Will Sullivan

I'm on my last day of isolation. I haven't had any human contact beside from the lunch lady in almost seventy-two hours.

The walls of this dorm room are plain white, the bedding blue and the carpet grey. The only thing that separates this from prison is that it has an ensuite; of course it does this school is too rich for it's own good.

I pack the clothes i brought down and a couple books up in my duffle bag. Emmy was made to wait in the common room as i got me stuff. That really made me feel like a criminal.

Anyway, i spent the first two days feeling sorry for myself, but i feel a lot better today. I'm on top of my work and i even finished the book i've been reading for a month. I didn't think i'd say this, but i'm so ready to get back to real school.

I check the time.

The principal said i could leave at half eight. It's currently 9:13am.

Wow, i really just unintentionally gave myself overtime. I pick up my things and push the door open, taking in the sight before me.

The halls are empty since it's first period on a monday morning. I'm so gonna be late to my lesson, but it's just Jonesy; i'm sure he'll let it slide.

As i push the door of my actual dorm room open, i take a deep breath. The usual scent of vanilla that Emmy wears fills my lungs, and i feel all the tension leaving my body. She's honestly my comfort character of the real world.

It's not long before i walk into my music class. Thirty pairs of eyes turn to stare at me as i stand at the door awkwardly. A couple whisper to eachother, clearly having seen or heard about the incident. I give a tight lipped smile.

"Jules! It's nice to have you back!" Mr Jones welcomes joyfully. I missed this guy.

I smile at him before i walk to my seat at the back of the class.

I catch Lane's eye and my smile widens. He's grin is so big he's practically glowing.

Taking my seat beside him, i tuck my hair behind my ears before turning to face him.

"Hey." I whisper. I'm smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

"Hey." he returns, mirroring my smile. "I missed you."

My heart flutters. "I missed you too, i guess."

I want him to hug me so badly at this moment, but we're literally in the middle of class.

About ten minutes before the end of the lesson, Lane leans over and whispers in my ear.

"Hey do you wanna skip next period?"

I get my usual instant shiver when i feel his breath on my face, but nod excitedly. I'd love nothing more than to spend my next period with him right now.

♡♡♡

Lane and I are his dorm room, playing Five Nights at Freddy's and completely surrounded in vending machine snacks.

We said we'd only skip second period, but it's currently fifth and we've been in here for over three hours. What can i say, time flies.

"Hey, Evans?" I ask, not taking my eyes off the TV.

"Mhm?" he glances at me briefly before turning back to the screen. I take a deep breath. This question is really quite personal, but i haven't stopped thinking about it since he brought it up that night.

"You know how you mentioned... that guy who you beat up really bad?" I say slowly, conscious that if i say the wrong thing he won't want to answer.

"Yeah." Lane answers, but doesn't look at me this time.

"And you said Mina was fun and stuff before shit happened?" I repeat his words. I watch him tense up slightly at the mention of his little sister.

"Mm."

"Was that guy... the 'shit that happened'?" I finish.

Lane stays silent for a moment.

"I might as well tell you." he sighs, placing down his controller.

I do the same and turn to face him, resting my chin on my hand. He closes his eyes and lets out a sharp breath from his nose as he always does when he's frustrated.

"Mina was 13. He was 19. He manipulated her. He took her innocence and used her time and time again. He made her think he loved her. And then he completely cut her off. She spiraled." he says quietly and slowly. I watch as his fists clench.

"He... groomed her?" I whisper.

Lane nods.

"Who was he?" I take his hand in mine and intertwine our fingers. He relaxes slightly.

"Will Sullivan." he spits his name as if it tastes like battery acid. Wait.

"Sullivan? As in..."

"Chuck Sullivan's older brother." he confirms and i gasp ever so slightly. That explains why he hates Chuck so much.

Lane explains how him, Chuck and Will were childhood friends and were pretty close up until last year. Chuck swore he didn't know what his brother was doing, but they were so close that there was no way he didn't. Lane's mum found her unconscious a couple days after. Mina had tried to take her life because she apparently wasn't good enough for her 'boyfriend'. Once she woke up in the hospital and told her parents who it was, Lane stormed over to the Sullivans' and beat the crap out of Will. Mr Evans had to come to an agreement with their family to keep Lane out of jail, and as a result of that, couldn't press charges against Will.

Mina now resides in a psychiatric hospital and Will has an absolutely normal life.

I sit and listen as Lane speaks. We established early on in our friendship that sympathy was a no go when it came to talking about our lives.

Lane blames himself for Will being free. He says that if he could've just held on to his temper, their would've been no reason for negotiation and they could've went straight to the police. I think he thinks his parents feel like that too.

"Wow." I say after he finishes; i'm not sure what more i can say.

"Yeah." he sighs.

We sit in comfortable silence as i take in the information i've just been told. That must've been so much for him to carry on his shoulders all this time.

"I want you to meet her." he says, looking up at me.

"I would love to at the end of the year when-"

"No, i mean like, next week." his eyes light up a little.

"How?" I frown.

"It's my birthday next week." Lane says as if that answers all the questions.

"I know, but how? We can't exactly leave campus."

"My family always pull me out of school the weekend of my birthday to spend time with me. I'm sure Sanders would let you come with, it's only for a weekend." he smiles and i can't help but grin myself.

He wants me to meet his family?

"O-okay." I nod.

"Okay?" his grin widens and i laugh, throwing my arms around his neck. He squeezes me into his chest.

As i pull away, i stop to look at Lane. Our faces are inches apart. His breath fans on my face. His eyes flicker between my own and my lips. I get a rush of butterflies as he leans into me ever so slightly, as if he's asking my permission.

Reluctantly, i turn away from him and sit back, clearing my throat.

"My bad." he laughs lightly, rubbing the back of his neck.

I'm trying so hard to not give Lane mixed signals, so i have time to think clearly, but it's really fucking hard when he literally... exists.

♡♡♡

fuck the sullivans'

but lane is turning 18 next week! kinda fun :p

hope you enjoyed,

bye!