Tolerate You For a Little Longer

  “Jesus Christ, you’re so annoying,” August groaned.

  “If I’m so annoying, why do you keep hanging out with me?” Silas smirked and poked at August's side.

  “Oh- oh shut up already. Who knows what you would do if you didn’t have me.” August smacked his friend's hand away and crossed his arms.

  “I would be doing way more important things.”

  “Go then, stop hanging out with me. Do your more important things

  Silas looked up. “I will. I’ll do way more meaningful stuff- I mean anything’s better than hanging with you.”

  “Oh, go away.”

  Silas dragged his feet down the sidewalk. The cool breeze felt freezing on this type of day. It was sunny, but not sunny enough to give him the warmth he needed. He grabbed his phone from his pocket. 10:17. His usual time to meet up with Adeline was 10:05. She probably won’t mind. Silas turned the corner and saw her sitting on the bench.

  Adeline noticed him approaching. “Yo, you look awful,” she snorted.

  “I feel awful,” Silas fell down on the bench next to her. She handed him a sandwich.

  “Were you and August fighting again?” she handed her water bottle over to Silas.

  “I wouldn’t let him affect me this much,” he took a bite of his sandwich and sipped the water. He wiped off the top and handed the bottle back to her.

  “That doesn’t answer my question,” Adeline gave Silas a look, after grabbing the bottle from him. 

  “He’s stupid," Silas frowned.

  She sighed. “Okay. So you fought with him. What is it this time?” Adeline took a bite of her own sandwich. She had already finished half of it before Silas arrived. She set her water bottle down.

  “August was calling me annoying- so I told him I could do better things without him. And he was like- ‘well then go do better things without me!’- so I left. He hasn't really talked to me since,” Silas waved his hands around as he talked.

  Adeline put the last bit of her sandwich back into the paper bag and placed it down on the bench next to her water. She let her head fall right into her hands. “Oh my god. YOU are stupid.”

  “I am not stupid!” Silas received a hard punch in the shoulder.  

  “Here’s a crazy idea- maybe you should talk things out with him. Maybe have a discussion. Communicate... Like a normal person would?" 

  “Absolutely not. He’s an idiot, and I’m right. I could do better things without him.”

  "So what would you do if he blocked your number?"

  "I'd be worried!" Silas stared at Adeline wide-eyed.

  “He’s your friend.”

  Silas looked away. “No, he's not. Not anymore.”

  “That’s what you always say- And you literally have him as your phone background.”

  He jumped. “Wh- I’ll change it! I swear I've just been forgetting to.” 

  “...Whatever you say. Maybe you should talk to him.”

  “..Maybe.”

 “Jesus, he still hasn’t texted me. Did I really upset him this time?” Silas stared at his phone. No texts, no calls. No notifications whatsoever. He had yet to change his background. At this point, I might never change it. I wonder if he'd want to take a picture with me- he shook his head. Silas dropped his phone on his bed, and let himself fall onto his pillow.

  He’s the worst. I just.. Really need to know if he’s alright. Silas flipped over onto his side. Why am I thinking about him anyway?

  Silas’s phone buzzed on the bed next to him. He smacked at it. I don’t remember setting an alarm. He gave up and grabbed it. He let his eyes open to figure out what was up.

  August was calling. “Holy shit-” Silas sat up and swiped at his screen. He answered the call.

  “..Hello,” August said.

  “Hi." 

  “Have you been up to anything?”

  “Not really- I mean I met with Adeline like usual.” 

  “So you’re free right now?” 

  Silas blinked. “Uhhh yeah, why?”

  “Meet me at the park. If you want.” 

  “Okay, that sounds good to me," Silas smiled.

  August immediately hung up on him. How polite. 

  Silas hopped out of his bed, ready to get moving. He stuck his arms into the air and stretched, and then cracked his knuckles one by one. “To the park we go.” He shoved his phone into his back pocket and threw on a hoodie. He better not yell at me or something. And he better be okay.  

  “Heeey,” Silas waved. August jumped. He's always gotten startled easily. He looked over at him. He leaned against a large tree, his arms crossed. 

  “It’s been a little bit,” August pushed back his hair. 

  “Yeah. So, was there anything in particular you wanted to talk about?" he paused for a moment. "Or did you just wanna see this face again?” He blew August a kiss.

  “Oh my god. Stop that before I actually never talk to you again,” August rubbed at his eyes.

  “Okay okay- what’d you wanna say?”

  “You’re so impatient.” 

  “Well hey, you invited me here without giving me a reason. Of course I’m gonna be curious. You know me.”

  August sighed. “Okay. Yeah. Uh, well... You suck. But I guess I like suffering because I keep hanging out with you. We should like... Go out for dinner or something,” he offered his hand to Silas. 

  “Holy shit,” Silas stood there, mouth wide open.

  “Yes or no goddammit-” he waved his hand.

  “You’re being impatient now.” he grinned.

  “Just answer!”

  Silas looked into August's eyes and grabbed his hand. “Of course- did you think I would say no?” he glared at him, but August was pulled into a hug. “Obviously I’m gonna say yes, you know me. I'd say yes to doing anything if I was doing it with you."

  "Eugh. Nevermind. You're being too cutesy, I'm going home," A hand was stuck into Silas's face.

  "Heeey!" he giggles. "What about the dinner you invited me to?"

  "Fine," August kissed Silas on the cheek. “Maybe I can tolerate you for a little longer.”