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Over fifteen years had passed since Ches and Glam’s talk. Nobody knew much about Glam’s life before, other than Ches, Victoria, only she knew snippets.
It had been one unfortunate 18th of August, a few days before school would start, that the family had suggested to go buy new school supplies.
Glam should have stayed behind.
But no. He was aware there would be rulers, but he was no longer the pathetic teenager he was who would panic every time he approached a ruler or sharpener.
Ches, however, like always, knew better. So, he decided to come along. And thank goodness he did.
Glam could feel his heartbeat racing as they approached the school supplies aisle. A whole bucket filled with rulers.
Breath in. Breath out. His father wasn’t there. He couldn’t hurt him. In. Out.
But, oh, Glam was mistaken. His father was there. Lurking in his mind. Holding a ruler to his wrist and…
“Are you okay?” Vicky asked curiously. Glam nodded, plastering his smile back on.
He was okay. He was fine. His wristbands hid the scars.
Dee and Heavy were pretending to be pirates with rulers. No, no, no. It wasn’t their fault. It was Glam’s. Maybe he should have remained Sebastian, maybe he should have…no, no, no, no.
“Glam.” Ches said. “Hey, let’s go buy some food. Your fridge has nothing good, it’s despairing.”
Rulers. Sharpners. Ches. Ches was there.
His heartbeat settled, calming his racing thoughts. He followed Ches to the dairy aisle. Breath in. Out. No rulers, no sharpeners, no father.
He was safe and Ches was there. Ches was always there. For that, Glam would forever be grateful.
“You’re okay. Your father’s dead, remember?” Ches smiled.
“I know. Thank you.” Glam smiled back at him. Ches began rummaging through the ice creams and yogurts. “I-I…” he looked back at Glam curiously. “I wonder if I had stayed, would things be different? As in, would I be as afraid?”
“Yes. You were afraid even before you knew me, yeah?” Ches hummed, as awful as it sounded, they both knew it was true. “I think it’s better that you left.”
They could both remember the night. Glam had hurried towards Ches’s trailer, drenched in rain and tears, midway through a panic attack.
Ches had taken him in, gave him new clothes, comforted him, and the two talked until morning. About how they were going to leave, forever this time.
A few months later, the band broke up, and Ches and Glam did indeed leave. It was the most freeing feeling ever and Glam was lucky to have experienced it with his best friend.
Ches and Glam were forever going to be grateful and there for each other.