Style Oneshots - Catlala47

🫂 Touch Deprived 🫂

Stan: 8-12
Kyle: 7-11
(Ages are based off of their birthdays and what times the story is set in.)

Word count: 1915

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"The human touch is that little snippet of physical affection that brings a bit of comfort, support, and kindness. It doesn't take much from the one who gives it, but can make a huge difference in the one who receives it."
                                             -Mya Roberts

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Stan was, well, you could say touch deprived.

His family wasn't really one of many hugs. His sister, would only touch him with a fist to the face. His dad, would only touch him with a stack of cash for Stan to go buy some alcohol for him. His mother, wasn't home often. And when she was, she was always sleeping.

So, though Stan knew his family loved him, they never showed it with physical actions.

That's why when Stan met this boy in second grade, his whole view on things changed.

Kyle's family was quite the opposite. They loved giving each other hugs multiple times a day. And every time Kyle would walk his little brother to the bus stop, they would hold hands. His mother tucked him into bed, his dad would pat him on the back for the smallest accomplishments.

Kyle was, to say the least, very affectionate. His love language was touch, and you didn't even have to meet the guy to know that.

The day Kyle and Stan met, was on a Tuesday morning. School had just started, and Stan was sitting alone on one of the yellow benches right outside the school. Stan never woke up early, so he never got to school early. But for some reason, that day was different. He showed up to school twenty minutes before it even started. So, he decided to sit on a secluded bench and just admire the squirrels playing in the trees.

Kyle had always showed up early to school, but he had never seen Stan sitting on the bench that he himself always sat on. It was different. But Kyle liked different. So, he did what any one would do. He walked up and sat down right next to the black haired boy.

The action made Stan flinch. He looked over and saw a curly red headed boy who was too close for comfort in Stan's opinion. But he didn't say anything.

"The air is fresh today, huh?" Kyle asked, zipping open his red backpack and grabbing some unfinished homework to work on.

"Yeah," Stan mumbled in response. He didn't exactly know how to respond to that question, nor did he know how to talk to a complete stranger.

Kyle smiled and began working on his math homework. After about five minutes, he started to become curious. The boy next to him hadn't said a word. And he wasn't doing anything, just staring at the trees.

"What are you looking at?" Kyle asked, leaning in closer towards Stan.

Stan shuddered, the feeling of someone so close was unfamiliar to him. But he decided to shake it off and answer the boys question. "The squirrels in that tree over there. They seem to be talking to each other."

Kyle squinted his eyes to see the squirrels. And sure enough, there were two squirrels in the tree facing each other. One was waving it's arms around while the other seemed to be listening intently.

"Awww, they're so cute!" Kyle squealed, throwing his arms around Stan.

Stan went stiff. He didn't know whether or not he was meant to return the hug. That would be embarrassing if he was, because he certainly wasn't going to. Stan felt himself heat up from not only the embarrassment, but also from the human contact.