The Boy Who Came Into My Life (part 1)

Gabe's P.o.v

I threw pebbles across the water infront of me. Watching them skid gracefully over the stream of liquid, causing it to ripple.

I pick up my backpack, checking my watch. ''3:50' I had been here for over 3 hours' I thought slinging my bag over my shoulders. I started making my way to the exist of the barrens, self consciously knowing it was time to go home. Even if no one was home would to care, 'cause there was no one besides myself that lived there.

"Hey!"

"Hey! can you help me! please!"

I turned to see a boy with sandy blonde hair trying to crawl out of the sewer entrance reaching his hand out to me. 'why is he coming out the sewer? Anyone with common sense wouldn't go inside, because of him'. "Please! Quickly!" He shouted at me, full of fear. I sprinted over to him, throwing my bag off of my back so I could run faster. Hastily I helped him out, allowing him to lean against me for support. I walked a bit away from the entrance, going back over to my backpack, sitting him on the ground. "Hey man, are you okay?" I asked concern invading my voice, "yeah, yeah completely fine-agh! Fuck!" He hissed. "Why did it have to be my leg?! Why couldn't it have been my arm?!" He complained, his eyebrows creasing together. I place a hand on the boy's shoulder, keeping myself calm knowing fear nor annoyance would solve this issue. He turned to me, the anger draining from his face. "Dude, you have to chill. Getting angry won't help, it'll only make it worse" I say, giving him a sympathetic look. He nods looking down at his injured leg. I take a glance at the wound myself. It didn't look too bad there were teeth indents and some flesh was ripped away, almost as if he had pulled himself away in defense, there was also some smaller scratches and scraps but nothing too serious. The main injury would only take three or so days to heal, just as long as the boy makes sure to disinfect and change the wraps.

"Is it going to need to be amputated...?"

"No, it'll be healed in a few days" I say looking into his fear filled eyes, seeing the relief take over as I say those words. I rummage through my bag, trying to find bandages and band-aids. "What are you looking for?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. "Bandages." I say simply, giving a flat expression. I pulled out what I had been looking for, placing them on the ground. I looked further through my bag, trying to find something, anything, to clean out the injury. 'Nothing'. I cover my eyes in frustration, remembering I had forgotten to pack disinfectants today. 'Why today of all days' I thought; annoyed.

"What's wrong? Is it something about my leg?"

I signed, rubbing my eyes, feeling tired. "No, no I just forgot disinfectants. So we're going to have to go to my house to get it since it's pointless to wrap it then re-wrap it at home, your fine, there's just more work for me" I say sleepily, regretting staying up the night prier. The boy brushed his sandy hair out of his eyes as I take one last glance over his leg. "Gabriel" I sort of mumbled, the tiredness getting to me.

"What?"

I sighed again. "My name's Gabriel, Gabriel Ashes" I introduced myself in the most polite way I could muster. "I'm Cody, just Cody" he said nervously. "Well it's nice to meet you Cody" I say reverting my gaze to his leg. "It's nice to meet you too, Gabriel" he said awkwardly, "ha that's a surprise" I scoffed bitterly. The boy in front of me, that I now know as Cody, sat on the ground awkwardly as I put the bandages. "Do you need help walking to my house?" I asked standing up, "no...no! Uh um just pass over that wheelchair behind you" he said pointing behind me. I turned to see a wheelchair laying on it's side, avoiding the thought of why it was there or who it belonged to, I retrieved it and bring it over to Cody. He shakily pulls himself into to the sit, while I stand uncomfortablely not knowing if I should help. "So, you ready to go?" I mumbled, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah I am" he said, giving a nervous smile. "Cool" I say simply, grabbing my bag and flinging it over my shoulder. Placing my hand where I had been scratching earlier, a bad habit I have, resisting the urge to do so as I spoke "so...you need help getting around..?". The boy waved his hand in a dismissive manner "no I'm fine, show me the way and I'll follow" he smiled brightly to me, making my stomach turn in knots 'what is this feeling? It's weird' I thought. Brushing it off I nod, beginning to head out of the barrens.

"You coming?" I called behind me to Cody, turning slightly to face him "ah! Y.yeah, ye.yeah I am!" He stuttered catching up to be walking beside me. 'Or rather rolling beside me' I thought, chuckling to myself.

"Okay let's go"

·

"So....what brings you to Derry? You seem new around here, we don't get new people very often" I attempted at starting a conversation with Cody, since we both had been quiet after leaving the Barrens. He took a moment, as if he was choosing over his words carefully "I ran away from home for fortune, this was just supposed to be a pit stop but I heard screaming from the sewers and went to investigate..you can see how that landed me...". Tears began to well up in his eyes as he continued to speak, shaking more with every word. "I couldn't just leave them in the sewers, they were so scared Gabe! Dammit..if only I wasn't so stupid!" He yelled, curling up in a ball. I stood infront of him, pulling the boy into a tight hug "listen here.." my mellow voice spoke into the sound of his sobbing. His ears perked up but never did reply to make it known he was listening, "I've known you for maybe half a hour now and I can tell, with full certainty, you. are. not. stupid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, or they will have a problem with me" my tone was firm, but seemed to ease Cody's stress. "About the sewers, you aren't the first one and won't be the last. I'll explain more another time. But for now, just know you aren't alone okay?" I felt myself shudder at the mention of IT but what could I do about it? Cody had to know the reason why what happened to him, happened.

"Let's just get to back to my house for now"

I took a deep breath to centered myself.

Telling myself over and over again that I was safe, that there was nothing to be a afraid of. "C'mon, it's just up this way" I pointed in the general direction of my house as we stared moving again.

"Gabe?"

I glanced over to him, curious. "Yes Cody?" I asked.

"Would your parents be fine with me staying for a few days?" Cody questioned as he looked up at me with his sea green eyes. I stared down at the ground, looking like I was pondering the question, my dark hazel eyes filled with sadness. It hurt to think about my parents, especially my mom. She had left my dad and I when I was three years old for some muscular Brazilian guy, or at least, that's what my dad said. 'Who needs her anyways! I'm fine on my own!' I screamed internally to myself. I cleared my throat, pushing down all my tears "my parents wouldn't care... Their not here anyways Cody" I feel myself choke up a bit at the end.

"Soooo..their like, on a business trip or something then?"

'Oblivion, oh how I wish I had that right now.. to be able to come up with a positive reason for anyything and believe it truely' I thought. I sighed, rubbing my eyes "no..no Cody, not like a business trip." I say calmly.

"Then where are they?" He cocked his head to the slide in confusion.

I sighed again as I felt his eyes stare holes into me, 'why did he have to ask such a personal question out of nowhere?!' I asked myself, feeling my walls begin to rise up.

"Gabe.?"

"My dad died okay?! And my mom left us, probably ran away some guy named Steve to start a new family!" I raised my voice, cracking under the pressure. "Gabe I'm so sorry! I didn't know.." he said sympathetically, reaching his hand out to me. I swat his hand away out of frustration and started walking faster, hugging myself tightly. Gripping fists fulls of my shirt in my hands.

"Just- just drop it okay?! We're almost there anyways,"

I mentally scolded myself for yelling at the boy, seemingly my only opportunity in gaining an actual friend in this hellhole 'why did I do that? Augh-! It was just like me to mess up something so simple!' I thought. I scratched at my neck subconsciously, as I continued deeper into hating myself.

'I probably scared him off..'

Cody wheeled up beside me and I made an conscious effort to not look at him. 'He's going to get mad at me I just know it...' I thought.

"I'm not upset that you yelled if that's what you're worrying about, I can take being yelled at, I'm not a child y'know"

I was surprised at this, I was used to everyone getting mad at me for everything. I just expected it at this point. "Are you sure you aren't? You don't have to be nice about it.." I spoke quietly as my voice shook with fear, still anxiously scratching at my neck. "Yeah I'm sure and no offense, but you look like a scared cat when you're scratching at your neck" he remarked as he gestured to what I was doing with my neck, laughing a bit. I nervously smiled, chuckling slightly "yeah sorry about that, bad habit."

"Don't be, we all have our things we find hard to break."

We continued the way to my house in happy silence. It was nice to have someone to walk home with, even with all the emotional stuff that happened along the way, it was nice. I liked it. A part of me wished it wouldn't end..

·

We eventually made it back to my house, my very in need of lots of repairs house.

'Almost as broken as my family haha..' I thought bitterly.

I helped Cody get up the stairs, if we could even call them that. There more like old falling apart slabs of concrete that were put into a stair-like shape. Whatever they are, they hurt like a bitch if you accidentally walk into it. Trust me, I know from personal experience. I took my key from out of my jean pocket and began unlocking the door, it involved a little jiggling of the key in the lock but it eventually opened. 'Thank god..that would've been embarrassed if it didn't.'

I go inside, then begin rushing around my house in search of the disinfectant I needed for the boy's wound. "I know it's here somewhere" I mumbled to myself, sifting through the objects on the coffee table. I rested my head on my hand as I pondered where else it could be. "I checked the living room, the downstairs closet... I haven't checked upstairs, dining room or kitchen yet.." I continued to rambling on without any thought of that I wasn't alone. I hopped up, vaulting over the couch and started heading into the kitchen.

"Um Gabe?"

I froze up at the entrance of the kitchen, the boy's voice startling me. I turned my head to the sandy blonde as I nervously laughed "uh sorry- make yourself comfortable, this wouldn't take long! Hopefully.." I mumbled the last part as I continued into the kitchen.

(Small view change becauseIdidn'tknowhowelsetocontinue)

Cody's P.o.v

I rolled over to the living room and lifting myself off the wheelchair I was in and onto the wore-in couch. It had many different strewn across across it, any of varieting colours, sizes and textures. Some were folded nicely and seat neatly, others were left unfolded and were thrown carelessly on the back of the couch. I rested my hands on lap, glazing around the room. The walls were a creamy white, and the room was near empty besides from a few furniture objects like a coffee table, a couch and an old reclining chair. No television. The table had a few magazines and books placed on it, the magazines weren't recent and didn't appear to be anything Gabriel would be into. The books were another story(pun unintended). There were math textbooks, a couple of historical fiction and also a few children books.

The fluffy haired boy grumpilly walked out of the kitchen and slowly ascended up the stairs. He groaned as he mumbled to himself "not in the kitchen and dining room either.." I could barely hear him.

He was halfway up the stairs when he turned to me, leaning a tad on the banister in front of him. "Read something on the table while we wait, this is taking longer than I originally thought." He spoke tiredly, almost as if it was making him exhausted with every word that slipped through his lips.

I smiled as I picked up one of the historical fiction and opening to the first page to start reading, I kicked my legs up carefully as I placed them on the wooden coffee table.

--

Thirty minutes had past since Gabe had went upstairs in search of disinfectant, "how big is the upstairs?", within that time I have completed half of the book I was reading (I'm a fast reader). As strange as it was, it was rather lonely without the other boy. We barely talked to each other, and we hardly even know one another, and you'd think a kid who's been by himself for the last month or so would've gotten used to being alone. Apparently that's wrong, by a long shot actually. Even if it's rather awkward now, and he can be rather scary and off-putting at times, I can tell he means no harm towards me. He's very cynical yes, but he has a good heart.

I smiled to myself as I thought about the boy, completely forgetting about the book in my hands. His deep raven black hair looked soft and poofy, I couldn't help but have the urge to run my fingers through the strands residing from the curiousity of how it would really feel. His hazel eyes were dark yet charming, I could sense myself getting lost in those eyes. His rich brown skin, his cheeks being dazzled with freckles all of different sizes and shapes. Sadly areas of his face, arms and legs were covered by colourful bandages. "Were they for aesthetic appeal or from actual cuts?" I wondered to myself. I continued on with my daydream of the boy as I stared blankly up at the ceiling. He definitely wasn't muscular but he wasn't completely weak either, he had some muscles. The boy's lips came to mind randomly. Plump, extremely kissable- "what the hell am I saying?!" I thought panicked, dropping the book I was holding in my hands as my cheeks dusted with pink. "I didn't even know this guy" I continued.

"These thoughts aren't wrong, right?" I asked myself, I held my face in my now shaky hands. Back home no one had ever mentioned anything about boys having feelings for other boys. I once heard my older sister ask when she was little, and I was even littler, what the word f*g meant (since she had never it before)but that was about it. My mother's face had turned happy to one of cold fury and immediately shushed her, bringing her outside so I was out of earshot. I never did find out what that word meant, I dare not ask anyone for fear it was bad. My mother always sheltered me from the outside world and thought of me as her "perfect little boy", she thought I was too "sensitive" to know what certain things were. I hated it! I wasn't even allowed to learn science! It was part of the reason I left. I sighed, "do those thoughts mean I wanted to do what guys and girls do with each other..but with Gabriel and not a girl? Like hand holding, hugs, cute movie dates..cuddles...k-kissing.." I felt my face heat up even more at the thought of doing those things. I looked at the hardwood floors both with curiosity and sadness in my eyes as I pondered an important question "would Gabe even want to do those things..?"

"Found it! Finally!"

I jumped out of my skin at the sound, as I heard the dark skinned boy shout and race down the upstair's hallway.

He almost tripped going down the stairs multiple times but evidently he appeared infront of me. Holding the bottle of disinfectant infront of him triumphantly, as if it was a prize, clearly proud of himself for finding it. He had a very satisfied and happy smile plastered on his face, it was adorable really. I clapped my hands together, adding to his mood "bravo bravo!" I giggled out. He playfully bow, only making me giggle more and him smile even wider. He stood back up straight then went to sitting beside me on the couch. It made me happier to have him beside me, thinking we were going to good around with each other some more. I was taken by surprise when he lifted my injured leg onto his lap. I could feel the heat radiating off my cheeks at the sudden contact between us, and hoped to God that he wouldn't notice how red my face was. He had a hand rest on my upper calf, holding it into place incase I decided to move it. My body tensed up, he was so close and it didn't help with the feelings I was struggling with.

"Now time to disinfect some wounds" his voice was soft yet happy as it ring through my ears, and I felt myself relax a bit. Somehow I was able to calm the flames that decorated my face as well before the other boy could notice it. Gabe took a small white rag out of his jeans pocket and poured some of the disinfectant onto it, I readied myself for the soon to be extreme burning sensation that would shoot through my leg once the rag touched it. The boy who sat beside my mild stress, having a very small soft smile on his face. "Why don't you tell me about yourself, it'll help distract you from thinking about the burning" he said.

I nodded, not knowing anything else that would convey what I thought of his suggestion better than just a nod. "Where to start.." I held my hand at my chin as I thought.

"Well, you already know my name's Cody so no need to introduce myself." I stated, letting both my arms falling and rest where they wanted. One rested on my stomach and the other dangled off the side of the couch. "I came all this way from a small town in South Carolina, so Southwest of here. I made a mistake earlier when I said just south."

--

I continued to talk and ramble on about whatever I could think of, I was so busy talking that I hadn't realized Gabe starting disinfecting my wound. He continued to listen to me even after he was done, bandaged nicely and everything, he just let me talk his ear off. I only notice he was done when I took a second to catch my breath, since I had been speaking a mile a minute.

"Why didn't you stop me?" I asked meekly, a little embarrassed.

"I would've" he began as he leaned on the couch arm next to him, seemingly relaxed and content. "But you looked so happy, I didn't want to interrupt. Plus it's nice having someone around" he smiled as he said this.

"Want to continue talking then?"

"Definitely."