what if? (REQUESTS OPEN)

what if someone pried a bit more?

Starts after chapter 7

When Dylan got home, he thought about his interaction with neil. He just couldn't shake how off he looked. He looked ready to drop dead. He had to see if his best friend was alright. He pulled out his phone and texted neil.

Hey nini got a minute?

Ya whats up?

Could u come to my house? I gotta talk

to u about something

You can tell me over text

No i really can't

Can you come over?

I'll ask my brother

Say i asked u 2 spend the nite

Dylan turned off his phone and waited for the feline he held so dear to either text him that he couldn't come over, or for him to knock on his door. He decided to make himself a snack as he waited. Once he was done and back on the couch, he heard a knock on the door. His tail couldn't help but start wagging as he went to open it. It was neil!

"Hey, come in!" he smiled as he moved himself out of the way of the door so Neil could get in.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" he signed once he was sat on the couch.

"Oh, right. Uh, well I noticed you started looking sick. Like, really sick, and I was just really worried, so I just need to know you're ok."

"I'm fine, I promise!"

"Neil, please be honest! I know you're not ok, please admit that, at least. You don't even have to tell me what's going on, just admit that you're not doing good!" Dylan declared as he put his paws on Neil's shoulders. Neil pulled them off and held them. Squeezed them. Dylan felt his claws. They were so dull. Aren't cat claws supposed to be super sharp? He was ripped out of his thoughts when he heard uneven breathing and sniffling. He looked up to see Neil crying with his head hung. Dylan just pulled the American shorthair into his lap and let him wrap his legs around his waist as he cried.

"I don't know what's going on. I'm scared and I don't know how much longer I'll live. I don't feel safe living with my brother or his stupid friend. I just want to die, but I feel like if I go through with it, I'll leave you guys behind. I don't want you guys to be upset, but I don't know any other way to get out of it. You all mean the world to me and I don't want to be separated from you, so I've just been sucking everything up and hoping it'd get better. I don't want to drag any of you down with my problems. None of you deserve that. But I'm scared and I just want everything to be over," Neil sobbed into Dylan's neck fur. On one hand, Dylan was happy his friend was opening up to him, but on the other hand, since when could Neil talk?! Why had Neil lied to him about not being able to talk? Shyness? Anxiety? Something else? He wasn't sure, but all he cared about was getting his best friend out of his situation.

"Shh, shh. It's alright. Would it help if I told mom about this so you could go into detail more?" Dylan asked as he traced circles into Neil's back. He felt the feline nod.

"Would it help if you spent the night here more often?"

Neil nodded again. Dylan sighed and adjusted Neil on his body before laying down with the american shorthair on his chest. He was practically weightless, almost like a weighted stuffed animal.

"Neil, do you know how much you weigh?" he asked.

"Around 60 I think. I haven't checked in a while."

"60?!" Dylan shouted as he jolted up, only calming down when he saw how much he'd scared neil.