Chapter Text
Wake up my little bunny... Wake up ! GET OUT OF THIS BED ! We have so many things to do, my little bunny ! But you have to get out of bed ! Pete is waiting ! WAKE UP PATRICK ! DON’T MAKE ME ANGRY !
“SHUT UP ! I’M UP ALREADY !” Well, little bunny ! Don’t scream at me ! I’m not “Blurryface” ! And you are not stupid like that Tyler freak ! If you do this ever again…”
“I got it ! You can stop now… I’ll get dressed and I appreciate if you stay quiet, just for a second Layla.” Ok little bunny ! You’re no fun today…
Patrick was physically like any other boy, short, blonde hair, green-blued eyes, pale. Nothing special about his appearance. He was obsessed with fedoras and music, he wore glasses all the time. Patrick was an average boy. As long, you could see. Things got south when his appearance wasn’t the actual focus. Patrick had a friend, a friend just him was able to hear.
She told him, her name was Layla, and she had a strange accent, her words sounded harsh. Sometimes Layla was soft and her voice trembled as if she was sobbing. Usually Layla’s soft side came out when Patrick hurt himself. That’s how she appeared to him.
Patrick was 8, he was coming home from school, alone, distracted by the music playing inside his head, the poor young Stump didn’t see the rock on his way. He felt in his hands and knees. Patrick wanted to cry, but his brother as always telling him how big he was now, big boys didn’t cry. He got up, with bloody palms and jeans, biting his lips hard. He kept walking home, nursing his hands. The song had stopped, everything was quiet, until a soft voice started talking
Little bunny are you hurt ? Let me see your blood. Poor bunny, all alone, but don’t worry, I’m here… Talk to me my bunny… Do you understand me ? My poor young bunny. Mommy doesn’t care, sis and bro as well… Dad run away ! But you have me ! Can you feel me ? You can cry little bunny, your brother is a big stupid boy ! I wanna see your tears ! TALK TO ME !
Patrick was listing, his house was close, but he didn’t know how to answer, the voice made him scared. He let some tears fall, his mind quiet again. Opening his house, Patrick let his shoes at the door, running upstairs to his room. He changed his clothes, sat on the bed and waited the voice again.
Bunnyyyyyy, you are waiting me ! The is cute ! Don’t ignore me again ! I don’t like it ! I feel alone when you do it… You know bunny, I’m like you. I was alone for such a long time, but now I have you ! We don’t need to be alone… Bunnyyyyyyy !
“What’s your name?” Patrick was biting his nails, hoping no one could hear him “My name is Patrick. I have a friend! His name is Tyler, the other kids don’t like him that much, but I do!”
Well, bunny! My name is Layla! Tell me more about your friend. I want to know everything.
Patrick was delighted, he had so many things to tell Layla about Tyler, he lay down and talked until his throat was raw. Layla stayed quiet and occasionally she would laugh, loud and shrilled, this scared Patrick, but he was so excited he didn’t care.
He talked for hours and just stopped when his mother called dinner. Layla was laughing when he went to eat.
Bunny wanna do something funny ? Just shake your left foot if you want… He moved his left foot silently. Adventurous bunny! I like it ! Tell you saw the magazines in your brother's room and he was showing you all the pictures, he was even taking money from his friends to show them as well. Do it bunny !
“Mom…”
“Yes Patrick.”
“Mom, Kevin showed me his big boy magazine. There was a woman with her legs spread like a chicken. Mom there was a woman and her legs was open. I saw Kevin selling to his friends too.”
“KEVIN STUMP! WHAT IS PATRICK TALKING ABOUT?!” His mother got up, the chair falling behind, for a second Patrick was sorry, but it passed when Layla laughed again. He felt proud.
Around him, hell broke loose, his mother was screaming with Kevin and he was screaming back, his sister Megan was hugging him, her hands in his ears, protecting.
Cry bunny, let your sis carry you to your room, hug her and don’t let her go. Feel my love through her. Say you are sorry, say Kevin was being mean…
Patrick cried, big and salty tears, sobbing hard in his sister's chest, holding tight. He was mumbling and pleading sorry. Megan was stroking his back, whispering comforting words in his ear. Half of them he couldn’t understand because Layla was talking as well.
You can sleep now bunny, Big sis Megan will take care of you now, tomorrow we will have much more fun, I'll meet Tyler and we will be best friends. But for now, sleep, my little bunny.
Patrick let his body soften, his sister was carrying him upstairs, she let him in the bed and tried to leave, but his hold was tight.
“Please Meg, stay…”
“Ok Patrick, today I’ll stay.”
Maybe it was his tired mind, but when Megan hugged him, he felt like there were two people instead of just one.
This was the first time Layla told him what to do, what Patrick didn’t realize this wouldn’t be the last of all the years to come.