Kyle's POV
He didn't expect the knock.
Not tonight.
Not from him.
And when he opens the door to find Ashen standing there, his first reaction is raw disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me," Kyle mutters, more to himself than to anyone else. His hand instinctively moves to close the door because, seriously, what is this boy doing here again?
After everything that happened earlier in the morning, and dropping him off to school, Kyle had been sure he wouldn't see him again.
He'd even sighed with relief, glad he was gone, grateful for the silence.
And now this?!
He pushes the door further, not caring, but just before the door clicks shut, something halts him.
Ashen isn't fighting.
He isn't pushing past the threshold.
He isn't lifting his head.
He's not talking.
He's not doing that thing where he says everything without saying anything.
This... this is not like him.
Kyle's hand freezes when he catches a glimpse of the glistening streaks down his cheeks.
