Lyle

Oh boy, I put my hands on my head while pacing back and forth. I mean, sure it was nice to have Johnny over except this was so last minute. Almost last minute. I still had time to panic, other than that, I was on a crunch. A very unexpected time crunch which meant sprucing up around and practicing my people skills.

After doing some quick organizing and hiding, I stepped in front of my mirror. My body straightened up and I cleared my throat before giving my best Johnny impression.

"Yo Lyle." I spoke in a low, manly tone. I even fixed my hair and licked my lips all seductive too. "I had such a shitty morning."

"How so?" I asked in my normal voice.

"Oh, I dunno man. It sucked dick. You ever have days like that?"

I shrugged and laughed. "All day, every day."

"Yeah, it sure beats being you."

"Damn. You should've joined the theater club!"

"Ah!" I shrieked and clutched my chest. My heart raced at a thousand miles per hour. It was then, I heard that same voice coming from my tablet where I let out a very relieved sigh.

I went over and picked it up. I saw Aria laughing and shaking her head. "Sorry for the scare. I just had to say something."

"Well next time, please be more careful." I calmly requested. "I nearly had a heart attack."

"I can see that."

Yeah, she scared me for a moment. I actually forgot we were communicating through Skype and then Johnny called. Dominic also messaged me, but he could wait. So much happened in the last half hour, I could barely figure out what was up and what was down. Ironically enough, I was able to calm down again. It took some time, but I was able to make it work. There was a little awkward silence between us before I spoke again. "So I guess it's official."

"You and the dreamboat are really hanging out again?"

"In a way, yes." I nodded in an uneven, rhythmic manner until realizing something. "Wait, how is he the dreamboat?"

"Don't ask me, Elise gave him that nickname."

"She gives him a lot of those."

"I know." Aria smiled before rattling off a list. "Uh, there's DiCaprio's rejected brother, Hotshot, Discount John Elway-Oh, I know there was more."

"Don't forget Doucheface."

"That too. Though when I think about it, I don't think that was meant for him, but it would be fitting."

I chuckled and nodded. "Yeah... Hey, speaking of Elise, do you know where she's been? We haven't really talked since Thursday."

"Nope." Aria shook her head and had this faded smile planted on her face.

"Are you sure? I could've sworn she mentioned some plans she had."

"I wouldn't know. We aren't exactly talking much."

"So I've heard." I casually responded. "Would you mind telling me what happened?"

"I'd rather not."

"Okay, but we still have a Homecoming to set up in the next two weeks and we need all hands on deck."

"Deck?" She hiccuped her eyebrows raised. "What did you say?"

"All hands on deck. It's a saying. What did you think I said?"

"Nothing." She quickly shook her head so I brushed it off.

The awkward silence settled in again and once I checked my clock, I was down to thirty minutes? Wait, I was wrong. It was fifteen! No!

I gasped and turned right back to Aria where I told her. "Uh, listen... Johnny's going to be here soon. I'll see you Monday?"

"Yes." Aria agreed. "I'll see you then. Adios."

"Goodbye." I waved before she ended the call. I placed my tablet on a shelf and scrambled to double-check everything. Make sure the books are off the floor, the dorky stuff isn't too public, and my meds are safely tucked in my top dresser under that red athletic sweatshirt I never wear. Once that was all organized, I lit some scented candles until looking around. This seemed more like a seance or ritual than a teenage boy's room. Nope, I had to change it.

I put out the candles and hid them away, though I still sprayed something with a pleasant aroma even if it didn't stink. When that was finally taken care of, I rushed down the stairs only to be stopped by my mother.

"Lyle, honey, please slow down."

I followed and slowly approached her inside my brother's room. Things were moved around for some reason and it didn't make sense. With my curiosity piqued, I stepped closer and asked. "Um, why are you moving Gunnar's things?"

"He's coming home soon."

"He is?" I felt my heart singing a little when she announced that news. "Wow. I-I didn't know that."

"Well now you know." She replied while throwing new sheets on the bed.

How splendid, I thought to myself and as much as I tried, it was impossible to get this embarrassing smile off my face. Mother continued setting up his room while I slyly made my way around where she looked up briefly before narrowing her eyes back to the bed. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nope." I shook my head and chuckled. "It's just... he's really coming home."

"I know. He hasn't been back in over a year."

"I've really missed him."

"You do?" Mother asked as if I was joking.

"Of course." I scoffed and chuckled here and there. "W-why wouldn't I be?"

"Well if I remember correctly, the last visit didn't end on a great note."

"But we didn't have problems."

"You don't remember." She suddenly stopped what she was doing and turned to me. She gave me that sympathetic, though obviously disappointed look with the faded smile and cold, soft eyes. "You don't remember what happened the last time you were off your meds?"

"That wasn't my choice. I-I-I couldn't find them!"

"Now you're more organized."

"I know that's great and all, except that I really don't remember any of this. Only the end where Gunnar cried and apologized for something. I couldn't see him, but I could feel his presence. He was there at the hospital with me and then he was gone. His career in revolutionizing technology in mental health took off and so did he. I just wish he would've said goodbye or something."

Mother came up to me and looked me in the eyes. She gently lifted my chin up with her right hand and said, "You both will have so much catching up to do."

Just as I was about to respond, the doorbell rang.

In the mean time, Mother put her hand back to herself and primped her hair before she asked. "Hmm, I wasn't expecting company today."

Whoops, I jumped a little and answered. "That must be my friend."

"You're having a friend over?"

"Uh-huh." I nodded then bolted down the stairs. I sort of rammed into the wall on the way down, though it was worth it. I chuckled and limped the rest of the way only to discover my father already beat me to the door.

"Oh, hey there." Johnny greeted him.

"Ah. You must be my son's friend?"

"Y-yeah." Johnny snickered before extending his arm out. "I'm, uh, I'm Johnny Kane."

"And you two aren't screwing around, right? Or each other?"

"Dad." I called out while awkwardly pushing my way through. "He's just my friend."

"Well that's good to hear." He smiled and nodded as he let Johnny come inside. "I hope you boys aren't getting into any trouble."

"We won't." I reassured him before bringing Johnny upstairs.

Once we entered my room, Johnny took his gold sunglasses off and gasped.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Shit man. Did you spray something?"

"Maybe..." I reluctantly answered. "Too much?"

"Oh yeah." He chuckled as he happily plopped himself down on my black, comfy chair. When he sat down, I noticed his... interesting outfit choice.

"Whoa." I remarked.

"Is there a problem?" He looked up at me with those mellowed, blue eyes of his.

Although I didn't want to be rude, I had to know. My shaky finger pointed down while I asked him. "Uh, what's with the outfit there?"

He looked down and laughed. It began with a pair of burgundy vans, which were a bit washed out. Above them, he had on two long socks; one was black, the other was white with a green leaf, possibly weed. He had these blue and red striped shorts on, a grey v-neck, with a black, leather jacket to tie this audacious piece together.

Johnny then faced me again and smiled. "I just picked whatever."

"Any particular reason?"

"Yeah. I needed to get the fuck outta there before I killed that slimy bastard with my bare hands."

"Kill who?"

"Logan." He scoffed while looking down.

"Oh." His words were quite the shock and my lips were only narrowly open for awhile. I honestly couldn't believe it. Eventually, I nodded a little and said, "Didn't see that coming."

"Me neither." Johnny sighed while he shook his head. "Jesus, how could he do this?"

"Do what?"

"He fucked my cousin." Johnny paused for a moment. "No, I take that back. He's still fucking my cousin. My motherless, horny, fifteen year old, cousin that wouldn't spread her legs for anyone."

"Wait." I put my hand up to voice my vital, though not urgent question. "How can she be both horny and conservative at the same time?"

"She's got self-control."

"Still... Logan?"

"Uh-huh." Johnny nodded before he looked around. "God, I need a drink. You got any schnapps or somethin'?"

"Schnapps?"

"Oh you know, alcohol? Booze?" Johnny leaned in and whispered. "Preferably the good beer."

"Well I know my father has a supply stashed somewhere though if we get caught, we'd never hear the end of it."

"Yeah, what's up with your pops? He seems all macho and bear-like."

"He really is." I folded my arms and sat on my bed. "You know, he always kept my brother and myself in line which helped make us better people."

"I'm sorry, but better?" Johnny wrinkled his nose when he asked that question. It seemed insulting at first, though he probably misinterpreted it. I was pretty vague.

I smiled and clarified what I meant. "Well better behaved. I mean, it paid off in the long-run. Gunnar actually made a huge splash when he went out and changed the world of mental health."

"I remember reading about him once in the paper."

"You read the paper too?"

"Only when I'm really bored." Johnny shrugged. "Anyways, the article was brief but he mentioned a brother who was the inspiration for his career. Was that you?"

"Inspiration?"

"Inspiration, cause, whatever. Either way, you mattered to him."

"That's very true." I nodded. "I still wish though, that I at least got to say goodbye. I mean yes... technically he was starting his new life, but I didn't get to say goodbye."

"I feel you man. I had the same problem except, instead of changing the world like he should be doing, he's buried six feet deep." Johnny's face dropped a full shade of color, minutes after saying that. He sniffled and chuckled while I stood up and came closer.

"Sorry about that," I said while patting him on the back.

"Oh, it's totally fine, dude." Johnny gently pushed me off and rubbed his palms down his face. "Ugh, I'm tellin' you that this is a real shitty day."

"Well, it is kind of misty outside." I agreed while checking through my windows at the weather.

"I'm just glad I was able to leave. Another minute there and I would've lost my goddamn mind."

"I've been there before." Some nervous laughter broke out as I reminisced aloud. "Some time last year, I couldn't find my meds and I just remembered how much everything was bothering me. From lights to simple greetings and there was this... need to do things."

"What kind of things?"

"Just things." I shrugged. "I don't know, organizational things, digestive things, work out things–"

"You worked out?" Johnny seemed to perk up a bit when I said that.

"Oh don't get too excited. I did an insane amount of push-ups and ball lifts. It wasn't all that spectacular."

"Ah, maybe if you're interested, you and I could hit the gym or the park. I usually run once a day."

"I'll think about it." I would've gladly accepted though it was a bit of stretch. He was his dazzling self while I still had a ways to go. I didn't want to go all in too fast, otherwise I'd be in trouble.

Johnny gave a satisfied grin before he shook his head before turning to me again. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask something."

"Go ahead. I'm all ears."

"Did you really mean it when you said I was your friend?" Johnny asked with a little glimmer in his eyes.

Honestly speaking, I wasn't so sure myself. We finally have gained some common ground and the last thing I'd want was to make an earthquake tear it apart. I wanted to tell him the truth however, it wasn't coming out. I couldn't understand why. So instead of answering, I kept my lips pressed and hung my head low. He took notice and let out a sigh. "Look, it's cool if it ain't true, man. I know after this whole thing with Logan, I'm definitely not sure."

"You aren't?"

"Nope." Johnny shook his head and smiled. "He was my best friend since I first came here. The first guy I ever met that got me to where I am today."

"And now?"

"Now..." Johnny drifted off and leaned back in my chair. "Now, I've got no fucking clue what to say. He already knows that I'm pissed so it's not like I can pretend this didn't happen. Not that I would–"

"I certainly would." I chimed in.

"You'd what?"

I turned away for a moment to exhale loud and clear before swiveling back to Johnny again. "I'm a pacifist."

"We all knew that one."

"I'm being serious." I lowered my tone and my eyes on him where she slowly began to understand. Once he sat up and listened, I continued. "When there's conflict, when there's drama, I almost always try to diffuse the problem. That's just who I am, even if I'm a bit naïve and absentminded."

"You shouldn't feel bad about that."

"I know." I nodded. "But it's exhausting. Plus I usually end up getting yelled at or used as a punching bag. Though if it means stopping the chaos at my own expense, then so be it."

"That's sad, bro."

"Yeah...I figured you'd say that." I slowly laughed in a stunted, uneven manner as Johnny got off the chair and laid on the floor. However, for some reason he kept pulling my pants leg. "W-what are you doing?"

"Come join me."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Just do it." He pulled tighter and I begrudgingly bent my knees and planted myself on the ground. Our bodies laid opposite of each other as we stared up at the ceiling with our heads a few feet apart though still in the same proximity. I tried speaking though he touched my shoulder and gently shushed me. Despite the silence, I reached out and plugged in this blue, star lamp that projected many of them onto the ceiling. It was real calming how they twinkled. With the lights off and the grey outside providing the right type of darkness, it looked truly radiant.

As Johnny and I laid there, I began to feel better about myself and while there were plenty of things still worrying me. School troubles, getting axed from the humane society, Dominic's messages, my brother's mysterious exit, his return, and the list kept going on. However, this was much needed and I couldn't have done it without Johnny's help. Oh, he was already shaping up to be the best friend I'd ever have. As scary as it was, I no longer felt ashamed when it came to accepting the idea that him and I could really be friends after all.