August 24th- Book One in the May 3rd series

Chapter 37--birfday

Warnings ⚠: Child Abuse, Rape, Violence, Religion, Drug Use, Alcohol Use, Use of Slurs, Homophobia, Bullying, Mention of Suicide, Suicidal Thoughts, Suicidal Actions, Gun Use

Damien's P.O.V.

-Friday, October 22nd-

I see Josiah at lunch.

We've eaten together the past few days, and I love the alone time we get.

"Afternoon, nerd." I say, setting the lunch that I know he won't eat down in front of him.

"Hi. What's up?" He asks.

I make a show of looking up, not that he can see it.

I guess I did it just for myself...

"The ceiling."

"Oh, cool."

"What's up? Anything interesting?" I ask back.

He looks up. "Not sure. Apparently, a ceiling. It's white. That's interesting."

I sit down beside him. "Yeah. Sure..."

I clear my throat. "Anyway, that was weird. I guess, did anything interesting happen between today's lunch and yesterday's lunch?"

"No. I live an uneventful life."

"Fair. Me and Pierre made a pie."

"What kind of pie?"

"Apple Cinnamon." I pull my lunch out, "You know, there's a piece in your lunch bag."

"Oh. I bet it's good." He says.

"You won't know if you don't try it." I bribe him.

"I can't. My dad being around makes me more prone to guilt."

Damn.

"I tried, I guess. Well, at least read your dinosaur facts or I'll cry."

"I know all of them, Damien..." He complains.

I scowl down at my food. "I just can't win today."

"Another rough day...?" He asks.

"Yeah. But at least I get to see you." I try to smile.

I don't have to for him, but the act of doing it makes me pretend to be happier.

"That's nice... I guess?"

"Let's go with that. Nice. I've never been called nice before." I laugh.

"You're nice and being around you makes everything better." He says.

Depression cured!

Now I don't want to kill myself!

But if I said that, Josiah would cry, probably. Then I would feel like an ass.

"Thank you. Oh! I have something to show you!"

I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up the dog picture.

"These dogs are wrinkly." I say, holding the phone out to him. "They probably are blind like you, but because their skin goes over their eyes."

He takes it. "I don't think that's how that works. They're wrinkly? I'm upset. I can't tell." He pouts.

I reach over and zoom more. "Now can you tell? If I had one I think Raisin would be a great name."

"I think so, too," He holds it up closer to his face, "I notice wrinkles when I'm actively looking for them. I think."