Listen to the Thunder

The first week of May passed quickly. True to our word, we all kept an eye out for Kyle. My conclusion? He’s miserable. So fucking miserable. The dark shadows under his eyes and his painfully thin body don’t help the image that something really is wrong in his life. If only he’d let me help him.

I will help him. I don’t care what he says. I’m not letting him get hurt again.

Seeing as it’s a Saturday today, I laid in until midday, which I’m pretty sure Alex did too, because he hasn’t come over to my dorm yet. Normally on weekends one of us will go to the other’s dorm and we’ll just snuggle. It’s nice, actually, to just hold him in my arms and relax. I decided to get up and go over to Alex’s for a change. Danny answered the door, took one look at my pyjamas and let me in.

“He’s still asleep,” Danny said simply.

“I figured as much,” I snickered, walking towards Alex’s room.

I opened the door quietly, shutting it behind me just as quietly. Putting my cellphone and room keys on his bedside table, I gently crawled into bed next to my boyfriend, smiling as he immediately snuggled against me.

“Sorry for waking you up, Lex,” I said softly, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

“It’s okay. I should’ve been awake by now anyway,” Alex mused sleepily.

He leant his head up to peck my lips lightly before snuggling even closer to me. I didn’t object. Closing my eyes, I relaxed against his pillows, letting sleep take over me again…only for my phone to start buzzing. Great. With a soft groan I leant over and picked it up, only to frown. Rian. What does he want?

“Lex, Rian’s calling me. You don’t mind if I answer, do you?” I said softly.

“Course not,” Alex smiled back, burrowing his face further into the crook of my neck.

I giggled as Alex pressed a gentle kiss to my skin before flipping open my phone and putting it to my ear.

Jack: Jello Dawson!
Rian: It’s me, Caleb, Zack and Pat, actually.
Jack: I don’t get it.

I blushed as I heard them all laugh. Bastards.

Rian: Caleb and I are on speaker on my phone, and Zack and Pat are on speaker on Zack’s phone. It’s a three-way call, dumbass.
Jack: Fine, fine. Alex is asleep, otherwise he’d talk too. How can I help you fine gentlemen?
Rian: We wanted to know if you had any updates on Kyle.
Caleb: Yeah, dude, we know you saw him all beat up but we wanted to know if you’d seen him beaten up again.
Zack: Because if that fucker Nick hurts him one more time, I’m coming up there to beat his miserable ass to a pulp.

Good old Zack.

Jack: As far as I can tell, Nick hasn’t hurt him again. I’ve been watching him in lectures, as has Lex and our two dormmates, but he doesn’t seem to have any bruises. Although…

I trailed off, biting my bottom lip. I’m not sure what I saw the other day, but I think I should probably let them know just in case.

Pat: Although what, Jack?

Poor Pat. He sounds so worried.

Jack: I think Kyle’s been cutting. I’ve seen red lines on his wrists, for like, a brief second if he stretches and yawns, or if he puts his hand up to answer a question. I don’t think he knows I’ve seen them though.
Rian: Wait, you think he’s self-harming?
Caleb: Fuck.
Jack: I don’t know. I don’t want to jump to conclusions because obviously I haven’t had a chance to look closely, but he looks so fucking miserable all the time. Like, all the time. I haven’t seen him smile once, not even a little.
Pat: Do you think I should ask him about it?

I shook my head, then remembered they couldn’t see me.

Jack: No, I don’t think you should ask him directly. Maybe, when you next call him or whatever, you could ask how he’s feeling and if he’s okay, but I think asking him directly about cutting would really upset him even more than he already is.
Pat: But what if…
Caleb: Jack’s got a point. We can’t push Kyle, you know how stubborn he is, and in his fragile state? No way.
Zack: I agree.
Pat: But…
Zack: Think about what’s best for Kyle. The next sign that Kyle’s been hurt by Nick, Jack and Alex will get him out of there. But until then, we can’t do anything.

I heard Pat sigh, which made my heart twinge a little. Hearing about Kyle like this must really hurt him.

Jack: I promise, as soon as Alex, Matt, Danny or I see Kyle with one bruise, we’ll swoop right on in there and get him away from Nick. We just need one more bit of proof, that’s all.
Pat: Okay. If you think that’s best.
Rian: Kyle will be fine, Pat. We promise.
Caleb: Keep us updated, yeah?
Jack: Will do.

We said a few goodbyes, and then I hung up, before pinching the bridge of my nose. This is getting complicated. Far too complicated.

“That sounded like all the guys were in that call,” Alex yawned, tilting his head back slightly so he could look up at me.

“Yeah, they were,” I nodded.

“Why didn’t you wake me up a little more so I could speak to them too?” Alex pouted.

“You were tired, Lex. You looked so cute that I didn’t have to heart to wake you up properly,” I mused.

Alex grumbled something incoherent, which only made me smile. Adorable.

“Want to suck my dick to wake me up fully?” Alex yawned.

“I thought you were tired?” I laughed.

The audacity!

“I had a nice little x-rated dream earlier about us so I woke up with a boner when you came. I’m surprised you didn’t notice it. Besides, I’m never too tired for your lips around my cock,” Alex shrugged.

“So romantic,” I said, sarcasm oozing from my words.

“You wouldn’t have me any other way,” Alex smirked.