November 2009

When Eric finally made it over I opened up the door to see him ducked low trying to make his way towards the back, probably headed for the bathroom window. He looked embarrassed as I let him in. Seeing his face go red was a rare sight, it only got redder when I told him my old man was out with some friends today or whatever so he didn't have to sneak in.

I already had the first aid kit open up and laying on the bed so all we had to do was just go upstairs to my room so I could get cleaned up before my dad made it back. There were all sorts of band-aids and gauze and alcohol wipes inside it some were dumped out everywhere but I figured I'd try to make finding what he needed easier.

I was surprised when he didn't stop to ask me what happened this time. I'm sure he knew that I was at the city park. A lot of wolves often head there to the drained pool where they'd stage fights, challenges.

Eric never liked that I hung out there but it wasn't like the humans cared to do anything's about it, so long as nobody died they let us do our own thing. After I got tired of his complaining we eventually came to an agreement that I could accept all the challenges I wanted so long as I didn't agree to any fights to the death, as if the humans would ever allow that.

Pulling me over to the bed and ordering me to sit down Eric and, I'd like to note the very unsexy frown on his face, pulled my shirt up. When he started poking at my ribs I hissed. His head snapped up fast as he looked at me, concerned. Nothing was wrong though, his hands were just cold.

"Woah, getting a little handsy aren't we?" I quipped as he sat there, cold hands still feeling me up.

Still prodding my ribs with cold fingers, feeling to see anything was out of place, he huffed, "Now is not the time."

Yanking my shirt back down he moved on and grabbed hold of my chin. Squinting he titled my head to the left then the right.

"No scratches or anything too noticeable, " he mumbled, visibly relieved. Then his eyes drifted towards my right hand.

My knuckles were red and bruised and I, for the life of me, couldn't move my fingers for shit. I expected him to be mad but then he took my hand in his and asked in a soft voice, "What happened?"

"I think I broke them," I mumbled. I didn't wanna believe it cause there was no way I'd be able to hide that from my dad. No way in hell.

Raising a brow at me he cocked his head to the side. It would have been cute if it weren't for the fact that I knew he was pissed at me.

"You think? No, Toby, I think you did. Try to move them," he ordered, letting go of me.

I didn't even lift them all way before the pain shot through me. Hissing I let them go lax again, sighing as my hand started to feel a little cool.

"Dude why are you such a dumb ass?" He exhaled, reaching up to smack me over the back of my head. It was a light tap but the sheer embarrassment of it is what got me.

"Well it's not like I did it on purpose," I reasoned, letting my head hang. With my other hand, I raked my fingers through my hair. What the hell was I supposed to do now?

Picking up the gauze Eric held a hand out for me. "You need to get to a hospital." I heard him mutter under his breath as he gently wrapped my fingers up.

"You know I can't do that, my dad'll kill me." I hissed as he pulled the gauze a little too tight. He probably did it on purpose.

"He'll kill you if he finds out you tried to hide it, " Eric countered, brown eyes pinning me in place.

"Fair enough..." I said, knowing full well that Eric wouldn't hesitate to argue his point.

We sat in silence, him working deftly at wrapping up my injured hand and me just studying him. He looked tired today and I could only imagine how hard things must have been for him lately. He ended up getting a job at a small diner last week I think, I remember how I told him I was gonna show up one day and order something to eat. But it's not like he has all that many hours, he complains about that a lot so why did he look so out of it?

"Hey E," I said softly, leaning forward to get a better look at him, "are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I just didn't get any sleep last night," he mumbled with a half-hearted shrug.

"Was it your mom again?" I dared ask.

"Yeah. The vines started to spread again so we were up all night trying to calm her down. It's a good thing that today's a Sunday." Eric tried to play it off with a laugh but it only fell flat.

"You guys didn't have any medicine for it?" I flinched when he yanked the gauze a little too tightly around my fingers.

"Shit! I'm sorry T," he said hurriedly, quickly loosening it.

"It's fine," I whispered just as he stopped.

Shaking his head he said, "We've tried going to the pharmacy and the herb witch there didn't have anything we could afford expect maybe regular painkillers and those don't work against curses."

Nodding my head I shifted. "Well if you guys ever need anything..."

I didn't bother to finish as Eric started to shake his head. He always did that whenever my old man or I would offer any sort of help. "The medicines too expensive" he'd say, "Eli and I have got this" knowing full they didn't.

Finished wrapping the gauze Eric sighed and let go of my hand. Licking his lips he pressed his lips against mine before pulling back to exhale again.

"Toby, I appreciate it, I really do... but it's just..."

"You and Eli have this under control?" I suggested.

"I was gonna say I didn't wanna put any stress on you but yeah, that too," he chuckled. Kissing me again he whispered, "I just don't know what I'm gonna do once school ends. I mean I can't leave mom with Eli, he can't take care of her by himself."

Pulling him into a hug I awkwardly held him in my arms, trying not to move my hand too much. "Eric you don't have to worry about that until next fall, and that's if you get accepted into whatever college you were looking at."

"Thanks," he deadpanned.

"Well shit I didn’t mean it like that but you know what I'm trying to say. You're thinking about this too hard. If you'd just let me and Dad help you guys out every once in a while- it doesn't have to be anything big but small stuff like making sure she takes her meds on time or bringing you guys some casserole or something, you and your brother can't cook for shit."

Snorting he pulled back. "Neither can you."

"You're the guy who would burn water if it were possible."

"I wish I could stay the night." He sounded annoyed when he said that so I guessed it had something do with Eli may have said to him. "I just wanna stay here and cuddle and maybe have dinner with you and Gale."

"Then why don't you stay anyway?" I said, waiting for him to say something I hoped would be good.

Groaning he relaxed against me. "I can't. Eli wants me home early plus I don't wanna leave mom alone. He doesn't really know how to handle her half the time."

"Then I'll sleep over at your place," I teased, nuzzling my nose into the crook of his neck.

"You trying to get me killed," he gasped, pulling away from my touch.

"Man come on, the last time we saw each other outside of school was what, a month ago?" I groaned, pouting at him. "I won't try anything, I promise. I'll even sleep on the floor if that's what it takes."

"You're that desperate for attention?" he raised a brow at me, cocking his head to the side as his lips curved into a smile.

"Attention... Yeah, that's it," I nodded.

Punching my shoulder he got off the bed. "Toby!"

"I said I wouldn't try anything, at least not with your mother in the house." This earned me a pillow to the face. "Okay. Geez! I was joking."

Putting the first aid kit away Eric rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

"Does that mean I get to stay the night?" I asked, watching his face carefully, taking note of the slight twitch in his brow.

Shrugging he dumped some band-aids into the kit. "I dunno. Maybe we should wait until next weekend."

"Are you that scared of what Eli and your mom might say?" I huffed, getting up from the bed as he reached for a few alcohol wipes behind me.

Snapping his head up to glare at me he slammed the kit closed. Shit, he looked pissed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he said, sounding a little too calm not to be pissed.

"Nothing... I just really missed hanging out with you is all. We can still hang out together and not... Uh, you know..."

"Fuck?" Eric suggested.

"As boring as it sounds yes." I nodded.

Sighing Eric ran his fingers through his hair. "Well I don't have work Thursday, or literally any day next week to be honest, so I guess I can stay for the break and go back in time for Thanks Giving dinner with Eli and mom."

"You mean it?" I asked, grabbing his hands and pulled him towards me. Moving to sit on my lap he nodded.

"Yeah." Wrapping his arms around me he let his head rest on my shoulder. "I should probably go in a little bit."

"Dude it's only three."

"I know but mom's still at the house by herself, I think Eli has work today."

"Ugh fine. But you have to promise you'll stay longer next time."

Smiling against my neck he nodded. "I will.”