Chapter 15
A True Friend - Part 2
Matt and Aaron were up late binge-watching Stranger Things when Matt got tired and fell asleep on Aaron's shoulder.
Aaron started thinking to himself, He looks so cute when he sleeps. Wait, am I seriously feeling this way about a human? It's probably nothing.
That morning, Matt and Aaron were out in the town. Aaron saw a clothes store and asked if they could head in and try some clothes on. While Matt was unsure if he should, he went along with it. He felt like he had to.
The duo entered the clothes store. Aaron was the first to try something. He came out wearing a black leather jacket and some bright green pants. Matt went in next, and he tried on the largest possible shirt, but it didn't fit him. Still, he bought it, not wanting to disappoint his friend.
After buying the clothes, the boys put their usual clothes back on and left the store.
The duo return to the house and sit on the couch in the living room. Aaron turned towards his friend.
"Why'd you do it?" he asked.
"Do what?" Matt asked back.
"I can tell you were uncomfortable trying on those clothes," Aaron replied.
"What are you talking about?" Matt asked, trying to hide it.
"Don't play dumb," Aaron scolded. "I know you didn't want to try on those clothes, so why did you?"
"I was just being a good friend, and just doing what you wanted," Matt replied.
"Why do you think that doing stuff you're uncomfortable with is being a good friend?" asked Aaron.
"It just is," Matt lied.
"I know you're lying," Aaron said, his soft hand grabbing Matt's wrist.
"Fine, you wanna know why?!" Matt finally snapped, tears starting to form. "It's because that's what Sasha said. She told me that a good friend does what their friend wants, no matter what, otherwise, they're not worth it."
"Have you ever stopped to think that she's wrong?" asked Aaron.
The tears started falling down Matt's face as he forced Aaron to let go of him and shouted, "You don't know what you're talking about!"
Matt ran into the basement and locked himself inside. He sat on his sleeping bag as multiple thoughts came over him. He thinks back to everytime Sasha asked him to do something for her, like stay at her place past curfew or skip a Track Game to go to a Football Game. Everytime he wanted to say no, she always convinced him to do what she wanted. He then thinks back to his dad saying "Those girls are a bad influence" and when Aaron said, "Have you ever stopped to think that she's wrong?"
As much as Matt wanted to deny it, he had to face the facts. They were right. He has been hanging with a bad influence on his life. He was so happy finally having friends that now he's intentionally trapped himself and his friends in another world to escape the reality of losing them.
Matt continues to cry as he pulls out a photo of himself and his friends, and he whispers, "Anne, Sasha, Marcy, if you're out there, just know that I'm sorry, and I will do everything to right my wrong."
Three more chapters and Part 2 will finally be over. WOO!