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eddie meets bill in middle school.
they shared english class together, but they sat far away.
he keeps glaring at him..
eddie never hung out with bill.
his mom told him to avoid making friends or it’ll give him “sickness.”
but eddie looked up to bill.
bill is always brave against his bullies. and he stood up for eddie one time.
leading them to meet face to face in the nurse’s office.
eddie scraped his knee from being bumped into during p.e.
the nurse was getting supplies to treat him so she’s not in the room.
bill got into a fight and was sent to the nurse to be treated.
eddie thought bill looked kinda hot, in which he cursed at himself mentally for thinking such a thought.
bill sat next to him on the bed.
bill noticed eddie’s scrape.
must feel nasty, bill comments. eddie agrees.
S i L e N c E
the nurse came back and bill told her his reason.
she nods and treats eddie.
a staff called for her and she told eddie to treat bill while she’s away.
she tells him the instructions. she hurried away.
awkward S i L e n C e as eddie washes his hands.
he limps and bill asks if he’s okay.
eddie says yea, just stings.
he goes over to bill and sits next to him.
eddie says his mom treats him and knows some medical stuff.
bill trusts him and turned to face him.
eddie feels his blood rush. was it henry again? he asks.
bill said yea, he had company too.
eddie tried to stay calm as he wiped off the stained blood on his face with a washcloth.
ow, bill muttered.
it must hurt real bad, eddie noticed.
his lip was busted, eddie tried to be careful.
bill looked down and eddie stared at his complexion.
he looked calm even though he got beat up.
being in close proximity to bill’s face, a face that exhibited features that were entrancing...
eddie thought he couldn’t contain himself just thinking about their close distance.
but the shorter boy managed to clean his cuts and applied iodine.
bill hissed a bit. you’re good at this, bill complimented eddie.
eddie answered nothing, only nodded. but inside he feels happy.
he applies ointment on bandages and placed them on his cheeks
he gets a tiny ice pack, this is for your lip, he points.
bill thanked him, but, he showed him his hands/knuckles.
eddie sighed and told him to wash his hands.
bill got back and eddie did the same process again.
bill marveled at eddie, mesmerized.
he does a thumbs up and bill smiled.
the nurse came back and she thanked eddie, she excused the kids back to their classes.
they have english next anyway so they pack and walk together
t-tha-thanks for f-for treating me..ed-die he spoke.
no problem eddie replies
s I L e N cE
my mom, eddie spoke, she always told me to be careful around people because they can spread sickness
bill listens and nods, i’m sur-sure s-she’s looking ow-out for you
yea but, too much sometimes, he mumbled
she tells me to avoid blood, avoid puke, avoid unsanitary crap, yadah yadah..
and i do, it’s a part of my nature now, just feels weird, he paused, like i’m an outcast.
always having medical exuses and being the germaphobe
well, y-you know a lot bow-bout’ those things though, bill responds, it’s n-not bad
if you say so.. eddie fidgets from the compliment
even i-if you feel a-alone, bill stutters, i’m h-here
eddie returns a faint smile, he appreciates his comfort. he guesses they’re friends
i won’t j-judge he says
m-me neither he mocks his stutter
bill playfully knudges him
i’m assuming that’s why you’re bullied
y-yea he says
and you always fight back, eddie turned to him
bill nods, like that one time, he glances at him
oh yea, thanks for um that eddie said
bill nods
don’t you ever feel afraid?
n-never bill said.
eddie looked at him with a face.
bc showing fear makes you feel weaker and it makes you feel helpless..
if you believe you’re in yourself, you can face anything
another calm silence
eddie listens, he almost becomes breathless
they finally make it to class and it was awkward when they entered
they quickly went to their seats
they were across the room from each other
they continue on with class
both of them couldn’t resist the urge to steal glances from each other
both of them feel assured, they know they have each other from now on