Epilogue

Live through this and you won't look back

-"Your Ex-lover's Dead" by Stars

It was July and Adrien was initially not going to have a birthday party, but his mother reminded him that it was the last one he'd probably have with all of his high school friends. He didn't tell her that he secretly didn't want to see them anymore because that would be too much explaining. She'd pry and pry and he'd probably have a breakdown because of it. The majority of the time they communicated through sticky notes and text messages anyway. He hadn't said a word to anyone as far most people were concerned. He only talked to Sam, and always in a hushed tone, like he was afraid to speak too loud.

He never slept over Sam's apartment anymore though.

Adrien didn't really talk to his therapist either, just Sam. Instead he'd sit there for and hour and a half staring at the window, listen to her ask questions for the first forty-five minutes, patiently waiting for answers, while the second forty-five minutes she offered advice about things she knew were happening in his life courtesy of his mother.

She said she understood why he wasn't talking and why he never let anyone touch him, even for a handshake. She said it was completely normal for someone in his situation. She said she was proud of him when he went to his graduation and put on a fake smile when he accepted his diploma, though he refused the handshake (for he knew most people would think he was simply nervous and forgot.) She also said that she was glad he decided to have a party for his birthday and that he was staying home for another year before proceeding to the community college.

Adrien didn't nod or shake his head. He didn't bother to say or do anything but stare out at the traffic below her office and wait for their time to tick down to nothing.

He didn't need her.

He only needed Sam, the one person he actually said anything to anymore. They didn't kiss, hold hands, or do anything but talk, and that was only when it was just them and it was never in a bedroom or, God forbid, a bathroom.

The cat was now over at Sam's apartment, permanently. He said he'd take it since he had his allergy meds now and could handle the fur ball. Ms. Mitchell was more than gracious since she now had a broken son to tend to. Adrien in turn avoided her at all costs and spent his days at Sam's even if it was just to sit on Sam's couch.

Sam sat down with a bowl of potato chips on the opposite side of the couch that Adrien was sitting on. Adrien had the cat in his lap, the cat still had no other name than kitty even though it no longer was one. The television was off and you could hear the air conditioner turn on as they sat there.

"Sam?" Adrien asked, slightly surprising the other man.

"Yes?"

"It's been fifteen weeks today, you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"And it's my birthday today, the fifteenth."

"Yeah."

"I think it's a sign," Adrien said.

"What kind of sign?"

"Sam…how much more of my shit do you think they'll put up with?"