Short Stories

Given Up

Lollipop knocked on his door. She got a call from Fries' parents. Apparently her cousin seemed to be having a rough time, and they didn't know how to help him. So, since she was the closest to him, they called on her. Lollipop sighed. Her breath was visible in the cold, late-winter weather. She moved the scarf she was wearing up to her mouth to cover her breath. She always hated seeing her own breath. She didn't know why.

The door opens. Her eyes shoot up at Fries' dad. "Thanks for coming." He greets.

Lollipop nodded, stepping inside. "Of course." She removes her jacket and boots, but decides to keep the scarf on, letting it hang loosely around her neck. "Where is he?"

"Still in his room. If you could help him in any way, we'd greatly appreciate it."

Fries' mom comes in. A cup of steaming tea in her hand. "Want some tea?"

Lollipop shoots a small smile. "Sure. I'll bring it to his room." She takes the cup and starts to go to Fries' room. She knew his place well enough to know where he was. She immediately got there and opened the door.

Fries was laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling in thought. A pair of wireless headphones wrapped around his neck, the music playing quietly filling the room. His window was open. It was starting to get darker outside, and snow started to slowly fall from the sky. "Hm.. not the atmosphere I was expecting." She took a small sip of tea. She set it down on his desk and sat in his chair.

Fries didn't do much. He barely moved his head to blankly look at her before staring at the ceiling again. She'd never seen him so unmoving before. She leaned against his desk. "You okay, Fries?"

His face was stern, yet he looked so done with everything. He seemed pretty empty, yet so used to it. The type of face you make when you've had a bad day, but you don't feel anything from it. "Not really." He responded a few moments later. His right leg moved up to make a triangle with the bed. The sole of his foot flat on the bed. He sighed, his hands went behind his head, his head resting on them.

"Well," Lollipop started, "What's the matter?" She sipped some more tea.

The tea added warmth to the atmosphere. It relaxed Fries a little. "Stressed." The music that was softly playing from his headphones stopped. And then it started to play something else again.

"Stressed." Lollipop repeated.

"Mhm." Fries still didn't look at her. His head fixated at the ceiling, like he was stargazing.

"How come?"

"School."

"What about it?"

Fries blinked, pausing.  His body turned to his side. His backside facing Lollipop. "Late work."

"How much?"

"Weeks." He sighed. "A ton of weeks."

Lollipop nodded silently. "I see. You need help?"

"No." Fries immediately responded. "I've given up on this trimester. I don't have any will for that anymore." Fries seemed to slump. "It's just a letter grade. It doesn't mean anything, does it?"

Lollipop rolled his chair next to his bedside. She touched his side with her hand softly. "It doesn't matter," she paused. "Yet you still care."

"Yeah. Crazy how things are like that. Aren't they?"

Lollipop sighed, moving backwards. She took another sip of tea. She thought of what to do, leaving the room in silence for a bit.

"Lollipop," Fries sat up, still not facing her. "You don't have to do anything. You can leave if you want." He sat still, his legs dangling over the beds edge side. His eyes stared at the floor, in thought, kind of tense.

"Fries." Lollipop got up from the chair, leaving the tea behind. She got onto his bed, and sat behind him. She took off her scarf and tied it around his eyes, as a blindfold. Fries didn't flinch.

"Lollipop," Fries started. "What are you doing?"

"Rest again." She took off his headphones. "Lay down for a bit." She eased him back into his laying position on his bed. Fries didn't change expression. "Think for a bit."

"I have been. All day."

Lollipop shook her head softly. "Think more. Forget about what is happening in the now, and see the bigger picture. Everything happens for a reason. You know," She looks out the window. A ray of moonlight shines through. "You know He has a plan for all of us. You may be struggling now, but trust Him. He will guide you. He will comfort you."

Fries flinched. "Nn, Lollipop, I didn't ask for things to get religious."

She pets his hair. Slowly, softly, comfortingly. "Don't think about it like that, Fries. I know you're still iffy on what you think about this. But trust me. From my experience. I know." Her eyes kept staring out the window. The snow kept falling at the same, slow pace. It didn't waver. She could see a small pile of snow forming on the window sill.

Fries weakened in his tenseness. "Am I blind, Lollipop?"

Lollipop looked at him. His covered eyes. "Open your eyes, Fries."

Fries' arm moved up to the scarf. He slowly pulled it down. He looked at her. "Lollipop."

"Fries."

...

"Nngh.." Fries was embarrassed. "Thank you."

Lollipop smiled. She grabbed the tea and finished it. "Think about it some more. I'll go now. I've done what I need to." She stands up and starts to walk out the door.

Fries sits up. "Lollipop, but-!"

Lollipop stops him. "Keep the scarf. I have plenty. Plus," She stepped out of the room, holding the door open. "It'll remind you to think about it more." She smiled at him. "See you later, Fries." She shut the door.

Fries looked at the scarf in his hand. He looked out the window, his open window. The moonlight brightly shined through. "..." He stood by the window, staring at the moon. "Maybe she's right." He mumbled to himself. Then he shuts the window.