks. “I won’t go, but please, don’t take away my friends. I want to stay here with them, not leave to a school I never wanted to be a part of in the first place.”
“I won’t make you, I promise.”
“You promise?”
“I promise, just please, don’t disappear like that again. I’ll do better, I swear.” Lou squeezes him softly.
Cole let’s out a small sob and increases the pressure till it’s a bear hug, holding the older man carefully. “I love you.”
“love you too.”
More tears fall down Cole’s face, but despite it he smiles through the sobs, content with the hug…it’s the most relieving, most loving one he’s received in so many years and it feels so healing.
A small part of himself clicks back together, the relationship with his father not even close to being fixed, but finally starting to be mended, finally and it makes him so…whole.