Chapter 39 Chapter Thirty-Six
Omnsicient Narrative
As he made his way to Chris's house, his mind raced with possibilities.
Was he feeling overwhelmed with school? Was something going on at home? Or was it something else entirely? Whatever it was, Demi was ready to listen and support him.
He reached his driveway, noticing Chris’s car parked neatly in front.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of his car and headed to the door.
Chris opened the door before Demi could even knock, his face a mixture of surprise and a faint smile.
"Hey" the black haired boy said softly, stepping aside to let Demi in.
His eyes looked tired, shadowed with worry.
Demi stepped inside, taking in the familiar surroundings, his cozy living room, the scattered leftover junks on the coffee table, and the faint scent of vanilla from a candle that was lit.
‘Definitely his dad’s doing’ Demi thought.
"Hey you" Demi said gently. "I just wanted to check on you. You seemed a little down yesterday, and I was worried." He watched Chris’s face carefully, noting how his expression softened at his words.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded, leading him to the couch.
Chris sank into the cushions, staring at the floor.
"It's nothing serious Demi. Don’t get yourself all worked out over nothing" he mumbled. Demi sat beside him, close but not invading his space.
"You can tell me anything Chris" Demi urged softly. "You don't have to go through it alone" his voice was warm and reassuring, like a gentle hug.
After a moment of silence, Chris sighed deeply, rubbing his hands over his sweats.
"It's just, everything's been a lot lately" he admitted.
"School, my family, trying to keep up with everything. I guess I didn't realize how tired I was until yesterday" Chris lied through his teeth, his voice cracked slightly, revealing the vulnerability he usually kept hidden, even though he was lying to Demi, he was still tired and vulnerable.
Demi reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to carry it all by yourself you know" he said gently. "I'm here for you, okay?"
Chris looked up, meeting Demi’s eyes. For the first time that day, a small smile flickered across his face. "Thanks, Demi. It means a lot to me"
They sat in silence for a moment, the kind of silence that speaks volumes, an understanding that sometimes, all someone needs is someone to simply be there.
"Sometimes, I think we all need a little reminder that we're not alone" Demi said thoughtfully.
"No matter how tough things get, there's always someone who cares. Like me, for example." He winked playfully, and Chris's smile grew wider.
"Thanks, Demi. I really needed to hear that."
“Though I would still love for you to tell me what’s going on with you genuinely” Demi raised his brow.
“What?” Chris asked a bit surprised.
“As much as I want to pretend that I believe you, I know that’s not the reason behind your mood yesterday, but I hope you feel comfortable with me one day to tell me” Demi gave him a small smile.
“I can’t get anything past you can I” he let out a small chuckle
“Nope” Demi said elbowing Chris.
As the afternoon stretched on, they talked about other things, like school, their friends and teammates, they also talked about their dreams and what they would what to do after school, Demi said he would pursue law and Chris said he was going for physics.
Chris talked about his feelings, and Demi listened patiently, offering words of encouragement and sharing his own experiences.
The heaviness that had weighed on Chris's shoulders began to lift, replaced by a sense of relief and hope, he was happy to have someone there for him.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t call Kyle or any of his other friends, it’s just that how can he talk to Kyle if Kyle is the reason he’s this way.
It was a simple visit, but it reminded both of them that sometimes, all you need is someone who cares enough to listen.
The conversation between Demi and Chris grew a bit softer now, more intimate one might say.
The weight of his earlier sadness seemed to melt away, replaced by a fragile sense of connection.
Chris looked down at his hands, then back up into Demi's eyes, his heart pounding with a mixture of nervousness and a little bit of hope.
He hesitated for a moment, then gently reached out, taking his friend’s hand in his and then gently began to rub his thumb softly over his palm.
Demi looked surprised at the gesture but didn't pull away, instead, he offered Chris a reassuring smile.
Chris took a deep breath, gathering his courage.
"Demi" he began softly, "I just... I really appreciate you being here today. More than I expected."
His voice was trembling slightly, but there was sincerity in his eyes.
Slowly, he leaned closer, hesitating just a moment before softly brushing his lips against Demi’s in a tentative, tender kiss.
For a moment, Demi froze, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy.
His eyes widened, and he gently pulled back, his cheeks flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and discomfort and his stomach sank at the feeling of betraying Alex.
"Chris" he said softly, placing her hand on his chest to keep some space between them.
"I care about you a lot, but I don't think we should be doing this, I hope you understand" his voice was gentle but firm.
Chris's face fell, a flicker of hurt crossing his features, but he nodded, trying to hide his disappointment.
"Yeah, I get it" he whispered, giving him a small, sad smile.
"I just... I wanted to get my mind off the whole thing and I just thought because of what we had last time you would be open to it, but thanks for listening though"
Demi squeezed his hand reassuringly "I understand where you’re coming from and I’m sorry I can’t help you at the moment, but you’re vulnerable right now and I promise us having sex isn’t something you want or need" Demi told him, Chris looked down, then back up, managing a small smile.
"Yeah, you’re right, I just need to lay down and rest or try to get my mind back up"
They sat in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken feelings, but also a mutual understanding.
After a few minutes, Demi stood up and hugged Chris gently.
"Remember, you're not alone. Whenever you're feeling down, just call me or come over. We'll get through it together." Chris nodded, feeling grateful beyond words.
As Demi left his house, he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing he had made a difference, even if just for a little while.
Chris sat back on his couch, tears threatening to burst out. He really felt lonely and he hated that.
“Oh my baby” he turned and saw his dad-Greg- entering the living room rushing to hug his son.