Page 61 of Bedtime Stories
Chapter
Twenty-Five
OREN
Not long after Keane leaves, a knock cuts through the silence. Followed by another, and then a chorus of knuckles pounding that can only be…
The door creaks open, and suddenly the room feels smaller, louder, brighter. One by one, my buddies slip inside, giggling and carrying a craft organizer, a handful of DVDs, and a bag of snacks. Lane is the first to spot me, and his grin stretches ear to ear.
“Oren! Where have you been hiding?” he demands, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
I shuffle backward instinctively, trying to seem casual, but the energy is impossible to ignore. Theo and Timmy trail behind, whispering conspiratorially and elbowing each other.
“You look… different,” Theo says, tilting his head as if he’s inspecting me under a magnifying glass. “Not your sparkly self. Something’s up.”
I force a small laugh, hoping to deflect. “Nothing,” I mumble.
Lane doesn’t buy it. “Nothing? Really? Come on, Oren. Spill it. Who’s been making you sad?”
A nervous laugh escapes me. “No one… I’m fine…”
Timmy pouts, crossing his arms. “You don’t get to be quiet on us. We’re your friends. We notice stuff.”
They circle me, leaning in, tapping my shoulder, shaking their heads in mock exasperation.
“C’mon,” Lane insists. “Don’t hide it. We’ll help. We’re your team!”
I try to remain silent, but Theo grabs my arm gently.
“Seriously, Oren. If it’s… someone being a jerkface, we’re ready.”
I sigh, the words threatening to burst out. “It’s… Vince,” I admit, voice small.
The response is immediate.
“WHAT?” Lane shouts, eyes blazing. “That dicknugget again?!”
“Oh my gosh,” Timmy gasps, dramatic hand to mouth. “I remember how sad he made you while he dated you!”
Theo clenches his fists, knuckles whitening. “Im’ma sic your Daddy on him! Im’ma make him a knuckle sandwich!”
I can’t help but giggle, hiding my face in my hands.
“My Daddy is handling it,” I say, letting the warmth of that truth sink in. “And… he’s teaching me how to be strong and brave.”
Lane smirks.
“And… you guys help a lot,” I continue, looking around at my little army of friends. “So, thanks. Just… don’t let me disappear again, okay?”
They nod solemnly, like knights taking an oath, arms draping around my shoulders. These guys never fail to cheer me up and make me feel… unstoppable.
“Little power!” Theo shouts, and we all pile our hands together in a stack and repeat his chant.
My super squad doesn’t let up. Lane grabs a pan and starts flipping impromptu grilled cheeses.
“You need fuel to spill secrets,” he declares, nodding as if it’s law.
Timmy and Theo scramble to set the table with mismatched plates and napkins, still jabbering about Vince and how he never deserved me. Of course, they choose the fun ones with superheroes, and the plastic cups with built-in straws.
