Tw: abuse!!

Short notes before it begins -

I forgot I wrote this a while ago, and I want to makeup for not posting much by uploading something longer and cuter ^⁠_⁠^!

This isn't in order to the current story, but I feel like it could match, if only I had written it before the first chapter. So maybe like a flashback?

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Coles mother skimmed through the clothing  racks as she hummed along to the music playing from the mall speakers, occasionally lifting a shirt from the rack and looking at the measurements. The mall was crowded and loud, with teenagers pilling up in stores with their parents for back to school shopping deals. As Cole watched family's with functional dads, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. When his father was in his life, all he had done was either beat Cole, drink till he couldn't speak, or neglect him.

His thoughts were quickly interrupted. "Oh, Cole, wouldn't this just look so lovely on you?" She lifted up a suit and brought up his arm to the sleeve, measuring how long it would be on him.

Cole smiled awkwardly and nodded. "It's very nice, but, I don't think I should dress so fancy for something as simple as the first day of school," He put it as nicely as he could. He wouldn't want to hurt his mother's feelings.

His mother clicked her tongue and took one last look at it. "Yes, perhaps it is a bit much.." She sighed. Reluctantly, she hung it back on the rack and continued searching.

They had been looking for clothes for hours now, Coles legs were starting to numb and he desperately wanted to go home.

"How about this?" Her face lit up as she raised a bright, neon green T shirt. "I think it matches you perfectly. Not to fancy either!" She said brightly.

Cole struggled to smile once more. "Mom.. Maybe," He hesitated. "Maybe I should shop with Garvey instead? I haven't seen him in a while, and it might be good to shop with someone who, you know, isn't the opposite sex as you?"

It was true, Cole hadn't seen Garvey sense the last school year. After being mauled by a bear, he'd become somewhat attached to Garvey and even viewed him as a father-figure, even if he did get on his nerves sometimes. Even if his talks seemed worthless and idiotic, they all did help Cole quite a bit in the long run.

Coles mother frowned, but soon smiled softly. "Thats true, I'll call him now!"

---

Garvey snuck behind Cole and pulled him into a hug, ruffling his hair. "Hey, champ! Haven't seen you in a while! You've certainly grown,"

Cole laughed and hugged back. Two years ago, he would've pulled away immediately and made some snarky remark, but he'd changed from when he was a edgy 15 year old. He'd learnt he didn't need to be in defense mode constantly, that there were people who *did* care.

"Hi, Garvey. I missed you," He admitted. Garvey released him and patted him on the back.

"Yes, it has been a while. But why dwell on the past? Today marks a new adventure, and-" Cole rolled his eyes. Garvey always made the simplist sentence turn into some kind of lesson, but in a way, that made him more father like. Not that Cole would know about having a good father.

---

They walked into the mall, immediately heading towards the store he and his mother had gone to a few days prior. It wasn't as crowded as before, but it still did have a few familys looking around. Cole looked through the clothing with Garvey by his side, speaking about life sense they'd last talked. Really, nothing interesting had happened sense Coles last school year, when he'd successfully changed his school for the better with the help of his best buddy at the time, Peter. After the entire circle justice meeting and changing the mascot to a spirit bear, almost all bullying stopped. Of course, there were a few trouble makers here and there, but the principle finally started actually doing something about it for once. It was calm and peaceful for once in Coles life outside the island.

Garvey smiled and nodded, occasionally commenting about something or adding on to a statement.  "You and Peter are still close, I see?" He asked.

Cole blushed. "Well, he is my best friend, but I do have other friends of course! I just.. don't hang out with them as much." That was a lie. He did have a few acquaintances, but he always stuck around Peter, and Peter stuck around him. They were inseparable.

Garvey continued looking around. "No need to get so defensive, champ. It's good to have such a close friend in life."

Cole chuckled and pulled out a simple, slightly oversized T-shirt. He didn't like tight-fitting clothes at all, he never had, but especially after the attack.. He didn't like other people seeing his scars. That's why he often wore a jacket, even if it was hot outside. But Peter eventually convinced him he'd die of heatstroke if he didn't stop, his body was perfect the way it was, sappy things like that. 

He smiled softly to himself thinking about Peter.

Suddenly, Coles phone began ringing inside his pocket, and he picked it up immediately. Garvey observed Coles demeanor- his face had lit up, and there was a slight blush on his cheeks. "Hey! Yeah, I'm here with Garvey." He stayed silent for a moment, then he laughed. "I'll try to come over as soon as I can, okay?" More silence. "Bye, I love you." He put the phone back in his pocket, still blushing and looking more giddy.

"Got a girlfriend?"

"No, that was my boyfrie-" Cole immediately realized what he was saying and paused. Garvey smiled softly.

"Peter?"

Cole hesitated before nodding. "Don't be mad," He said quietly.

Once, in forth grade, Cole put on a pink T shirt while getting ready for school. The second his father saw it, he immediately got enraged. He decided this meant he was homosexual, and screamed and beat him with his belt.

"Your a goddamn sissy, that's what you are! You think you can go around in something like that, embarrassing me and our family name? No son of mine will be fucking other boys and wearing fluffy skirts like some drag queen!" He screamed, beating little Cole senseless.

He screamed and cried, begging for forgiveness as he always had, but his father never stopped. Of course, his mother just sat on the living room couch, drink in hand. She watched as her son was getting beaten, and just drunk quicker. Eventually, after Coles back was already red and bruised, his father stopped and caught his breath.

"That'll teach you," He said breathlessly before walking into the kitchen to get more booze. Cole just cried on the floor, curled up into a ball with his little body aching. He looked up at his mother for any kind of comfort or help, but all he got in return was one sympathetic look filled with tears before she quickly looked away and chugged some more booze.

Cole took a step back, fully expecting a beating. "Please don't be mad," He repeated, a deep fear in his eyes.

Garveys eyes softened as he saw Cole back away like a lost puppy. "Calm down, Cole. I really don't mind, you'll always be the same in my eyes. Don't you see? The world was made for humans to be free and loving, not judgemental." He patted Coles shoulder and smiled sympathetically.

Cole froze up a little as he patted his shoulder, but soon he melted into his touch and went in for a hug. He had never been the type for physical affection, but it felt like instinct in that moment.

"Thank you," He said quietly.

"No problem, kiddo. I always knew you two had a little something going on."

Cole wiped his eyes and laughed, sniffing a bit and quickly avoiding Garvey's eyes by skimming through the clothing.

---

They had finally picked out a outfit, not to fancy but not so boring it looked like pj's.

"Oh, it's wonderful!" Coles mother exclaimed, cupping Coles face and kissing his cheek. "So handsome," She added.

Cole smiled awkwardly and stepped back, nodding along with whatever she said. He knew it had been a long time sense she'd quit drinking and left his father for good, but it was hard to completely forget the days she'd only care about looking picture perfect. He loved her, but nothing could erase that image of her turning a blind eye when his father beat him. Everytime, she'd just chug some more beer or wine to forget it had ever happened.

The doorbell rung, and Coles face quickly lit up as he immediately ran for the door, opening it at lightning speed.

"Peter! I've been waiting for you,"

"You said you'd meet me at *my* house, dude!" He quickly wrapped his arms around Cole and held him in a embrace.

Cole immediately returned the hug, lifting Peter up slightly and swinging him around in one circle before putting him back on the floor. "Sorry, guess I forgot.."

Peter gave him a quick peck on the lips, walking into the kitchen immediately and opening the fridge. "It's whatever, do you have any food? I'm starving!"

Coles smile quickly disappeared as he realized what Peter had just done, in front of his mother and Garvey. Garvey looked unfazed, just drinking some herbal tea and chatting with his mom. His mom looked up from the conversation for a moment, raising a eyebrow at Cole.

Cole blushed profusely and quickly felt a rush of anxiety fill him. But, to his surprise, she returned to her conversation and acted as if nothing happened. Was this a sign? Did she not care? Or was she choosing to ignore her problems like before? Whatever it was, he was just glad she wasn't disowning him or anything of the sort.

"We have some chips in the pantry," Cole prompted. Peter quickly rushed to the pantry, grabbing a bag of Doritos.

"We should go around the city. Heck, we've been back on land for almost a year and we've barely even explored! Who knows what kind of things have changed? What if my old elementary has some kind of sick new playground upgrade I've never seen?"

Cole smiled and took a hand full of chips, stuffing them into his mouth and talking with his mouth full. "That sounds nice. Just no more abandoned buildings, okay?"

Peter grinned. "Can't make promises I can't keep. maybe the next one really will have rotting corpses," He teased.

"Your gross," Cole grimaced.

Peter shrugged and hummed, putting down the chips and wiping his hands off on Coles sleve.

Cole pushed him away playfully, immediately trying to wipe off the chip dust. "Your so gross, man!" He said through giggles.

--

More Notes! -

I hope to add more of Garvey and Edwin into the story, especially Edwin because we didn't seem him ONCE in ghost of spirit bear (sigh.)

I hope you liked the story!! I always headcanoned that Garvey was like a father to Cole, so I thought it would be cute to write about!!