Don't Hold Your Breath

He sighed. "Fine. But promise you won't freak out and blow things out of proportion."

"I promise." Okay, that was a lie. I don't know if I could keep this promise.

"I-I was in the hospital." he mumbled. 

I froze. It took me a minute to gather my thoughts and form them into words.

"B-Bren...I-....Why the hell were you in the hospital!!" I nearly screamed into the phone. 

"See I knew you would freak out." he mumbled. 

"Brendon, how could I not?" I then realized he was probably trying to change the subject. "You didn't answer my question. Why were you in the hospital?"

He hesitated before finally giving in. "Ryan, if I tell you, you have to promise you won't tell anyone. And I mean it."

"Brendon, I promise. Now tell me already." I was getting extremely anxious. Wouldn't you?

"Well it started with my mom loosing her job."

Loosing her job? I thought she got promoted?

"And well, we are behind on all our bills. I needed something to do for money. If we can't pay our bills, then there's no way I can visit you."

Hearing this my mind jumped to every possible worst conclusion. The worst being....

"Brendon, please tell me your not selling yourself." I nearly whispered into the phone. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. 

"What?! No! I would never stoop that low." Relief washed over my body. The shock and disgust in his voice told me he wasn't lying. 

"Then-"

"Let me finish." He ordered. I shut my lips anxious to hear his story. 

"I wasn't selling myself.... But I was selling something more...." he hesitated again. I could tell this was hard on him. "Drugs. I was selling drugs." he finally put bluntly.

This shocked me as well. My mind started picturing everything that could go wrong with that situation.   

"B-Brendon! You can't d-" 

"Do you want to know how I ended up in the hospital or not?" he cut me off. Probably not wanting to hear my two cent lecture. 

I shut my lips again, allowing him to continue. 

"I went to this party. I was going to meet this guy and do an exchange. I was there with Vicky. I wasn't able to sneak off with out her getting a few drinks in me. She was of course drunk at the time. 
Well anyways, when it came time to meet the guy, I was pretty drunk. And I don't remember too much, but I did or said something to piss this guy off, because he beat the crap out of me. He had a knife and everything.... I remember blacking out and everything. It's a good thing he made off with the goods before the cops came. Otherwise I may have been caught. But the next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital. Vicky told me everything that happened, aside from the drugs thing. None of them know. Hopefully. "

"Bren...does your mom know?" 

"No of course not. Although she does keep wondering why money keeps showing up in the bank account." 

I wondered what good my lecture would do. He really did need the money. 

But I couldn't stand it if he got caught and I lost
Him again. 

"Brendon...."

"Look Ryan," he cut me off. "I know what you're going to say. But I need to do this. For you and my mother. And for me." 
   
"Brendon. Please. Just think about it. What happens if you get caught? I would die if I lost you again. Please. Just please." I begged. There was a pause. 

"But what about my mom? We can't pay the bills with out money." he argued. 

"Then find a job. A legal one. Just something temporary until your mom can get back on her feet. I'm begging you. You've already ended up in the hospital because of this.  It could get a lot worse." I continued begging. 

There was another pause. Then he sighed. 

"Ill think about it." 

This was enough for me. At least I talked him Ito thinking about it. I still don't know if I'll be able to sleep at night until I get a sure yes. 

"Thank you Brendon." just then the bell rang, telling me lunch is over. Which means I had to say good bye. 

"That's the bell" I sighed. "Brendon, I love you. Be safe please." 

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I love you too. I'll call you tonight. Or you call me. Whichever." 

"Mkay. Bye." I hung up the phone and headed back to the cafeteria in hope to find Kaelaand Gabe.

They were still at the table where I left them. They gave me questioning looks and I just shrugged. I know I was going to have to at least explain to Kaela later. Or make something up. I couldn't tell her. At least not with out Brendon's approval.