"You're not gonna need pills," he says, wanting to sound reassuring, but he isn't positive it doesn't fall flat. Pills mean doctors, and doctors mean physicals. Michael's not going to want to go through that.
He wants to ask how Michael's doing. He's avoided that question since the beginning, if only because every time Michael or Alex ask him, he feels himself getting a little prickly — he's fine, really, he's just trying to take care of his friends at this point. He knows if he asks, Michael's feelings will answer him more clearly than his words, even if he tries to brush it off. But he also knows that there's a chance he'll get frustrated if Michael isn't honest. Caleb is still learning how to balance his own anger, and knowing when he's being lied to doesn't really help.
So he doesn't ask, just leans in and lets their shoulders bump gently.
"But, if you do, then... there's nothing wrong with that, y'know?" He doesn't want Michael to feel ashamed if that's the case. Trauma can fuck with the body, he knows that now, better than almost anyone he knows.
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He wants to ask how Michael's doing. He's avoided that question since the beginning, if only because every time Michael or Alex ask him, he feels himself getting a little prickly — he's fine, really, he's just trying to take care of his friends at this point. He knows if he asks, Michael's feelings will answer him more clearly than his words, even if he tries to brush it off. But he also knows that there's a chance he'll get frustrated if Michael isn't honest. Caleb is still learning how to balance his own anger, and knowing when he's being lied to doesn't really help.
So he doesn't ask, just leans in and lets their shoulders bump gently.
"But, if you do, then... there's nothing wrong with that, y'know?" He doesn't want Michael to feel ashamed if that's the case. Trauma can fuck with the body, he knows that now, better than almost anyone he knows.