CARTER'S ARMY: WILLIAM CARTER
1
Chapter 08 - By Christopher Patrick Lydon
December 5th
Will didn't feel like being at school, he felt as though everyone
knew what had happened to him. His English teacher, Mister Greenwood, had
given him a knowing look in class and simply left him alone. Other students
simply whispered behind their hands as they nodded at him in the halls. He
felt heavy-hearted as he walked around, so painfully aware that life was never
going to be the same for him.
Lisa was keeping a close eye on him, refusing to let him out
of her sight. And ordinarily he would have felt smothered by her constant
attention, but he needed her there with him. He needed her when he felt the
world crashing down upon him. When the stares began to get to him. The whispers
too loud for him to ignore. Brody had been, typically, exactly what Will needed;
a firm and responsible adult, making decisions that had to be made, sheltering
Will as much as he could. And Will was grateful for all the help that was
offered to him. It was good to know that when he needed them his friends had
stepped up to meet the challenge.
Will had been sitting in the library, the only place he could
find some peace, Lisa beside him as she tried to distract him with small talk
when Jared joined their table. Will swallowed, anticipating what was to come,
and he tensed.
"I heard," Jared said pushing his cap back from his
eyes and slouching in his seat, "I'm sorry, man."
"What did you hear?" Lisa asked defensively as Will
simply sat there staring across at Jared.
"About your folks," Jared said, "And Jennifer
has been shooting her mouth off..."
Will's head fell, "Damn..."
"Look Will," Jared said leaning on the table, "I
don't care, you're my friend okay? Whatever you need I'm here."
Will nodded, "Thanks..." he swallowed, "What
is she saying?" He didn't want to know the answer, but had to know what
was being said.
"She was saying you were kissing some guy in the park,"
he stopped and looked at Will. "She doesn't know who," he said,
realizing what Will was asking.
Lisa nodded, "Thanks Jared."
He gave her a smile, "Least I could do, Dude's my reason
for passing biology." Will felt relieved, but that relief turned to trepidation
as he ran into Andrew on his way to his locker. Lisa had gone to the washroom,
and he had felt confident to slip downstairs alone. He hadn't expected to
see Andrew sitting with his back up against Will's locker waiting for him.
He stood for a moment and looked around, glad that they were
alone for a moment; the bell rang for the next class but neither made a move
to go. And once the rush had finished and they were truly alone and undisturbed
Will broke the silence.
"Hi..."
Andrew looked up from his seat on the floor and stood, "I
heard what happened..."
Will shook his head, "It's alright, no one knows it was
you..."
Andrew shook his head, "I couldn't care less, are you alright?"
he rested his hands on Will's shoulders and searched his eyes.
Will's eyes flicked away, "I'll live."
Andrew's cocked his head to look at Will's eyes, "So what
now?" he asked nervously.
Will found the strength to look at him, for a moment he stared
into those powerful eyes and could see all the way to the soul. He could see
himself in them and that terrified him; he swallowed as he sought words finally
daring to speak, "I have so much going on in my head right now,"
he shook his head, "I don't know what to do. Bury all this and hope it
goes away I guess."
Andrew's head sank slightly as he swallowed, "I...I don't
know if I can."
Will blew out a tight breath as he straightened his back, "Are
you ready to go through all...all that I am going through right now?"
"I...don't know..." Andrew admitted.
"Neither am I, but I have to go through it...and if you're
seen with me they'll figure it out." It hurt like hell, he felt the knot
in his stomach tightening, but what choice did he have? Until everything calmed
down, if it ever could, he couldn't deal with his own emotions as well.
"I'm sorry..." Andrew said softly as his eyes searched
Will's face.
"Don't be." Will replied, "I'll get this figured
out."
Andrew swallowed, "In case I don't get another chance...
I love you..."
"I know." Will replied as he pulled from Andrew's
grip and blinked back tears as he opened his locker and fished out Andrew's
jacket and handed it back.
Andrew held the jacket in his hands as he looked at Will for
what felt like the last time. "I don't want to do this..." he said
after a moment of silence.
"I don't think either of us is ready for that." Will
replied again, all too aware that he was shutting away so much emotion, "maybe
one day, but not now."
Andrew nodded before he turned and stumbled away, fighting back
tears of his own. Will sank to the floor where Andrew had sat to wait for
him and felt like his world had come to an end.
