Comforting Love - 7. Chapter 7

7

“What’s it about that brainsick bastard that’s got you yelling at me? Me! Supposedly your best friend,” Tony spat.

After Tony’s shitty prank Luke had been murmuring over and over in fear, “I want to go home,” so I took him back to the mansion. He’d cried himself to sleep in the car and I had to carry him to his room. When I laid him on the bed, I covered him with the blanket and let my angel rest. He needed it. Lily had freaked out when she had opened the door for us. His face was streaked with tear-stains and he looked totally worn out. After settling him, I went and apologized, and told her everything that had happened. She was furious, and the anger, plain in her face was making me nervy. But, she said she knew it wasn’t my fault. It was Tony she was pissed at. And that made two of us.

Which is why I was standing in front of Tony taking his shit, illustrating how insensitive a person he could be.

“Don’t you dare say things like that about Luke you motherfucker.” I yelled at him. “You know perfectly well there’s nothing wrong him. His brain’s just wired a bit differently. He’s actually damned good at some things. If anything, it’s your brain that’s fucked up. I’m over forgiving you, Tony. Every time you’ve proved to be a complete jerk about Luke, but not this time. You end it here for us by treating him like that.”

Tony’s face blanched as he stuttered out a question. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Our friendship ends right here. You ruined it all, Tony.”

In truth I’d never intended to be so severe, but I was too mad to think straight. And Tony talking about Luke that way just infuriated me. I thought Tony would apologize for his behavior, feeling guilty, but I was wrong.

“I ruined nothing. THAT asshole did. He got between our friendship and messed it up.” Tony’s eyes were livid, but they were getting glassy, too. He halted and took a few breaths. I looked at him in disbelief. I couldn’t believe this was the friend I had thought would be my best friend forever. “Look Noah,” he said, his tone calmer, “I said I was kidding. I didn’t mean to hurt the guy … or you.”

“And I told you there’s a limit and you crossed it.” I mean luring a guy to push him into some dark cleaning cupboard, and then locking him in to suffer! That’s the limit. Hell! That was no prank? Pranks light-hearted. What Tony had done was vicious, if you ask me.

“I don’t understand why the hell you are going against ME for THAT guy.”

“THAT guy … THAT guy is called Luke … and I love him.” A dumb-founded silence hit the room. “Yes, I love him damnit. But I guess you won’t understand because you don’t care about my feelings anymore.”

With that I left. I knew if I stayed any longer, Tony would get hurt, and I definitely didn’t want that. I banged the door as I left, my cheeks burning with a boiling anger.

All I saw in my car’s rearview mirror was a loser’s reflection. I had been right there. I could have stopped Tony doing all that. I should have kept better sight of Luke. My guilt may seem crazy but I can’t help feeling guilty. I shouldn’t have taken Luke with me in the first place.

My mind filled with images of Luke when I had found him in the room. He was so distressed. I began to worry how he was now. It had been only an hour or so, but I wanted to go see him, just to be sure he was OK. I decided to head back to the Walsh Mansion and drove off. But I had to stop abruptly my phone vibrated in my pocket. There was an unhappy voice calling.

“Mrs. Walsh! I hope Luke is OK? I’m just on my way back to see him.”

Lucinda coughed abruptly on the other end of the line and I swallowed with fear, waiting for her to start, “Yes, Mr. Mayer. Luke is fine, or at least he will be. But, he’d do better without you around for the time being. I hope you understand Mr. Mayer, because it’s important for Luke. I don’t want him reminded of the horrendous situation your friend put him through. It’s the vacation anyway, and we have been thinking of getting him involved in some other therapies with Dr. Gloria. We will call you when I think it’s appropriate. I Hope things are clear to you, Mr. Mayer?”

I swallowed hard, struggling with the lump in my throat, and blinked the tears out of my eyes. “I-I totally…I get that. Don’t worry. I will keep my distance from Luke, if that’s what you think is best for him.”

“I appreciate that, Noah. Thank you … for understanding … Goodbye”

Lucinda had hung up long before I took the phone from my ear. I was frozen. Luke’s grandmother had said ‘Goodbye’ to me for Luke. A goodbye I was nowhere near ready for, yet … not when I had just realized that I had some strong feelings for Luke.

The moment was awful, as were the days following. Life without Luke was so dry … it lacked the simple happiness only Luke could bring. I acceded to Lucinda’s request to give Luke space to recover. But I couldn’t help worrying for him... and I missed him.

So I’d frequently find myself driving downtown to the Mansion.

Parking in shadow where no one would notice my presence, I’d wait for hours, staring at the huge house. I ached for my phone to ring and for Lucinda ask me to get there as soon as possible. If the unlikely should happened, I didn’t want to be late. But the phone never rang, except for calls from friends which I’d cut short, telling them I was expecting an important call and that I’d call later. Days turned into months and junior year was about to begin. My hopes began to fade day by day, but they were finally shattered when I discovered a new tutor was being hired for Luke. I knew that was an end to it.

The day before school started back, I found myself outside the Walsh Mansion as usual, replaying the shared memories, as usual. My eyes teary. As usual. Bidding a last, helpless goodbye to Luke from outside, I drove off. I felt fate had played such a dumb game with me. I was right here in Oakdale, wanting to help Luke, to tell him how much I love him, to make him love me back … but I couldn’t. Thanks to fate, and my best fucking friend, I was separated from him when neither of us was at fault.

There was nothing that I could do. We were so close, yet so far. I could only wish he had the best things in his life. A life, I desperately wanted to be a part of.